WC–Co Grades
Conventional cobalt-bonded carbide systems offer a range of hardness and toughness combinations for wear and mechanical loading.
Choose a Carbide Grade for Your Application
Choosing a tungsten carbide grade starts with the component's operating conditions—not a single hardness value. Abrasion, particle erosion, impact, corrosion, contact loading and part geometry all affect the appropriate balance of wear resistance and fracture resistance.
EnduraCarbide supports application-specific grade selection for custom wear components manufactured to drawings, specifications or reference samples. The information below is a starting point for technical review, not a substitute for an approved material specification.
Select by Application Requirements
Abrasion & Sliding Wear
Prioritize resistance to material loss, with sufficient toughness for edge geometry, support and contact pressure.
Particle & Fluid Erosion
Review particle size, velocity, impact angle and fluid chemistry; hardness alone does not predict erosion performance.
Impact & Mechanical Loading
Assess fracture resistance, stress concentration, mounting and repeated loading before selecting a harder grade.
Slurry & Corrosive Wear
Evaluate abrasion and binder corrosion together, including whether a nickel-based binder should be considered.
Precision Fits & Sealing
Consider dimensional stability, surface finish, mating materials and edge integrity as well as bulk properties.
Elevated Temperature & Combined Wear
Review temperature, thermal cycling and interacting damage mechanisms under actual service conditions.
Reference Tungsten Carbide Grades
EnduraCarbide Solutions has manufactured a wide range of cemented tungsten carbide grades for wear-resistant components, forming tools, and cutting applications. The following tables present selected carbide grades and their reference material properties. These grades have been used in previous production and can be manufactured to meet customer-specific requirements. As material formulations and processing conditions may vary by application, final grade selection, material properties, and acceptance criteria are confirmed according to the requirements of each project.
Wear Components & Forming Grades
| Grade | Density (g/cm³) | TRS (MPa) | Hardness (HRA) | Typical applications / selection context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YG6 | 14.8 | ≥2150 | ≥90.0 | Wear-resistant cutting and processing of hardwood, wood, aluminum profiles, brass and cast iron. |
| YG8 | 14.8 | ≥2320 | ≥89.5 | Wear and impact resistance for processing hardwood, softwood, ferrous and non-ferrous materials. |
| YG6X | 14.8 | ≥1860 | ≥91.7 | Machining chilled alloy cast iron and heat-resistant alloys; finishing conventional cast iron. |
| YG21C | 13.6 | ≥3000 | ≥83 | Nut-forming dies and impact-loaded forging dies. |
| YG20C | 13.8 | ≥2800 | ≥84 | Dies requiring wear resistance under impact loading. |
Cutting & Machining Grades
| Grade | Density (g/cm³) | TRS (MPa) | Hardness (HRA) | Typical applications / selection context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YX10U | 14.4 | ≥4000 | ≥92 | Drills and end mills for mold steel, gray cast iron, austenitic stainless steel and heat-resistant alloys. |
| YT5 | 13.2 | ≥1560 | ≥89.5 | Heavy-duty rough turning of steel and cast steel at high feed rates and low-to-medium speeds under difficult conditions. |
| YT14 | 13.0 | ≥1400 | ≥90.5 | Finishing and semi-finishing of steel and cast steel. |
| YT15 | 13.1 | ≥1300 | ≥91 | Finishing and semi-finishing of steel and cast steel at moderate feed rates and relatively high cutting speeds. |
| YS2T | 14.8 | ≥2350 | ≥92.0 | Fine-grain cutting material for machining refractory alloys, stainless steel, and high-manganese steel. |
Material Property Note: The density, transverse rupture strength (TRS), and hardness values shown are reference properties for the listed carbide grades. Actual properties may vary depending on material composition, manufacturing conditions, and project-specific requirements. Final specifications and acceptance criteria are agreed upon before production.
Need a different carbide grade? We can review your existing grade designation, material specification, drawing or application requirements to evaluate suitable tungsten carbide options.
Special Grades & Custom Formulations
WC–Ni Grades
Nickel-bonded systems may be considered for selected corrosion-sensitive applications, subject to media-specific evaluation.
Application-Specific Design
Grain characteristics, binder content, component geometry and finishing requirements can be reviewed together for custom parts.
Grade Selection Guidance
For a useful initial review, provide the current grade if known, a drawing or sample, the observed wear or failure mode, operating conditions, required tolerances and estimated quantity. When available, include any specified density, hardness, transverse rupture strength or binder requirements.
For a deeper understanding of how WC grain characteristics, binder systems, microstructure, and manufacturing quality influence carbide performance, explore our Tungsten Carbide Material Science resources.
Request a Custom Carbide Grade
Share your component requirements using the quote form below. The optional Advanced Material Parameters section is available when you already know a preferred binder, grain-size range, hardness or coating requirement.
Engineering Knowledge Center
Selecting Tungsten Carbide Grades for Power Generation & Energy Equipment
Learn how to select tungsten carbide grades for power-generation equipment based on wear mechanisms, WC grain size, binder composition, and operating conditions.
Selecting Tungsten Carbide Grades for Construction Wear Components
Learn how carbide grain size, binder content, wear mechanisms, and mechanical loading influence grade selection for excavation, drilling, road milling, and other construction applications.
Selecting Tungsten Carbide Grades for Automotive Tooling
Learn how WC grain size, binder content, wear mechanisms, and component geometry influence carbide grade selection for stamping, cold heading, deep drawing, and precision automotive tooling.
Replacement of Worn Carbide Components in Automotive Production Tooling
Learn how wear and failure analysis, carbide grade selection, dimensional inspection, and production trials support the replacement of worn carbide components in automotive production tooling.
Carbide Grade Selection for High-Wear Metal Processing: Balancing Grain Size, Binder Content, Hardness, and Toughness
Learn how grain size, binder content, hardness, and toughness influence carbide grade selection for high-wear metal-processing tooling and components
Carbide Grades and Material Selection
Learn how WC grain size, binder composition, component geometry, and operating conditions guide the selection of a suitable tungsten carbide grade.
How to Select Tungsten Carbide Grades for Oil & Gas Components
Learn how grain size, binder composition, toughness, and operating conditions guide carbide grade selection for oil and gas components.
Tungsten Carbide Grade Selection for Severe Cement & Power Applications
Coal, fly ash, and entrained mineral particles can cause severe abrasion and high-velocity erosion in power-generation applications. Learn where tungsten carbide nozzles, liners, sleeves, and other flow-path components can help maintain critical geometry and extend replacement intervals.
Not sure which tungsten carbide grade is right for your application?
Our engineers help select the optimal carbide grade based on wear conditions, impact loads, and operating environments.
- Grades and designs tailored to your wear conditions
- Manufacturing to your drawings, specifications, or samples
- Technical support for equipment manufacturers and industrial users
Prompt Response • NDA Available • Technical Review Included
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