In steel applications where abrasion is an issue, AR500 steel plate can stand the test time and time again. This is because it is made from abrasion resistant steel properties and as a result offers excellent wear and impact resistance. Additionally, AR500 steel offers fatigue and corrosion resistance for applications where severe wear and exposure to the elements are issues. In fact, this steel plate is built so reliably that consumers can count on it to perform consistently every time with no surprises. The following are some of the specifications that lend themselves to that reliability.
AR500 steel plate achieves a minimum surface hardness of approximately 477 BHN and a center hardness of approximately 450 BHN through a quenching and tempering process. As a result of this heavy-duty resistance, it is often the material of choice for high-wear applications. Machining AR500 can be a challenge. Drilling, countersinking, reaming, tapping, milling and general machining can be difficult due to its high hardness properties.
Although not normally designed for structural use, AR500 can be welded using low hydrogen producing electrodes. Additionally, when the premium grades of AR500 steel plate are heat treated, they exhibit excellent through hardening, enhanced forming and welding capabilities.
All of these properties add up to make AR500 steel a suitable material for manufacturers of mining equipment, in the truck and trailer industries (particularly for bin liners), in forestry, in the construction, and in the automotive industries. concrete and aggregates, all of which routinely require the abrasion and impact resistance in their equipment that AR500 provides. Whether it is sliding wear, fretting wear or heavy wear that a company is looking to combat, AR500 steel plate can help them do just that.
Now that you know where AR500 steel is used, let’s talk a little about the basics that surround it. The AR in the name is not just for branding purposes. It actually stands for abrasion resistance to indicate what this type of steel has to offer as its biggest selling point. The second half of the name, 500, indicates the approximate Brinell hardness of the steel, which represents the indentation hardness of a material via the “indenter penetration” scale.
That toughness allows AR500 to withstand a pressure of approximately 110 tons, 220,000 pounds. By comparison, mild steel amounts to only 120 on the Brinell scale. This is why steel targets are often made from AR500 steel instead of mild steel. Where mild steel churns when hit by bullets, even when double-coated. Without the double coating, bullets go through mild steel. On the other hand, when AR500 is used as a target, there is no damage to the steel when the bullets hit it. The front surface stays nice and clean, with no dings, dents, or penetrations from the back. This is still the case after multiple rounds of ammunition from a wide range of weapons.
If AR500 steel can withstand impacts like these, imagine what it can do in all of your abrasive applications. Why trust them for anything else?
