Tungsten Carbide Grades
A cemented carbide grade, technically a WC-Co (tungsten carbide–cobalt) or nickel-bonded composite, is defined by its binder, binder percentage, grain size, tungsten carbide hardness and transverse rupture strength (TRS). Sonani Tungsten manufactures the SCW, SCR, SCF, SCK and SCN grade families, spanning coarse-grain through submicron ultra-fine carbide at 0.8–0.9 µm. Use the chart below to compare carbide material properties, composition, carbide density, hardness and TRS, and find the right grade for your application.
Tungsten Carbide Grade Specifications
Full composition, density, hardness, TRS and grain size for every Sonani Tungsten grade.
Showing 14 of 14 grades
| Grade SC | WC% | Co% | Ni% | Others-% | Specific Wt. (gm/cc³) | Hardness (Hv) | Min. TRS (N/mm²) | Gr.Size (microns) | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCW06 | 94 | 6 | NIL | NIL | 14.85-15.10 | 1450-1585 | 2400 | 1.3-1.8 | Wire drawing dies, gauges, seals, valves, choke beans, flow cages, nozzles and wear pads. |
| SCW11 | 89 | 11 | NIL | NIL | 14.35-14.50 | 1210-1330 | 3000 | 1.7-2.1 | Tube drawing, powder compaction dies and core rods, and sealing rings. |
| SCW15 | 85 | 15 | NIL | NIL | 13.95-14.15 | 1060-1180 | 3000 | 1.6-2.0 | Cold tube drawing, metal forming dies, coining dies, mineral-processing bowls and stamping punches. |
| SCW25 | 75 | 25 | NIL | NIL | 13.00-13.25 | 740-860 | 3100 | 2.3-2.7 | Fastener manufacturing, can extrusion and swaging dies. |
| SCR08 | 92 | 8 | NIL | NIL | 14.64-14.80 | 1200-1300 | 3000 | 2.4-2.8 | Mining buttons for rock drilling. |
| SCR09 | 91 | 9 | NIL | NIL | 14.50-14.62 | 1155-1275 | 2700 | 3.3-3.8 | Mining drill steel inserts. |
| SCF06 | 93.5 | 6 | NIL | 0.5 | 14.75-14.90 | 1700-1820 | 2400 | 0.8-0.9 | Wire drawing, metal cutting and shot blasting. |
| SCF10 | 89.5 | 10 | NIL | 0.5 | 14.33-14.50 | 1580-1700 | 3000 | 0.8-0.9 | Plastic granular cutting and metal cutting. |
| SCF15 | 84.66 | 15 | NIL | 0.34 | 13.88-14.04 | 1300-1420 | 3300 | 0.8-0.9 | High-impact coining and oil & gas components. |
| SCK06 | 92.2 | 6 | NIL | 1.8 | 14.72-14.88 | 1470-1590 | 2400 | 1.5-1.9 | Broach cutters for the bearing industry, rotary burrs and metal cutting. |
| SCK06M | 92.2 | 6 | NIL | 1.8 | 14.70-14.86 | 1500-1620 | 2400 | 0.8-0.9 | Knives for asbestos sheet cutting. |
| SCN06 | 94 | NIL | 6 | NIL | 14.88-15.04 | 1300-1420 | 2400 | 1.1-1.4 | Wear parts for the food and oil & gas industries, including pump seal rings. |
| SCN10 | 90 | NIL | 10 | NIL | 14.40-14.60 | 1370-1490 | 2600 | 1.1-1.4 | Wear-resistant parts for corrosive environments in the food and oil & gas industries. |
| SCN27 | 72.5 | NIL | 27 | 0.5 | 13.05-13.25 | 750-850 | 3100 | 1.5-1.9 | Stabilizer discs for the oil & gas industry. |
- WC%
- 94
- Co%
- 6
- Ni%
- NIL
- Others%
- NIL
- Specific Wt.
- 14.85-15.10
- Hardness
- 1450-1585
- Min. TRS
- 2400
- Gr.Size
- 1.3-1.8
Application: Wire drawing dies, gauges, seals, valves, choke beans, flow cages, nozzles and wear pads.
- WC%
- 89
- Co%
- 11
- Ni%
- NIL
- Others%
- NIL
- Specific Wt.
- 14.35-14.50
- Hardness
- 1210-1330
- Min. TRS
- 3000
- Gr.Size
- 1.7-2.1
Application: Tube drawing, powder compaction dies and core rods, and sealing rings.
