Hardox vs AR500 — brand name, generic grade, and what is actually different
"Hardox" is what most buyers say when they mean abrasion-resistant plate, the way "Corten" means weathering steel. Hardox is SSAB's registered brand; AR400, AR450 and AR500 are the generic hardness classes that Hardox, Dillidur, XAR, Raex, JFE-EH and NM plates all belong to. This page sets out what the brand guarantees beyond the hardness number, what the generic plate guarantees, and where each is the right purchase — because we sell both.
Names and classes
| Class (nominal HB) | SSAB | Dillinger | thyssenkrupp | Raahe / SSAB | JFE | China (GB/T 24186) | Generic name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 | Hardox 400 | Dillidur 400 V | XAR 400 | Raex 400 | JFE-EH400 | NM400 | AR400 |
| 450 | Hardox 450 | Dillidur 450 V | XAR 450 | Raex 450 | JFE-EH450 | NM450 | AR450 |
| 500 | Hardox 500 | Dillidur 500 V | XAR 500 | Raex 500 | JFE-EH500 | NM500 | AR500 |
| 550 / 600 | Hardox 550 / 600 | Dillidur 550 | XAR 600 | — | — | NM550 / 600 | AR550 / AR600 |
All are quenched (and lightly tempered) low-alloy boron steels; the class number is the nominal Brinell hardness. "AR" is not a standard — there is no EN or ASTM specification for AR500; each mill publishes its own datasheet.
What Hardox guarantees that generic AR plate may not
| Property | Hardox 500 (SSAB datasheet) | Generic AR500 (typical mill datasheet) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface hardness | 470–530 HB (guaranteed range) | ≥ 470 HB, often 450–540 (wider or one-sided) | narrow range = predictable wear and bending |
| Through-thickness hardness | guaranteed ≥ 90 % of surface at mid-thickness | usually not stated | thick plates can be soft in the core |
| Impact toughness | typ. 30 J at −40 °C (guaranteed on request) | typically not guaranteed; 20–27 J at −20 °C when tested | cold climates, impact loads, bucket lips |
| Flatness | Hardox class (tighter than EN 10029 S), ≤ 3 mm/m | EN 10029 N or S; sometimes wavier | laser cutting yield, fit of liners |
| Bending | guaranteed min. radius 4 × t (500) with published die data | 4–6 × t, often trial-and-error | chutes, truck bodies |
| Thickness tolerance | ¼ of EN 10029 class A (Hardox Guarantee) | EN 10029 class A or B | weight and wear-life calculations |
| Chemistry / CEV | published per thickness, CEV 0.49–0.66 | published max values; may vary heat to heat | welding procedures, preheat |
| Traceability | SSAB certificate 3.1 / 3.2, plate marking, Hardox ID | mill 3.1; marking varies | audits, mining contracts |
| Price index (per ton, FOB Istanbul) | 1.15–1.30 | 1.00 | the premium is for the guarantees above |
Same hardness, same wear life?
In sliding abrasion — sand, ore, aggregate, coal — relative wear life tracks hardness closely, so a 500 HB generic plate and Hardox 500 wear at essentially the same rate on a chute or a liner where the plate is bolted flat and never bent or struck. The differences show up at the edges of the envelope: in the core of thick plates (30 mm and above) where a generic plate may drop 40–60 HB and wear faster once the surface is gone; in impact abrasion (crusher liners, bucket lips, dozer blades) where toughness decides whether the plate chips; in cold climates where an untested plate can be brittle at −30 °C; and in fabrication, where a wavier, less predictable plate costs laser time and bends unpredictably. For a truck body or a bucket that is formed, welded and expected to survive rocks, the brand's guaranteed toughness and bending data are worth the premium; for flat liners, wear strips and chute plates that are cut and bolted, generic AR500 from a reputable mill (with a hardness-tested 3.1 certificate) does the same job at 15–30 % less.
Decision table
| Application | Specify | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Flat liners, chute and hopper plates, wear strips (bolted) | Generic AR400 / AR500 with hardness certificate | sliding wear only; cheapest per hour of life |
| Truck bodies, tipper floors (formed, welded) | Hardox 450 / 500 or Dillidur 450 V | guaranteed bending radius and flatness; toughness |
| Excavator buckets, lips, teeth adapters | Hardox 500 / 550 or equivalent brand | impact toughness at −40 °C, through-hardness |
| Crusher and mill liners (impact abrasion) | Hardox 500 Tuf / 600, or manganese steel | chipping resistance; brand data on impact |
| Mining equipment under contract spec | Whatever the contract names — usually the brand | audit traceability |
| Agricultural blades and wear parts (thin, 6–10 mm) | Generic AR400 / 450 | replaced often; hardness is all that counts |
| Cold-climate equipment (KZ, Siberia) | Hardox or generic with −40 °C Charpy on certificate | toughness must be certified either way |
| Laser-cut parts in volume | Hardox or flatness-guaranteed generic | flatness = cutting yield and part accuracy |
Welding and cutting — no difference in principle
Both are welded with low-hydrogen consumables, soft (unalloyed) filler, preheat from about 20 mm for the 400 class and from 10–15 mm for the 500 class, interpass below 225 °C, and never flame-straightened above 250 °C. The brand publishes a carbon equivalent per thickness so the fabricator can set preheat exactly; with generic plate use the maximum CEV on the datasheet or measure it. Plasma and laser cut both; the hardened edge (0.5–1 mm) is ground before bending on either. Details on the AR400, AR450 and AR500 pages.
Price and availability
Hardox is sold through SSAB's channels and stockists at a brand premium of roughly 15–30 % over generic AR plate of the same class, and lead times follow SSAB's programme; generic AR400–AR500 from EU and Asian mills is stocked in Dilovası in 6–40 mm and cut to size within a week. We quote both on request and state the brand on the certificate — a plate sold as "Hardox" is Hardox; a plate sold as AR500 is the class, with the mill named. Ask for the brand only when your drawing or contract requires it, or when the application is in the upper rows of the decision table.
Frequently asked questions
Is AR500 the same as Hardox 500?
Same hardness class (nominal 500 HB) and the same type of quenched boron steel; Hardox 500 is SSAB's brand with guaranteed hardness range, through-thickness hardness, flatness, bending and toughness data. Generic AR500 guarantees the surface hardness and whatever else the mill's datasheet states.
Is Hardox a grade or a brand?
A brand — SSAB's registered name for its abrasion-resistant plates (Hardox 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, HiTuf, Extreme). The generic classes are AR400–AR600; there is no EN or ASTM standard for them.
Which is cheaper, Hardox or AR500?
Generic AR500 by about 15–30 % per ton; the difference buys the brand's guarantees and traceability.
Can I replace Hardox 400 with AR400?
For flat, bolted wear parts in sliding abrasion, yes — with a hardness-tested certificate. For formed, welded or impact-loaded parts, or where the contract names Hardox, keep the brand or an equivalent brand (Dillidur, XAR, Raex).
What is the equivalent of Hardox 450?
AR450 class: Dillidur 450 V, XAR 450, Raex 450, JFE-EH450, NM450 — 420–480 HB, the truck-body grade.
Do you sell Hardox?
We supply Hardox through SSAB's channel on request and stock generic AR400 / AR450 / AR500 from EU and Asian mills in Dilovası; both are quoted with the mill and brand stated on the certificate.