Al2O3/SiCw
also Kyon 2000
A particulate/whisker-toughened alumina ceramic composite historically famous as a cutting-tool ceramic for machining hardened superalloys, offering improved fracture toughness over monolithic alumina.
Reference datasheet — Al2O3/SiCw 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 SiCw-30 condition
Al2O3/SiCw grades and fills
Al2O3/SiCw is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. SiCw-30 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Al2O3 + ~20 vol% SiC whiskers | Lower-whisker, lower-cost and easier-to-densify grade for wear parts and lighter-duty inserts where full toughness is not required. | 300 | 0.1 | ||
whisker/TiC particulate hybrid alumina (black ceramic) | Hybrid with TiC particles for higher hardness, hot hardness and electrical conductivity (EDM-machinable blanks) at slightly lower toughness. | 330 | 0.09 | ||
SiCw-30Default Hot-pressed Al2O3 + ~30–33 vol% SiC whiskers | Standard cutting-tool and wear grade: maximum toughness and thermal-shock resistance for roughing hardened steel and nickel superalloys. | 350 | 0.1 | ||
dual-toughened whisker/zirconia alumina | Adds transformation toughening on top of whisker bridging; pick when interrupted cutting or impact loading dominates, at some cost in hot hardness. | 400 | 0.12 |
What is Al2O3/SiCw?
A particulate/whisker-toughened alumina ceramic composite historically famous as a cutting-tool ceramic for machining hardened superalloys, offering improved fracture toughness over monolithic alumina. Al2O3/SiCw has a density of 3.74 g/cm³ (0.135 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of composite grades. Al2O3/SiCw has a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi), stronger than 63% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 0.1% and the elastic modulus is 390 GPa (56.6 Msi).
What is Al2O3/SiCw used for?
- cutting tool inserts for nickel superalloy machining
- wear parts
- hot hardness tooling
- abrasion-resistant nozzles
Advantages
- Low moisture uptake — 0%, better than 100% of composite grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 97% of composite grades
- Stiff — 390 GPa (56.6 Msi), better than 95% of composite grades
- High service temperature — 1,200°C (2,192 °F), better than 94% of composite grades
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 100/100, better than 93% of composite grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 0.1%, worse than 99% of composite grades
- Difficult to machine — 5/100, worse than 97% of composite grades
- Heavy — 3.74 g/cm³ (0.135 lb/in³), worse than 92% of composite grades
Al2O3/SiCw properties
Typical room-temperature values for Al2O3/SiCw-SiCw-30; bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical2
Al2O3/SiCw has a density of 3.74 g/cm³ (0.135 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of composite grades.
Mechanical11
Al2O3/SiCw has a tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi), stronger than 63% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 0.1% and the elastic modulus is 390 GPa (56.6 Msi).
Thermal6
Al2O3/SiCw is rated for continuous service to 1,200°C (2,192 °F). It conducts heat at 32 W/m·K (18.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of composite grades. Thermal expansion is 6.6 µm/m·K (3.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
Al2O3/SiCw has an electrical resistivity of 0.5 Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 65% of composite grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Al2O3/SiCw takes about 160 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 54% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
Al2O3/SiCw's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 97% of composite 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 composite family
Yield strength against density for every composite grade FabDigit runs. Al2O3/SiCw is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Al2O3/SiCw
Is Al2O3/SiCw easy to machine?
Only diamond grinding, lapping and (for conductive SiCw/TiC grades) EDM/ECDM are practical; wet-cut with extraction because respirable SiC whiskers are a recognized health hazard.
Can Al2O3/SiCw be welded?
Not weldable — join by active-metal brazing (Ag-Cu-Ti), metallized soldering, glass sealing or mechanical clamping.
Can Al2O3/SiCw be formed, bent or molded?
Densified almost exclusively by hot pressing or HIP of whisker/alumina slurries (whiskers block pressureless sintering), so parts are near-flat blanks with limited shape complexity and whisker alignment in the pressing plane.
Al2O3/SiCw 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SiC whisker≈30–33 vol% single-crystal β-SiC whiskers in the default grade; wt% converted at 3.21 g/cm³ | 20 – 28 | 25.6 |
| Y2O3+MgO (sintering aids)grain-growth control / densification aid, producer dependent | 0 – 1 | 0.5 |
| Al2O3fine-grained (<2 µm) alpha alumina matrix | balance |
What surface finishes work on Al2O3/SiCw?
Diamond-lapped or polished edges/faces; optional CVD/PVD TiN-TiAlN coatings for tool inserts; no plating, anodizing or painting.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Al2O3/SiCw in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Kyon 2000
How much does Al2O3/SiCw cost?
Al2O3/SiCw is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Al2O3/SiCw — frequently asked
What is Al2O3/SiCw used for?
Al2O3/SiCw is typically used for cutting tool inserts for nickel superalloy machining, wear parts, hot hardness tooling and abrasion-resistant nozzles. In short: whisker-toughened cutting ceramic; highest stiffness in family; diamond-grinding only.
What is the tensile strength of Al2O3/SiCw?
Al2O3/SiCw has a typical tensile strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) — stronger than 63% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Al2O3/SiCw easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 97% of composite grades). Only diamond grinding, lapping and (for conductive SiCw/TiC grades) EDM/ECDM are practical; wet-cut with extraction because respirable SiC whiskers are a recognized health hazard.
Can Al2O3/SiCw be welded?
Not weldable — join by active-metal brazing (Ag-Cu-Ti), metallized soldering, glass sealing or mechanical clamping.
What surface finishes work on Al2O3/SiCw?
Diamond-lapped or polished edges/faces; optional CVD/PVD TiN-TiAlN coatings for tool inserts; no plating, anodizing or painting.
Can Al2O3/SiCw be formed, bent or molded?
Densified almost exclusively by hot pressing or HIP of whisker/alumina slurries (whiskers block pressureless sintering), so parts are near-flat blanks with limited shape complexity and whisker alignment in the pressing plane.
What is the maximum service temperature of Al2O3/SiCw?
Al2O3/SiCw is rated for continuous use to about 1,200°C (2,192 °F), and briefly to 1,500°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Al2O3/SiCw cost?
Al2O3/SiCw is a high-cost composite ($$$$), 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
- WG-300 whisker-reinforced ceramic insert grade data — Greenleaf Corporation (2020)
- Kyon ceramic cutting-tool grade overview (Kyon 2000) — Kennametal (2019)
- Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 21: Composites (ceramic-matrix composites section) — ASM International (2001)
- SiC-whisker/Al2O3 mechanical property compilations (Becher & Wei toughening studies) — J. Am. Ceram. Soc. / ORNL (1988)
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.