YG15
YG15 is a high-cobalt straight tungsten carbide, nominally WC with about 15 % Co and no cubic carbides, stocked in MG, C and F conditions.
Reference datasheet — YG15 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
YG15 tempers and conditions
YG15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGDefault Medium grain (2–4 µm WC), standard sinter-HIP | Default balance of toughness and hardness for cold-work dies, punches and general impact tooling. | 1,400 | 0.3 | 1,150 HV | 75 W/m·K | |
Coarse grain | Pick for maximum impact toughness and thermal-shock resistance in mining/rock tools and heavy forging dies. | 1,450 | 0.3 | 1,020 HV | 82 W/m·K | |
As fabricated | Pick when a sharper, more wear-resistant edge is needed while keeping the high-cobalt toughness, e.g. cold heading punches and precision blanking. | 1,700 | 0.3 | 1,300 HV | 68 W/m·K |
What is YG15?
YG15 is a high-cobalt straight tungsten carbide, nominally WC with about 15 % Co and no cubic carbides, stocked in MG, C and F conditions. It is chosen where impact and bending loads would crack a harder grade — cold heading dies, punches and structural wear parts — with an elastic modulus near 520 GPa and thermal conductivity of 75 W/m·K. The trade-offs are lower hardness and abrasive wear resistance, a service ceiling around 500 °C, and low corrosion resistance (score 38) since the binder is attacked by acids. Move to YG10 for more wear resistance, or to YG20 if toughness is still the limiting factor. YG15 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). YG15 has a tensile strength of 1,400 MPa (203 ksi), stronger than 99% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.3% and the elastic modulus is 520 GPa (75.4 Msi).
What is YG15 used for?
- cold heading dies
- punches
- structural wear parts
- large stamping tooling
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 15.5 MPa·√m (14.1 ksi·√in), better than 99% of ceramic grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 0.3%, better than 91% 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 — 38/100, worse than 99% of ceramic grades
- Heavy — 14 g/cm³ (0.506 lb/in³), worse than 88% of ceramic grades
YG15 properties
Typical room-temperature values for YG15-MG; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
YG15 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).
Mechanical13
YG15 has a tensile strength of 1,400 MPa (203 ksi), stronger than 99% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.3% and the elastic modulus is 520 GPa (75.4 Msi).
Thermal5
YG15 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 75 W/m·K (43.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 73% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 6 µm/m·K (3.33 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
YG15 has an electrical resistivity of 2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is fair (38/100), worse than 99% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of YG15 takes about 130 MJ of energy and emits 9.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 55% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability3
YG15's machinability is not recommended (4/100, worse than 85% 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. YG15 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with YG15
Is YG15 easy to machine?
Sintered YG15 can only be shaped by diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM, laser or ultrasonic machining; green/pre-sintered blanks can be turned with carbide tooling before final sintering.
Can YG15 be welded?
Not fusion weldable; joined by silver/copper brazing (Ag-Cu-Zn or Cu-Mn-Ni filler, 700–900 °C) with a slow controlled cool to avoid thermal-shock cracking.
Can YG15 be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder pressing, extrusion or injection moulding of WC-Co feedstock followed by liquid-phase sinter-HIP at ~1400–1450 °C with ~18–20 % linear shrinkage — no post-sinter forming is possible.
YG15 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 | 14 – 16 | 15 |
| TaC+NbCoptional grain-growth inhibitor / grain refiner in some producer variants | 0 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| VC+Cr3C2inhibitors used only in fine-grain variants | 0 – 0.8 | 0.3 |
| WCtungsten carbide hard phase, ~85 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on YG15?
Diamond lapping/polishing gives mirror finishes; PVD TiN/TiAlN or CVD coatings are common, and the high-Co surface is easily degraded by acidic pickling so chemical cleaning must be neutral.
How much does YG15 cost?
YG15 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
YG15 — frequently asked
What is YG15 used for?
YG15 is typically used for cold heading dies, punches, structural wear parts and large stamping tooling. In short: high-cobalt tough carbide; heavy impact tooling grade; tougher than YG10.
What is the tensile strength of YG15?
YG15 has a typical tensile strength of 1,400 MPa (203 ksi) — stronger than 99% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is YG15 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (4/100, worse than 85% of ceramic grades). Sintered YG15 can only be shaped by diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM, laser or ultrasonic machining; green/pre-sintered blanks can be turned with carbide tooling before final sintering.
Can YG15 be welded?
Not fusion weldable; joined by silver/copper brazing (Ag-Cu-Zn or Cu-Mn-Ni filler, 700–900 °C) with a slow controlled cool to avoid thermal-shock cracking.
What surface finishes work on YG15?
Diamond lapping/polishing gives mirror finishes; PVD TiN/TiAlN or CVD coatings are common, and the high-Co surface is easily degraded by acidic pickling so chemical cleaning must be neutral.
Can YG15 be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder pressing, extrusion or injection moulding of WC-Co feedstock followed by liquid-phase sinter-HIP at ~1400–1450 °C with ~18–20 % linear shrinkage — no post-sinter forming is possible.
What is the maximum service temperature of YG15?
YG15 is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does YG15 cost?
YG15 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Cemented Carbides) — ASM International (1990)
- Cemented carbide grade data (WC-Co K-class) — Sandvik Hard Materials / Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide (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.