Steel Hardox 500
GB NM500
Hardox 500 (NM500) is a quenched-and-tempered abrasion-resistant plate with a through-hardened martensitic structure at roughly 475–505 HB.
Values for the Q&T condition
Hardox 500 tempers and conditions
Hardox 500 is supplied in one standard condition, Q&T. Q&T is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
What is Hardox 500?
Hardox 500 (NM500) is a quenched-and-tempered abrasion-resistant plate with a through-hardened martensitic structure at roughly 475–505 HB. It is selected where sliding abrasion governs part life — mining and quarry liners, chutes and buckets — and is supplied only in the Q&T condition as plate. Typical values are 1300 MPa yield, 1600 MPa tensile, 8 % elongation, 500 HB (50 HRC) and service to 250 °C, above which tempering softens the plate. Machinability rates 22, weldability 55 and formability 25; Hardox 450 is the alternative when bending and welding matter more than hardness. Hardox 500 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). Hardox 500 has a yield strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,600 MPa (232 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is Hardox 500 used for?
- Mining truck body liners
- Quarry chutes and hoppers
- Bucket wear plates and cutting edges
- Crusher and screen liners
- Conveyor skirt plates
- Dozer and grader blade edges
- Wear bars and skid plates
Advantages
- High strength — 1,300 MPa (189 ksi), better than 95% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
- Poor heat conductor — 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 60 MPa·√m (54.6 ksi·√in), worse than 78% of steel grades
Hardox 500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Hardox 500-Q&T; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
Hardox 500 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).
Mechanical15
Hardox 500 has a yield strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,600 MPa (232 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
Hardox 500 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 83% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12 µm/m·K (6.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Hardox 500 conducts electricity at 6 % IACS, worse than 78% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (12/100), worse than 53% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Hardox 500 takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability5
Hardox 500's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades); weldability good (55/100); formability poor (25/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. Hardox 500 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Hardox 500
Is Hardox 500 easy to machine?
Machine with rigid setups, carbide or CBN tooling, low speed/positive feed; drilling needs high-rigidity presses or use plasma/laser cut holes instead.
Can Hardox 500 be welded?
Weldable with low-hydrogen consumables (soft or matching); limit heat input and use preheat per thickness/CEV to avoid HAZ softening and hydrogen cracking — do not stress-relieve above the tempering temperature.
Can Hardox 500 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold-bend transverse to rolling direction with generous inner radius (roughly 5–7×t) and a wide die; press-brake tonnage is high and springback pronounced.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to Hardox 500. Every Hardox 500 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Fair22 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | P.2 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 180 / 210 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 5× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Fair25 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Better55 / 100 |
Hardox 500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cmax depends on thickness (0.27–0.30) | ≤ 0.3 | 0.28 |
| Si | ≤ 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Mn | ≤ 1.6 | 1.2 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | |
| S | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Cr | ≤ 1.5 | 0.8 |
| Nihigher in thick plate for hardenability | ≤ 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Mo | ≤ 0.6 | 0.3 |
| B | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on Hardox 500?
Shot-blast and paint or prime for corrosion protection; hard-facing overlays can be added locally, and flame/plasma cut edges should be ground before high-stress service.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Plating
CVD Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel Hardox 500 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- GB (China)
- NM500
How much does Hardox 500 cost?
Hardox 500 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 59% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Hardox 500 — frequently asked
What is Hardox 500 used for?
Hardox 500 is typically used for mining truck body liners, quarry chutes and hoppers, bucket wear plates and cutting edges, crusher and screen liners, conveyor skirt plates and dozer and grader blade edges. In short: premium abrasion wear plate.
What is the yield strength of Hardox 500?
Hardox 500 has a typical yield strength of 1,300 MPa (189 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,600 MPa (232 ksi) — stronger than 95% of steel grades.
Is Hardox 500 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 95% of steel grades). Machine with rigid setups, carbide or CBN tooling, low speed/positive feed; drilling needs high-rigidity presses or use plasma/laser cut holes instead.
Can Hardox 500 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Weldable with low-hydrogen consumables (soft or matching); limit heat input and use preheat per thickness/CEV to avoid HAZ softening and hydrogen cracking — do not stress-relieve above the tempering temperature.
What surface finishes work on Hardox 500?
Shot-blast and paint or prime for corrosion protection; hard-facing overlays can be added locally, and flame/plasma cut edges should be ground before high-stress service.
Can Hardox 500 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold-bend transverse to rolling direction with generous inner radius (roughly 5–7×t) and a wide die; press-brake tonnage is high and springback pronounced.
What is the maximum service temperature of Hardox 500?
Hardox 500 is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Hardox 500 cost?
Hardox 500 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 59% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in Hardox 500?
Yes — Hardox 500 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Hardox 500 abrasion-resistant steel data sheet — SSAB (2024)
- Hardox Wearparts / welding, cutting and bending recommendations — SSAB (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM E140 — Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals — ASTM (2019)
- Hardox/NM500 — Mysteel / 1688 (2026)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.