Steel Hardox 500 · heat-treated state · default condition
Steel Hardox 500 Q&T
Properties of the Q&T condition, compared with the other Hardox 500 tempers.
Standard and only commercial delivery condition for Hardox 500 plate: use as-supplied for abrasion-resistant structures and wear liners in 3–103 mm thickness.
What is Hardox 500 Q&T?
Hardox 500 Q&T is Hardox 500 heat treated to Q&T — standard and only commercial delivery condition for Hardox 500 plate: use as-supplied for abrasion-resistant structures and wear liners in 3–103 mm thickness. Hardox 500 Q&T 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). Hardox 500 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 — 1,300 MPa (189 ksi), better than 95% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 8%, 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 79% of steel grades
Hardox 500 Q&T properties
Typical room-temperature values for Hardox 500 Q&T — 12 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Hardox 500 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the steel grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
Hardox 500 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).
Mechanical15
Hardox 500 Q&T 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 Q&T 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 Q&T conducts electricity at 6 % IACS, worse than 79% 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 Q&T takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 55% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability5
Hardox 500 Q&T's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 96% 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.
Working with Hardox 500 Q&T
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.
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.
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 | — |
Hardox 500 Q&T — frequently asked
What is Hardox 500 Q&T used for?
Hardox 500 Q&T 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 Q&T?
Hardox 500 Q&T 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 Q&T easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 96% 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 Q&T 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 Q&T?
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 Q&T 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 Q&T?
Hardox 500 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in Hardox 500 Q&T?
Yes — Hardox 500 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
- 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.