How to Choose Abrasion Resistant Steel? Hardox500 or NM500?
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Hardox 500 and NM500 are both high-strength wear-resistant steels with high hardness, good toughness, and excellent processing performance. They use quenching and tempering processes, with good processing performance, and can be cut, welded, and bent. Both have high toughness and excellent impact resistance at low temperatures. The composition contains alloying elements such as carbon, manganese, and chromium, which enhance wear resistance. Both are suitable for high wear-resistant equipment in industries such as mining, construction, metallurgy, etc., such as excavator buckets, crusher liners, etc. How to choose between these two requires a detailed analysis.
General Product Description
NM500
NM500:
- NM500 is a wear-resistant steel plate that has undergone special heat treatment and has extremely high hardness and wear resistance. The hardness of this steel plate can reach 500 HBW, making it excellent in various high wear environments. Its high hardness, bendability, weldability, high strength, good processability, and toughness make it an ideal choice for improving equipment performance and reliability.
Hardox500:
- The bendable, weldable and highly abrasion-resistant steel. Hardox® 500 is a bendable and weldable abrasion-resistant steel with a nominal hardness of 500 HBW. Suitable for applications that demand higher wear resistance. Hardox® 500 increases payload and service life while maintaining good processability and toughness.
hardox500
Mechanical Properties
- NM500
|
Product |
Thickness(mm) |
Hardness(HBW) |
Typical Yield Strength(MPa), Not Guaranteed |
|
NM500 sheet |
3.0-8.0 |
470-520 |
≥1500 |
|
NM500 plate |
5.0-25.0 |
470-520 |
≥1500 |
|
NM500 plate |
30.0-63.5 |
470-520 |
≥1500 |
- Lightweight, reducing weight by 50% compared to the 345MPa level; Reduce weight by 33% and energy consumption at 700MPa level.
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Compared with the original material, it has better wear resistance (increased by 3.5 times), long service life, and less maintenance.
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As a production material, it improves the impact resistance of the carriage under different working conditions.
- Hardox500:
|
Product |
Thickness(mm) |
Hardness(HBW) |
Typical Yield Strength(MPa), Not Guaranteed |
|
Hardox® 500 sheet |
2.0-7.0 |
470-530 |
1400 |
|
Hardox® 500 plate |
4.0-32.0 |
470-530 |
1400 |
|
Hardox® 500 plate |
32.1-103.0 |
450-540 |
1400 |
- Brinell hardness, HBW, according to EN ISO 6506-1, on a milled surface 0.5 – 3 mm below surface. At least one test specimen per heat and 40 tons. The nominal thickness of supplied plates will not deviate more than +/- 15 mm from the thickness of the test specimen used for hardness testing. For sheet the Brinell hardness test is according to EN ISO 6506-1 on each heat treatment individual/coil. Hardness is measured on a milled surface 0.3 – 2 mm below surface.
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Hardness test is not performed or guaranteed for Hardox® products with thicknesses < 2.5 mm. The tabulated hardness values for thickness < 2.5 mm is a conversion from the tensile strength.
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Hardox® wear plate is through-hardened. Minimum core hardness is 90 % of the guaranteed minimum hardness.
Chemical Composition
| Grade | C | Si | Mn | P | S | Cr | Ni | Mo | Ti | B | Als |
|
NM500 |
≤0.38 |
≤0.70 |
≤1.70 |
≤0.020 |
≤0.010 |
≤1.50 |
≤1.00 |
≤0.65 |
≤0.50 |
0.0005-0.006 |
≥0.01 |
|
Hardox500 |
≤0.30 |
≤0.40 |
≤1.30 |
≤0.020 |
≤0.010 |
≤2.20 |
≤2.0 |
≤0.40 |
≤0.005 |
- Carbon is the main hardening element in steel, increasing the carbon content can increase the strength and hardness of steel, but also reduce its toughness and weldability. As a result, NM500 may perform better in strength and hardness.
Application Scenario Comparison
Mining Industry
NM500:
- Mining Shovels: The NM500 performs well in mine bucket applications. It can withstand the wear and tear of the ore and a certain impact force, and is suitable for use in the mining of some medium-hard ores.
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Liners: In the mill liner of some small mines, NM500 can meet the basic wear resistance needs. Its price advantage makes it more competitive in some cost-sensitive projects.
Hardox500:
- Crusher Components: In the hammer heads and liners of crushers, Hardox 500 can withstand significant impact and high wear. Its high hardness and good toughness make it ideal for crushing hard ores, effectively reducing component wear and replacement frequency. For example, in some large-scale jaw crushers, hammer heads made of Hardox 500 have a service life more than 30% longer than that of ordinary wear-resistant steel.
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Screens: Screens experience frequent impact and friction from ores during the screening process. The wear resistance of Hardox 500 makes it an ideal material for screens, effectively increasing their service life and reducing downtime for maintenance.
Construction Industry
NM500:
- Dump Truck Bodies: NM450 is widely used in the dump truck compartment, and NM500 has higher hardness and stronger wear resistance than NM450. It can withstand the wear of materials such as sand and stone, and the price is relatively low, suitable for use in some ordinary earthmoving works. Some famous heavy machinery enterprises in China such as Zoomlion, Sany Heavy Industry, etc., their products are widely used in NM450 and have achieved a good international reputation in product quality.
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Buckets: In some small construction site loader buckets, the NM500 can meet the basic wear requirements, but also can meet the basic impact resistance.
