AR600 - Ultra-High Hardness Plate

Hardness & Properties

Approximate Hardness: 570-650 HBW (Brinell Hardness)

Material Type: Quenched and Tempered Ultra-High Carbon Steel

Typical Thickness Range: 6mm - 40mm

Properties

• Highest abrasion resistance among standard AR grades
• Very high surface hardness - Maximum wear protection
• Lower formability - Requires careful fabrication planning
• Extreme wear resistance - Up to 4-5x longer life than AR400
• Specialized applications - For the most demanding environments

Applications

• Extreme wear environments
• Shot-blasting equipment and blast wheels
• Industrial shredders and grinders
• Impact plates in severe service
• High-velocity particle impact zones
• Recycling equipment
• Specialized mining applications
• Extreme abrasion chutes

Advantages

• Maximum abrasion resistance available in steel plates
• Extended service life in extreme wear applications
• Reduced replacement frequency - Lower long-term costs
• Superior performance in high-velocity impact environments
• Cost-effective compared to ceramic alternatives for some applications

Processing Characteristics

Cutting: Laser cutting strongly recommended. Plasma cutting possible but challenging. Oxy-fuel cutting not suitable.

Forming: Very low formability. Forming not recommended. Design should accommodate flat plate installation.

Welding: Extremely difficult to weld. Requires preheat to 400-450°F, specialized welding procedures, and post-weld heat treatment. Welding should be minimized in design.

Machining: Extremely difficult. Grinding is the preferred method for edge preparation. Conventional machining not recommended.

Important Considerations

Brittleness: Due to extreme hardness, AR600 has lower impact toughness than lower AR grades. Not suitable for high-impact applications requiring ductility.

Fabrication: Requires specialized equipment and expertise. Consult with fabrication team before specifying.

Cost vs. Benefit: Higher material and fabrication costs justified only in extreme wear environments where lower grades fail prematurely.

Comparison with Other Grades

vs. AR500: AR600 offers higher surface hardness but lower toughness and formability.

vs. Ceramic: AR600 provides better impact resistance than ceramics but lower abrasion resistance.

Best for: Specialized applications with extreme abrasive wear where maximum hardness is required and fabrication challenges can be managed.