YG20 C (YG20C)
Supply condition
Coarse WC grain version for the heaviest shock loads — mining bits, rock drills, roll rings and hot-forging dies.
Values for the C condition
Other YG20 tempers and conditions
YG20 is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at YG20.
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 |
CThis page 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 C?
YG20 C is YG20 supplied in the C condition — coarse WC grain version for the heaviest shock loads — mining bits, rock drills, roll rings and hot-forging dies. YG20 C 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 470 GPa (68.2 Msi). YG20 C 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). MG is the default condition FabDigit quotes; C is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 24 MPa·√m (21.8 ksi·√in), better than 101% of ceramic grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 0.3%, better than 91% of ceramic grades
- Stiff — 470 GPa (68.2 Msi), better than 75% of ceramic grades
- Conducts heat well — 78 W/m·K (45.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 36/100, 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 C properties
Typical room-temperature values for YG20 C; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are YG20 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
YG20 C 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 C 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 470 GPa (68.2 Msi).
Thermal5
YG20 C is rated for continuous service to 480°C (896 °F). It conducts heat at 78 W/m·K (45.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 6.3 µm/m·K (3.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
YG20 C has an electrical resistivity of 2.2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is fair (36/100), worse than 99% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of YG20 C 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 C's machinability is not recommended (6/100, better than 61% of ceramic grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with YG20 C
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.
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.
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 | — |
YG20 C — frequently asked
What is YG20 C used for?
YG20 C 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 C?
YG20 C 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 C easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (6/100, better than 61% 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 C 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 C?
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 C 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 C?
YG20 C is rated for continuous use to about 480°C (896 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.