Cobalt-Chrome Alloy Vicalloy-CW (Cold worked)
Supply condition
GB Vicalloy
Intermediate condition of drawn wire or rolled tape; already semi-hard magnetically, used where a final low-temperature age is applied by the customer.
Values for the CW condition
Other Vicalloy tempers and conditions
Vicalloy is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at Vicalloy.
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 |
CWThis page 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-CW?
Vicalloy-CW is Vicalloy supplied in the CW condition — intermediate condition of drawn wire or rolled tape; already semi-hard magnetically, used where a final low-temperature age is applied by the customer. Vicalloy-CW has a yield strength of 1,200 MPa (174 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,400 MPa (203 ksi) — stronger than 88% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 190 GPa (27.6 Msi). Vicalloy-CW 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). CW+Age is the default condition FabDigit quotes; CW is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 26/100, better than 104% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- 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 — 2.8 % IACS, better than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- High strength — 1,200 MPa (174 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
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 100% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 100% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 25/100, worse than 96% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
Vicalloy-CW properties
Typical room-temperature values for Vicalloy-CW; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Vicalloy reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among cobalt-chrome alloy grades.
Physical3
Vicalloy-CW 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-CW has a yield strength of 1,200 MPa (174 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,400 MPa (203 ksi) — stronger than 88% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 190 GPa (27.6 Msi).
Thermal5
Vicalloy-CW is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °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-CW conducts electricity at 2.8 % 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-CW 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-CW's machinability is poor (26/100, better than 104% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades); weldability poor (22/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Vicalloy-CW
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.
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.
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 | — |
Vicalloy-CW — frequently asked
What is Vicalloy-CW used for?
Vicalloy-CW 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-CW?
Vicalloy-CW has a typical yield strength of 1,200 MPa (174 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,400 MPa (203 ksi) — stronger than 88% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Vicalloy-CW easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (26/100, better than 104% 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-CW be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (22/100). 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-CW?
Not corrosion resistant — electroless nickel, nickel or tin plating, phosphate or lacquer coatings are used; passivation/anodizing is not applicable.
Can Vicalloy-CW 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-CW?
Vicalloy-CW is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.