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Wear Resistant Steels (400 HB & 500 HB)

Steels with a high HB rating (Brinell Hardness) are intended for applications where wear or abrasion resistance is important. The benefit of using an abrasion resistant steel is that that the plant, machinery or constructions working life can be extended considerably. This can significantly improve the reliability, durability and safety of structures and equipment. It also helps to reduce the maintenance costs associated with wear and breakdown of plant.

A 400 HB steel is over 3 times harder than a mild steel (120HB), but only a third as hard as stainless steel (1250HB). Example uses are for construction machinery, skips, bulldozers and excavators, buckets and conveyors.

The steel is quenched which provides wear resistance; in order to improve hardness it may also be tempered. Lower HB's generally provide good cold bending properties and good weldability. Weldability is not generally reduced as the hardness increases.

Wear resistant steels are not appropriate for use at temperatures over 250oC as the heat can cause changes to the material properties.

Testing is undertaken by firing 10mm steel or tungsten carbide ball at 29kN and the size of the resulting indentation is measured. Tests are carried out according to EN ISO 6506 or ASTM E10. The figures quoted below are for Hardox 400HB and 500HB plates at 15mm thickness:

	C Max	Si Max	Mn Max	P Max	S Max	Cr Max
400 HB	0.15%	0.70%	1.60%	0.225%	0.01%	0.50%
500 HB	0.29%	0.70%	1.60%	0.025%	0.01%	1.00%
	Ni Max	Mo Max	B Max	CEV	CET
400 HB	0.25%	0.25%	0.004%	0.37%	0.27%
500 HB	0.50%	0.30%	0.004%	0.62%	0.41%

Values are typical and for general information purposes only.

Yields for 400HB steel are in the region of 1100 MPa with tensile strengths of about 1250 MPa (20mm ABRAZO 400).

A number of mills provide wear resistant plates each under their own brand names. A few are listed below:

Mill	300HB	325HB	350HB	400HB	450HB	500HB	550HB	600HB
SSAB				Hardox 400
Salzgitter				Brinar 400		Brinar 500
Thyssen	XAR 300			XAR 400	XAR 450	XAR 500	XAR 550	XAR 600
Industeel			FORA 360	FORA 400	FORA 450	FORA 500
Corus				ABRAZO 400		ABRAZO 500
Ruuki				RAEX 400	RAEX 450	RAEX 500

Clicking links will open a new window at the relevant steel mill's website or PDF

Stated HB values in the product name are indicative, so for example a 400HB plate may vary between 370 and 430 HB depending on the mill.

Wear resistant plates from Oakley Steel are available in the following dimensions and certificated to EN 10204 3.1 B, dependent on the product required.

•  Thickness : 5mm – 120mm

•  Width: 1000mm – 3000mm

•  Length: up to 12000mm



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