- WC%
- 85
- Co%
- 15
- Ni%
- NIL
- Others%
- NIL
- Specific Wt.
- 13.95-14.15
- Hardness
- 1060-1180
- Min. TRS
- 3000
- Gr.Size
- 1.6-2.0
Application: Cold tube drawing, metal forming dies, coining dies, mineral-processing bowls and stamping punches.
- WC%
- 75
- Co%
- 25
- Ni%
- NIL
- Others%
- NIL
- Specific Wt.
- 13.00-13.25
- Hardness
- 740-860
- Min. TRS
- 3100
- Gr.Size
- 2.3-2.7
Application: Fastener manufacturing, can extrusion and swaging dies.
- WC%
- 92
- Co%
- 8
- Ni%
- NIL
- Others%
- NIL
- Specific Wt.
- 14.64-14.80
- Hardness
- 1200-1300
- Min. TRS
- 3000
- Gr.Size
- 2.4-2.8
Application: Mining buttons for rock drilling.
- WC%
- 91
- Co%
- 9
- Ni%
- NIL
- Others%
- NIL
- Specific Wt.
- 14.50-14.62
- Hardness
- 1155-1275
- Min. TRS
- 2700
- Gr.Size
- 3.3-3.8
Application: Mining drill steel inserts.
- WC%
- 93.5
- Co%
- 6
- Ni%
- NIL
- Others%
- 0.5
- Specific Wt.
- 14.75-14.90
- Hardness
- 1700-1820
- Min. TRS
- 2400
- Gr.Size
- 0.8-0.9
Application: Wire drawing, metal cutting and shot blasting.
- WC%
- 89.5
- Co%
- 10
- Ni%
- NIL
- Others%
- 0.5
- Specific Wt.
- 14.33-14.50
- Hardness
- 1580-1700
- Min. TRS
- 3000
- Gr.Size
- 0.8-0.9
Application: Plastic granular cutting and metal cutting.
- WC%
- 84.66
- Co%
- 15
- Ni%
- NIL
- Others%
- 0.34
- Specific Wt.
- 13.88-14.04
- Hardness
- 1300-1420
- Min. TRS
- 3300
- Gr.Size
- 0.8-0.9
Application: High-impact coining and oil & gas components.
- WC%
- 92.2
- Co%
- 6
- Ni%
- NIL
- Others%
- 1.8
- Specific Wt.
- 14.72-14.88
- Hardness
- 1470-1590
- Min. TRS
- 2400
- Gr.Size
- 1.5-1.9
Application: Broach cutters for the bearing industry, rotary burrs and metal cutting.
- WC%
- 92.2
- Co%
- 6
- Ni%
- NIL
- Others%
- 1.8
- Specific Wt.
- 14.70-14.86
- Hardness
- 1500-1620
- Min. TRS
- 2400
- Gr.Size
- 0.8-0.9
Application: Knives for asbestos sheet cutting.
- WC%
- 94
- Co%
- NIL
- Ni%
- 6
- Others%
- NIL
- Specific Wt.
- 14.88-15.04
- Hardness
- 1300-1420
- Min. TRS
- 2400
- Gr.Size
- 1.1-1.4
Application: Wear parts for the food and oil & gas industries, including pump seal rings.
- WC%
- 90
- Co%
- NIL
- Ni%
- 10
- Others%
- NIL
- Specific Wt.
- 14.40-14.60
- Hardness
- 1370-1490
- Min. TRS
- 2600
- Gr.Size
- 1.1-1.4
Application: Wear-resistant parts for corrosive environments in the food and oil & gas industries.
- WC%
- 72.5
- Co%
- NIL
- Ni%
- 27
- Others%
- 0.5
- Specific Wt.
- 13.05-13.25
- Hardness
- 750-850
- Min. TRS
- 3100
- Gr.Size
- 1.5-1.9
Application: Stabilizer discs for the oil & gas industry.
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Product Catalogue
Take the grade chart with you
The full specification table above, plus our complete product range and key applications, in one PDF you can share with your team or attach to an enquiry.
Download catalogueUnderstanding the Grade Families
SCW: Cobalt-Binder (General Purpose)
Straight tungsten carbide–cobalt grades from 6% to 25% cobalt. Higher cobalt gives greater toughness; lower cobalt gives greater hardness and wear resistance. Used across wire drawing, forming dies, valves, seals and wear parts.
