AR400 Abrasion-Resistant Plate Blanks

AR400 abrasion-resistant plate is a through-hardened, quenched and tempered steel plate engineered to withstand severe sliding abrasion, impact, and gouging in mining, construction, and material-handling environments. The 400 designation refers to the nominal Brinell hardness of 400, which delivers approximately three to four times the service life of standard A36 structural plate in abrasive wear applications. The quenched and tempered microstructure of AR400 consists primarily of tempered martensite, which provides the combination of high hardness and sufficient toughness to resist impact and flexural loading encountered in service. Unlike through-hardened tool steels, AR400 is specifically formulated for weldability. The chemistry is controlled to a carbon equivalent of 0.58 maximum, which allows field welding with proper procedures including preheating to 200-400°F depending on thickness and using low-hydrogen electrodes. Fabricating AR400 requires awareness of its high hardness. Plasma and oxy-fuel cutting both work well, though the heat-affected zone will soften locally to approximately 250-300 Brinell. Drilling should use carbide-tipped bits at slow speeds with heavy feed pressure and flood coolant. Bending is possible at wider radii than mild steel, with a minimum recommended bend radius of 4-5 times the plate thickness for transverse bends. AR400 is typically specified as a liner material rather than a primary structural member. It is welded or bolted over structural steel frames in dump bodies, hoppers, chutes, and screens where the wear surface can be replaced when consumed. Our AR400 plate blanks are flame-cut or plasma-cut from certified domestic mill plate.