Tungsten Alloy WC-6Co · print state · default condition
Tungsten Alloy WC-6Co Sintered
Properties of the Sintered condition, compared with the other WC-6Co tempers.
Standard as-supplied condition for YG6/K20 blanks, rods, strips and wear parts — balanced hardness and toughness.
What is WC-6Co Sintered?
WC-6Co Sintered is WC-6Co in the Sintered condition — standard as-supplied condition for YG6/K20 blanks, rods, strips and wear parts — balanced hardness and toughness. WC-6Co Sintered has a tensile strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi), stronger than 71% of tungsten alloy grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 630 GPa (91.4 Msi). WC-6Co Sintered 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).
Advantages
- Stiff — 630 GPa (91.4 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
- Limited ductility — 0%, worse than 97% of tungsten alloy grades
- Poor heat conductor — 80 W/m·K (46.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of tungsten alloy grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 8.6 % IACS, worse than 83% of tungsten alloy grades
- Low fracture toughness — 10 MPa·√m (9.1 ksi·√in), worse than 81% of tungsten alloy grades
WC-6Co Sintered properties
Typical room-temperature values for WC-6Co Sintered — 7 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every WC-6Co temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the tungsten alloy grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical2
WC-6Co Sintered 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).
Mechanical10
WC-6Co Sintered has a tensile strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi), stronger than 71% of tungsten alloy grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 630 GPa (91.4 Msi).
Thermal5
WC-6Co Sintered is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 80 W/m·K (46.2 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 Sintered conducts electricity at 8.6 % IACS, worse than 83% of tungsten alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (50/100), worse than 69% of tungsten alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of WC-6Co Sintered 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 Sintered's machinability is not recommended (3/100, worse than 95% of tungsten alloy grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); 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.
Other WC-6Co tempers and conditions
WC-6Co is also supplied in 4 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the WC-6Co overview.
- SinteredDefaultStandard as-supplied condition for YG6/K20 blanks, rods, strips and wear parts — balanced hardness and toughness.1,300 MPa tensile
Working with WC-6Co Sintered
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 Sintered — frequently asked
What is WC-6Co Sintered used for?
WC-6Co Sintered 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 Sintered?
WC-6Co Sintered has a typical tensile strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi) — stronger than 71% of tungsten alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is WC-6Co Sintered 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 Sintered 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 Sintered?
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 Sintered 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 Sintered?
WC-6Co Sintered 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in WC-6Co Sintered?
Yes — WC-6Co Sintered is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
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.