engineering ceramics are known for their stiffness, high temperature, and stability under compression and electrical stress. alumina, silica carbide, and tungsten carbide are made from a fine powder of their constituents in a process of sintering with a binder. hot pressing provides higher density material. chemical vapor deposition can place a film of a ceramic on another material. cermets are ceramic particles containing some metals. the wear resistance of tools is derived from cemented carbides with the metal phase of cobalt and nickel typically added to modify properties.