Cobalt-Chrome Alloy Vicalloy
GB Vicalloy
Vicalloy is a semi-hard cobalt-iron-vanadium magnetic alloy (Vicalloy I and Vicalloy II) that develops coercivity through heavy cold work followed by aging.
Reference datasheet — Vicalloy 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 CW+Age condition
Vicalloy tempers and conditions
Vicalloy is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. CW+Age is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
solution annealed ~1150–1200 °C and rapidly cooled (magnetically soft, ductile) | Pick for wire drawing, tape rolling, stamping or machining before the magnetic aging treatment. | 400 | 700 | 22 | 22 HRC | 3.1 % IACS |
Cast + aged | For net-shape miniature magnets or hysteresis-motor rings where cold working is impractical; magnetic properties are lower than wrought+aged. | 600 | 700 | 2 | 45 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Vicalloy I | Choose when better ductility/drawability matters more than coercivity; Hc ≈ 24 kA/m, (BH)max ≈ 8 kJ/m³. | 1,100 | 1,350 | 3 | 46 HRC | 3.2 % IACS |
Cold worked | Intermediate condition of drawn wire or rolled tape; already semi-hard magnetically, used where a final low-temperature age is applied by the customer. | 1,200 | 1,400 | 3 | 44 HRC | 2.8 % IACS |
CW+AgeDefault Cold worked + aged | Standard delivered condition for Vicalloy wire and tape: maximum coercivity and energy product with usable strength. | 1,250 | 1,500 | 2 | 50 HRC | 2.9 % IACS |
Vicalloy II | Higher-vanadium version for maximum coercivity and energy product in cold-drawn wire and rolled tape. | 1,300 | 1,550 | 2 | 52 HRC | 2.6 % IACS |
What is Vicalloy?
Vicalloy is a semi-hard cobalt-iron-vanadium magnetic alloy (Vicalloy I and Vicalloy II) that develops coercivity through heavy cold work followed by aging. It was historically drawn to wire and rolled to tape for magnetic recording media and small permanent magnets, and is also used cast and aged for relay and clutch parts. Cold-worked and aged material runs about 1250 MPa yield, 1500 MPa tensile, 2% elongation and 50 HRC, with service to 400 °C. Machinability (22), weldability (20) and formability (10) are all low and availability is limited; ferrite and rare-earth magnets have replaced it in most designs. Vicalloy has a density of 8.25 g/cm³ (0.298 lb/in³), lighter than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. It melts at 1,440°C (2,624 °F). Vicalloy has a yield strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) — stronger than 88% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 190 GPa (27.6 Msi).
What is Vicalloy used for?
- magnetic recording wire/tape
- small permanent magnets
- relay reeds
- magnetic clutches
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 6 kg CO₂/kg, better than 100% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 2.9 % IACS, better than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- Easy to machine — 22/100, better than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- High strength — 1,250 MPa (181 ksi), better than 88% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 190 GPa (27.6 Msi), worse than 100% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 100% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- Limited service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), worse than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 25/100, worse than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 87% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
Vicalloy properties
Typical room-temperature values for Vicalloy-CW+Age; bars are the position among cobalt-chrome alloy grades.
Physical3
Vicalloy has a density of 8.25 g/cm³ (0.298 lb/in³), lighter than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. It melts at 1,440°C (2,624 °F).
Mechanical16
Vicalloy has a yield strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) — stronger than 88% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 190 GPa (27.6 Msi).
Thermal5
Vicalloy is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Vicalloy conducts electricity at 2.9 % IACS, better than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (25/100), worse than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Vicalloy takes about 95 MJ of energy and emits 6 kg of CO₂ — less than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability7
Vicalloy's machinability is poor (22/100, better than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Common Calculations5
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 cobalt-chrome alloy family
Yield strength against density for every cobalt-chrome alloy grade FabDigit runs. Vicalloy is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Vicalloy
Is Vicalloy easy to machine?
Machine in the annealed condition with carbide tooling and generous coolant; after aging (~50 HRC) only grinding, EDM or fine finishing is practical.
Can Vicalloy be welded?
Fusion welding is avoided on finished magnets because heat dissolves the aging precipitates and erases the magnetic properties; resistance/laser tack joining plus re-aging, or mechanical assembly, is preferred.
Can Vicalloy be formed, bent or molded?
Cold draw wire or roll tape in the solution-annealed state with interpass anneals, then age 550–650 °C to develop coercivity; heavy prior deformation is essential to the magnetic hardening mechanism.
Vicalloy 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Coprincipal magnetic constituent | 49 – 54 | 52 |
| V≈10 % for Vicalloy I, ≈13–14 % for Vicalloy II | 9 – 14 | 13 |
| Ckept low | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Mnresidual/deoxidizer | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Siresidual/deoxidizer | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on Vicalloy?
Not corrosion resistant — electroless nickel, nickel or tin plating, phosphate or lacquer coatings are used; passivation/anodizing is not applicable.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Cobalt-Chrome Alloy Vicalloy in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Vicalloy IVicalloy II
How much does Vicalloy cost?
Vicalloy is a high-cost cobalt-chrome alloy ($$$$), 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.
Vicalloy — frequently asked
What is Vicalloy used for?
Vicalloy is typically used for magnetic recording wire/tape, small permanent magnets, relay reeds and magnetic clutches. In short: ductile-then-hard semi-hard magnet; cold work sets the coercivity; largely superseded by ferrites.
What is the yield strength of Vicalloy?
Vicalloy has a typical yield strength of 1,250 MPa (181 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) — stronger than 88% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Vicalloy easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, better than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades). Machine in the annealed condition with carbide tooling and generous coolant; after aging (~50 HRC) only grinding, EDM or fine finishing is practical.
Can Vicalloy be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Fusion welding is avoided on finished magnets because heat dissolves the aging precipitates and erases the magnetic properties; resistance/laser tack joining plus re-aging, or mechanical assembly, is preferred.
What surface finishes work on Vicalloy?
Not corrosion resistant — electroless nickel, nickel or tin plating, phosphate or lacquer coatings are used; passivation/anodizing is not applicable.
Can Vicalloy be formed, bent or molded?
Cold draw wire or roll tape in the solution-annealed state with interpass anneals, then age 550–650 °C to develop coercivity; heavy prior deformation is essential to the magnetic hardening mechanism.
What is the maximum service temperature of Vicalloy?
Vicalloy is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Vicalloy CW+Age and Vicalloy V-I?
CW+Age is the default condition — standard delivered condition for Vicalloy wire and tape: maximum coercivity and energy product with usable strength. V-I: choose when better ductility/drawability matters more than coercivity; Hc ≈ 24 kA/m, (BH)max ≈ 8 kJ/m³. Yield strength is 1,250 MPa in CW+Age versus 1,100 MPa in V-I.
How much does Vicalloy cost?
Vicalloy is a high-cost cobalt-chrome alloy ($$$$), 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
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (magnetically hard materials) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Specialty Handbook: Magnetically Soft and Hard Materials chapters — ASM International (1998)
- Permanent Magnet Materials and Their Application — Cambridge University Press (1994)
- Fe-Co-V semi-hard magnetic alloy strip and wire data (Vacuumschmelze / Carpenter comparable grades) — producer datasheets (2020)
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.