Steel WC5
GB WC5 · ASTM A217 Grade WC5
WC5 is a low-alloy Ni-Cr-Mo cast steel in the ASTM A217 family, similar to WC4 but with a different alloy balance, and is available N+T, Q+T, A+T or N+T plus stress relief.
Reference datasheet — WC5 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 N+T condition
WC5 tempers and conditions
WC5 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. N+T is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fully annealed (austenitized, furnace cooled) and tempered | Softest permitted A217 condition; used when maximum machinability and dimensional stability matter more than strength, and for castings needing extensive weld repair. | 300 | 510 | 27 | 155 HB | 7.9 % IACS |
Normalized, tempered and post-weld stress relieved | Condition delivered after weld repair or fabrication welding; PWHT at ~620–690 °C restores toughness in the HAZ with a slight drop in yield strength. | 315 | 535 | 25 | 165 HB | 7.8 % IACS |
N+TDefault Normalized and tempered | Standard commercial condition for A217 WC5 valve bodies and pressure castings; balanced strength and toughness with uniform properties in thick sections. | 330 | 550 | 24 | 170 HB | 7.8 % IACS |
Quenched and tempered | Chosen when higher yield strength and better low-temperature Charpy values are wanted in heavy-wall castings; still meets the same A217 tensile band. | 420 | 605 | 22 | 190 HB | 7.7 % IACS |
What is WC5?
WC5 is a low-alloy Ni-Cr-Mo cast steel in the ASTM A217 family, similar to WC4 but with a different alloy balance, and is available N+T, Q+T, A+T or N+T plus stress relief. It is chosen for pressure parts that need useful toughness at low ambient temperature together with elevated-temperature strength, and is supplied as sand castings for valve bodies, pump casings and piping components. Default properties are 330 MPa yield, 550 MPa tensile, 24 % elongation, about 170 HB and service to 540 °C. It is not corrosion resistant and requires preheat plus PWHT; WC4 is the direct alternative. WC5 has a density of 7.83 g/cm³ (0.283 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). WC5 has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — weaker than 78% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 24% and the elastic modulus is 202 GPa (29.3 Msi).
What is WC5 used for?
- Valve bodies
- Pump casings
- Piping components
Advantages
- High service temperature — 540°C (1,004 °F), better than 93% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Low strength — 330 MPa (47.9 ksi), worse than 78% of steel grades
WC5 properties
Typical room-temperature values for WC5-N+T; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
WC5 has a density of 7.83 g/cm³ (0.283 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
WC5 has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — weaker than 78% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 24% and the elastic modulus is 202 GPa (29.3 Msi).
Thermal6
WC5 is rated for continuous service to 540°C (1,004 °F). It conducts heat at 42 W/m·K (24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.2 µm/m·K (6.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
WC5 conducts electricity at 7.8 % IACS, worse than 57% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (13/100), better than 66% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of WC5 takes about 26 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 64% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 80%.
Manufacturability8
WC5's machinability is good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades); weldability good (60/100); formability poor (15/100).
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 steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. WC5 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with WC5
Is WC5 easy to machine?
Machines like normalized 4130/4140 at ~55–60 % of AISI 1212; use rigid setups, carbide inserts and moderate speeds, and expect hard spots near unfed sections and chill zones.
Can WC5 be welded?
Weldable with matching low-alloy (E9018-B3/ER80S-D2 class) consumables; preheat 150–250 °C, control interpass temperature, and PWHT at 620–690 °C to avoid HAZ hardening and hydrogen cracking.
Can WC5 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as sand castings; design generous fillets and directional solidification with risers on the Mo-bearing sections, and always heat treat before pressure testing.
WC5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0.05 – 0.2 | 0.15 |
| Mn | 0.4 – 0.7 | 0.55 |
| Si | ≤ 0.6 | 0.35 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Ni | 0.6 – 1 | 0.8 |
| Cr | 0.5 – 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Mo | 0.9 – 1.2 | 1.05 |
| Vresidual limit | ≤ 0.03 | |
| Curesidual limit | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Wresidual limit | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on WC5?
No anodizing; shot blast then paint, aluminum/zinc metallize, or electroless nickel for atmospheric protection; internal weld overlay (309/Inconel) used for corrosive process sides.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel WC5 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- A217 Grade WC5
How much does WC5 cost?
WC5 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
WC5 — frequently asked
What is WC5 used for?
WC5 is typically used for valve bodies, pump casings and piping components. In short: toughness-oriented Ni-Cr-Mo casting; 540 °C pressure service; WC4 alternative alloy balance.
What is the yield strength of WC5?
WC5 has a typical yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — weaker than 78% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is WC5 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 62% of steel grades). Machines like normalized 4130/4140 at ~55–60 % of AISI 1212; use rigid setups, carbide inserts and moderate speeds, and expect hard spots near unfed sections and chill zones.
Can WC5 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Weldable with matching low-alloy (E9018-B3/ER80S-D2 class) consumables; preheat 150–250 °C, control interpass temperature, and PWHT at 620–690 °C to avoid HAZ hardening and hydrogen cracking.
What surface finishes work on WC5?
No anodizing; shot blast then paint, aluminum/zinc metallize, or electroless nickel for atmospheric protection; internal weld overlay (309/Inconel) used for corrosive process sides.
Can WC5 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as sand castings; design generous fillets and directional solidification with risers on the Mo-bearing sections, and always heat treat before pressure testing.
What is the maximum service temperature of WC5?
WC5 is rated for continuous use to about 540°C (1,004 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does WC5 cost?
WC5 is a premium-cost steel ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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
- ASTM A217/A217M — Steel Castings, Martensitic Stainless and Alloy, for Pressure-Containing Parts, Suitable for High-Temperature Service — ASTM International (2021)
- ASME BPVC Section II, Part D — Properties (Metric) — ASME (2023)
- ASME B16.34 — Valves: Flanged, Threaded and Welding End — ASME (2020)
- Steel Castings Handbook, 6th ed. — Steel Founders' Society of America / ASM (1995)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
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.