If you’re in the market for high-strength steel, Hardox 550 is a product you’ll want to consider. This abrasion-resistant steel plate is known for its toughness, durability, and wear resistance. This expert guide will explore everything you need about Hardox 550, including its composition, mechanical and physical properties, uses, corrosion resistance, heat treatment, machining, and welding.
What is Hardox 550?
Hardox 550 is a wear-resistant steel with a nominal hardness of 550 HBW. It has excellent bendability and weldability, making it ideal for structural components under extreme wear conditions. Its high strength and corrosion resistance make it suitable for applications in industries like mining, quarrying, material handling, and construction.
Hardox 550 Composition
Hardox 550 is high-strength steel with various elements to give it its unique mechanical properties. Its composition includes alloying elements such as carbon, silicon, manganese, chromium, nickel, and boron, contributing to its excellent wear resistance and strength.
| C *) (MAX %) |
SI *) (MAX %) |
MN*) (MAX %) |
P (MAX %) |
S (MAX %) |
CR*) (MAX %) |
NI*) (MAX %) |
MO*) (MAX %) |
B*) (MAX %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.44 | 0.50 | 1.30 | 0.020 | 0.010 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 0.60 | 0.004 |
Hardox 550 Mechanical Properties
When it comes to mechanical properties, Hardox 550 has a tensile strength of 1628 MPa and a minimum yield strength of 1300 MPa. It’s also designed to have high toughness, making it ideal for applications requiring strength and durability. The steel plate can withstand high-impact loads and pressure, making it an excellent choice for heavy machinery and mining equipment.
| PRODUCT | THICKNESS (mm) |
HARDNESS 1) (HBW) |
|---|---|---|
| Hardox® 550 plate | 8.0 – 65.0 | 525 – 575 |
Hardox 550 Physical Properties
Besides its mechanical properties, Hardox 550 also has impressive physical properties. Its hardness range of 530-570 HBW gives it exceptional toughness and makes it stand up well against abrasive wear. It also boasts an elongation of 10% and a Charpy impact test of 60 J at -40°C/-40°F, indicating its high level of toughness even at low temperatures.
Hardox 550 Carbon Equivalent CET(CEV)
| PRODUCT TYPE | Plate | Plate | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness (mm) | 8.0 – 31.9 | 32.0 – 51.0 | 51.1 – 65.0 |
| Max CET(CEV) | 0.49 (0.70) | 0.52 (0.75) | 0.61 (0.82) |
| Typ CET(CEV) | 0.46 (0.67) | 0.49 (0.72) | 0.58 (0.79) |
Hardox 550 Uses
As we mentioned, Hardox 550’s high strength and toughness make it an excellent choice for heavy machinery and mining equipment. It can be used in earthmoving equipment, excavators, buckets, dump trucks, and hoppers, for example. It’s also frequently used in manufacturing parts for agricultural equipment, military equipment, and material handling applications.
Hardox 550 Corrosion Resistance
Hardox 550 is known for its outstanding corrosion resistance, making it an ideal material for applications that require protection against the elements. It’s resistant to both chemical and atmospheric corrosion, and its high chromium content gives it excellent oxidation resistance. It’s also designed to resist stress corrosion cracking, so you can count on it to hold up well against various stressors.
Hardox 550 Heat Treatment
To achieve the desired mechanical properties and hardness in Hardox 550, it can undergo various heat treatments, including quenching and tempering.
Hardox 550 Machining
Additionally, it’s possible to machine Hardox 550, although it’s important to note that it can be challenging to work with due to its high strength and hardness.
Hardox 550 Welding
Hardox 550 can also be welded. It’s essential to use the correct welding techniques to ensure that the properties of the steel plate remain unchanged.
Conclusion:
Hardox 550 is an exceptional high-strength steel plate tailored to provide excellent wear resistance and toughness. As we’ve discussed, it has a unique composition and outstanding mechanical and physical properties and can be applied in various fields, including heavy machinery and military equipment. The corrosion resistance and capacity to be heat treated, machined, and welded make it a versatile quality steel. If you are looking for a steel plate that can withstand demanding service conditions, Hardox 550 should be at the top of your list.
A passionate metal industry expert and blogger. With over 5 years of experience in the field, Palak brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to her writing. Whether discussing the latest trends in the metal industry or sharing tips, she is dedicated to helping others succeed in the metal industry.
