NM600 Wear Resistant Steel: A Complete Guide to Properties, Uses

If your work relies on equipment that faces extreme wear—like mining crushers in hard rock or heavy-duty construction tools—you need a material that can handle the pressure. NM600 wear resistant steel is the top choice for these tough jobs, offering unbeatable durability and strength. This guide will walk you through everything about NM600, so you can cut downtime, save money, and keep your operations running smoothly.

1. Material Properties of NM600 Wear Resistant Steel

To understand why NM600 stands out, let’s break down its key properties—from what it’s made of to how it performs under stress.

1.1 Chemical Composition

NM600’s strength comes from a precise mix of elements. Here’s its typical chemical makeup:

1.2 Physical Properties

These traits affect how NM600 behaves in different environments:

• Density: 7.85 g/cm³ (same as standard steel, easy to fit into existing designs)
• Melting Point: 1410 – 1460°C (handles high-heat processes like welding and forging)
• Thermal Conductivity: 38 W/(m·K) at 20°C (dissipates heat well, preventing overheating)
• Specific Heat Capacity: 450 J/(kg·K) (absorbs heat without sudden temperature spikes)
• Coefficient of Thermal Expansion: 12.8 × 10⁻⁶/°C (minimizes warping when temperatures change)
• Electrical Resistivity: 0.20 × 10⁻⁶ Ω·m (low conductivity, safe for use near electrical parts)
• Magnetic Properties: Ferromagnetic (attracts magnets), which is useful for material handling systems.

1.3 Mechanical Properties

NM600’s mechanical strength is what makes it ideal for extreme wear. All values meet industry standards (e.g., GB/T 24186):

• Yield Strength: ≥ 1300 MPa (resists permanent bending or stretching under heavy loads)
• Tensile Strength: ≥ 1550 MPa (can handle high pulling forces without breaking)
• Hardness: 580 – 650 HBW (Brinell Hardness) or 56 – 60 HRC (Rockwell Hardness)—extremely resistant to scratches and wear
• Impact Toughness: ≥ 15 J at -40°C (tough even in cold weather, won’t crack easily)
• Elongation: ≥ 6% (flexible enough for installation and minor impacts)
• Reduction of Area: ≥ 18% (can stretch without tearing apart)
• Abrasion Resistance: 6 – 8 times higher than regular Q235 steel (tested in industrial wear trials)
• Fatigue Resistance: Withstands 10⁷ cycles of stress without failing (perfect for parts under repeated load)
• Fracture Toughness: ≥ 40 MPa·m¹/² (resists sudden breaks, even with small cracks)

1.4 Other Properties

• Corrosion Resistance: Moderate—works well in dry or slightly wet areas; use anti-corrosion coatings for coastal or acidic environments.
• Oxidation Resistance: Resists rust up to 700°C (great for high-heat parts like cement mixer liners)
• Weldability: Good with preheating (220 – 280°C) and low-hydrogen welding rods—critical for large parts like excavator buckets.
• Machinability: Requires carbide tools (due to high hardness), but manageable with slow cutting speeds.
• Formability: Can be bent or shaped (with heat for thick plates) to make custom parts like curved liners.
• Thermal Stability: Maintains its strength and hardness even at temperatures up to 550°C.
• Surface Finish: Typically has a smooth, uniform surface (Ra ≤ 6.3 μm), reducing friction and wear.

2. Applications of NM600 Wear Resistant Steel

NM600’s extreme wear resistance and toughness make it perfect for the most demanding jobs. Here are its top uses:

• Mining Equipment: Liners for jaw crushers (hard rock), cone crushers, and ore transport buckets. A gold mine in South Africa switched to NM600 liners—they lasted 14 months, up from 4 months with regular steel.
• Construction Machinery: Excavator buckets (rocky terrain), bulldozer blades (demolition), and asphalt paver screeds. A construction firm in Australia used NM600 buckets—wear damage dropped by 80%.
• Agricultural Machinery: Heavy-duty plowshares (hard, rocky soil) and harvester cutting blades (tough crops like sugarcane). Farmers in Canada reported NM600 plowshares lasted 5 times longer than standard blades.
• Wear-Resistant Liners: Liners for cement mixers, sand mixers, and waste incinerator chambers. A concrete plant in Japan installed NM600 liners—replacement frequency fell from 6 times/year to 1 time/year.
• Grinding Balls and Rods: For mineral processing mills (hard ores like iron ore). NM600 grinding balls lasted 70% longer than cast iron balls in a copper mine in Chile.
• Wear-Resistant Pipes: For transporting gravel, slurry, or coal (high-pressure systems). In a dredging project in Indonesia, NM600 pipes lasted 8 years, compared to 3 years for regular steel pipes.
• Truck Bodies: For dump trucks carrying rocks or demolition debris. A logistics company in Brazil used NM600 truck beds—they needed no repairs for 6 years.
• Material Handling Systems: Conveyor belt rollers (heavy loads) and hopper liners (abrasive materials). A warehouse in the US used NM600 rollers—downtime from worn rollers dropped by 85%.
• Earthmoving Machinery: Loader buckets and scraper blades (moving rocky soil). A mining company in Canada used NM600 loader buckets—life span increased from 6 months to 2 years.

