Cobalt-Chrome Alloy L605 · heat-treated state · default condition
Cobalt-Chrome Alloy L605 Solution Annealed
Properties of the Solution Annealed condition, compared with the other L605 tempers.
Standard mill condition for sheet, plate, bar and tube — maximum ductility and formability, best corrosion and creep behaviour baseline.
What is L605 Solution Annealed?
L605 Solution Annealed is L605 heat treated to Solution Annealed — standard mill condition for sheet, plate, bar and tube — maximum ductility and formability, best corrosion and creep behaviour baseline. L605 Solution Annealed has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,010 MPa (146 ksi) — weaker than 93% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Elongation at break is 58% and the elastic modulus is 225 GPa (32.6 Msi). L605 Solution Annealed has a density of 9.13 g/cm³ (0.33 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. It melts at 1,329°C (2,424 °F).
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 58%, better than 100% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 60/100, better than 95% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- High service temperature — 980°C (1,796 °F), better than 93% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- Readily welded — 72/100, better than 93% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 9.4 W/m·K (5.43 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 100% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- High embodied carbon — 19 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 95% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
- Low strength — 460 MPa (66.7 ksi), worse than 93% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades
L605 Solution Annealed properties
Typical room-temperature values for L605 Solution Annealed — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every L605 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the cobalt-chrome alloy grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
L605 Solution Annealed has a density of 9.13 g/cm³ (0.33 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. It melts at 1,329°C (2,424 °F).
Mechanical14
L605 Solution Annealed has a yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,010 MPa (146 ksi) — weaker than 93% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Elongation at break is 58% and the elastic modulus is 225 GPa (32.6 Msi).
Thermal6
L605 Solution Annealed is rated for continuous service to 980°C (1,796 °F). It conducts heat at 9.4 W/m·K (5.43 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 100% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 12.3 µm/m·K (6.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
L605 Solution Annealed conducts electricity at 1.9 % IACS, worse than 54% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (82/100), better than 67% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of L605 Solution Annealed takes about 250 MJ of energy and emits 19 kg of CO₂ — more than 91% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
L605 Solution Annealed's machinability is poor (18/100, better than 91% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades); weldability very good (72/100); formability good (60/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other L605 tempers and conditions
L605 is also supplied in 4 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the L605 overview.
- Solution AnnealedDefaultStandard mill condition for sheet, plate, bar and tube — maximum ductility and formability, best corrosion and creep behaviour baseline.460 MPa yield · 240 HB
- Cold WorkedPick for high-strength springs, wire, stents and thin-wall tube where strength matters more than ductility.1,250 MPa yield · 42 HRC
- As PrintedBaseline LPBF/SLM condition: fine cellular structure gives high yield strength but reduced ductility and high residual stress — usually heat treated before service.700 MPa yield · 32 HRC
- Stress RelievedUse to relax residual stress in welded, cold-formed or additively built parts while keeping most of the strength.570 MPa yield · 28 HRC
- HIPChoose for AM or cast parts needing closed porosity, homogenised structure and best ductility/fatigue for flight or implant hardware.480 MPa yield · 245 HB
Working with L605 Solution Annealed
Is L605 easy to machine?
Machine like a work-hardening superalloy: rigid setups, positive-rake carbide or ceramic tooling, low speed / heavy feed, flood coolant and no dwelling to avoid glazing and rapid tool wear.
Can L605 be welded?
Readily GTAW/PAW/EB/laser welded with matching L605 filler (AMS 5796); keep heat input low, use clean argon shielding and re-solution anneal heavily restrained or cold-worked joints.
Can L605 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms well when annealed but hardens fast — allow generous bend radii, interstage anneals at 1175–1230 °C; hot work at 1150–1230 °C and finish above ~1050 °C.
What surface finishes work on L605?
Not anodizable; use pickling/passivation, electropolishing or fine mechanical polishing (excellent mirror finish for implants), plus aluminide or thermal-barrier coatings for hot-gas parts.
L605 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cr | 19 – 21 | 20 |
| W | 14 – 16 | 15 |
| Ni | 9 – 11 | 10 |
| Fe | ≤ 3 | 1.5 |
| Mn | 1 – 2 | 1.5 |
| C | 0.05 – 0.15 | 0.1 |
| Si | ≤ 0.4 | 0.2 |
| P | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Cobalance, nominally ~51 % | balance | — |
L605 Solution Annealed — frequently asked
What is L605 Solution Annealed used for?
L605 Solution Annealed is typically used for combustion liners and transition ducts, turbine and exhaust valves, hot-gas ducting and seals, high-temperature springs, afterburner and nozzle components and surgical implants and stents. In short: aerospace high-temp cobalt.
What is the yield strength of L605 Solution Annealed?
L605 Solution Annealed has a typical yield strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,010 MPa (146 ksi) — weaker than 93% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is L605 Solution Annealed easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (18/100, better than 91% of cobalt-chrome alloy grades). Machine like a work-hardening superalloy: rigid setups, positive-rake carbide or ceramic tooling, low speed / heavy feed, flood coolant and no dwelling to avoid glazing and rapid tool wear.
Can L605 Solution Annealed be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (72/100). Readily GTAW/PAW/EB/laser welded with matching L605 filler (AMS 5796); keep heat input low, use clean argon shielding and re-solution anneal heavily restrained or cold-worked joints.
What surface finishes work on L605 Solution Annealed?
Not anodizable; use pickling/passivation, electropolishing or fine mechanical polishing (excellent mirror finish for implants), plus aluminide or thermal-barrier coatings for hot-gas parts.
Can L605 Solution Annealed be formed, bent or molded?
Cold forms well when annealed but hardens fast — allow generous bend radii, interstage anneals at 1175–1230 °C; hot work at 1150–1230 °C and finish above ~1050 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of L605 Solution Annealed?
L605 Solution Annealed is rated for continuous use to about 980°C (1,796 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between L605 Solution Annealed and L605-HIP?
Solution Annealed is the default condition — standard mill condition for sheet, plate, bar and tube — maximum ductility and formability, best corrosion and creep behaviour baseline. HIP: choose for AM or cast parts needing closed porosity, homogenised structure and best ductility/fatigue for flight or implant hardware. Yield strength is 460 MPa in Solution Annealed versus 480 MPa in HIP.
Can FabDigit make parts in L605 Solution Annealed?
Yes — L605 Solution Annealed is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- AMS 5537 — Cobalt Alloy Sheet, Strip and Plate (UNS R30605) — SAE International (2020)
- AMS 5759 — Cobalt Alloy Bars, Forgings and Rings (UNS R30605) — SAE International (2019)
- ASTM F90 — Wrought Co-20Cr-15W-10Ni Alloy for Surgical Implant Applications — ASTM International (2021)
- HAYNES 25 alloy technical data — Haynes International (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 & Vol.2 — Superalloys / Cobalt-base alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Additive manufacturing (LPBF) L605 mechanical property compilations — peer-reviewed AM literature / powder producer datasheets (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.