AR500 - High-Hardness Wear Plate

Hardness & Properties

Approximate Hardness: 480-550 HBW (Brinell Hardness)

Material Type: Quenched and Tempered High-Carbon Steel

Typical Thickness Range: 6mm - 50mm

Key Attributes

• Excellent level of wear resistance - Superior performance in extreme abrasion
• Maintains hardness through thickness - Due to Q&T process
• Reduced deformation under impact - High strength and toughness
• Ballistic resistance - Commonly used for armor and targets
• Extended service life - 2-3x longer than AR400 in severe applications

Special Uses

• Shooting and bullet-resistant targets
• Armored structures and vehicle protection
• High-impact hoppers and transfer points
• Extreme wear crusher components
• Mining equipment in highly abrasive environments
• Rock chutes and ore handling systems
• Ballistic protection panels
• Heavy-duty industrial shredders

Advantages

• Superior abrasion resistance for extreme wear environments
• Ballistic performance suitable for armor applications
• High impact resistance despite extreme hardness
• Cost-effective compared to exotic alloys for wear applications
• Proven performance in mining and defense industries

Processing Characteristics

Cutting: Laser or plasma cutting required. Difficult to cut due to high hardness. Oxy-fuel cutting not recommended.

Forming: Low formability. Forming should be avoided or done with extreme caution and specialized equipment.

Welding: Requires preheat to 300-400°F. Use low-hydrogen electrodes and proper welding procedures. Post-weld heat treatment essential for critical applications.

Machining: Very difficult to machine. Ceramic or CBN tooling required. Grinding preferred over conventional machining.

Comparison with Other Grades

vs. AR450: AR500 offers significantly better wear resistance but lower formability and weldability.

vs. AR600: AR500 provides better toughness while AR600 offers higher surface hardness.

Best for: Extreme wear applications, ballistic protection, and situations where maximum abrasion resistance is required without the brittleness of AR600.