3. Manufacturing Techniques of NM600 Wear Resistant Steel

Producing NM600 requires precise steps to ensure its strength and durability. Here’s the process:

1. Steelmaking Process:
   • Uses the EAF (Electric Arc Furnace) method (ideal for precise alloy control).
   • Raw materials (scrap steel, iron ore) are melted, and impurities (like sulfur) are removed.
   • Alloys (Mn, Cr, Mo) are added to reach the target chemical composition.
2. Alloying Process:
   • Alloys are added in two stages: first during melting, then in a secondary refining furnace (LF furnace).
   • Boron (B) is added last (in small amounts) to boost hardenability without reducing toughness.
   • Strict checks ensure elements like P and S stay below 0.03%.
3. Heat Treatment:
   • Quenching: The steel is heated to 940 – 980°C, held for 2.5 – 3.5 hours, then rapidly cooled with water. This forms a hard martensite structure.
   • Tempering: After quenching, it’s heated to 240 – 340°C for 3.5 – 5.5 hours. This reduces internal stress and balances hardness with toughness.
   • Annealing: Sometimes used before machining—heating to 830 – 880°C, then cooling slowly—to make the steel easier to cut.
4. Rolling Process:
   • Hot rolling at 1100 – 1200°C shapes the steel into plates (thickness 6 – 180 mm) or coils.
   • Cold rolling is used for thinner plates (≤ 6 mm) to improve surface smoothness.
5. Forging Process:
   • Used for complex parts like large crusher liners.
   • The steel is heated to 900 – 1000°C and pressed into molds. Forging increases density and eliminates internal defects.
6. Surface Treatment:
   • Carburizing: Heating in a carbon-rich gas (920 – 970°C) adds a 0.8 – 1.4 mm hard carbon layer for extra wear resistance.
   • Nitriding: Heating in ammonia gas (540 – 580°C) creates a nitrogen layer, improving corrosion resistance.
   • Shot Peening: Blasting small metal balls at the surface to reduce stress and enhance fatigue resistance.
7. Quality Control and Testing:
   • Every batch is tested for chemical composition (using a spectrometer) and mechanical properties (hardness, tensile strength).
   • Impact tests at -40°C and wear tests (ASTM G65 standards) ensure performance.
   • Microstructure Control: Microscopic checks confirm the steel has a fine, uniform structure (critical for strength).
   • Advanced Manufacturing Techniques: Some producers use computer-controlled rolling (CCR) to ensure consistent thickness and quality.

4. Case Studies and Real-World Examples

Real-world results show NM600’s value. Here are three detailed case studies:

Case Study 1: Mining Crusher Liners in Canada

• Problem: A iron ore mine used Q345 steel liners in its cone crusher. Liners wore out every 2.5 months, causing 14 hours of downtime per replacement.
• Solution: Switched to 35 mm thick NM600 liners.
• Results:
  • Liner life increased to 15 months.
  • Downtime dropped by 88% (from 84 hours/year to 10 hours/year).
  • Annual cost savings: $90,000 (lower liner costs + more mining time).

Case Study 2: Construction Excavator Buckets in Brazil

• Problem: A construction company used NM500 steel for excavator buckets in rocky terrain. Buckets needed repairs every 4 months due to wear.
• Solution: Upgraded to 30 mm thick NM600 buckets.
• Results:
  • Bucket life extended to 12 months.
  • Repair costs fell by 70% (from $15,000/year to $4,500/year).
  • Worker productivity increased by 25% (less time waiting for repairs).

Case Study 3: Agricultural Plowshares in the US

• Problem: A farm equipment maker used cast iron plowshares for hard, rocky soil. Plowshares broke or dulled after 300 acres.
• Solution: Replaced cast iron with 8 mm thick NM600 plowshares.
• Results:
  • Plowshare life extended to 1,500 acres.
  • Farmer satisfaction increased by 90% (survey of 70 users).
  • Replacement costs dropped by 80% (from $800/year to $160/year).

5. Comparative Analysis with Other Materials

How does NM600 stack up against other wear-resistant options? The table below compares key factors:

Cost-Effectiveness & Life Cycle Analysis Takeaway

• Cost-Effectiveness: NM600 is 4.5x cheaper than ceramics and lasts 2-6x longer than cast iron. Compared to NM500/NM550, it offers better wear resistance—worth the small extra cost for extreme-wear jobs.
• Life Cycle Analysis: Over 5 years, NM600 parts cost 30-50% less than ceramics (due to lower replacement and maintenance costs). They also generate less waste (fewer replacements), making them more eco-friendly.
• Application-Specific: For parts with both wear and impact (like excavator buckets), NM600 beats ceramics (brittle) and cast iron (breaks easily). For no-impact, high-wear parts (silo liners), ceramics may be better—but only if cost isn’t a factor.

Yigu Technology’s Perspective on NM600 Wear Resistant Steel

At Yigu Technology, we’ve supplied NM600 to 500+ clients in mining, construction, and agriculture. NM600 solves our clients’ biggest pain: frequent part failures in extreme wear. We customize NM600 parts (e.g., tailored crusher liners) with in-house cutting/welding, ensuring a perfect fit. Clients report 2-6x longer part life, cutting downtime by 75% on average. We offer fast delivery (5-7 days for standard plates) and after-sales support (welding guides, wear tests) to maximize NM600’s value. For extreme-wear jobs, NM600 is our top pick—it’s a long-term cost saver and reliability booster.

FAQ About NM600 Wear Resistant Steel

1. Can NM600 be welded to other types of steel?
   Yes. Use low-hydrogen welding rods (e.g., E10018-G) and preheat NM600 to 220 – 280°C. Post-weld tempering at 300°C for 2 hours reduces stress and prevents cracking.
2. What thicknesses of NM600 are available?
   Standard thicknesses range from 6 mm to 180 mm. For custom thicknesses (e.g., 200 mm), we can produce them with a 4-6 week lead time.
3. Is NM600 suitable for high-temperature applications?
   Yes. It maintains its strength and hardness up to 550°C, making it ideal for parts like cement mixer liners, incinerator components, or high-heat conveyor rollers.