Steel NM500
also Hardox 500
NM500 is a quenched and tempered abrasion-resistant plate at nominal 500 HBW (about 50 HRC), functionally equivalent to AR500 and Hardox 500.
Values for the Q&T condition
NM500 tempers and conditions
NM500 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. Q&T is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
reduced core hardness | Heavy plate where hardenability limits core hardness; choose for thick crusher/mill liners where surface hardness governs but toughness must stay usable. | 1,230 | 1,520 | 9 | 49 HRC | 7.8 % IACS |
Q&TDefault Quenched and tempered | Standard as-delivered NM500 wear plate, typically 6–40 mm; pick this for general abrasion liners and truck bodies. | 1,300 | 1,600 | 8 | 50 HRC | — |
full through-hardening | Thin plate quenched fully to martensite; use where uniform hardness through the section and tight flatness are needed (chute liners, wear strips). | 1,350 | 1,650 | 8 | 51 HRC | 7.8 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways NM500 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
Q&T-IMPACT | Q&T with guaranteed low-temperature impact | Certification |
What is NM500?
NM500 is a quenched and tempered abrasion-resistant plate at nominal 500 HBW (about 50 HRC), functionally equivalent to AR500 and Hardox 500. Typical values are 1300 MPa yield, 1600 MPa tensile and 8 % elongation, and it is used for welded or bolt-on wear liners in mining, crushing and bulk-handling equipment; thin, thick and impact-tested Q&T variants are available. It is not a structural grade: machinability is poor, welding needs low-hydrogen consumables and preheat, cold bending requires large radii, and heating above about 250 °C permanently lowers hardness. NM400 is the alternative where 400 HBW is sufficient. NM500 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). NM500 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 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).
What is NM500 used for?
- Mining chute and hopper liners
- Dump truck body liners
- Crusher and mill liners
- Bucket lips and cutting edges
- Excavator and loader wear plates
- Conveyor transfer point liners
- Screen and grizzly plates
Advantages
- High strength — 1,300 MPa (189 ksi), better than 95% of steel grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 12/100, worse than 99% of steel grades
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 95% 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
- Low fracture toughness — 55 MPa·√m (50.1 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of steel grades
NM500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for NM500-Q&T; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
NM500 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
NM500 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 206 GPa (29.9 Msi).
Thermal6
NM500 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 34 W/m·K (19.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 77% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 12.5 µm/m·K (6.94 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
NM500 conducts electricity at 7.8 % IACS, worse than 57% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (13/100), better than 66% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of NM500 takes about 29 MJ of energy and emits 2.3 kg of CO₂ — less than 53% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability5
NM500's machinability is not recommended (12/100, worse than 99% of steel grades); weldability fair (35/100); 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.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. NM500 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with NM500
Is NM500 easy to machine?
Treat as ~50 HRC tool steel: rigid setup, CBN or coated carbide, low speed/high feed; drilling and tapping are impractical — use plasma/laser/waterjet holes with plenty of coolant to avoid a hardened cut edge.
Can NM500 be welded?
Use low-hydrogen consumables (often softer, ~500–700 MPa filler), preheat 150–200 °C (higher for >30 mm or high CEV), keep interpass below ~225 °C and heat input moderate; the HAZ softens and slow cooling is essential against hydrogen cracking.
Can NM500 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bending only with generous radii (≈5–6× thickness transverse to rolling, 3–4× for thin gauge), bend axis preferably across the rolling direction; hot forming or stress-relief above ~200 °C irreversibly lowers hardness.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to NM500. Every NM500 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Fair12 / 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 | Fair15 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Better35 / 100 |
NM500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CGB/T 24186 ladle analysis maximum | ≤ 0.38 | 0.32 |
| Si | ≤ 0.7 | 0.3 |
| Mn | ≤ 1.7 | 1.3 |
| P | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| S | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Cr | ≤ 1.6 | 0.9 |
| Ni | ≤ 1 | 0.3 |
| Mo | ≤ 0.7 | 0.35 |
| Bhardenability booster | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| TiN fixing for boron effectiveness | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Nb | ≤ 0.06 | 0.02 |
| V | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Altotal Al, deoxidation | ≥ 0.02 | 0.03 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on NM500?
Shot-blast and prime/paint or use as bare sacrificial wear surface; not anodizable, plating is avoided because of hydrogen-embrittlement risk at 50 HRC, and hard-facing overlay is a common repair route.
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 NM500 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Hardox 500
How much does NM500 cost?
NM500 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.
NM500 — frequently asked
What is NM500 used for?
NM500 is typically used for mining chute and hopper liners, dump truck body liners, crusher and mill liners, bucket lips and cutting edges, excavator and loader wear plates and conveyor transfer point liners. In short: premium Chinese wear plate.
What is the yield strength of NM500?
NM500 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. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is NM500 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, CBN or coated carbide, low speed/high feed; drilling and tapping are impractical — use plasma/laser/waterjet holes with plenty of coolant to avoid a hardened cut edge.
Can NM500 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Use low-hydrogen consumables (often softer, ~500–700 MPa filler), preheat 150–200 °C (higher for >30 mm or high CEV), keep interpass below ~225 °C and heat input moderate; the HAZ softens and slow cooling is essential against hydrogen cracking.
What surface finishes work on NM500?
Shot-blast and prime/paint or use as bare sacrificial wear surface; not anodizable, plating is avoided because of hydrogen-embrittlement risk at 50 HRC, and hard-facing overlay is a common repair route.
Can NM500 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bending only with generous radii (≈5–6× thickness transverse to rolling, 3–4× for thin gauge), bend axis preferably across the rolling direction; hot forming or stress-relief above ~200 °C irreversibly lowers hardness.
What is the maximum service temperature of NM500?
NM500 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 NM500 cost?
NM500 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 NM500?
Yes — NM500 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
- GB/T 24186 (NM series wear-resistant plate) (2022)
- 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)
- Abrasion-resistant 500 HBW plate datasheets (wear plate producers, AR500/HB500 class) — steel plate producers (2023)
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.