What is Wear Resistant Steel ?

Wear Resistant Steel

Wear-resistant steel is found in applications practically everywhere, in equipment for road building, construction, agriculture, quarrying, mining, recycling, cement and concrete production, and more. Due to high hardness, they have high mechanical properties which allow them to increase the lifetime of wear parts as well as significantly decrease the weight of equipment. Despite high hardness, abrasion-resistant steels can be bent, welded, cut, and machined with all common methods.

AR400, AR450, and AR500 are wear-resistant steels with structural properties

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AR400 stands out as a reliable, all-purpose wear-resistant steel, characterized by a nominal hardness of 400 HBW. It is particularly well-suited for applications where moderate wear is expected but high toughness, flexibility, and weldability are essential.

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AR450 is renowned for its exceptional versatility and resistance to abrasion, coupled with structural capabilities. This steel boasts a 50 HBW hardness advantage over AR400 variants, enhancing its ability to withstand wear and extend its operational lifespan. The increased hardness not only bolsters the material's strength but also improves its resistance to denting. Remarkably, its high toughness is maintained even in cold environments, allowing equipment to withstand impacts without structural compromise.

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AR500 features a nominal hardness of 500 HBW, designed for extreme wear conditions that necessitate a certain level of structural performance,. This ensures a prolonged service life and retains good workability and toughness. Common applications for AR500 include the production of liner plates, grizzly bars, wear bars, and various other components in industries where wear is a significant factor.

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Grade	Yield Strength MPa	Brinell hardness HBW	Elongation A	Impact Strength Charpy V 20 J
NM400	1200	≥370	9	17
NM450	1250	≥420	7	17
NM500	1450	≥470	5	-

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AR600 for superior wear resistance

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AR 600 is distinguished by its 600 HBW hardness and an unusually high toughness for its hardness level. This makes it suitable for the most demanding wear conditions, yet it remains capable of being cut and welded. Its applications are diverse and include use in cement plants for molds, tables, and compactors; as liner plates and screed plates in material handling and mineral processing; as liners in stationary concrete mixers; and as hammers and knives in recycling and waste fragmentation processes.

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NM400E, NM450E, and NM500E for the extreme condition

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In regions with cold climates, construction machinery, dump trucks, and other vehicles are required to operate under extreme low-temperature conditions. As a result, wear-resistant plates must maintain ultra-high hardness and service life in these environments. Baosteel has specially developed the Wear-resistant E series to satisfy the usage of wear-resistant plates in cold areas, ensuring that they can meet the impact energy requirement of 40 joules under conditions of -40 degrees Celsius.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hardox 500 the same as NM500 wear resistant steel?

They are equivalent grades by nominal hardness. Hardox 500 is SSAB's brand with about 500 HBW surface hardness; NM500 is the Chinese GB standard grade at the same hardness level. Baohui Steel supplies NM400, NM450 and NM500 plates that match Hardox 400/450/500 performance for most wear applications.

What is the difference between Hardox 400 and Hardox 500?

The number refers to nominal Brinell hardness: about 400 HBW versus 500 HBW. Hardox 500 wears roughly 2-3 times longer than Hardox 400 in severe abrasion, but it is less formable. Choose 400 for structures that need bending or welding, and 500 for liners, buckets and dump bodies in mining and quarrying.

Can Hardox 500 / NM500 plates be welded and cut?

Yes. Wear resistant plates can be cut and welded with common methods. Use low-hydrogen consumables, keep heat input low, and preheat according to plate thickness and carbon equivalent. For critical welds, follow the mill's welding recommendations to keep the hardness of the heat-affected zone.

What is Hardox 500 used for?

Typical uses include dump truck bodies, loader and excavator buckets, crusher liners, chutes, hoppers and wear strips for mining, quarrying, cement and recycling equipment - anywhere material flow causes severe abrasion and impact.

How much does NM500 wear resistant steel cost per ton?

Price depends on thickness, width, quantity and the mill. Baohui Steel quotes FOB Shanghai with weekly updated prices. Send us your specification and you will get a firm offer within one working day.