Hardness500 Steel Plate Precautions in Post-Processing Production

Hardness 500 steel plate is an ultra-high hardness wear-resistant steel, typically around 500 Brinell Hardness (HBW). It’s used in applications where abrasion resistance is critical — mining equipment, dump truck beds, hoppers, chutes, etc.

Because of its high hardness and strength, post-processing (like cutting, welding, machining, and forming) requires special precautions. Here’s how to handle it safely and effectively:

⚠️ Precautions During Post-Processing of 500 HB Steel
🔧 1. Cutting (Thermal or Mechanical)
🔹 Thermal Cutting (Plasma or Oxy-Fuel)
Preheat to 150–200°C (300–390°F) for plates >20 mm to reduce cracking.

Maintain even heating to avoid thermal stress and distortion.

Cool slowly; rapid cooling may induce cracking near cut edges.

🔹 Mechanical Cutting (Shearing or Sawing)
Not recommended for thick or very hard plates.

May cause edge cracking or rapid tool wear.

Use carbide-tipped saw blades with coolant if sawing.

🔧 2. Machining
Very difficult to machine due to high hardness.

If machining is required:

Use carbide or ceramic tooling.

Low cutting speeds, high feed rates.

Use flood coolant to manage heat.

Better to machine before hardening if possible, or use wear-resistant overlays instead.

🔧 3. Welding
🔹 Biggest Risk: Cracking due to the hardness and low ductility of the base material.
Precautions:

Preheat to 150–200°C (even higher for thick plates).

Use low-hydrogen electrodes (e.g., E7018).

Control heat input – too much heat can reduce hardness, too little increases cracking risk.

Slow cooling — cover the part with insulation post-weld to avoid rapid temperature drop.

🛠 Post-Weld Heat Treatment is generally not recommended for Hardness 500 steels — it may reduce hardness drastically.

🔧 4. Bending/Forming
Forming radius must be large — small radii can cause cracking.

Cold bending only — no hot forming; it will alter the plate’s hardness and structure.

Follow manufacturer’s recommended minimum punch radius (6–8 × thickness).

Preheat to 150–200°C before bending, especially in colder environments.

🔧 5. Drilling and Tapping
Use carbide-tipped drills with slow speed, high feed, and plenty of coolant.

Pilot holes are recommended.

Avoid threading when possible — use bolted joints with pre-drilled holes instead.

✅ Best Practices for Safe and Effective Processing

Task Key Precaution
Cutting Preheat for thickness, avoid fast cooling
Machining Use hard tooling, low speed, coolants
Welding Preheat + low-hydrogen rods, slow cooling
Forming Large radius, preheat, cold bending only
Drilling Carbide drills, coolant, no tapping

🔍 Final Tips
Consider laser cutting or abrasive water jet for the cleanest, least-distorted cuts.