Wear Resistant Steel Grades

AR (Abrasion Resistant) grades differ mainly by hardness level (HBW).
Higher hardness → higher wear life, but lower formability and toughness.
AR400 is the most versatile grade, used in most industries.
AR500–AR600 offer superior protection in mining and crushing environments.
Mn13 provides unmatched impact resistance through work hardening.

Categories: High Manganese Steel Plate, NM series

Description

Wear resistant steel (also called abrasion resistant steel) is designed to perform under conditions of severe wear and surface friction.
Its grades — such as AR360, AR400, AR450, AR500, and AR600 — differ mainly in hardness, toughness, and fabrication ability.

The number in each grade represents its approximate Brinell hardness value (HBW), which determines how resistant it is to abrasion and impact.

QUB: Quick Understanding Table of Wear Resistant Steel Grades

Grade	Approx. Hardness (HBW)	Yield Strength (MPa)	Impact Toughness (J, -40°C)	Weldability & Formability	Wear Resistance	Typical Applications
AR360 / NM360	320 – 380	900 – 1100	≥ 30	Excellent	Moderate	Truck beds, construction liners, agricultural equipment
AR400 / NM400	360 – 440	1000 – 1250	≥ 27	Very Good	High	Hoppers, chutes, buckets, dump truck bodies
AR450 / NM450	420 – 480	1100 – 1350	≥ 25	Good	Very High	Crushers, conveyor plates, excavator buckets
AR500 / NM500	470 – 540	1200 – 1400	≥ 20	Moderate	Extreme	Mining trucks, wear liners, cutting edges
AR600 / NM600	560 – 620	1300 – 1500	≥ 15	Limited	Maximum	Knife blades, impact liners, pipelines
High Manganese Steel (Mn13)	Work hardens up to 500 HBW	~370	Very High	Good (under impact)	Self-hardening	Crusher jaws, impact walls, railway crossings

Key Performance Differences

Hardness and Wear Resistance
- Hardness increases from AR360 → AR600.
- Every 50 HBW increase can improve wear life by 15–25%, depending on the abrasion type.
Impact Toughness
- Lower hardness grades (AR360, AR400) have better toughness and are suitable for impact + wear environments.
- Higher grades (AR500, AR600) are best for pure sliding abrasion.
Formability and Weldability
- AR360 and AR400 can be bent and welded easily.
- AR500 and above require preheating and controlled cooling to avoid cracking.
Service Life
- Typical service life improvement over mild steel:
  - AR400: ~3× longer
  - AR500: ~4–5× longer
  - AR600: ~6× longer

Typical Applications by Grade

Grade	Industry	Application Examples	Wear Condition Type
AR360 / NM360	Construction	Liners, truck floors, loader bins	Medium impact + moderate abrasion
AR400 / NM400	Construction, Agriculture	Hoppers, mixers, truck beds	Sliding abrasion
AR450 / NM450	Mining, Cement	Chutes, feeders, blades	High abrasion + occasional impact
AR500 / NM500	Mining, Steel, Power	Crusher liners, hammers, conveyor plates	Severe sliding abrasion
AR600 / NM600	Energy, Recycling	Knife edges, wear rings, impact surfaces	Extreme abrasion, low deformation
Mn13 (Hadfield Steel)	Mining, Railways	Crusher jaws, rail crossings	Repeated heavy impact (work hardening)

Grade Selection Guide

Operating Condition	Recommended Grade	Reason
High impact + moderate wear	AR360 / AR400	Better toughness and formability
Continuous sliding abrasion	AR450 / AR500	Strong surface hardness and stability
Extreme wear, low impact	AR600	Maximum hardness and service life
Repeated impact + deformation	Mn13	Work-hardening surface resists cracking