Carbide (tungsten carbide) is the dominant cutting-tool material — far harder and more heat-resistant than high-speed steel, so it runs much faster and lasts longer, especially in steel and abrasive materials. Most inserts and modern end mills are carbide, often with a coating like TiAlN.
It's harder but more brittle than HSS, so it needs rigid setups; it's the standard for production machining.
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