The material is free-cutting, but does require sharp tools with a high clearance angle.

The free-cutting characteristics mean the chips produced are well broken, reducing the equipment needed to remove the waste.

Or free-cutting steel may be better.

However, such particles, by virtue of their irregular shape, are more free-cutting in appropriate applications, and have improved retention in the bond.

A blunt hook is preferred for hard, knotty woods-a sharp hook for free-cutting woods.

"The proposed acquisition poses a significant threat to competition in the free-cutting brass rod market," said Charles F. Rule, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the antitrust division.

This product consists uniformly of irregular shaped and blocky crystals which are friable and provide, therefore, an alternative to Micron+ MDA for applications requiring a good free-cutting action.

"This transaction would make it likely that the many industries that use products made from free-cutting brass rod would have to pay more for those products, and that could ultimately mean higher prices to consumers," he said.