Steel AR500 · heat-treated state · default condition
Steel AR500 Q&T
Properties of the Q&T condition, compared with the other AR500 tempers.
Standard stocked condition — through-hardened wear plate for liners, chutes, blades and target plate.
What is AR500 Q&T?
AR500 Q&T is AR500 heat treated to Q&T — standard stocked condition — through-hardened wear plate for liners, chutes, blades and target plate. AR500 Q&T has a yield strength of 1,350 MPa (196 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,650 MPa (239 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi). AR500 Q&T 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).
Advantages
- High strength — 1,350 MPa (196 ksi), better than 95% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 12/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 9%, worse than 93% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 50 MPa·√m (45.5 ksi·√in), worse than 87% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 87% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
AR500 Q&T properties
Typical room-temperature values for AR500 Q&T — 12 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every AR500 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
AR500 Q&T 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 has a yield strength of 1,350 MPa (196 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,650 MPa (239 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal6
AR500 Q&T 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 conducts electricity at 7.5 % IACS, worse than 68% 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 takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 55% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability5
AR500 Q&T's machinability is not recommended (12/100, worse than 99% of steel grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability poor (15/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other AR500 tempers and conditions
AR500 is also supplied in 2 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the AR500 overview.
- Q&TDefaultStandard stocked condition — through-hardened wear plate for liners, chutes, blades and target plate.1,350 MPa yield · 50 HRC
- AR500FPick when the 500 HB plate must be press-braked or must survive impact as well as sliding wear.1,380 MPa yield · 50 HRC
Working with AR500 Q&T
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 — frequently asked
What is AR500 Q&T used for?
AR500 Q&T 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?
AR500 Q&T has a typical yield strength of 1,350 MPa (196 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,650 MPa (239 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is AR500 Q&T easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (12/100, worse than 99% 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 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). 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?
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 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?
AR500 Q&T 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?
Yes — AR500 Q&T 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.