NM500 steel is a high-strength, abrasion-resistant (AR) steel that offers significant performance advantages over ordinary carbon steel, particularly in heavy-duty and high-wear environments. Its name derives from the Chinese standard (GB), where "NM" stands for "wear-resistant" and "500" represents its average Brinell hardness.
Key Advantages over Ordinary Carbon Steel
Superior Hardness: NM500 has a Brinell hardness range of 470–540 HBW. In contrast, ordinary mild carbon steel typically has a much lower hardness, often around 120–160 HBW.
Extended Service Life: The wear resistance of NM500 is 2–3 times higher than that of ordinary low-alloy steel plates, significantly extending the lifespan of machinery components subjected to extreme friction.
Higher Strength-to-Weight Ratio: NM500 is more than 3 times stronger than ordinary low-alloy steel. This high strength allows for the use of thinner, lighter plates in equipment like truck bodies and containers without sacrificing durability, which can improve fuel economy and payload capacity
Exceptional Toughness: Unlike basic high-carbon steels that can become brittle, NM500 is specifically alloyed (with chromium, molybdenum, and nickel) and heat-treated (quenched and tempered) to maintain high impact resistance, even at low temperatures.
Fatigue Resistance: NM500 exhibits high stability under repeated loads, making it ideal for components like gears, shafts, and crusher liners that face continuous mechanical stress.
Comparison Summary
| Feature | NM500 Steel | Ordinary Carbon Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Property | Extreme abrasion resistance | General structural strength |
| Hardness (HBW) | 470–540 | Typically < 200 (for mild steel) |
| Wear Life | 2–4x longer in harsh environments | Standard |
| Machinability | Difficult; requires specialized tools | Easy to machine and weld |
| Cost | Higher due to alloying and heat treatment | Lower and more cost-effective |
Key Properties of NM500 Wear Resistant Carbon Steel
Superior Hardness-Toughness Balance
Surface hardness: 470–530 HBW (equivalent to 50–55 HRC)
Core toughness: ≥8% elongation to prevent brittle fracture under impact
Tensile strength: ≥1550 MPa
Enhanced Chemistry of NM500 Abrasion Resistant Steel
Alloy backbone: C (0.30–0.37%), Mn (1.60%), Si (0.70%)
Critical additives: Nickel (0.5–1.0%) for toughness + Molybdenum (0.2–0.4%) for hardenability
Low impurities (P≤0.020%, S≤0.010%) to resist cracking
Fabrication Notes of NM500 Wear Resistant Steel
Welding: Preheat to 150–200°C (302–392°F), use AWS E11018-M electrodes
Machining: Carbide-tipped tools at 80–100 m/min surface speed
Cutting: Waterjet > plasma > laser (oxy-fuel not recommended)
Common Applications of NM500 Steel
Due to these advantages, NM500 is preferred for high-impact and high-friction equipment, including:
- Mining: Excavator buckets, crusher liners, and conveyor systems.
- Construction: Bulldozer blades, road paving equipment, and bridge support components.
- Heavy Transportation: Dump truck bodies and heavy-duty trailers.
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What is NM500 steel?
NM500 is a wear-resistant steel known for its high hardness and toughness. The "NM" stands for "wear-resistant" and the "500" indicates its Brinell hardness. Originating in China, NM500 is used in industries requiring extreme abrasion resistance. It is similar to ASTM A514 steel.
Is NM500 the same as AR500 steel?
Key implication: AR500 is preferred in North America for compliance with ASTM certifications, while NM500 dominates Asian markets . Both steels exceed 500 HBW surface hardness, but AR500 shows marginally higher tensile/yield strength and better low-temperature toughness .
What is the difference between Hardox 500 and NM500?
NM500 exhibits a hardness that typically fluctuates between 470-540 HBW, slightly edging out Hardox 500, which generally hovers around 470-530 HBW. This hardness is a key indicator of their prowess in withstanding the effects of abrasive wear and impact.
| Other steel plate by GNEE | ||||
| Name | Material | Specification (mm) | Tons | Remark |
| Clad steel plate | P265GH+410,S355JR+410,A516Gr70+316, A537CL1+304L,Q235B+304L,Q345B+304, A516Gr70(NACE)+410,A537CL1+904L, A537CL1+316L,A516Gr70+304L,A537CL1+304 ,A516Gr70+410,A516Gr70+904L |
2-300mm(Based plate),1-50mm(Composited plate) | / | UT, AR, TMCP.Normalized, Quenched and Tempered,Z Direction Test, Charpy V-Notch impact TestThe Third Party Test , Coated or Shot Blasting and Painting. |
| Low Alloy | Q345A, Q345B, Q345C, Q345D, Q345E, Q390, Q420, Q460C, ST52-3, S355J2+N, SS400, SA302GrC, S275NL, 35CrMo | 6 - 350 | 5788.56 | Normalizing, tempered ,controlled rolling, hot rolling , Hot rolling,1st inspection, 2nd inspection, 3rd inspection |
| Pressure Vessel Plate | A204 Grade B,A515 Grade 70,A537 Class 1,SA387 Grade 11 Class 1,P265GH,S537 Class 2,P355Q,P275N,P355N,P690Q,Q345R, | 3 - 300 | 8650 | Normalizing, tempered ,controlled rolling, hot rolling , Hot rolling,1st inspection, 2nd inspection, 3rd inspection |
| High-Strength Plate | A514 Grade F, A572 Grade 50, A588 Grade A, S355JR, S690Q, SS400, S690QL, Q345B, Q345E | 8 - 120 | 3086.352 | Quenched and tempered |
| Wear-Resistant Plate | NM360, NM400, NM450, NM500 | 6 - 150 | 3866.297 | Quenched and tempered |
| Ship Plate | ABS AH32,ABS DH32,ABS EH32,ABS FH36,ASTM A131 A, ASTM A131 EH32,ASTM A131 AH36,CCS A,CCS AH32,LR AH32, DNV A36,BV AH32 |
8 - 200 | 2853.621 | Hot rolling, normalized ,hot rolling controlled rolling, quenched and tempered + toughness and brittleness |
