NM500 HiTuf Wear Resistant Steel: Properties, Uses & Expert Guide

If you’re dealing with equipment that faces heavy wear and sudden impacts—like mining crushers or construction excavators—you need a material that can handle both. NM500 HiTuf stands out as a high-performance wear-resistant steel, blending exceptional hardness with superior toughness. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about NM500 HiTuf, so you can cut downtime, save on repairs, and keep your operations running smoothly.

1. Material Properties of NM500 HiTuf

To understand why NM500 HiTuf works for tough jobs, let’s dive into its core properties—from what it’s made of to how it performs under stress.

1.1 Chemical Composition

NM500 HiTuf’s strength and toughness come from a precise mix of alloy elements. Below is its typical chemical makeup (meeting industry standards):

1.2 Physical Properties

These traits affect how NM500 HiTuf behaves in different environments—critical for choosing the right material for your project:

• Density: 7.85 g/cm³ (same as standard steel, easy to integrate into existing designs)
• Melting Point: 1430 – 1480°C (handles high-heat processes like welding and forging)
• Thermal Conductivity: 42 W/(m·K) at 20°C (dissipates heat well, preventing overheating in heavy-use parts)
• Specific Heat Capacity: 460 J/(kg·K) (absorbs heat without sudden temperature spikes, ideal for cyclic use)
• Coefficient of Thermal Expansion: 13.2 × 10⁻⁶/°C (minimizes warping when temperatures change, e.g., from day to night)
• Electrical Resistivity: 0.18 × 10⁻⁶ Ω·m (low conductivity, safe for use near electrical components)
• Magnetic Properties: Ferromagnetic (attracts magnets), which is useful for material handling systems and non-destructive testing.

1.3 Mechanical Properties

NM500 HiTuf’s mechanical performance is what makes it a top choice for high-wear, high-impact jobs. All values meet strict industry standards:

• Yield Strength: ≥ 1100 MPa (resists permanent deformation under heavy loads, like ore in a crusher)
• Tensile Strength: ≥ 1350 MPa (handles pulling forces without breaking, e.g., when an excavator lifts rocks)
• Hardness: 480 – 550 HBW (Brinell Hardness) or 54 – 58 HRC (Rockwell Hardness)—hard enough to resist scratches and abrasion
• Impact Toughness: ≥ 30 J at -40°C (tough even in cold weather—won’t crack in freezing mines or construction sites)
• Elongation: ≥ 9% (flexible enough to absorb sudden impacts, like a bulldozer hitting a rock)
• Reduction of Area: ≥ 25% (can stretch without tearing, important for parts that bend slightly during use)
• Abrasion Resistance: 5 – 6 times higher than regular Q235 steel (tested in industrial wear trials with gravel and ore)
• Fatigue Resistance: Withstands 10⁷ cycles of stress without failing (ideal for parts under repeated use, like conveyor rollers)
• Fracture Toughness: ≥ 45 MPa·m¹/² (resists sudden breaks, even if the material has small flaws)

1.4 Other Properties

• Corrosion Resistance: Moderate—performs well in dry or slightly wet environments (e.g., inland mines). For coastal or acidic areas, use anti-corrosion coatings.
• Oxidation Resistance: Resists rust up to 650°C (suitable for high-heat parts like cement mixer liners)
• Weldability: Good—requires preheating to 180 – 220°C for thick plates (>20 mm) and low-hydrogen welding rods (e.g., E8018-B2) to avoid cracks.
• Machinability: Moderate—needs carbide tools (due to high hardness) but can be drilled, cut, or shaped with slow, steady speeds.
• Formability: Can be bent or rolled into custom shapes (e.g., curved wear liners) with heat (for thicknesses >15 mm) to prevent cracking.
• Thermal Stability: Maintains its strength and hardness up to 500°C (safe for parts exposed to moderate heat, like industrial ovens).
• Surface Finish: Typically supplied with a smooth, scale-free surface (Ra ≤ 6.3 μm)—ready for painting or surface treatment.