SCR: Mining & Rock Drilling
Cobalt grades (8–9%) optimized for high impact and abrasion in hard-rock drilling, tungsten carbide mining buttons and drill steel inserts.
SCF: Fine-Grain (High Hardness)
Fine-grain grades (≈0.8–0.9 µm) delivering the highest hardness for metal cutting, wire drawing, shot blasting and high-impact coining.
SCK: Special Application
Specialized cobalt grades with controlled additives for broach cutters in the bearing industry, rotary burrs and asbestos-sheet cutting knives.
SCN: Nickel-Binder (Corrosion Resistant)
Nickel-bonded grades for corrosion-resistant and food / oil & gas service, pump seal rings and stabilizer discs.
Which Grade for Your Application?
Recommended grades by industry, tap through to each product range.
YG Grade Equivalents
Buyers familiar with the YG grade system can use this guide to find a comparable Sonani Tungsten grade.
| YG Grade | Cobalt Content | Comparable Sonani Grade |
|---|---|---|
| YG6 | ~6% | SCW06 |
| YG8 | ~8% | SCR08 |
| YG11 | ~11% | SCW11 |
| YG15 | ~15% | SCW15 |
| YG20 | ~20% | SCW15 / SCW25 |
| YG25 | ~25% | SCW25 |
- Cobalt Content
- ~6%
- Comparable Sonani Grade
- SCW06
- Cobalt Content
- ~8%
- Comparable Sonani Grade
- SCR08
- Cobalt Content
- ~11%
- Comparable Sonani Grade
- SCW11
- Cobalt Content
- ~15%
- Comparable Sonani Grade
- SCW15
- Cobalt Content
- ~20%
- Comparable Sonani Grade
- SCW15 / SCW25
- Cobalt Content
- ~25%
- Comparable Sonani Grade
- SCW25
Comparisons are by cobalt content; the exact equivalent also depends on grain size and intended use. Contact us for the right grade match for your part.
How to Select a Tungsten Carbide Grade
Three properties decide the right grade for your part, balance them to match your wear, impact and operating environment.
Cobalt / Nickel %
More binder (cobalt or nickel) means greater toughness and impact resistance; less binder gives greater hardness and wear resistance.
Grain Size
Finer grain (e.g. the SCF family at ≈0.8–0.9 µm) raises hardness and edge retention; coarser grain improves toughness under impact loads.
Binder Type
Cobalt binders suit general wear and forming; nickel binders (SCN) add corrosion resistance for food, chemical and oil & gas service.
Tungsten Carbide Grade FAQs
Common questions about tungsten carbide grades, YG equivalents and grade selection.
What are the different tungsten carbide grades?
Sonani Tungsten produces grades across five families: SCW (cobalt-binder, general purpose), SCR (mining and rock drilling), SCF (fine-grain, high hardness), SCK (special applications) and SCN (nickel-binder, corrosion resistant). Each grade is defined by its cobalt or nickel content, grain size, hardness and transverse rupture strength.
What is the difference between YG6 and YG8 tungsten carbide?
YG6 contains about 6% cobalt and YG8 about 8% cobalt. Lower-cobalt YG6 is harder and more wear-resistant, while higher-cobalt YG8 is tougher and better suited to impact. In our range, YG6 is comparable to SCW06 and YG8 to SCR08.
Which tungsten carbide grade is best for mining?
For mining and hard-rock drilling, the SCR family is recommended, SCR08 for buttons and SCR09 for drill steel inserts, because their 8–9% cobalt content balances impact toughness with abrasion resistance.
Which tungsten carbide grade is best for oil and gas applications?
For oil & gas flow-control components, SCF15 (high-impact coining and oil & gas use) and the nickel-binder grades SCN06, SCN10 and SCN27 are recommended for their corrosion resistance and wear protection.
How does cobalt content affect tungsten carbide?
Cobalt is the binder that holds the tungsten carbide grains together. More cobalt increases toughness and impact resistance but lowers hardness; less cobalt increases hardness and wear resistance but reduces toughness.
What is fine-grain tungsten carbide?
Fine-grain grades (such as the SCF family, around 0.8–0.9 µm grain size) pack more, smaller carbide grains into the structure, producing higher hardness for demanding cutting, wire drawing and shot-blasting applications.
Need Help Selecting a Grade?
Our quality and metallurgy team can recommend the optimal carbide grade for your application, tolerances, and operating conditions.
Talk to our QC team