WC-Co
WC-Co is a cobalt-bound tungsten carbide cermet covered by GB/T 18376, offered from ultra-fine WC-3Co-UF through WC-6Co, WC-10Co, WC-12Co and WC-20Co, plus nickel-bound WC-Ni for corrosive service.
Reference datasheet — WC-Co 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 WC-6Co condition
WC-Co tempers and conditions
WC-Co is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. WC-6Co is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WC-6CoDefault WC-6Co, fine grain | The general-purpose balance of hardness and toughness: turning/milling inserts, wear parts, nozzles, gauge blocks, cold-forming punches. | 1,500 | 1,600 HV | 90 W/m·K | ||
WC-10Co, medium grain | Tougher grade for interrupted cutting, rotary burrs, cold-heading dies and mining/drilling inserts where impact matters more than wear. | 1,600 | 1,400 HV | 80 W/m·K | ||
WC-20Co coarse grain | Maximum toughness / lowest hardness grade for heading dies, stamping tools and rolls subject to severe impact and high strain. | 1,050 HV | 70 W/m·K | |||
WC-12Co (YG12 / K40 class) | High-toughness grade for heavy cold-forming dies, punching tools and hammer/roll applications with shock loading. | 1,300 HV | 78 W/m·K | |||
WC-Ni binder grade | Nickel replaces cobalt where acids, seawater or oilfield fluids would leach the binder — pump seals, valve trim, non-magnetic parts. | 1,300 HV | 75 W/m·K | |||
WC-3Co ultrafine grain | Maximum hardness and edge retention for micro-drills, PCB tooling and finishing inserts on non-ferrous and cast iron; low toughness, avoid interrupted cuts. | 1,950 HV | 80 W/m·K |
What is WC-Co?
WC-Co is a cobalt-bound tungsten carbide cermet covered by GB/T 18376, offered from ultra-fine WC-3Co-UF through WC-6Co, WC-10Co, WC-12Co and WC-20Co, plus nickel-bound WC-Ni for corrosive service. It is the standard material for cutting tools, dies and wear parts, with 14.9 g/cm³ density, 630 GPa modulus, 1500 MPa strength and 90 W/m·K conductivity; stock forms are pressed inserts, ground rod, preforms and blanks. Binder softening and oxidation limit service to about 550 °C, corrosion resistance is modest (score 55), and sintered parts can only be diamond-ground or EDM'd (machinability 3). WC-Co 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). WC-Co has a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi), stronger than 100% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 630 GPa (91.4 Msi).
What is WC-Co used for?
- cutting tool inserts
- mining/drilling bits
- cold-forming dies
- wear-resistant rollers
- wire drawing dies
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 95/100, better than 97% of ceramic grades
- Stiff — 630 GPa (91.4 Msi), better than 95% of ceramic grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 9.5 MPa·√m (8.65 ksi·√in), better than 84% of ceramic grades
- Conducts heat well — 90 W/m·K (52 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 82% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 14.9 g/cm³ (0.538 lb/in³), worse than 96% of ceramic grades
- High embodied carbon — 28 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 84% of ceramic grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 55/100, worse than 77% of ceramic grades
WC-Co properties
Typical room-temperature values for WC-Co-WC-6Co; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
WC-Co 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
WC-Co has a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi), stronger than 100% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 630 GPa (91.4 Msi).
Thermal5
WC-Co is rated for continuous service to 550°C (1,022 °F). It conducts heat at 90 W/m·K (52 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 82% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 5.2 µm/m·K (2.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
WC-Co has an electrical resistivity of 2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 77% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of WC-Co takes about 400 MJ of energy and emits 28 kg of CO₂ — more than 88% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability3
WC-Co'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. WC-Co is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with WC-Co
Is WC-Co easy to machine?
Green (pre-sintered) blanks can be turned/milled with carbide tools; fully sintered parts require diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM, or laser — no conventional cutting.
Can WC-Co be welded?
Not fusion weldable; joined by vacuum/induction brazing with Ag-Cu-Ti or Cu-Mn fillers, or by shrink/press fitting into steel holders.
Can WC-Co be formed, bent or molded?
Net-shape by powder press-and-sinter, extrusion of rod, or injection molding of fine grades; sinter-HIP at ~1400 °C with 12–20 % linear shrinkage that must be allowed for in tooling.
WC-Co 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; variant-dependent 3–20 % | 5.5 – 6.5 | 6 |
| Ccombined carbon in WC; free C or eta-phase must be avoided | 5.7 – 6.1 | 5.9 |
| Ta/Nb/Ti carbidesoptional grain-growth inhibitors / crater-wear additions (also VC, Cr3C2 0.2–1 %) | 0 – 2 | 0.5 |
| WCbalance, hard phase, typ. grain size 0.4–3 µm | balance |
What surface finishes work on WC-Co?
Diamond lapping/polishing gives mirror finish; PVD (TiAlN, TiCN) or CVD coatings are standard on cutting grades; micro-blasting and edge honing tune edge strength.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to WC-Co in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- WC
- Other
- B777
- Similar grades
- 513GB/T 18376
How much does WC-Co cost?
WC-Co is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
WC-Co — frequently asked
What is WC-Co used for?
WC-Co is typically used for cutting tool inserts, mining/drilling bits, cold-forming dies, wear-resistant rollers and wire drawing dies. In short: standard tooling cermet; extreme compressive strength; diamond grinding or EDM only.
What is the tensile strength of WC-Co?
WC-Co has a typical tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) — stronger than 100% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is WC-Co easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (3/100, worse than 95% of ceramic grades). Green (pre-sintered) blanks can be turned/milled with carbide tools; fully sintered parts require diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM, or laser — no conventional cutting.
Can WC-Co be welded?
Not fusion weldable; joined by vacuum/induction brazing with Ag-Cu-Ti or Cu-Mn fillers, or by shrink/press fitting into steel holders.
What surface finishes work on WC-Co?
Diamond lapping/polishing gives mirror finish; PVD (TiAlN, TiCN) or CVD coatings are standard on cutting grades; micro-blasting and edge honing tune edge strength.
Can WC-Co be formed, bent or molded?
Net-shape by powder press-and-sinter, extrusion of rod, or injection molding of fine grades; sinter-HIP at ~1400 °C with 12–20 % linear shrinkage that must be allowed for in tooling.
What is the maximum service temperature of WC-Co?
WC-Co is rated for continuous use to about 550°C (1,022 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does WC-Co cost?
WC-Co is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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 of hard cutting materials — ISO (2012)
- ISO 3327 — Hardmetals: Determination of transverse rupture strength — ISO (2009)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 / Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4 — Cemented Carbides — ASM International (1991)
- Cemented carbide grade property tables — Sandvik Hard Materials / Kennametal / (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.