Hardox500:
- Excavator Buckets: Excavator buckets experience significant wear and impact when digging hard rocks and concrete. The high strength and wear resistance of Hardox 500 make it an ideal material for excavator buckets, significantly extending the service life of the bucket teeth and body. According to actual application cases, excavator buckets made of Hardox 500 have a service life about 40% longer than that of ordinary wear-resistant steel when digging hard rocks.
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Loader Buckets: Loader buckets also experience wear during the process of handling heavy loads and digging. Hardox 500 can effectively resist wear, reducing deformation and damage to the bucket, thereby extending its service life.
Manufacturing Industry
NM500:
- Grinding Rings and Rollers: The NM500 can also be used to manufacture parts such as grinding rings and rolls. It can meet the wear requirements of some ordinary grinding equipment, and in the maintenance of grinding equipment, the maintenance cost of using NM500 is nearly 60% lower than that of using Hardox500.
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Mechanical Components: In some mechanical parts that require high wear resistance, such as the wear-resistant lining of the conveyor, NM500 can provide better wear resistance.
Hardox500:
- Grinding Balls and Plates: In the grinding process, grinding balls and plates need to withstand the wear of high-hardness materials. The high hardness and wear resistance of Hardox 500 make it an ideal material for manufacturing grinding balls and plates, effectively extending the service life of the equipment. For example, in some large grinding mills, grinding balls and plates made of Hardox 500 have a service life more than 50% longer than that of ordinary wear-resistant steel.
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Wear-Resistant Components: Hardox 500 is also widely used to manufacture various wear-resistant components, such as grinding rings and rollers. Its good wear resistance and impact resistance enable it to withstand high-load working environments.
Processing Performance Comparison
Welding Performance
NM500:
- Welding Process: NM500 welding requires strict preheating and post-treatment. The preheating temperature usually needs to reach more than 150 ° C. In addition, proper heat treatment is also required after welding to eliminate welding stress.
-
Post-Weld Treatment: After welding, NM500 requires appropriate post-treatment, such as annealing, to restore its original properties.
Hardox500:
- Welding Process: Hardox 500 has good welding performance, with relatively low requirements for preheating and post-weld treatment. Its welding process is flexible and suitable for various welding methods, such as manual arc welding and gas shielded welding. During the welding process, Hardox 500 can maintain good toughness and is less likely to crack.
-
Post-Weld Treatment: After welding, Hardox 500 usually does not require complex post-treatment and can be put into use directly. This simplifies the processing process to some extent and reduces processing costs.
Cost and Cost-Effectiveness
Price Differences
NM500:
- Price: NM500 is relatively cost-effective. As a domestic steel, its production cost is low, and it is abundantly supplied in the domestic market, so its price is relatively low.
-
- Cost Factors: The cost advantage of NM500 mainly lies in its production process and raw material procurement. Its production process is relatively mature, and the procurement channels for raw materials are extensive, which can effectively reduce production costs.
Hardox500:
- Price: As an imported brand, Hardox 500 is relatively expensive. Its high quality and stable performance give it a higher added value in the market, so its price is usually about twice as expensive as NM500.
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Cost Factors: The high price of Hardox 500 mainly comes from its advanced production process and strict quality control. In addition, import tariffs and transportation costs also have a certain impact on its price.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
- Long-term cost analysis depends on the actual working conditions, if in some extreme conditions of wear-resistant conditions, such as cold areas, the temperature below minus 20 degrees, high hardness shredder blades, industrial waste shredder blades, replacement costs or downtime costs are high, such as mining equipment below 200 meters underground. Alternatively, consider traditional brands such as HARDOX with higher quality. However, because the price of HARDOX products is 2 times more expensive than the price of NM500 materials, in general, such as dump truck carriages, buckets, ordinary crusher blades, grain conveyors, buried overhanging machines, gun targets, electronic bearing disks and other applications, you can try to use NM series materials.
Selection Suggestions
Choose According to Specific Application Requirements
High Impact and High Wear Scenarios
- If the equipment in the project needs to withstand high impact and extreme wear, such as hammer heads and screens of mining crushers, and grinding balls and plates of grinding mills, it is recommended to choose Hardox 500. Its high hardness and good toughness can effectively resist high impact and high wear, extend the service life of equipment, and reduce the frequency of equipment replacement.
General Wear Scenarios
- If the application environment is relatively mild, such as dump truck bodies and small loader buckets in the construction industry, NM500 can meet the basic wear resistance requirements while reducing project costs, so it is more suitable for these scenarios.
Consider Processing Conditions and Processes
Complex Welding and Processing
- If the project involves a large amount of welding and complex processing, and the processing equipment and processes can meet the requirements, Hardox 500 is more suitable. Otherwise, NM500 may be easier to process.
Simple Processing Requirements
- In scenarios where processing requirements are relatively simple and cost control is important, NM500 may be a more cost-effective choice.
Take into Account Market Supply and Brand Recognition
International Projects
- In some international projects with strict brand requirements, the widespread recognition of Hardox 500 may be an important factor.
Domestic Projects
- In projects in China and neighboring countries, the ample supply of NM500 and local services may be more advantageous.
Conclusion
- In summary, the choice between Hardox 500 and NM500 depends on a comprehensive consideration of application requirements, processing conditions, cost budget, and market supply. Hardox 500 is more suitable for high-wear, high-impact applications due to its superior wear resistance and toughness, despite its higher cost. NM500, with its cost-effectiveness and adequate wear resistance, is a good choice for general wear scenarios. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can select the right wear-resistant steel to enhance the service life and work efficiency of your equipment.
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