Benefits of Wear-Resistant Steel

There are several different types of steel, and one of the reasons that it is such a popular material for many people to use is its diversity. Being able to choose from a wide variety of steel types means you can get the exact metal to meet the needs of your project. For many projects, you might need a particularly strong steel that can withstand harsh conditions without showing signs of wear and tear, and in those cases wear-resistant steel makes a great choice. Here is an overview of this type of steel from Wasatch Steel, as well as some of the benefits it can offer.

The Basics on Wear-Resistant Steel
Wear-resistant steel, often referred to as abrasion resistant (AR) steel or wear plate, generally comes in rolled form, or it can formed or drilled to meet your specifications. This material is designed for use in harsh conditions without breaking down or weakening, and is often designated by its hardness, measured in Brinell units. The most common is 400 Brinell, but it can come as high as 500 Brinell or higher when necessary. It can be quenched and tempered, and generally comes with a martnsitic or martensitic-bainitic structure, made with chromium as an alloy to increase its stability and decrease the likelihood of deformity.

Common Uses for Wear-Resistant Steel

Wear and tear on machinery and other steel can cost money, and if you are using materials from Wasatch Steel in an application where they may be subjected to excessive conditions, having a material that is specifically hardened to resist some of the most common wear will save you lots of time, money, and hassle. The most common places where people use abrasion-resistant steel include:

• Mining and quarrying 
• Conveyor belts 
• Material handling 
• Construction 
• Manufacturing 
• Earth-moving 
• Plant operations 
• Excavation 
• Crushing or cutting machinery

It is often available in a variety of forms and thicknesses, ranging from as thin as 3 mm to as thick as 150 mm or more.

Customizing Your Wear-Resistant Steel
One of the main reasons that people use steel from a place like Wasatch Steel is its versatility, and abrasion-resistant steel is no different. It can be fabricated and welded for a variety of different projects, but because it is so strong and has such a high level of hardness it is important that you use caution when fabricating this type of steel. Alternately, you can contact the experts at the steel supermarket in Utah to help you figure out the best way to fabricate it.

Another way to customize your abrasion-resistant steel is to get it with the right hardness level. It is commonly available in Brinell or HB levels of 300 to 600.

• 300HB would be suitable for low-level wear and tear 
• 400HB is the most common, and is about five times more durable than the conventional structural steel 
• 500HB is also commonly used in many different applications where a generally hard steel is necessary 
• 600HB offers a superior hardness level for extreme situations where only the most highly resistant steel will work

There is also a special class of wear-resistant steel that is particularly resistant to ballistic damage. It includes alloying elements of carbon, chromium, vanadium, nickel, and molybdenum, helping to protect against ballistics while also maintaining a reasonably light weight for general applications.

If you’re looking for some great wear-resistant steel, check out the selection at the steel supermarket in Utah.