FabDigit

YG6X

ISO K05

YG6X is the fine-grain version of YG6 — WC–6% Co with VC/TaC grain-growth inhibitors — at 14.9 g/cm³, 630 GPa elastic modulus and 79 W/m·K thermal conductivity, supplied fine-grain, sinter-HIP, ultrafine and PVD-coated.

High cost $$$$

Reference datasheet — YG6X 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 FG condition

YG6X tempers and conditions

YG6X is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. FG is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.

Compare all 3 conditionsHide
Condition · open for datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %HardnessConductivity
Sinter-HIP consolidated
Choose when maximum transverse rupture strength and freedom from A/B-type porosity are needed, e.g. thin cutting edges, punches and micro-drill blanks.1,50001,780 HV80 W/m·K
FGDefault
Fine grain (0.8–1.2 µm WC), vacuum sintered
Standard commercial YG6X: general finishing tooling and wear parts where edge sharpness matters more than impact toughness.1,750 HV79 W/m·K
Ultrafine / submicron grain
Pick for micro-tools, PCB drills and razor-sharp finishing edges needing the highest hardness at 6% Co; least tolerant of impact.1,950 HV70 W/m·K

Supply forms, finishes and certifications

Ways YG6X is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.

OptionWhat it isType
PVD
TiAlN/AlTiN PVD-coated YG6X substrateCoating

What is YG6X?

YG6X is the fine-grain version of YG6 — WC–6% Co with VC/TaC grain-growth inhibitors — at 14.9 g/cm³, 630 GPa elastic modulus and 79 W/m·K thermal conductivity, supplied fine-grain, sinter-HIP, ultrafine and PVD-coated. The refined grain raises wear resistance and edge sharpness for finish machining of cast iron, reamers, small-diameter drills and precision cutting edges. It is rated to about 800 °C, above coarse-grain YG6, but toughness is below YG8, and sintered parts can only be diamond ground or EDM'd. YG6 remains the tougher, lower-cost choice for general work. YG6X has a density of 14.9 g/cm³ (0.538 lb/in³), heavier than 96% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 630 GPa (91.4 Msi).

What is YG6X used for?

  • finish machining cast iron
  • reamers
  • small-diameter drills
  • precision cutting edges

Advantages

  • Stiff — 630 GPa (91.4 Msi), better than 95% of ceramic grades
  • Tough — resists crack growth — 8.5 MPa·√m (7.74 ksi·√in), better than 79% of ceramic grades
  • Conducts heat well — 79 W/m·K (45.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% 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

YG6X properties

Typical room-temperature values for YG6X-FG; bars are the position among ceramic grades.

Physical2

YG6X has a density of 14.9 g/cm³ (0.538 lb/in³), heavier than 96% of ceramic grades.

Density14.9 g/cm³0.54 lb/in³
Porosity0.05%

Mechanical9

The elastic modulus is 630 GPa (91.4 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus630 GPa91.4 Msi
Shear Modulus255 GPa37 Msi
Bulk Modulus380 GPa55.1 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.22
Compressive Strength5,800 MPa841 ksi
Flexural Strength1,900 MPa276 ksi
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)8.5 MPa·√m7.7 ksi·√in
Hardness, Vickers1,750 HV
Hardness, Mohs9

Thermal5

YG6X is rated for continuous service to 800°C (1,472 °F). It conducts heat at 79 W/m·K (45.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 75% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 4.7 µm/m·K (2.61 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity79 W/m·K45.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity220 J/kg·K0.05 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)4.7 µm/m·K2.6 µin/in·°F
Max Service Temperature (continuous)800°C1,472 °F
Min Service Temperature-196°C-321 °F

Electrical2

YG6X has an electrical resistivity of 2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.

Electrical Resistivity2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m7.87 µΩ·in
Volume Resistivity2×10⁻⁵ Ω·cm

Chemical & Environmental2

Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 77% of ceramic grades.

