YG15 MG
Grade · default condition
MG = medium grain (2–4 µm WC), standard sinter-HIP
Default balance of toughness and hardness for cold-work dies, punches and general impact tooling.
Values for the MG condition
Other YG15 tempers and conditions
YG15 is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at YG15.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MGDefaultThis page 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 MG?
YG15 MG is YG15 in the MG grade — default balance of toughness and hardness for cold-work dies, punches and general impact tooling. YG15 MG 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). YG15 MG 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).
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 MG properties
Typical room-temperature values for YG15 MG; 13 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are YG15 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
YG15 MG 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 MG 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 MG 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 MG 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 MG 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 MG's machinability is not recommended (4/100, worse than 85% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with YG15 MG
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.
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.
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 | — |
YG15 MG — frequently asked
What is YG15 MG used for?
YG15 MG 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 MG?
YG15 MG 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 MG 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 MG 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 MG?
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 MG 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 MG?
YG15 MG 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.