2. Applications of NM500 HiTuf

NM500 HiTuf’s mix of wear resistance and toughness makes it perfect for parts that face both friction and impact. Here are its most common uses:

• Mining Equipment: Liners for jaw crushers, cone crushers, and ore transport buckets. A coal mine in Australia replaced 普通 steel liners with NM500 HiTuf—liner life increased from 3 months to 10 months.
• Construction Machinery: Excavator buckets (for rocky terrain), bulldozer blades, and asphalt paver plates. A construction firm in Germany used NM500 HiTuf buckets—wear damage dropped by 70%, cutting repair costs.
• Agricultural Machinery: Heavy-duty plowshares (for hard, rocky soil) and harvester cutting blades. Farmers in Canada reported NM500 HiTuf plowshares lasted 3 times longer than standard steel blades.
• Wear-Resistant Liners: Liners for cement mixers, sand mixers, and waste treatment tanks. A concrete plant in Japan installed NM500 HiTuf liners—replacement frequency fell from 4 times/year to 1 time/year.
• Grinding Balls and Rods: For mineral processing mills (e.g., gold or copper mines). NM500 HiTuf grinding balls lasted 50% longer than cast iron balls in a Chilean copper mine.
• Wear-Resistant Pipes: For transporting gravel, slurry, or coal. In a dredging project in Indonesia, NM500 HiTuf pipes lasted 6 years—compared to 2 years for regular steel pipes.
• Truck Bodies: For dump trucks carrying rocks or demolition debris. A logistics company in Brazil used NM500 HiTuf truck beds—they needed no repairs for 4 years.
• Material Handling Systems: Conveyor belt rollers and hopper liners. A warehouse in the US used NM500 HiTuf rollers—downtime from worn rollers dropped by 80%.
• Earthmoving Machinery: Loader buckets and scraper blades (for moving rocky soil). A mining company in Canada used NM500 HiTuf loader buckets—life span increased from 6 months to 2 years.

3. Manufacturing Techniques of NM500 HiTuf

Producing NM500 HiTuf requires precise steps to ensure its strength, toughness, and wear resistance. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

1. Steelmaking Process:
   • Uses the EAF (Electric Arc Furnace) method (ideal for precise control of alloy elements).
   • Raw materials (scrap steel, iron ore) are melted, and impurities (like sulfur) are removed via oxidation.
   • Alloys (Mn, Cr, Mo) are added to reach the target chemical composition, with strict checks to keep P and S below 0.03%.
2. Alloying Process:
   • Alloys are added in two stages: first during melting, then in a secondary refining furnace (LF furnace) to adjust levels.
   • Vanadium (V) and Boron (B) are added last—V refines grain structure, while B boosts hardenability without reducing toughness.
3. Heat Treatment:
   • Quenching: The steel is heated to 920 – 960°C, held for 1.5 – 2.5 hours (to ensure uniform heating), then rapidly cooled with water. This forms a hard martensite structure.
   • Tempering: After quenching, the steel is heated to 220 – 320°C for 2 – 4 hours. This reduces internal stress and balances hardness with toughness (critical for preventing brittleness).
   • Annealing: Sometimes used before machining—heated to 800 – 850°C, then cooled slowly—to make the steel easier to cut.
4. Rolling Process:
   • Hot rolling at 1050 – 1150°C shapes the steel into plates (thickness 4 – 120 mm) or coils. The rolling speed and temperature are controlled to ensure uniform thickness and grain structure.
   • Cold rolling is used for thinner plates (≤ 4 mm) to improve surface smoothness and dimensional accuracy.
5. Forging Process:
   • Used for complex parts (e.g., large crusher liners or custom bucket teeth).
   • The steel is heated to 850 – 950°C and pressed into molds using hydraulic presses. Forging increases material density and eliminates internal defects, boosting strength.
6. Surface Treatment:
   • Carburizing: Heating in a carbon-rich gas (900 – 950°C) adds a 0.6 – 1.2 mm hard carbon layer to the surface—ideal for parts needing extra wear resistance (e.g., grinding balls).
   • Nitriding: Heating in ammonia gas (520 – 560°C) creates a nitrogen layer, improving corrosion resistance (useful for marine or humid environments).
   • Shot Peening: Blasting small metal balls at the surface to reduce residual stress and enhance fatigue resistance (critical for parts under repeated use, like conveyor rollers).
7. Quality Control and Testing:
   • Every batch is tested for chemical composition (using a spectrometer) and mechanical properties (tensile strength, hardness, impact toughness).
   • Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Ultrasonic testing checks for internal flaws, while magnetic particle testing finds surface cracks.
   • Microstructure Control: Microscopic checks confirm the steel has a fine, uniform martensite structure (required for consistent performance).

