Your choice depends on the application requirements:

• For moderate wear and impact: Hardox 400 or 450.
• For high wear with minimal impact: Hardox 500 or 550/600.
• For structural applications with high toughness needs: Hardox HiTuf.

Hardox HiTuf prioritizes impact toughness over extreme hardness. It is ideal for applications that experience heavy impact loads and where cracking or brittleness must be avoided.

Yes, all Hardox grades can be welded and machined. However:

• Higher grades like Hardox 500/600 require preheating and specialized tools due to their higher hardness.
• Hardox HiTuf is easier to work with because of its lower hardness.

The performance of Hardox steel depends on its thickness:

• Thinner plates tend to retain higher toughness.
• For thicker plates, you may need to select a lower hardness grade to maintain adequate ductility.

Novelty Structures offer customized Hardox solutions, such as tailored plate dimensions and coatings. Specific grades like Hardox Extreme are also available for niche applications requiring ultra-high hardness.

When choosing between Hardox grades, consider these factors:

1. Wear Resistance: Higher grades like Hardox 500/600 offer superior resistance to abrasive wear.
2. Toughness: Grades like Hardox 400 or HiTuf have better toughness, making them suitable for impact-heavy environments.
3. Weldability and Machinability: Lower grades (e.g., Hardox 400) are easier to work with, while higher grades may require specialized techniques.
4. Thickness: Thickness influences the balance of toughness and hardness. Thicker plates may demand lower hardness to maintain structural integrity.
5. Cost: Higher hardness grades generally cost more due to their advanced processing.
6. Application: Match the grade to your specific application—e.g., mining buckets require high abrasion resistance (Hardox 500), while truck bodies may use Hardox 400 or 450.

Welding Hardox steel requires care, especially for higher hardness grades. Key guidelines include:

• Preheating: Required for grades 500 and above to reduce the risk of cracking.
• Controlled Cooling: Avoid rapid cooling after welding to maintain structural integrity.
• Matching Electrodes: Use electrodes or filler materials designed for AR steels.
• Avoid Overheating: Excessive heat can reduce hardness in the heat-affected zone (HAZ).

• Hardox 500: Balances wear resistance with moderate toughness, making it suitable for heavy-duty applications like crushers and mining buckets.
• Hardox 600: Prioritizes extreme wear resistance at the cost of reduced toughness. It is ideal for environments with little to no impact stress but intense abrasion.

• Hardox 450 has higher wear resistance (450 HBW vs. 400 HBW) and is slightly harder, making it suitable for applications where components face higher levels of abrasion.
• Hardox 400, while slightly softer, offers better machinability and toughness, making it easier to fabricate and weld.

Thicker plates of Hardox steel naturally become less tough due to the increased hardness. For example:

• Hardox 400: Works well even in thicker sections.
• Hardox 500/600: Recommended for thinner plates or where impact stresses are minimal.

While Hardox grades share similarities, they are optimized for different tasks. Using the wrong grade can result in:

• Reduced lifespan: Using Hardox 400 where Hardox 500 is needed may lead to premature wear.
• Higher costs: Using Hardox 500 where Hardox 400 suffices might be unnecessary and increase expenses.
• Structural failure: Choosing Hardox 600 for impact-heavy applications could result in cracking.