Corrosion ResistanceGood55/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryWC skeleton is very inert, but the 6% cobalt binder is leached by mineral acids (HCl, H2SO4, HNO3), oxalic/acetic acid and hot caustic; good in water, oils, coolants and neutral salts. For acidic service use a Ni- or Cr3C2-modified binder grade.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of YG6X takes about 300 MJ of energy and emits 22 kg of CO₂ — more than 74% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)300 MJ/kg128,977 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)22 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water400 L/kg47.9 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content30%

Manufacturability3

YG6X's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades).

MachinabilityNot recommended5/100
PolishabilityExcellent88/100
Sintering / Firing Temperature1,420°C2,588 °F

Common Calculations2

Specific Stiffness (E / density)calculated42.3 MN·m/kg
Thermal Diffusivitycalculated24.1 mm²/s

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. YG6X is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.

501002005001,000234567Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scale

Working with YG6X

Is YG6X easy to machine?

Green-state pressing/extrusion then diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM or laser after sintering — no conventional cutting; keep grinding wheels cool to avoid edge micro-cracks.

Can YG6X be welded?

Not fusion weldable; join to steel by silver/Cu-based vacuum brazing (e.g. BAg-24, 700–900 °C) with a shim to absorb the CTE mismatch, or by braze-clad shrink fit.

Can YG6X be formed, bent or molded?

Net-shape by uniaxial die pressing, CIP or extrusion of PEG-bonded powder, dewaxed and vacuum/sinter-HIP fired at ~1400–1450 °C with ~18–20% linear shrinkage.

YG6X 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.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
Cobinder phase5.5 – 6.56
VCgrain-growth inhibitor0.1 – 0.50.3
TaCgrain refiner / thermal-shock aid; NbC may substitute0 – 0.60.3
Cr3C2optional inhibitor, some producers0 – 0.40.2
WCfine-grain tungsten carbide, 0.8–1.2 µmbalance

What surface finishes work on YG6X?

Diamond lapping/polishing to Ra<0.05 µm; PVD TiAlN/AlTiN or CVD TiCN-Al2O3 coating after Co-etch pretreatment; do not electroplate acidic baths that leach cobalt.

Equivalent designations

Standards and trade names that resolve to YG6X in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.

ISO
K05

How much does YG6X cost?

YG6X 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.

YG6X — frequently asked

What is YG6X used for?

YG6X is typically used for finish machining cast iron, reamers, small-diameter drills and precision cutting edges. In short: fine-grain finishing grade; sharper, more wear-resistant than YG6; higher rated temperature.

Is YG6X easy to machine?

Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Green-state pressing/extrusion then diamond grinding, wire/sinker EDM or laser after sintering — no conventional cutting; keep grinding wheels cool to avoid edge micro-cracks.

Can YG6X be welded?

Not fusion weldable; join to steel by silver/Cu-based vacuum brazing (e.g. BAg-24, 700–900 °C) with a shim to absorb the CTE mismatch, or by braze-clad shrink fit.

What surface finishes work on YG6X?

Diamond lapping/polishing to Ra<0.05 µm; PVD TiAlN/AlTiN or CVD TiCN-Al2O3 coating after Co-etch pretreatment; do not electroplate acidic baths that leach cobalt.

Can YG6X be formed, bent or molded?

Net-shape by uniaxial die pressing, CIP or extrusion of PEG-bonded powder, dewaxed and vacuum/sinter-HIP fired at ~1400–1450 °C with ~18–20% linear shrinkage.

What is the maximum service temperature of YG6X?

YG6X is rated for continuous use to about 800°C (1,472 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

How much does YG6X cost?

YG6X 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

  1. ISO 513 Classification and application of hard cutting materials — ISO (2012)
  2. ASM Handbook Vol. 2 / Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4 — Cemented Carbides — ASM International (1991)
  3. Cemented carbide grade tables (WC-6Co fine grain) — Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide / Xiamen Golden Egret / 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.