C6
GB YT14 · ISO P30
C6 is the general-purpose US steel-cutting carbide (YT14), a WC-TiC-Co grade with optional TaC additions that balances toughness and wear resistance for turning and milling steel.
Reference datasheet — C6 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.
C6 tempers and conditions
C6 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GB/T 18376.1 WC-14TiC-8Co steel-cutting grade | Chinese-market equivalent for semi-rough turning and milling of steel; higher TiC gives crater resistance but slightly lower toughness. | 750 | 0.1 | 1,420 HV | 26 W/m·K | |
TaC-enriched C6 | Pick for milling and interrupted cuts on steel where comb cracking and edge chipping limit tool life. | 850 | 0.1 | 1,480 HV | 32 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways C6 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 | TiCN/Al₂O₃/TiN multilayer coated C6 substrate | Coating |
UncoatedDefault | Plain sintered WC-TiC-TaC-Co | Coating |
What is C6?
C6 is the general-purpose US steel-cutting carbide (YT14), a WC-TiC-Co grade with optional TaC additions that balances toughness and wear resistance for turning and milling steel. It is used for general and semi-finishing steel machining and is offered uncoated, CVD-coated and in TaC-modified versions. Density is 11.5 g/cm3, elastic modulus 540 GPa, thermal conductivity 30 W/m·K and maximum service temperature about 800 °C. The grade is neither fusion weldable nor conventionally machinable; step to C5 for roughing and to finer-grain grades for light finishing cuts. C6 has a density of 11.5 g/cm³ (0.415 lb/in³), heavier than 82% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F). The elastic modulus is 540 GPa (78.3 Msi).
What is C6 used for?
- General steel turning inserts
- Steel milling inserts
- Semi-finishing turning tools
- Brazed tool tips for steel
- Boring bar tips
- Threading and grooving inserts
- Alloy steel drilling tips
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 10.5 MPa·√m (9.56 ksi·√in), better than 89% of ceramic grades
- Stiff — 540 GPa (78.3 Msi), better than 86% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 30 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 91% of ceramic grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 50/100, worse than 83% of ceramic grades
- Heavy — 11.5 g/cm³ (0.415 lb/in³), worse than 82% of ceramic grades
C6 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
C6 has a density of 11.5 g/cm³ (0.415 lb/in³), heavier than 82% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F).
Mechanical10
The elastic modulus is 540 GPa (78.3 Msi).
Thermal5
C6 is rated for continuous service to 800°C (1,472 °F). It conducts heat at 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 60% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 6.5 µm/m·K (3.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
C6 has an electrical resistivity of 5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is fair (50/100), worse than 83% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of C6 takes about 300 MJ of energy and emits 30 kg of CO₂ — more than 74% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability3
C6's machinability is not recommended (4/100, worse than 85% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations2
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. C6 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C6
Is C6 easy to machine?
Green-state pressed or ground; sintered parts can only be diamond-ground, lapped, EDM'd or laser-cut — no conventional cutting.
Can C6 be welded?
Not fusion weldable; joined by silver/copper brazing at 700–900 °C with a ductile interlayer to limit thermal-expansion cracking.
Can C6 be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by uniaxial pressing, extrusion or injection moulding of WC-TiC-Co powder followed by vacuum or sinter-HIP densification at ~1400–1450 °C.
C6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cobinder | 6 – 10 | 8 |
| TiCcubic carbide for crater resistance; 14 % in YT14 | 6 – 15 | 10 |
| TaC+NbCoptional, grain control and thermal-shock resistance | 0 – 6 | 3 |
| WCbalance, grain size typically 1–3 µm | balance |
What surface finishes work on C6?
Diamond-wheel grinding then edge honing/blasting; PVD or CVD hard coatings applied for wear resistance; no plating or anodizing.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to C6 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ISO
- P30
- GB (China)
- YT14
How much does C6 cost?
C6 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
C6 — frequently asked
What is C6 used for?
C6 is typically used for general steel turning inserts, steel milling inserts, semi-finishing turning tools, brazed tool tips for steel, boring bar tips and threading and grooving inserts. In short: all-round steel-cutting carbide; more wear-resistant than C5; taC-modified versions available.
Is C6 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (4/100, worse than 85% of ceramic grades). Green-state pressed or ground; sintered parts can only be diamond-ground, lapped, EDM'd or laser-cut — no conventional cutting.
Can C6 be welded?
Not fusion weldable; joined by silver/copper brazing at 700–900 °C with a ductile interlayer to limit thermal-expansion cracking.
What surface finishes work on C6?
Diamond-wheel grinding then edge honing/blasting; PVD or CVD hard coatings applied for wear resistance; no plating or anodizing.
Can C6 be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by uniaxial pressing, extrusion or injection moulding of WC-TiC-Co powder followed by vacuum or sinter-HIP densification at ~1400–1450 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of C6?
C6 is rated for continuous use to about 800°C (1,472 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does C6 cost?
C6 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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 — ISO (2012)
- ISO 3327 — Hardmetals: Determination of transverse rupture strength — ISO (2009)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Cemented Carbides — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 16 — Machining (Cutting Tool Materials) — ASM International (1989)
- Cemented carbide grade datasheets (P-class steel grades) — Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide / Kennametal / Sandvik Coromant (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.