Steel WCB
GB WCB · UNS J03002 · ASTM A216 Grade WCB
WCB is the baseline cast carbon steel of ASTM A216 (UNS J03002, comparable to ZG230-450), normally supplied normalized or normalized-and-tempered at about 290 MPa yield, 520 MPa tensile, 28 % elongation and 150 HB (80 HRB).
Reference datasheet — WCB 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 WCB condition
WCB tempers and conditions
WCB is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. WCB is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ASTM A216 Grade WCA | Pick the lowest-carbon, lowest-strength A216 grade for pressure castings that need the best weldability and toughness with only modest strength, including parts needing extensive weld repair. | 250 | 460 | 30 | 131 HB | — |
Solution annealed | Pick the full anneal for the lowest hardness and the easiest machining and weld repair on complex castings, accepting yield reduced to 265 MPa. | 265 | 495 | 31 | 135 HB | 10.5 % IACS |
Normalized and tempered | Use a 600–680 °C temper after normalizing to lower residual stress and hardness on welded valve parts or where NACE limits hardness to 22 HRC or less. | 285 | 505 | 29 | 15 HRC | 10 % IACS |
WCBDefault ASTM A216 Grade WCB, normalized (or N+T), standard valve-body grade | Choose the normalized (or normalized and tempered) default for most valve bodies, pump casings and fittings; 290 MPa yield, good weldability and low cost up to 425 °C. | 290 | 520 | 28 | 150 HB | — |
Normalized | Choose this air cool from about 900 °C, the most common delivery condition, for a uniform fine ferrite-pearlite structure meeting all A216 mechanical requirements. | 290 | 520 | 28 | 150 HB | 10 % IACS |
ASTM A216 Grade WCC | Pick the highest-yield A216 grade, with its raised manganese limit, to thin walls or lift pressure class on valves and pump casings; welding needs stricter preheat control. | 315 | 540 | 26 | 160 HB | — |
Quenched and tempered | Choose liquid quenching and tempering, a permitted A216 option, for thick walls or top strength-toughness combinations; yield reaches 380 MPa at higher cost and distortion risk. | 380 | 585 | 24 | 12 HRC | 9.5 % IACS |
What is WCB?
WCB is the baseline cast carbon steel of ASTM A216 (UNS J03002, comparable to ZG230-450), normally supplied normalized or normalized-and-tempered at about 290 MPa yield, 520 MPa tensile, 28 % elongation and 150 HB (80 HRB). It is the default material for pressure-containing sand castings — valve bodies, pump casings, flanges and fittings — in service up to about 425 °C, and it welds and machines readily. WCB has no inherent corrosion resistance and is not impact-qualified for sub-zero duty; use A352 LCB or LCA for cold service and an alloy or stainless casting grade for higher temperatures and corrosive media. WCB has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F). WCB has a yield strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — weaker than 88% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 202 GPa (29.3 Msi).
What is WCB used for?
- Valve bodies
- Pump casings
- Pipe fittings
- Flanges
- Pressure vessel components
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 28%, better than 89% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades
- Readily welded — 80/100, better than 79% of steel grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 290 MPa (42.1 ksi), worse than 88% of steel grades
WCB properties
Typical room-temperature values for WCB-WCB; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
WCB has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,425°C (2,597 °F).
Mechanical16
WCB has a yield strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — weaker than 88% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 202 GPa (29.3 Msi).
Thermal6
WCB is rated for continuous service to 425°C (797 °F). It conducts heat at 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 87% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.9 µm/m·K (6.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
WCB conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of WCB takes about 24 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 97% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 85%.
Manufacturability8
WCB's machinability is good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability poor (25/100).
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. WCB is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with WCB
Is WCB easy to machine?
Machinability is good in the normalized condition at 137–187 HB, close to 1030 steel. The cast skin carries embedded sand, so remove it with a heavy first roughing pass or abrasive blasting; use carbide tooling with generous coolant.
