Tungsten Alloy WC-10Co
WC-10Co is a cemented carbide of tungsten carbide grains in a 10 wt% cobalt binder (GB YG10, ISO K30 class).
Reference datasheet — WC-10Co 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 Sintered condition
WC-10Co tempers and conditions
WC-10Co is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. Sintered 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coarse grain WC-10Co | Pick for impact- and thermal-shock-dominated duty: rock drill buttons, mining tips, hot rolling rolls. | 1,200 | 0 | 70 HRC | 9.6 % IACS | |
SinteredDefault vacuum/pressure sintered, as-sintered or ground | Standard stocked condition for YG10/K30 rods, plates, dies and tips; medium WC grain (2–4 µm). | 1,300 | 1,580 HV | 95 W/m·K | ||
Hot isostatic pressed | Choose when porosity-free structure is needed for maximum transverse rupture strength and fatigue life (large dies, punches, seal rings). | 1,500 | 0 | 74 HRC | 8.5 % IACS | |
Fine/submicron grain WC-10Co | Pick for sharp cutting edges, micro-drills, PCB tooling and wear parts needing high hardness with acceptable toughness. | 1,600 | 0 | 75 HRC | 7.8 % IACS |
What is WC-10Co?
WC-10Co is a cemented carbide of tungsten carbide grains in a 10 wt% cobalt binder (GB YG10, ISO K30 class). Compared with WC-6Co it trades a little hardness for higher transverse rupture strength and fracture toughness, so it suits impact loading: cold stamping and drawing dies, heavy milling, rock drill bits, rolls and wear parts; stiffness is 580 GPa, strength about 1300 MPa, thermal conductivity 95 W/m·K and density 14.5 g/cm³. Limits are near-zero ductility, shaping only by grinding or EDM (machinability 3), cobalt binder corrosion in acids, and oxidation in air above about 500 °C. WC-6Co is harder; WC-12Co is tougher. WC-10Co has a density of 14.5 g/cm³ (0.524 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of tungsten alloy grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F). WC-10Co has a tensile strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi), stronger than 71% of tungsten alloy grades. The elastic modulus is 580 GPa (84.1 Msi).
What is WC-10Co used for?
- Cutting tool inserts
- Cold stamping and blanking dies
- Wire drawing dies
- Rock drill bits
- Rolls and roll rings
- Heavy milling cutters
- Wear parts and nozzles
Advantages
- Stiff — 580 GPa (84.1 Msi), better than 95% of tungsten alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 90/100, better than 93% of tungsten alloy grades
- Lightweight — 14.5 g/cm³ (0.524 lb/in³), better than 90% of tungsten alloy grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 40/100, worse than 100% of tungsten alloy grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 8.5 % IACS, worse than 90% of tungsten alloy grades
WC-10Co properties
Typical room-temperature values for WC-10Co-Sintered; bars are the position among tungsten alloy grades.
Physical2
WC-10Co has a density of 14.5 g/cm³ (0.524 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of tungsten alloy grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F).
Mechanical11
WC-10Co has a tensile strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi), stronger than 71% of tungsten alloy grades. The elastic modulus is 580 GPa (84.1 Msi).
Thermal5
WC-10Co is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 95 W/m·K (54.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 71% of tungsten alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 5.5 µm/m·K (3.06 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
WC-10Co conducts electricity at 8.5 % IACS, worse than 90% of tungsten alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), worse than 100% of tungsten alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of WC-10Co takes about 350 MJ of energy and emits 25 kg of CO₂ — less than 76% of tungsten alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
WC-10Co's machinability is not recommended (3/100, worse than 95% of tungsten alloy grades); weldability not recommended (8/100); formability not recommended (1/100).
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 tungsten alloy family
Yield strength against density for every tungsten alloy grade FabDigit runs. WC-10Co is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with WC-10Co
Is WC-10Co easy to machine?
No conventional cutting — shape by diamond wheel grinding, diamond wire/EDM, laser or diamond lapping; avoid grinding burn and keep coolant flooding to prevent surface cracks.
Can WC-10Co be welded?
Not fusion weldable; join by Ag-Cu-Zn or Cu-Mn brazing (with Ni-plate or trimet shim to control thermal-stress cracking), or by adhesive/shrink fit.
Can WC-10Co be formed, bent or molded?
Net shape comes from pressing (uniaxial/CIP) plus extrusion of PM feedstock, then vacuum or sinter-HIP sintering with ~18–20 % linear shrinkage; no cold forming after sintering.
WC-10Co 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cobinder phase | 9 – 11 | 10 |
| TaC+NbCoptional grain-growth inhibitor / grain refiner in some producer grades | 0 – 0.8 | 0.2 |
| Cr3C2/VCgrain-growth inhibitors in fine-grain variants only | 0 – 0.6 | |
| WCbalance; total carbon controlled to avoid eta phase or free graphite | balance |
What surface finishes work on WC-10Co?
Diamond lap/polish to Ra < 0.05 µm; PVD (TiAlN/AlCrN) or CVD coating for tooling; no anodizing, and electroplating requires careful Co-binder activation.
How much does WC-10Co cost?
WC-10Co is a specialty-cost tungsten alloy ($$$$$), pricier than about 99% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
WC-10Co — frequently asked
What is WC-10Co used for?
WC-10Co is typically used for cutting tool inserts, cold stamping and blanking dies, wire drawing dies, rock drill bits, rolls and roll rings and heavy milling cutters. In short: tougher cemented carbide.
What is the tensile strength of WC-10Co?
WC-10Co has a typical tensile strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi) — stronger than 71% of tungsten alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is WC-10Co easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (3/100, worse than 95% of tungsten alloy grades). No conventional cutting — shape by diamond wheel grinding, diamond wire/EDM, laser or diamond lapping; avoid grinding burn and keep coolant flooding to prevent surface cracks.
Can WC-10Co be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (8/100). Not fusion weldable; join by Ag-Cu-Zn or Cu-Mn brazing (with Ni-plate or trimet shim to control thermal-stress cracking), or by adhesive/shrink fit.
What surface finishes work on WC-10Co?
Diamond lap/polish to Ra < 0.05 µm; PVD (TiAlN/AlCrN) or CVD coating for tooling; no anodizing, and electroplating requires careful Co-binder activation.
Can WC-10Co be formed, bent or molded?
Net shape comes from pressing (uniaxial/CIP) plus extrusion of PM feedstock, then vacuum or sinter-HIP sintering with ~18–20 % linear shrinkage; no cold forming after sintering.
What is the maximum service temperature of WC-10Co?
WC-10Co is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does WC-10Co cost?
WC-10Co is a specialty-cost tungsten alloy ($$$$$), pricier than about 99% 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
- ISO 513 — Classification and application of hard cutting materials (K group) — ISO (2012)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials (Cemented Carbides) — ASM International (1990)
- Hardmetal grade property tables (WC-Co, 6–15 % Co) — Sandvik Hard Materials / Ceratizit / Kennametal (2023)
- Cemented carbide property compilations — CES/MatWeb-type engineering databases (2022)
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.