Steel AR500 Q&T-SR
Heat-treated state
GB NM500 · also Hardox 500
Q&T-SR = q&T + stress relieved
Used for flame/plasma-cut or heavily welded parts where distortion and cutting-edge cracking must be reduced; hardness essentially unchanged if held below the tempering temperature.
Values for the Q&T-SR condition
Other AR500 tempers and conditions
AR500 is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at AR500.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q&T-SRThis page Q&T + stress relieved | Used for flame/plasma-cut or heavily welded parts where distortion and cutting-edge cracking must be reduced; hardness essentially unchanged if held below the tempering temperature. | 1,330 | 1,620 | 10 | 49 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
Q&TDefault Quenched and tempered | Standard stocked condition — through-hardened wear plate for liners, chutes, blades and target plate. | 1,350 | 1,650 | 9 | 50 HRC | — |
Q&T formable / higher-toughness variant | Pick when the 500 HB plate must be press-braked or must survive impact as well as sliding wear. | 1,380 | 1,650 | 11 | 50 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
What is AR500 Q&T-SR?
AR500 Q&T-SR is AR500 heat treated to Q&T-SR — used for flame/plasma-cut or heavily welded parts where distortion and cutting-edge cracking must be reduced; hardness essentially unchanged if held below the tempering temperature. AR500 Q&T-SR has a yield strength of 1,330 MPa (193 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,620 MPa (235 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). AR500 Q&T-SR has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). Q&T is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Q&T-SR is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High strength — 1,330 MPa (193 ksi), better than 95% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 13/100, worse than 98% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 17/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 55 MPa·√m (50.1 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of steel grades
AR500 Q&T-SR properties
Typical room-temperature values for AR500 Q&T-SR; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are AR500 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
AR500 Q&T-SR has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical16
AR500 Q&T-SR has a yield strength of 1,330 MPa (193 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,620 MPa (235 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
AR500 Q&T-SR is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 40 W/m·K (23.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 64% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
AR500 Q&T-SR conducts electricity at 7.5 % IACS, worse than 67% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (13/100), better than 66% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of AR500 Q&T-SR takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability5
AR500 Q&T-SR's machinability is not recommended (13/100, worse than 98% of steel grades); weldability fair (48/100); formability poor (17/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with AR500 Q&T-SR
Is AR500 easy to machine?
Treat as 50 HRC tool steel: rigid setup, negative-rake carbide or CBN, low speed/heavy feed, flood coolant — drilling and tapping are usually replaced by plasma/laser holes or pre-drilled soft inserts.
Can AR500 be welded?
Weldable with low-hydrogen or austenitic consumables; preheat 100–200 °C by thickness, control interpass ≤250 °C and heat input, and expect a softened HAZ — never place welds in the primary wear path.
Can AR500 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bending only with generous radii (about 4–6× thickness, bend axis transverse to rolling direction) and de-burred, crack-free edges; hot forming above ~250 °C destroys the hardness.
What surface finishes work on AR500?
Not anodisable; blast and prime/paint or use thermal-spray/hardfacing overlays for corrosion protection — avoid hot-dip galvanising and electroplating without hydrogen-embrittlement precautions.
AR500 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Cproprietary; brand-to-brand variation | 0.26 – 0.33 | 0.3 |
| Mn | 0.8 – 1.7 | 1.3 |
| Si | 0.15 – 0.7 | 0.4 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Smax; low-S for formable variants | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Cr | 0.4 – 1.5 | 0.9 |
| Niused in thicker plate for hardenability/toughness | ≤ 1.5 | 0.4 |
| Mo | 0.15 – 0.6 | 0.35 |
| Bboron-treated for through-hardening | 5×10⁻⁴ – 0.01 | 0 |
| Fe | balance | — |
AR500 Q&T-SR — frequently asked
What is AR500 Q&T-SR used for?
AR500 Q&T-SR is typically used for mining chute and transfer liners, bucket cutting edges and lip protectors, ripper and dozer blade wear strips, ballistic and shooting-target plate, crusher and hopper wear liners and screen and grizzly wear bars. In short: maximum wear life.
What is the yield strength of AR500 Q&T-SR?
AR500 Q&T-SR has a typical yield strength of 1,330 MPa (193 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,620 MPa (235 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is AR500 Q&T-SR easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (13/100, worse than 98% of steel grades). Treat as 50 HRC tool steel: rigid setup, negative-rake carbide or CBN, low speed/heavy feed, flood coolant — drilling and tapping are usually replaced by plasma/laser holes or pre-drilled soft inserts.
Can AR500 Q&T-SR be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (48/100). Weldable with low-hydrogen or austenitic consumables; preheat 100–200 °C by thickness, control interpass ≤250 °C and heat input, and expect a softened HAZ — never place welds in the primary wear path.
What surface finishes work on AR500 Q&T-SR?
Not anodisable; blast and prime/paint or use thermal-spray/hardfacing overlays for corrosion protection — avoid hot-dip galvanising and electroplating without hydrogen-embrittlement precautions.
Can AR500 Q&T-SR be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bending only with generous radii (about 4–6× thickness, bend axis transverse to rolling direction) and de-burred, crack-free edges; hot forming above ~250 °C destroys the hardness.
What is the maximum service temperature of AR500 Q&T-SR?
AR500 Q&T-SR is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between AR500 Q&T and AR500F?
Q&T is the default condition — standard stocked condition — through-hardened wear plate for liners, chutes, blades and target plate. AR500F: pick when the 500 HB plate must be press-braked or must survive impact as well as sliding wear. Yield strength is 1,350 MPa in Q&T versus 1,380 MPa in AR500F.
Can FabDigit make parts in AR500 Q&T-SR?
Yes — AR500 Q&T-SR is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Abrasion-resistant quenched & tempered plate, 500 HB class (AR500 / NM500 / Hardox 500 class datasheets) — Various plate mills (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1: Properties and Selection — Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.19: Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
- ASTM E140 Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals — ASTM (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.