Abrasion-resistant steel for top performance

Abrasion-resistant steel, or AR steel, is mainly used for applications where abrasion and wear are the causes of failure, and not in infrastructure like buildings or bridges. Typical uses include buckets and other heavy equipment attachments, dump and trailer bodies, concrete mixers, garbage trucks, wear liners and wear parts, such as cutting edges.

AR steel plate is made from steel slabs containing different alloys. Of these alloys, carbon plays a key role in making wear plate abrasion-resistant, because it increases the steel’s hardness. When the carbon increases, the hardness increases, but the toughness is reduced making it more susceptible to cracking. 

That’s why good steelmaking processes are vital. You need just the right recipe that balances alloying, heat treatment and chemistry to get the properties you want. At SSAB, we believe we have perfected our recipe for steels that provide maximum toughness and strength yet do not usually require preheating for excellent welding and cutting results.

We produce our abrasion-resistant steel through a process known as quenching and tempering (Q&T). In this process, the grain structure is changed to increase the toughness and improve formability, making it less brittle. This results in through-hardening of the steel. 

Hardox^® premium AR steel plate from SSAB is through-hardened, delivering better performance than milder steels that are only surface hardened. Through-hardened steel undergoes a heat treatment in which the steel is exposed to high-temperature heating followed by controlled cooling. This improves the hardness not just of the outer layer, but right through to the core of the steel. 

Hardox^® wear steel has a unique combination of hardness and toughness and due to its properties, can be used as a structural wear plate. Fabricators can bend, machine, drill and weld it and, in many cases, no preheating is needed. And the steel’s consistent, guaranteed properties mean greater predictability and productivity in the workshop.

Abrasion-resistant steel can last up to 4 times longer than mild steel. Popular grades of Hardox^® AR steel include AR400,  AR450, AR500, AR550, AR600 and Hardox^® 500 Tuf, our latest grade at 475-505 HBW, combining the best properties of AR450 steel and AR500 steel for high hardness, high toughness and wear resistance, especially for extreme-duty applications. 

But which grade and steel type are right for you and your project? Do you need steel plate, tubes, pipes or bars? Our experts will help you find the perfect match for your application and the right balance between hardness, strength and formability that will give you a lasting impact on your product – and your business.