Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20
Reinforced grade
also Kyon 2000
SiCw-20 = 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.
Values for the SiCw-20 condition
Other Al2O3/SiCw grades and fills
Al2O3/SiCw is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at Al2O3/SiCw.
Compare all 4 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SiCw-20This page 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 SiCw-20?
Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 is Al2O3/SiCw in the SiCw-20 grade — lower-whisker, lower-cost and easier-to-densify grade for wear parts and lighter-duty inserts where full toughness is not required. Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 has a tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi), stronger than 53% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 0.1% and the elastic modulus is 400 GPa (58 Msi). Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 has a density of 3.8 g/cm³ (0.137 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of composite grades. SiCw-30 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; SiCw-20 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Low moisture uptake — 0%, better than 100% of composite grades
- Stiff — 400 GPa (58 Msi), better than 97% of composite grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 80/100, better than 97% of composite grades
- High service temperature — 1,250°C (2,282 °F), better than 96% 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 — 6/100, worse than 96% of composite grades
- Heavy — 3.8 g/cm³ (0.137 lb/in³), worse than 93% of composite grades
Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20; 14 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Al2O3/SiCw reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical2
Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 has a density of 3.8 g/cm³ (0.137 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of composite grades.
Mechanical11
Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 has a tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi), stronger than 53% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 0.1% and the elastic modulus is 400 GPa (58 Msi).
Thermal6
Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 is rated for continuous service to 1,250°C (2,282 °F). It conducts heat at 28 W/m·K (16.2 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 SiCw-20 has an electrical resistivity of 1,000 Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (88/100), better than 77% of composite grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 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 SiCw-20's machinability is not recommended (6/100, worse than 96% of composite grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20
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.
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.
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 | — |
Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 — frequently asked
What is Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 used for?
Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 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 SiCw-20?
Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 has a typical tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) — stronger than 53% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (6/100, worse than 96% 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 SiCw-20 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 SiCw-20?
Diamond-lapped or polished edges/faces; optional CVD/PVD TiN-TiAlN coatings for tool inserts; no plating, anodizing or painting.
Can Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 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 SiCw-20?
Al2O3/SiCw SiCw-20 is rated for continuous use to about 1,250°C (2,282 °F), and briefly to 1,500°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.