The cutting abrasive bonded with ceramic is most commonly aluminum oxide between 80 to 220 grit size. Ceramic media is a very popular choice in finishing processes because of its long lasting and clean running characteristics. There are different grades of cut within the ceramic media family:

Factors affecting media cutting performance are as follows:

• Abrasive size and percentage - Polish media have no abrasives where faster cut media have coarser grits and more of it.
• Bonding agent strength - Faster cutting media are bonded softer allowing the bond to wear away exposing new abrasives which increases cut rates. Polish media are very hard.
• The Ceramic Itself - Different clays will assist cut and affect weights of media. Heavier and larger media will cut faster.

The manufacturing process determines the available shapes of ceramic media. The ceramic and abrasive are mixed wet and then extruded through dyes. This limits the shapes available to shapes with equal sides. As the media is extruded it is cut for thickness and then baked in a continuous or batch kiln to dry and harden.

Ceramic is a good all around media and is one of the first choices to use for all metals. Sample processing is strongly advised before choosing a media.