Sintered carbides are very hard materials made by the powder metallurgy process and may by reinforced with several types of MC-type carbides besides the usual tungsten carbide (WC). The binder phase is normally cobalt although minor use is made of nickel. Modern cutting tools are frequently coated with a variety of very hard phases, such as alumina, titanium carbide, titanium nitride and titanium carbonitride. Sectioning is normally performed with a precision saw, so surfaces are very good and rough abrasives are not usually required.