YG6
AISI/SAE C2 · ISO K10
YG6 (C2) is a straight WC–6% Co cemented carbide and the general-purpose grade of the YG (ISO K) family, balancing hardness against toughness at 14.9 g/cm³, 630 GPa elastic modulus and 80 W/m·K thermal conductivity.
Reference datasheet — YG6 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.
YG6 tempers and conditions
YG6 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution annealed | Choose for semi-finishing of chilled cast iron, hardened steel and heat-resistant alloys where extra hot hardness and deformation resistance are needed. | 1,000 | 0.15 | 1,820 HV | 70 W/m·K | |
YG6X | Pick for finishing cuts, chilled/alloy cast iron, hard non-ferrous and small-diameter micro tools where edge sharpness and wear resistance matter more than toughness. | 1,050 | 0.15 | 1,750 HV | 78 W/m·K | |
YG6C | Pick for rock drill inserts, mining/percussive tooling and interrupted cuts where impact toughness beats wear resistance. | 1,200 | 0.25 | 1,400 HV | 90 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways YG6 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
MEDDefault | YG6 | Certification |
What is YG6?
YG6 (C2) is a straight WC–6% Co cemented carbide and the general-purpose grade of the YG (ISO K) family, balancing hardness against toughness at 14.9 g/cm³, 630 GPa elastic modulus and 80 W/m·K thermal conductivity. It is the most widely used K-group grade for cast iron and non-ferrous machining and for punches, dies and wear tooling, supplied in MED, X, A and C conditions as blanks, rods and inserts. With no cubic carbide additions it is not intended for high-speed steel cutting, service is limited to about 600 °C, and sintered parts can only be diamond ground or EDM'd. Move to YG8 for impact or YG3 for finishing. YG6 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). YG6 has a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi), stronger than 88% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.2% and the elastic modulus is 630 GPa (91.4 Msi).
What is YG6 used for?
- cast iron turning/milling
- non-ferrous machining
- punches and dies
- wear-resistant tooling
Advantages
- Stiff — 630 GPa (91.4 Msi), better than 95% of ceramic grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 10 MPa·√m (9.1 ksi·√in), better than 87% of ceramic grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 0.2%, better than 81% of ceramic grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 90/100, better than 78% of ceramic grades
- Conducts heat well — 80 W/m·K (46.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 77% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 14.9 g/cm³ (0.538 lb/in³), worse than 96% of ceramic grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 55/100, worse than 77% of ceramic grades
- High embodied carbon — 24 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 76% of ceramic grades
YG6 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
YG6 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
YG6 has a tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi), stronger than 88% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.2% and the elastic modulus is 630 GPa (91.4 Msi).
Thermal5
YG6 is rated for continuous service to 600°C (1,112 °F). It conducts heat at 80 W/m·K (46.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 77% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 4.5 µm/m·K (2.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
YG6 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 YG6 takes about 330 MJ of energy and emits 24 kg of CO₂ — more than 79% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability3
YG6'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. YG6 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with YG6
Is YG6 easy to machine?
Only diamond grinding, EDM/wire-EDM, laser or ultrasonic machining; never conventional cutting — grind wet with resin/metal-bond diamond wheels to avoid thermal cracks.
Can YG6 be welded?
Not fusion weldable; joined by vacuum/induction brazing with Ag-Cu-(Ni/Mn) filler below ~900 °C, using a ductile Cu interlayer to absorb CTE mismatch with steel bodies.
Can YG6 be formed, bent or molded?
Net-shape produced by pressing WC-Co powder (die pressing, CIP, extrusion or injection moulding) followed by vacuum/sinter-HIP at ~1380–1450 °C with ~18–20 % linear shrinkage.
YG6 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 | 5.5 – 6.5 | 6 |
| TaC+NbCgrain-growth inhibitor / only in YG6A; VC or Cr3C2 used in YG6X | 0 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| C (total)stoichiometric window to avoid eta phase or free graphite | 5.5 – 5.8 | 5.65 |
| WCtungsten carbide hard phase, balance | balance |
What surface finishes work on YG6?
Diamond lapping/polishing gives mirror finishes (Ra <0.05 µm); PVD TiN/TiAlN or CVD coatings applied after micro-blasting and edge honing; electroless nickel or chrome plating rarely used.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to YG6 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- AISI / SAE
- C2
- ISO
- K10
How much does YG6 cost?
YG6 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
YG6 — frequently asked
What is YG6 used for?
YG6 is typically used for cast iron turning/milling, non-ferrous machining, punches and dies and wear-resistant tooling. In short: most common K-group carbide; balanced hardness and toughness; default general-purpose grade.
What is the tensile strength of YG6?
YG6 has a typical tensile strength of 1,100 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 88% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is YG6 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Only diamond grinding, EDM/wire-EDM, laser or ultrasonic machining; never conventional cutting — grind wet with resin/metal-bond diamond wheels to avoid thermal cracks.
Can YG6 be welded?
Not fusion weldable; joined by vacuum/induction brazing with Ag-Cu-(Ni/Mn) filler below ~900 °C, using a ductile Cu interlayer to absorb CTE mismatch with steel bodies.
What surface finishes work on YG6?
Diamond lapping/polishing gives mirror finishes (Ra <0.05 µm); PVD TiN/TiAlN or CVD coatings applied after micro-blasting and edge honing; electroless nickel or chrome plating rarely used.
Can YG6 be formed, bent or molded?
Net-shape produced by pressing WC-Co powder (die pressing, CIP, extrusion or injection moulding) followed by vacuum/sinter-HIP at ~1380–1450 °C with ~18–20 % linear shrinkage.
What is the maximum service temperature of YG6?
YG6 is rated for continuous use to about 600°C (1,112 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does YG6 cost?
YG6 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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 property tables (K-group WC-6Co) — / , Ceratizit, 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.