Wear Resistant Plates
AR500 - High-Hardness Wear Plate
Exceptional wear resistance steel plate with high hardness for armor, ballistic targets, and extreme abrasion applications.
AR500 Abrasion Resistant Steel
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.