Can WCB be welded?
With C ≤ 0.30 % and carbon equivalent typically ≤ 0.45, WCB welds with E7018 or ER70S-6 consumables. For heavy walls or casting repair, preheat 95–150 °C and apply post-weld heat treatment qualified to ASME Section IX.
Can WCB be formed, bent or molded?
Produced mainly by sand casting in resin-bonded or sodium-silicate sand; solidification shrinkage is about 2 %, so use adequate risers and chills to avoid shrinkage porosity. Castings must be normalized or annealed after pouring to refine the as-cast structure.
WCB 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CWCB max 0.30; WCA 0.25, WCC 0.25 | ≤ 0.3 | 0.25 |
| MnWCC max 1.20; +0.04 Mn per 0.01 C cut, to 1.28 (WCB) | ≤ 1 | 0.8 |
| Si | ≤ 0.6 | 0.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Curesidual element | ≤ 0.3 | 0.15 |
| Niresidual element | ≤ 0.5 | 0.15 |
| Crresidual element | ≤ 0.5 | 0.15 |
| Moresidual element | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Vresidual element; total residuals ≤ 1.00% | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on WCB?
Not anodizable. Typical protection is blasting plus epoxy or polyurethane paint, phosphating, zinc plating or nickel plating; valve sealing faces are commonly hardfaced with a Stellite weld overlay.
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 WCB in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- J03002
- ASTM
- A216 Grade WCB
- GB (China)
- ZG230-450
How much does WCB cost?
WCB is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
WCB — frequently asked
What is WCB used for?
WCB is typically used for valve bodies, pump casings, pipe fittings, flanges and pressure vessel components. In short: default pressure-casting steel; weldable to 425 °C service; lowest-cost valve body grade.
What is the yield strength of WCB?
WCB has a typical yield strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 520 MPa (75.4 ksi) — weaker than 88% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is WCB easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (58/100, better than 75% of steel grades). Machinability is good in the normalized condition at 137–187 HB, close to 1030 steel. The cast skin carries embedded sand, so remove it with a heavy first roughing pass or abrasive blasting; use carbide tooling with generous coolant.
Can WCB be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). With C ≤ 0.30 % and carbon equivalent typically ≤ 0.45, WCB welds with E7018 or ER70S-6 consumables. For heavy walls or casting repair, preheat 95–150 °C and apply post-weld heat treatment qualified to ASME Section IX.
What surface finishes work on WCB?
Not anodizable. Typical protection is blasting plus epoxy or polyurethane paint, phosphating, zinc plating or nickel plating; valve sealing faces are commonly hardfaced with a Stellite weld overlay.
Can WCB be formed, bent or molded?
Produced mainly by sand casting in resin-bonded or sodium-silicate sand; solidification shrinkage is about 2 %, so use adequate risers and chills to avoid shrinkage porosity. Castings must be normalized or annealed after pouring to refine the as-cast structure.
What is the maximum service temperature of WCB?
WCB is rated for continuous use to about 425°C (797 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between WCB and WCB-WCA?
WCB is the default condition — choose the normalized (or normalized and tempered) default for most valve bodies, pump casings and fittings; 290 MPa yield, good weldability and low cost up to 425 °C. WCA: pick the lowest-carbon, lowest-strength A216 grade for pressure castings that need the best weldability and toughness with only modest strength, including parts needing extensive weld repair. Yield strength is 290 MPa in WCB versus 250 MPa in WCA.
How much does WCB cost?
WCB is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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 A216/A216M Standard Specification for Steel Castings, Carbon, Suitable for Fusion Welding, for High-Temperature Service — ASTM International (2018)
- ASME B16.34 Valves — Flanged, Threaded, and Welding End (pressure-temperature ratings) — ASME (2020)
- ASME BPVC Section II Part D — Properties (Metric) — ASME (2023)
- Steel Castings Handbook, 6th ed. — Steel Founders' Society of America / ASM International (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.