Which material is primarily used for cutting or wearing substances?

The primary material used for cutting or wearing substances is abrasive. Abrasives are specifically designed to wear away material through friction and are commonly found in grinding and polishing applications. They consist of hard particles that are utilized to remove material from surfaces, making them essential in machining processes and material finishing.

In various industrial applications, abrasives are employed to shape, smooth, or refine the surfaces of metals, plastics, ceramics, and other materials. Their effectiveness arises from their hardness and ability to withstand wear during the cutting process. Various forms of abrasives include natural materials like diamonds and corundum as well as synthetic compounds, all designed to achieve specific cutting or polishing goals.

While materials like carbide, tungsten, and vanadium are important in tool making and can be used in conjunction with abrasives, they are not classified primarily as cutting or wearing substances in the same way that abrasives are. Carbide, for example, is often used to make cutting tools due to its hardness, but it does not function as an abrasive in the context of wearing away other materials.