VK15
GOST VK15 (ВК15) · GB YG15
ВК15 is a GOST tungsten carbide–cobalt hardmetal with a nominal 15% cobalt binder, the highest-cobalt member of the commonly stocked BK series and the counterpart of YG15.
Reference datasheet — VK15 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.
VK15 tempers and conditions
VK15 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coarse grain (4–8 µm WC), ВК15-КС | Maximum toughness and thermal conductivity variant for rock drilling, mining picks and hot-shock service where fracture, not wear, is the failure mode. | — | 1,150 | 0.25 | 950 HV | 80 W/m·K |
Thermomechanically controlled processed | Pick when higher hardness and edge retention are needed on impact-loaded tools, e.g. wire-drawing dies and cold-heading punches for harder wire. | — | 1,250 | 0.2 | 1,200 HV | 62 W/m·K |
Ultrafine grain with grain-growth inhibitors (0.5–0.8 µm WC), ВК15-ОМ | Highest hardness plus high strength combination — for precision punches, micro-dies and interrupted cutting of hard-to-machine alloys. | — | 1,400 | 0.18 | 1,300 HV | 55 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways VK15 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
STDDefault | Standard medium grain | Standard supply |
What is VK15?
ВК15 is a GOST tungsten carbide–cobalt hardmetal with a nominal 15% cobalt binder, the highest-cobalt member of the commonly stocked BK series and the counterpart of YG15. It is specified where impact and shock loading dominate over abrasion, and is supplied as pressed-and-sintered blanks, strips, rods and finish-ground die shapes. The high binder content trades hardness and wear resistance for toughness; thermal conductivity is 70 W/m·K and service is limited to about 600 °C, above which the cobalt phase softens. Lower-cobalt grades such as ВК8 are the alternative when abrasive wear, not chipping, controls tool life. VK15 has a density of 14 g/cm³ (0.506 lb/in³), heavier than 88% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F). VK15 has a tensile strength of 1,200 MPa (174 ksi), stronger than 94% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.2% and the elastic modulus is 520 GPa (75.4 Msi).
What is VK15 used for?
- heavy cold-work dies
- structural wear plates
- mining tools
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 16 MPa·√m (14.6 ksi·√in), better than 99% of ceramic grades
- Stiff — 520 GPa (75.4 Msi), better than 81% of ceramic grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 0.2%, better than 81% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 30 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 91% of ceramic grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 45/100, worse than 90% of ceramic grades
- Heavy — 14 g/cm³ (0.506 lb/in³), worse than 88% of ceramic grades
VK15 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
VK15 has a density of 14 g/cm³ (0.506 lb/in³), heavier than 88% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F).
Mechanical12
VK15 has a tensile strength of 1,200 MPa (174 ksi), stronger than 94% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.2% and the elastic modulus is 520 GPa (75.4 Msi).
Thermal5
VK15 is rated for continuous service to 600°C (1,112 °F). It conducts heat at 70 W/m·K (40.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 70% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 5.8 µm/m·K (3.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
VK15 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 VK15 takes about 400 MJ of energy and emits 30 kg of CO₂ — more than 88% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability3
VK15'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. VK15 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with VK15
Is VK15 easy to machine?
Only diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM, laser or ultrasonic machining after sintering; green (pre-sintered) blanks can be turned with carbide tools before final sinter.
Can VK15 be welded?
Not fusion weldable — joined to steel bodies by silver/copper brazing (Ag-Cu-Zn or Cu-Mn) or by shrink fitting; slow heating and cooling to avoid thermal cracking.
Can VK15 be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by powder pressing, extrusion or injection moulding of WC-Co feedstock followed by vacuum/sinter-HIP at ~1400–1450 °C with ~18–20% linear shrinkage.
VK15 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 | 14 – 16 | 15 |
| Ctotal carbon balanced to avoid eta phase / free graphite | — | — |
| other carbides (TaC/NbC/VC/Cr3C2)only in M/OM grain-refined variants as growth inhibitors | 0 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| WCtungsten carbide hard phase, balance | balance | — |
What surface finishes work on VK15?
Diamond lapping and polishing gives mirror surfaces; PVD TiN/TiAlCN coatings possible but limited by the low binder-phase hot hardness — avoid acid pickling which leaches cobalt.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to VK15 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- GB (China)
- YG15
- GOST
- ВК15
How much does VK15 cost?
VK15 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
VK15 — frequently asked
What is VK15 used for?
VK15 is typically used for heavy cold-work dies, structural wear plates and mining tools. In short: toughest common BK grade; high-cobalt impact carbide; shock service over abrasion.
What is the tensile strength of VK15?
VK15 has a typical tensile strength of 1,200 MPa (174 ksi) — stronger than 94% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is VK15 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Only diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM, laser or ultrasonic machining after sintering; green (pre-sintered) blanks can be turned with carbide tools before final sinter.
Can VK15 be welded?
Not fusion weldable — joined to steel bodies by silver/copper brazing (Ag-Cu-Zn or Cu-Mn) or by shrink fitting; slow heating and cooling to avoid thermal cracking.
What surface finishes work on VK15?
Diamond lapping and polishing gives mirror surfaces; PVD TiN/TiAlCN coatings possible but limited by the low binder-phase hot hardness — avoid acid pickling which leaches cobalt.
Can VK15 be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by powder pressing, extrusion or injection moulding of WC-Co feedstock followed by vacuum/sinter-HIP at ~1400–1450 °C with ~18–20% linear shrinkage.
What is the maximum service temperature of VK15?
VK15 is rated for continuous use to about 600°C (1,112 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does VK15 cost?
VK15 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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
- GOST 3882-74 Сплавы твердые спеченные. Марки — Gosstandart (1974)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Cemented Carbides — ASM International (1990)
- ISO 4505 Hardmetals — Metallographic determination of porosity — ISO (1978)
- Cemented carbide grade property tables (WC-Co series) — Sandvik Hard Materials (2020)
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.