C2
GB YG6 · ISO K20
C2 is the general-purpose US straight WC-Co carbide grade (YG6), second in the C1-C4 hardness/toughness progression and harder than C1.
Reference datasheet — C2 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the MG condition
C2 tempers and conditions
C2 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. MG is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coarse grain (3–6 µm WC), 6 % Co | Choose for interrupted cuts, rock/asphalt tools and thermally shocked wear parts where toughness and heat conduction beat peak hardness. | 1,100 | 0 | 1,350 HV | 110 W/m·K | |
MGDefault Medium grain (1–3 µm WC), 6 % Co, as-sintered/HIP | Standard C2/K20/YG6 balance of hardness and toughness — default for cast iron and non-ferrous turning, milling and general wear parts. | 1,200 | 0 | 1,580 HV | 85 W/m·K | |
Submicron / fine grain (0.5–0.8 µm WC), 6 % Co | Pick when a keen, chip-free cutting edge is needed — micro-drills, end mills, PCB routers, punches and fine-blanking dies. | 1,450 | 0 | 1,750 HV | 70 W/m·K |
What is C2?
C2 is the general-purpose US straight WC-Co carbide grade (YG6), second in the C1-C4 hardness/toughness progression and harder than C1. It is used for cast iron and non-ferrous turning and milling and for brazed tool tips, and is available in coarse, medium and fine grain (CG, MG, FG) blanks. Elastic modulus is 630 GPa with 85 W/m·K thermal conductivity and a maximum service temperature of about 600 °C; the cobalt binder is attacked by acids, and the grade is neither fusion weldable nor conventionally machinable. Move to C3 for finishing cuts. C2 has a density of 14.9 g/cm³ (0.538 lb/in³), heavier than 96% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F). C2 has a tensile strength of 1,200 MPa (174 ksi), stronger than 94% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 630 GPa (91.4 Msi).
What is C2 used for?
- general cast iron turning/milling
- non-ferrous machining
- brazed tool tips
Advantages
- Stiff — 630 GPa (91.4 Msi), better than 95% of ceramic grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 92/100, better than 89% of ceramic grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 10 MPa·√m (9.1 ksi·√in), better than 87% of ceramic grades
- Conducts heat well — 85 W/m·K (49.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 14.9 g/cm³ (0.538 lb/in³), worse than 96% of ceramic grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 45/100, worse than 90% of ceramic grades
- High embodied carbon — 28 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 84% of ceramic grades
C2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C2-MG; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
C2 has a density of 14.9 g/cm³ (0.538 lb/in³), heavier than 96% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F).
Mechanical13
C2 has a tensile strength of 1,200 MPa (174 ksi), stronger than 94% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 630 GPa (91.4 Msi).
Thermal5
C2 is rated for continuous service to 600°C (1,112 °F). It conducts heat at 85 W/m·K (49.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 5.2 µm/m·K (2.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
C2 has an electrical resistivity of 2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 90% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C2 takes about 420 MJ of energy and emits 28 kg of CO₂ — more than 93% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability3
C2's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the ceramic family
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade FabDigit runs. C2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C2
Is C2 easy to machine?
Not conventionally machinable — shape by pressing/extruding the green body, then finish by diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM (it is electrically conductive), laser or ultrasonic machining.
Can C2 be welded?
Not fusion-weldable; joined by vacuum or induction brazing with Ag-Cu-Zn or Cu-Mn filler onto steel bodies, or by shrink-fitting/adhesive bonding, with a slow controlled cool to limit CTE-mismatch cracking.
Can C2 be formed, bent or molded?
Powder metallurgy only: WC+Co milled, spray-dried, uniaxially/isostatically pressed or extruded, dewaxed and liquid-phase sintered (sinter-HIP) at ~1400–1450 °C with ~18–20 % linear shrinkage.
C2 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Cometallic binder phase | 5.5 – 6.5 | 6 |
| TaC+NbCoptional grain-growth inhibitor / additive | 0 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Cr3C2+VCgrain refiner, used mainly in the fine-grain variant | 0 – 0.6 | 0 |
| WCbalance; C content held near stoichiometric 6.13 % to avoid eta phase or free graphite | balance |
What surface finishes work on C2?
Diamond wheels and laps give mirror finishes; PVD TiN/TiAlN or CVD coatings are standard for cutting tools; can be electroplated after suitable activation, but avoid acidic baths that leach the cobalt binder.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to C2 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- K20
- GB (China)
- YG6
How much does C2 cost?
C2 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
C2 — frequently asked
What is C2 used for?
C2 is typically used for general cast iron turning/milling, non-ferrous machining and brazed tool tips. In short: general-purpose K-group carbide; balanced hardness and toughness; standard brazed-tip grade.
What is the tensile strength of C2?
C2 has a typical tensile strength of 1,200 MPa (174 ksi) — stronger than 94% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is C2 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Not conventionally machinable — shape by pressing/extruding the green body, then finish by diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM (it is electrically conductive), laser or ultrasonic machining.
Can C2 be welded?
Not fusion-weldable; joined by vacuum or induction brazing with Ag-Cu-Zn or Cu-Mn filler onto steel bodies, or by shrink-fitting/adhesive bonding, with a slow controlled cool to limit CTE-mismatch cracking.
What surface finishes work on C2?
Diamond wheels and laps give mirror finishes; PVD TiN/TiAlN or CVD coatings are standard for cutting tools; can be electroplated after suitable activation, but avoid acidic baths that leach the cobalt binder.
Can C2 be formed, bent or molded?
Powder metallurgy only: WC+Co milled, spray-dried, uniaxially/isostatically pressed or extruded, dewaxed and liquid-phase sintered (sinter-HIP) at ~1400–1450 °C with ~18–20 % linear shrinkage.
What is the maximum service temperature of C2?
C2 is rated for continuous use to about 600°C (1,112 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does C2 cost?
C2 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ISO 513 — Classification and application of hard cutting materials (K20) — ISO (2012)
- ASTM B276 / B406 — Apparent porosity and transverse rupture strength of cemented carbides — ASTM (2020)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4 — Ceramics and Glasses / Cemented Carbides — ASM International (1991)
- Cemented carbide grade property tables (WC-6Co) — Kennametal / Sandvik Hard Materials / Ceratizit / (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.