C5
GB YT5 · ISO P40
C5 is the US grade for roughing steel: a WC-Co carbide with TiC/TaC additions (YT5, P30 class) that raise crater-wear resistance compared with straight WC-Co.
Reference datasheet — C5 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 YT5 condition
C5 tempers and conditions
C5 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. YT5 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
YT5Default YT5 / P40 | Pick for heavy, interrupted or scaly roughing cuts on carbon and alloy steel where toughness matters more than wear life. | 1,400 HV | 25 W/m·K | |||
Leaner binder / higher TiC, semi-roughing steel grade | Pick when the cut is more continuous and crater/edge wear rather than chipping limits tool life. | 1,520 HV | 21 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways C5 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CVD | CVD-coated | Coating |
What is C5?
C5 is the US grade for roughing steel: a WC-Co carbide with TiC/TaC additions (YT5, P30 class) that raise crater-wear resistance compared with straight WC-Co. It is selected for heavy and interrupted cuts on steel and is supplied as inserts, brazed tips and CVD-coated blanks. Density is 12.9 g/cm3 with a 520 GPa modulus and service to about 900 °C, but the cubic carbide additions cut thermal conductivity to 25 W/m·K and reduce toughness relative to C1 and C2. Use C6 for general-purpose steel turning and milling. C5 has a density of 12.9 g/cm³ (0.466 lb/in³), heavier than 84% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F). C5 has a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi), stronger than 83% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 520 GPa (75.4 Msi).
What is C5 used for?
- Steel roughing inserts
- Heavy interrupted-cut turning tools
- Face-milling inserts for steel
- Brazed tips for steel roughing
- Bar peeling tool tips
- Forging-scale skin turning inserts
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 12 MPa·√m (10.9 ksi·√in), better than 93% of ceramic grades
- Stiff — 520 GPa (75.4 Msi), better than 81% of ceramic grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 90/100, better than 78% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 40/100, worse than 96% of ceramic grades
- High embodied carbon — 30 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 91% of ceramic grades
- Heavy — 12.9 g/cm³ (0.466 lb/in³), worse than 84% of ceramic grades
C5 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C5-YT5; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
C5 has a density of 12.9 g/cm³ (0.466 lb/in³), heavier than 84% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F).
Mechanical12
C5 has a tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi), stronger than 83% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 520 GPa (75.4 Msi).
Thermal5
C5 is rated for continuous service to 900°C (1,652 °F). It conducts heat at 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 55% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 6.5 µm/m·K (3.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
C5 has an electrical resistivity of 3.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), worse than 96% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C5 takes about 400 MJ of energy and emits 30 kg of CO₂ — more than 88% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability3
C5's machinability is not recommended (3/100, worse than 95% 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. C5 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C5
Is C5 easy to machine?
Shape by diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM or green-state pressing; no conventional cutting is possible.
Can C5 be welded?
Not fusion weldable — join by vacuum brazing with Ag–Cu (e.g. BAg-3) or Cu–Mn fillers, keeping temperature below ~900 °C to protect the binder.
Can C5 be formed, bent or molded?
Net-shape by uniaxial/CIP pressing or extrusion of powder plus paraffin binder, dewax, then vacuum or sinter-HIP at ~1400–1500 °C with 15–25 % linear shrinkage.
C5 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; drives toughness | 8 – 11 | 9.5 |
| TiCcubic carbide for crater-wear resistance | 4 – 6 | 5 |
| TaC+NbCoptional, grain refinement / thermal shock | 0 – 2 | 0.5 |
| WCbalance, typically 83–87 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on C5?
Diamond lap/polish for mirror edges; PVD or CVD hard coatings are standard, and electroplating is rarely used because of poor adhesion to the carbide skeleton.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to C5 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- P40
- GB (China)
- YT5
How much does C5 cost?
C5 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
C5 — frequently asked
What is C5 used for?
C5 is typically used for steel roughing inserts, heavy interrupted-cut turning tools, face-milling inserts for steel, brazed tips for steel roughing, bar peeling tool tips and forging-scale skin turning inserts. In short: P-group steel roughing grade; tiC/TaC crater resistance; 900 °C service ceiling.
What is the tensile strength of C5?
C5 has a typical tensile strength of 900 MPa (131 ksi) — stronger than 83% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is C5 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (3/100, worse than 95% of ceramic grades). Shape by diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM or green-state pressing; no conventional cutting is possible.
Can C5 be welded?
Not fusion weldable — join by vacuum brazing with Ag–Cu (e.g. BAg-3) or Cu–Mn fillers, keeping temperature below ~900 °C to protect the binder.
What surface finishes work on C5?
Diamond lap/polish for mirror edges; PVD or CVD hard coatings are standard, and electroplating is rarely used because of poor adhesion to the carbide skeleton.
Can C5 be formed, bent or molded?
Net-shape by uniaxial/CIP pressing or extrusion of powder plus paraffin binder, dewax, then vacuum or sinter-HIP at ~1400–1500 °C with 15–25 % linear shrinkage.
What is the maximum service temperature of C5?
C5 is rated for continuous use to about 900°C (1,652 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does C5 cost?
C5 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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 (P/M/K groups) — ISO (2012)
- ASTM B276 — Apparent Porosity in Cemented Carbides — ASTM (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 / Vol.16 — cemented carbides and machining — ASM International (1990)
- Cemented carbide grade property tables — Sandvik Hard Materials / Kennametal (2022)
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.