YG20
YG20 is a very high-cobalt straight WC–Co cemented carbide, nominally 20 % Co, available in MG and C grain versions and in sinter-HIP (SHIP) condition.
Reference datasheet — YG20 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
YG20 tempers and conditions
YG20 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, vacuum sintered | Default balance of hardness and toughness for cold-heading dies, stamping punches and general impact tooling. | 1,350 | 0.3 | 950 HV | 70 W/m·K | |
Sinter-HIP | Choose when maximum reliability and fatigue life are needed in large or highly stressed die blanks. | 1,500 | 0.3 | 970 HV | 71 W/m·K | |
YG20C | Coarse WC grain version for the heaviest shock loads — mining bits, rock drills, roll rings and hot-forging dies. | 830 HV | 78 W/m·K |
What is YG20?
YG20 is a very high-cobalt straight WC–Co cemented carbide, nominally 20 % Co, available in MG and C grain versions and in sinter-HIP (SHIP) condition. It provides the highest toughness of the YG series, so it is used for mining tools, heavy cold-work dies and structural wear plates rather than for cutting inserts. Hardness and abrasive wear resistance are the lowest of the family, thermal conductivity is 70 W/m·K, service temperature is about 500 °C, and corrosion resistance is poor (score 38) because of the large binder fraction. YG15 is the next step up in hardness when wear life becomes the limit. YG20 has a density of 13.5 g/cm³ (0.488 lb/in³), heavier than 87% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F). YG20 has a tensile strength of 1,350 MPa (196 ksi), stronger than 98% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.3% and the elastic modulus is 480 GPa (69.6 Msi).
What is YG20 used for?
- mining tools
- heavy cold-work dies
- structural wear plates
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 20 MPa·√m (18.2 ksi·√in), better than 100% of ceramic grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 0.3%, better than 91% of ceramic grades
- Stiff — 480 GPa (69.6 Msi), better than 76% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 38/100, worse than 99% of ceramic grades
- Heavy — 13.5 g/cm³ (0.488 lb/in³), worse than 87% of ceramic grades
- High embodied carbon — 28 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 84% of ceramic grades
YG20 properties
Typical room-temperature values for YG20-MG; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
YG20 has a density of 13.5 g/cm³ (0.488 lb/in³), heavier than 87% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F).
Mechanical13
YG20 has a tensile strength of 1,350 MPa (196 ksi), stronger than 98% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.3% and the elastic modulus is 480 GPa (69.6 Msi).
Thermal5
YG20 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 70 W/m·K (40.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 70% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 6.3 µm/m·K (3.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
YG20 has an electrical resistivity of 2.2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is fair (38/100), worse than 99% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of YG20 takes about 400 MJ of energy and emits 28 kg of CO₂ — more than 88% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability3
YG20'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. YG20 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with YG20
Is YG20 easy to machine?
Only diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM and laser cutting; green-state pressing plus pre-sinter machining is the economical route for complex shapes.
Can YG20 be welded?
Not fusion weldable — join by vacuum/induction brazing with Ag-Cu-Ni filler (~700–900 °C) onto steel bodies, using ductile interlayers to absorb CTE mismatch.
Can YG20 be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder pressing (uniaxial/CIP) or extrusion of WC-20Co powder followed by liquid-phase sintering at ~1380–1450 °C, typically sinter-HIP; ~18–20 % linear shrinkage must be allowed.
YG20 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 phase | 19 – 21 | 20 |
| TaC+NbCoptional grain-growth inhibitor / carbide addition | 0 – 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Cr3C2+VCgrain refiner in fine-grain variants | 0 – 0.4 | 0 |
| free C / eta phasecontrolled to ISO 4505 A02B00C00 | ≤ 0 | 0 |
| WCbalance tungsten carbide | balance |
What surface finishes work on YG20?
Diamond lapping/polishing to Ra <0.05 µm; PVD TiN/TiAlN coatings are possible but high-Co binder limits coating temperature and adhesion.
How much does YG20 cost?
YG20 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
YG20 — frequently asked
What is YG20 used for?
YG20 is typically used for mining tools, heavy cold-work dies and structural wear plates. In short: toughest YG grade; highest cobalt content; impact-duty wear parts.
What is the tensile strength of YG20?
YG20 has a typical tensile strength of 1,350 MPa (196 ksi) — stronger than 98% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is YG20 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Only diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM and laser cutting; green-state pressing plus pre-sinter machining is the economical route for complex shapes.
Can YG20 be welded?
Not fusion weldable — join by vacuum/induction brazing with Ag-Cu-Ni filler (~700–900 °C) onto steel bodies, using ductile interlayers to absorb CTE mismatch.
What surface finishes work on YG20?
Diamond lapping/polishing to Ra <0.05 µm; PVD TiN/TiAlN coatings are possible but high-Co binder limits coating temperature and adhesion.
Can YG20 be formed, bent or molded?
Made by powder pressing (uniaxial/CIP) or extrusion of WC-20Co powder followed by liquid-phase sintering at ~1380–1450 °C, typically sinter-HIP; ~18–20 % linear shrinkage must be allowed.
What is the maximum service temperature of YG20?
YG20 is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does YG20 cost?
YG20 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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 4505 Hardmetals — Metallographic determination of porosity and uncombined carbon — ISO (1978)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Cemented Carbides) — ASM International (1990)
- WC-Co hardmetal grade datasheets (WC-20Co class) — Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide / Sandvik Hard Materials (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.