Steel Hardox 500 vs XAR 500
Steel · grade comparison
Steel Hardox 500 and XAR 500 are both steel grades. XAR 500 is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) against 1,600 MPa (232 ksi) for Hardox 500, about 6% more. XAR 500 conducts electricity better (7.8 % IACS vs 6 % IACS). On the shop floor, Hardox 500 machines more easily (poor vs not recommended), Hardox 500 welds better (good vs fair), and XAR 500 sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than Hardox 500 (standard, $$).
Hardox 500Choose it when the part is machined in volume, or when it will be welded.
XAR 500Choose it when strength drives the design, or when cost is the deciding factor.
Hardox 500 vs XAR 500: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all steel grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Compressive Strength
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Hardness, Vickers
Reduction in Area
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 210 GPa30.5 Msi · Shear Modulus 80 GPa11.6 Msi · Bulk Modulus 160 GPa23.2 Msi · Yield Strength (0.2% offset) 1,300 MPa189 ksi · Elongation at Break 8% · Fracture Toughness (K_IC) 60 MPa·√m54.6 ksi·√in · Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT) 40 J29.5 ft·lbf · Hardness, Brinell 500 HB · Hardness, Rockwell C 50 HRC
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Same in both: Density 7.85 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³ · Melting Point (Solidus) 1,420°C2,588 °F · Liquidus Temperature 1,500°C2,732 °F
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Latent Heat of Fusion
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 470 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 12 µm/m·K6.7 µin/in·°F · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 250°C482 °F · Min Service Temperature -40°C-40 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)
Same in both: Corrosion Resistance 12 / 100
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 30 MJ/kg12,898 BTU/lb · Typical Recycled Content 25%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Thermal Shock Resistance Index
Same in both: Specific Stiffness (E / density) 26.8 MN·m/kg · Modulus of Resilience 4,024 kJ/m³
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every steel grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Hardox 500 | XAR 500 |
|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | Yes | — |
| Sheet metal | Yes | — |
| Default condition | Q&T | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $ Budget |
| Min. machined wall | 0.8 mm | — |
| Best machined surface | Ra 1.6 µm | — |
| AlCrN | Yes | — |
| AlTiN | Yes | — |
| Black Oxide | Yes | — |
| CVD Al2O3 | Yes | — |
| CVD TiCN | Yes | — |
| CVD TiN | Yes | — |
| Cerakote | Yes | — |
| Chrome Plating | Yes | — |
| CrN | Yes | — |
| DLC | Yes | — |
| E-Coating | Yes | — |
| HVOF Coating | Yes | — |
| Hot-Dip Galvanizing | Yes | — |
| MoS2 | Yes | — |
| Multilayer CVD | Yes | — |
| Nickel Plating | Yes | — |
| PTFE Coating | Yes | — |
| Painting | Yes | — |
They share 9 finishes: Copper Plating, Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Hard Chrome Plating, Manganese Phosphate, Plasma Spray, Silver Plating, Zinc Phosphate.
Hardox 500 vs XAR 500 — frequently asked
Is XAR 500 stronger than Hardox 500?
Yes. XAR 500 has a typical tensile strength of 1,700 MPa (247 ksi) against 1,600 MPa (232 ksi) for Hardox 500 — about 6% more.
Which is cheaper, Hardox 500 or XAR 500?
XAR 500 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while Hardox 500 is standard ($$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, Hardox 500 or XAR 500?
Hardox 500. Its machinability rates poor (22/100) against not recommended (12/100) for XAR 500; for welding the order is Hardox 500 first (good, 55/100) then XAR 500 (fair, 45/100).
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Hardox 500 and XAR 500 side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.