Silicon carbide and corundum are both materials used in the production of abrasive tools. Silicon carbide is a very hard material with high abrasion resistance and is typically used for the processing of hard materials such as glass, stone, ceramics, and metals. Corundum is also a hard material, but slightly softer than silicon carbide, and is used for the processing of softer materials such as wood and plastics. Corundum is also used for the processing of metals when a finer finish is required. Both materials are used in the abrasive tool industry for smoothing, shaping, and polishing workpieces.