Tungsten Alloy WC-6Co Fine Grain
Grade
Pick for sharp-edge micro tools, PCB drills, hard non-ferrous and finishing cuts where edge strength and hardness matter more than toughness.
Values for the Fine Grain condition
Other WC-6Co tempers and conditions
WC-6Co is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at WC-6Co.
- Coarse Grain
- Sintered
- HIPed
- Fine Grain
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WC 2.5–5 µm (YG6C / K30-type) | Use for mining/rock drilling buttons, interrupted cuts and impact wear parts where thermal-shock and toughness beat peak hardness. | — | 1,250 | 0 | 77 HRC | 9.6 % IACS |
SinteredDefault vacuum/pressure sintered, medium grain (~1–2 µm WC) | Standard as-supplied condition for YG6/K20 blanks, rods, strips and wear parts — balanced hardness and toughness. | — | 1,300 | 0 | 78 HRC | 8.6 % IACS |
Hot isostatic pressed | Choose when residual porosity must be eliminated: highest transverse rupture strength and fatigue life for impact tooling, dies and long inserts. | — | 1,450 | 0 | 79 HRC | 8.8 % IACS |
Fine GrainThis page WC 0.5–0.8 µm with VC/Cr3C2 inhibitors (YG6X) | Pick for sharp-edge micro tools, PCB drills, hard non-ferrous and finishing cuts where edge strength and hardness matter more than toughness. | — | 1,500 | 0 | 1,750 HV | 7.8 % IACS |
What is WC-6Co Fine Grain?
WC-6Co Fine Grain is WC-6Co in the Fine Grain grade — pick for sharp-edge micro tools, PCB drills, hard non-ferrous and finishing cuts where edge strength and hardness matter more than toughness. WC-6Co Fine Grain has a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi), stronger than 90% of tungsten alloy grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 625 GPa (90.6 Msi). WC-6Co Fine Grain has a density of 14.9 g/cm³ (0.538 lb/in³), lighter than 86% of tungsten alloy grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F). Sintered is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Fine Grain is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Stiff — 625 GPa (90.6 Msi), better than 100% of tungsten alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 92/100, better than 100% of tungsten alloy grades
- Low embodied carbon — 18 kg CO₂/kg, better than 95% of tungsten alloy grades
- Lightweight — 14.9 g/cm³ (0.538 lb/in³), better than 86% of tungsten alloy grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 8.8 MPa·√m (8.01 ksi·√in), worse than 100% of tungsten alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 0%, worse than 97% of tungsten alloy grades
- Poor heat conductor — 72 W/m·K (41.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of tungsten alloy grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 7.8 % IACS, worse than 90% of tungsten alloy grades
WC-6Co Fine Grain properties
Typical room-temperature values for WC-6Co Fine Grain; 19 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are WC-6Co reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among tungsten alloy grades.
Physical2
WC-6Co Fine Grain has a density of 14.9 g/cm³ (0.538 lb/in³), lighter than 86% of tungsten alloy grades. It melts at 1,320°C (2,408 °F).
Mechanical14
WC-6Co Fine Grain has a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi), stronger than 90% of tungsten alloy grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 625 GPa (90.6 Msi).
Thermal5
WC-6Co Fine Grain is rated for continuous service to 450°C (842 °F). It conducts heat at 72 W/m·K (41.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of tungsten alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 5.2 µm/m·K (2.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
WC-6Co Fine Grain conducts electricity at 7.8 % IACS, worse than 90% of tungsten alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (48/100), worse than 71% of tungsten alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of WC-6Co Fine Grain takes about 250 MJ of energy and emits 18 kg of CO₂ — less than 95% of tungsten alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability7
WC-6Co Fine Grain's machinability is not recommended (3/100, worse than 95% of tungsten alloy grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability not recommended (1/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with WC-6Co Fine Grain
Is WC-6Co easy to machine?
Not machinable by conventional cutting — shape by diamond-wheel grinding, wire/sinker EDM, laser or ultrasonic; grind wet with rigid setups to avoid thermal cracking.
Can WC-6Co be welded?
Cannot be fusion welded; join by vacuum or induction brazing with Ag-Cu-Zn (BAg) or Cu-Mn filler using a soft interlayer to absorb CTE mismatch, or by shrink-fit/adhesive.
Can WC-6Co be formed, bent or molded?
Net shape is made by pressing WC/Co powder (uniaxial, CIP or extrusion/injection) and vacuum or Sinter-HIP sintering with ~18–20 % linear shrinkage; green/pre-sintered blanks can be soft-machined before final sintering.
What surface finishes work on WC-6Co?
Diamond lapping/polishing gives mirror surfaces; PVD TiAlN or CVD TiCN-Al2O3 coatings, micro-blasting and edge honing are standard; avoid acid pickling that leaches the cobalt binder.
WC-6Co 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 | 5.5 – 6.5 | 6 |
| Ccombined carbon in WC; free C and eta-phase must be absent | 5.5 – 5.8 | 5.7 |
| VC+Cr3C2grain-growth inhibitors, fine-grain variants only | 0 – 1 | 0.3 |
| TaC/NbCoptional minor addition | 0 – 0.5 | 0 |
| WCbalance, ~94 wt% | balance | — |
WC-6Co Fine Grain — frequently asked
What is WC-6Co Fine Grain used for?
WC-6Co Fine Grain is typically used for turning and milling inserts for cast iron, non-ferrous cutting inserts, wear parts and bushings, cold-forming dies, spray and blast nozzles and punches. In short: premium wear cemented carbide.
What is the tensile strength of WC-6Co Fine Grain?
WC-6Co Fine Grain has a typical tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) — stronger than 90% of tungsten alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is WC-6Co Fine Grain easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (3/100, worse than 95% of tungsten alloy grades). Not machinable by conventional cutting — shape by diamond-wheel grinding, wire/sinker EDM, laser or ultrasonic; grind wet with rigid setups to avoid thermal cracking.
Can WC-6Co Fine Grain be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Cannot be fusion welded; join by vacuum or induction brazing with Ag-Cu-Zn (BAg) or Cu-Mn filler using a soft interlayer to absorb CTE mismatch, or by shrink-fit/adhesive.
What surface finishes work on WC-6Co Fine Grain?
Diamond lapping/polishing gives mirror surfaces; PVD TiAlN or CVD TiCN-Al2O3 coatings, micro-blasting and edge honing are standard; avoid acid pickling that leaches the cobalt binder.
Can WC-6Co Fine Grain be formed, bent or molded?
Net shape is made by pressing WC/Co powder (uniaxial, CIP or extrusion/injection) and vacuum or Sinter-HIP sintering with ~18–20 % linear shrinkage; green/pre-sintered blanks can be soft-machined before final sintering.
What is the maximum service temperature of WC-6Co Fine Grain?
WC-6Co Fine Grain is rated for continuous use to about 450°C (842 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ISO 513 Classification and application of hard cutting materials — ISO (2012)
- ISO 3878 Hardmetals — Vickers hardness test / ISO 3369 density / ISO 28079 Palmqvist toughness — ISO (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 & Engineered Materials Handbook — Cemented Carbides — ASM International (1990)
- Cemented carbide grade data (WC-6Co, K20 class) — Sandvik Hard Materials / Kennametal / (2023)
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.