4. Case Studies and Real-World Examples

Real-world results show how NM500 HiTuf solves common wear and impact problems. Here are three detailed case studies:

Case Study 1: Mining Crusher Liners in South Africa

• Problem: A gold mine used Q345 steel liners in its cone crusher. The liners wore out every 2.5 months, causing 10 hours of downtime per replacement. Repairs cost $15,000/year.
• Solution: Switched to 25 mm thick NM500 HiTuf liners.
• Results:
  • Liner life increased to 11 months.
  • Downtime dropped by 75% (from 48 hours/year to 12 hours/year).
  • Annual cost savings: $60,000 (lower liner costs + more mining time).

Case Study 2: Construction Excavator Buckets in Brazil

• Problem: A construction company used NM450 steel for excavator buckets in rocky terrain. Buckets developed cracks after 3 months and needed repairs every 6 weeks.
• Solution: Upgraded to 30 mm thick NM500 HiTuf buckets.
• Results:
  • Bucket life extended to 10 months (no cracks).
  • Repair costs fell by 65% (from $12,000/year to $4,200/year).
  • Worker productivity increased by 20% (less time waiting for repairs).

Case Study 3: Agricultural Plowshares in the US

• Problem: A farm equipment manufacturer used cast iron plowshares for hard, rocky soil. Plowshares dulled after 400 acres and broke easily in cold weather (-10°C).
• Solution: Replaced cast iron with 8 mm thick NM500 HiTuf plowshares.
• Results:
  • Plowshare life extended to 1,600 acres.
  • No breakages in cold weather (thanks to high impact toughness).
  • Farmer satisfaction increased by 90% (survey of 50 users).

5. Comparative Analysis with Other Materials

How does NM500 HiTuf stack up against other wear-resistant options? The table below compares key factors like wear resistance, toughness, and cost:

Key Takeaways from the Comparison

• Wear vs. Toughness: NM500 HiTuf offers a better balance than ceramics (which are brittle) and cast iron (which breaks easily). It’s tough enough for impacts and wear-resistant enough for heavy use.
• Cost-Effectiveness: NM500 HiTuf is 3.5x cheaper than ceramics and lasts 2-4x longer than cast iron. Compared to NM400/NM450, it costs a little more but offers 15-30% better wear resistance—worth it for high-wear jobs.
• Application-Specific: For parts with both wear and impact (e.g., excavator buckets), NM500 HiTuf is the best choice. For no-impact, high-wear parts (e.g., silo liners), ceramics may work—but only if cost isn’t a factor.

Yigu Technology’s Perspective on NM500 HiTuf

At Yigu Technology, we’ve supplied NM500 HiTuf to over 350 clients in mining, construction, and agriculture. Its biggest advantage is solving our clients’ top pain: frequent part failures from both wear and impact. We customize NM500 HiTuf parts (e.g., tailored crusher liners) with in-house cutting and welding, ensuring a perfect fit. Clients report 2-4x longer part life, cutting downtime by 70% on average. We offer fast delivery (7-10 days for standard plates) and after-sales support—like welding guides—to help clients get the most out of NM500 HiTuf. For high-wear, high-impact jobs, it’s our go-to recommendation for long-term cost savings.