Steel Hardox 600
Hardox 600 is the hardest standard grade of the Hardox quenched-and-tempered abrasion-resistant plate range, running about 575–640 HB (nominal 600 HB, 57 HRC) with 1650 MPa yield and 2000 MPa tensile strength.
Reference datasheet — Hardox 600 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the Q+T condition
Hardox 600 tempers and conditions
Hardox 600 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. Q+T is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q&T | Same guaranteed surface hardness in thicker plate; expect slightly lower mid-thickness hardness and toughness, and larger minimum bend radii. | 1,600 | 1,950 | 7 | 56 HRC | 6.4 % IACS |
Q+TDefault Quenched and tempered | The only commercially supplied condition — pick it for the most severe sliding-abrasion wear liners. | 1,650 | 2,000 | 7 | 57 HRC | — |
What is Hardox 600?
Hardox 600 is the hardest standard grade of the Hardox quenched-and-tempered abrasion-resistant plate range, running about 575–640 HB (nominal 600 HB, 57 HRC) with 1650 MPa yield and 2000 MPa tensile strength. It is used where sliding abrasion alone sets part life and fabrication is kept to a minimum: knife edges, bolt-on liners and shredder wear parts. Elongation is only 7 %, cold bending is marginal, drilling and tapping are impractical, and service is capped at 250 °C because any reheating tempers the plate. Choose Hardox 500 or XAR 500 when parts must be bent and welded. Hardox 600 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F). Hardox 600 has a yield strength of 1,650 MPa (239 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,000 MPa (290 ksi) — stronger than 99% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 7% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is Hardox 600 used for?
- knife edges
- extreme wear liners
- recycling shredder parts
- quarry equipment
Advantages
- High strength — 1,650 MPa (239 ksi), better than 99% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 8/100, worse than 100% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 7%, worse than 96% of steel grades
- Limited formability — 12/100, worse than 92% of steel grades
- Low fracture toughness — 45 MPa·√m (41 ksi·√in), worse than 90% of steel grades
- Limited service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), worse than 85% of steel grades
Hardox 600 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Hardox 600-Q+T; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
Hardox 600 has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical16
Hardox 600 has a yield strength of 1,650 MPa (239 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,000 MPa (290 ksi) — stronger than 99% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 7% and the elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
Hardox 600 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).
Electrical2
Hardox 600 has an electrical resistivity of 2.7×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (15/100), better than 75% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Hardox 600 takes about 30 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — more than 56% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability6
Hardox 600's machinability is not recommended (8/100, worse than 100% of steel grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability not recommended (12/100).
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 600 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Hardox 600
Is Hardox 600 easy to machine?
At ~57 HRC treat as hardened tool steel — CBN or coated carbide, rigid setup, low speed/high feed; drilling and tapping are impractical, so use plasma/laser/waterjet holes or pre-drill in a softer backing plate.
Can Hardox 600 be welded?
Weldable with low-hydrogen consumables (preferably soft, undermatching filler) using preheat/interpass ~175–225 °C and controlled heat input; the HAZ always softens, so keep welds off the primary wear surface.
Can Hardox 600 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bending is only marginally possible — very large bend radii, bend transverse to rolling direction, and hot forming is not permitted because it destroys the quench-tempered hardness.
Hardox 600 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cladle analysis max | ≤ 0.47 | 0.42 |
| Si | ≤ 0.7 | 0.35 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.7 |
| P | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| S | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Cr | ≤ 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Nihigher Ni in thicker gauges for hardenability | ≤ 2.5 | 1.5 |
| Mo | ≤ 0.7 | 0.45 |
| Bboron for hardenability | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on Hardox 600?
Normally supplied and used as-delivered (shot-blasted/primered); paint or oil for storage, avoid grinding overheating, and never re-heat-treat above ~250 °C service temperature.
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).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
How much does Hardox 600 cost?
Hardox 600 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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 600 — frequently asked
What is Hardox 600 used for?
Hardox 600 is typically used for knife edges, extreme wear liners, recycling shredder parts and quarry equipment. In short: hardest standard Hardox grade; maximum sliding-abrasion life; minimal-fabrication wear plate.
What is the yield strength of Hardox 600?
Hardox 600 has a typical yield strength of 1,650 MPa (239 ksi) and a tensile strength of 2,000 MPa (290 ksi) — stronger than 99% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is Hardox 600 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (8/100, worse than 100% of steel grades). At ~57 HRC treat as hardened tool steel — CBN or coated carbide, rigid setup, low speed/high feed; drilling and tapping are impractical, so use plasma/laser/waterjet holes or pre-drill in a softer backing plate.
Can Hardox 600 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Weldable with low-hydrogen consumables (preferably soft, undermatching filler) using preheat/interpass ~175–225 °C and controlled heat input; the HAZ always softens, so keep welds off the primary wear surface.
What surface finishes work on Hardox 600?
Normally supplied and used as-delivered (shot-blasted/primered); paint or oil for storage, avoid grinding overheating, and never re-heat-treat above ~250 °C service temperature.
Can Hardox 600 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bending is only marginally possible — very large bend radii, bend transverse to rolling direction, and hot forming is not permitted because it destroys the quench-tempered hardness.
What is the maximum service temperature of Hardox 600?
Hardox 600 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 600 cost?
Hardox 600 is a standard-cost steel ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
Sources
- Hardox 600 Data Sheet & Welding/Bending Guidance — SSAB (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM E140 Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals — ASTM (2019)
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.