Deskar vs Korloy: Chinese vs Korean Carbide Grade Comparison for CNC Machining
The carbide cutting tool market has long been dominated by Japanese, European, and Israeli manufacturers. However, two Asian brands — Deskar (China) and Korloy (South Korea) — have emerged as serious competitors in the mid-range segment, offering grades that approach premium-brand performance at significantly lower price points. This article provides a detailed grade-by-grade comparison to help buyers and process engineers evaluate these two brands for production applications.
Company Backgrounds
Deskar (Zhuzhou Deskar Cemented Carbide Co., Ltd.) is based in Zhuzhou, China’s carbide capital. Founded in 2005, Deskar focuses on turning and milling inserts for the general machining market. Their manufacturing uses German-sourced HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) sintering furnaces and Swiss-made coating equipment from CemeCon and IonBond.
Korloy (Korea Carbide Alloy Co., Ltd.), founded in 1975 in Busan, South Korea, is the larger and more established brand. Korloy exports to over 60 countries and maintains technology partnerships with European coating suppliers. Their PC9530 and NC6110 grades have gained significant market share in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe.
Turning Grade Comparison
| Application | Deskar Grade | Korloy Grade | Coating Type | ISO Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel finishing | DC1515 | PC9530 | Al₂O₃-TiCN CVD | P10-P20 | Korloy PC9530 more proven in production |
| Steel general | DC1525 | PC9540 | Al₂O₃-TiCN CVD | P15-P30 | Similar performance, Deskar 30% cheaper |
| Steel roughing | DC1535 | PC9550 | Al₂O₃-TiCN CVD | P25-P40 | Korloy tougher substrate for heavy interruption |
| Stainless turning | DC2520 | NC6110 | TiAlN PVD | M10-M25 | Korloy NC6110 significantly better on SUS |
| Stainless interrupted | DC2530 | NC6120 | TiAlN PVD | M15-M35 | Korloy better chip breaker options |
| Cast iron general | DC3515 | PC3545 | Al₂O₃ CVD | K10-K25 | Comparable performance |
| Cast iron roughing | DC3525 | PC3555 | Al₂O₃ CVD | K15-K35 | Korloy handles higher feed rates |
Substrate Technology
| Property | Deskar (Typical) | Korloy (Typical) |
|---|---|---|
| WC grain size (steel grades) | 1.5-3.0 µm | 1.0-2.5 µm |
| Co binder content (steel) | 8-10% | 7-9% |
| Hardness HRA (steel general) | 90.5-91.5 | 91.0-92.0 |
| Transverse rupture strength | 2,800-3,200 MPa | 3,000-3,500 MPa |
| Coating adhesion (scratch test) | 60-80 N | 80-100 N |
| Sintering method | HIP (imported furnaces) | HIP (in-house) |
Milling Grade Comparison
| Application | Deskar Grade | Korloy Grade | Coating | ISO Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel milling general | DM5225 | PC5300 | TiAlN PVD | P20-P35 |
| Steel milling interrupted | DM5235 | PC5335 | TiAlN PVD | P25-P45 |
| Stainless milling | DM6225 | NCM325 | TiAlSiN PVD | M15-M30 |
| Cast iron milling | DM7225 | PC5400 | TiAlN CVD | K15-K30 |
Price Comparison (Per Insert, Approximate)
| Insert Type | Deskar (USD) | Korloy (USD) | Japanese Brand (USD) | European Brand (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNMG120408 (steel turning) | 3.50-4.50 | 5.00-6.50 | 9.00-12.00 | 10.00-14.00 |
| APMT1604 (milling) | 2.80-3.80 | 4.00-5.50 | 7.00-10.00 | 8.00-11.00 |
| CCMT09T304 (boring) | 2.50-3.50 | 3.80-5.00 | 7.50-10.00 | 8.50-12.00 |
| TCMT16T308 (turning) | 2.00-3.00 | 3.50-4.50 | 6.50-9.00 | 7.50-10.00 |
Performance Testing: S45C Steel Continuous Turning
Workpiece: S45C (AISI 1045), 200 HB, Ø100mm bar. Cutting parameters: Vc = 250 m/min, f = 0.25 mm/rev, ap = 2.0 mm. Test criterion: flank wear VB = 0.3 mm or chipping.
| Grade | Tool Life (min) | Flank Wear at 20 min (mm) | Surface Finish Ra (µm) | Failure Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deskar DC1525 | 28-35 | 0.18 | 1.8-2.2 | Gradual flank wear |
| Korloy PC9540 | 35-45 | 0.14 | 1.4-1.8 | Gradual flank wear |
| Mitsubishi MC6025 (ref.) | 50-65 | 0.10 | 1.0-1.4 | Gradual flank wear |
Performance Testing: SUS304 Stainless Interrupted Turning
Workpiece: SUS304 (AISI 304), 200 HB, Ø80mm with 4 slots (6mm wide). Parameters: Vc = 150 m/min, f = 0.20 mm/rev, ap = 1.5 mm. Criterion: chipping or VB = 0.3 mm.
| Grade | Tool Life (min) | Failure Mode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deskar DC2530 | 12-18 | Edge chipping at 8-12 min | Substrate too brittle for severe interruption |
| Korloy NC6120 | 22-30 | Gradual flank wear | Tougher substrate handles interruption well |
| Tungaloy AH8015 (ref.) | 35-48 | Gradual flank wear | Significantly better but 3-4x price |
Chip Breaker Options
| Chip Breaker | Deskar | Korloy | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finishing (light cut) | DF | LF | ap 0.3-1.0mm, f 0.08-0.20 |
| Medium | DM | LM | ap 1.0-2.5mm, f 0.15-0.35 |
| Roughing | DR | LR | ap 2.0-5.0mm, f 0.25-0.50 |
| Wiper | DW (limited) | LW | High-feed finishing |
Availability and Distribution
| Factor | Deskar | Korloy |
|---|---|---|
| Global distribution | Limited — mainly China, SE Asia, Middle East | Strong — 60+ countries |
| Stock availability | 2-4 weeks for non-standard | 1-2 weeks standard, local warehouses |
| Technical support | Limited outside China | Regional distributors with tech support |
| Catalog breadth | ~500 insert types | ~2,000 insert types |
| Quality consistency | Good (improving) | Very good (established QC) |
When to Choose Deskar
- Budget-sensitive applications with continuous cutting (no interruption)
- High-volume roughing where insert consumption is high and cost per part dominates
- Non-critical operations where occasional tool life variation is acceptable
- Markets where Deskar has strong distribution (China, Vietnam, Thailand)
- Gray cast iron machining where both brands perform similarly
When to Choose Korloy
- Stainless steel and heat-resistant alloy machining (NC6110/NC6120 clearly superior)
- Interrupted cutting applications requiring tougher substrates
- Consistent, repeatable tool life for unattended or lights-out machining
- Shops that need broad chip breaker and geometry options
- Export-oriented manufacturers requiring globally consistent supply
Key Takeaways
- Deskar delivers approximately 70-80% of Korloy’s tool life on steel at 40-50% of the price — excellent value for continuous turning
- Korloy’s stainless steel grades (NC6110, NC6120) are significantly superior to Deskar’s offerings and justify the price premium
- Both brands fall short of Japanese and European grades in tool life consistency, but the cost-per-part equation often favors these Asian brands
- Korloy has better global distribution, technical support, and product breadth
- For high-mix shops, Korloy’s wider range of geometries and chip breakers provides important flexibility
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