ceramic forming polymers are used to form a tailorable bonding matrix for abrasive grit such as diamond , diamond - like carbon , cubic boron nitride , boron carbide and / or silicon carbide . the ceramic forming polymer is unique in that it can be heated to convert it to a ceramic material at a low enough temperature to prevent damage to the abrasive grits . the ceramic forming polymer may also contain controlled amounts of silicon , carbon , oxygen , and other elements to optimize the properties of the abrasive . a toughening media such as additional ceramic forming polymer , metal and / or polymer resin can be infused into a model of the abrasive tool to permit further tailoring of the abrasive tool to meet widely varying demands of machining both very hard materials as well as softer but more abrasive materials .