How to Select the Right AR Steel Grade for Your Application
When your project demands superior wear resistance and toughness, choosing the right abrasion resistant (AR) steel is critical. But with options like AR400, AR450, and AR500 each with distinct properties and performance profiles, how do you decide which one is best for your needs?
At Olympic Steel, we supply high-quality AR steel plate grades engineered for demanding applications across industries including mining, agriculture, heavy equipment, and energy. In this guide, we’ll help you understand the key differences between AR grades, the benefits of each, and how to choose the right solution for your application.
What Is Abrasion Resistant Steel?
Abrasion resistant (AR) steel is a high-carbon alloy steel designed to resist wear and surface damage caused by friction, impact, or sliding contact. It's used in equipment that experiences consistent material movement or abrasion, such as buckets, dump truck beds, hoppers, blades, and wear liners.
AR steels achieve their hardness primarily through heat treatment and precise chemical composition. Olympic Steel offers multiple AR plate grades, each engineered for a balance of hardness, formability, and impact strength.
Olympic Steel’s AR Steel Grades
We proudly supply the following AR plate grades:
- AR400 – Offers a Brinell hardness of around 360–440 HBW, with good formability and moderate wear resistance.
- AR450 – Increased hardness (~430–480 HBW) and slightly better abrasion resistance than AR400, with similar processing characteristics.
- AR500 – Among the hardest commercial AR plates (470–540 HBW), designed for severe abrasion conditions.
These grades are available in various thicknesses and formats and can be cut to size based on your project’s requirements.
Key Properties: AR400 vs AR450 vs AR500
The table below highlights the comparative characteristics of Olympic Steel’s core AR grades:
| Property | AR400 | AR450 | AR500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brinell Hardness (HBW) | 360–440 | 430–480 | 470–540 |
| Wear Resistance | Good | Very Good | Excellent |
| Impact Toughness | High | Moderate–High | Moderate |
| Formability | Best | Good | Moderate |
| Weldability | Excellent | Good | Moderate–Good |
| Typical Uses | Buckets, hoppers | Blades, dump beds | Liners, targets |
Each grade offers unique advantages, and the right choice depends on how much wear, impact, or forming your application requires.
When to Choose AR400
AR400 is the most flexible and weldable grade, ideal when you need:
- Moderate abrasion resistance
- Easy bending, forming, and cutting
- Strong impact strength in cold environments
Best suited for: Agricultural wear parts, construction attachments, material handling components, and applications requiring frequent fabrication.
At Olympic Steel, AR400 is a customer favorite due to its balance between durability and processability. It’s readily available and often serves as a baseline for more customized wear solutions.
When AR450 Makes Sense
AR450 offers better wear resistance without giving up too much in formability. It’s the perfect choice when:
- You need increased hardness over AR400
- Impact strength is still a concern
- Fabrication may involve bending or welding
Best suited for: Truck dump beds, blades, construction chassis, and scraper pans.
Olympic Steel customers often turn to AR450 for mid-range durability applications where cost, strength, and resistance need to be carefully balanced.
When AR500 Is the Right Fit
Choose AR500 when the most extreme abrasion conditions are present and formability is less of a concern. Opt for this grade when:
- Maximum surface wear resistance is required
- The part will see high-speed or high-volume material flow
- You can machine or waterjet cut instead of cold-form
Best suited for: Mining equipment, chute liners, bullet traps, and impact plates.
Olympic Steel carries AR500 in a wide range of thicknesses and formats to meet high-wear needs across industries. It’s especially valuable in the energy, defense, and mining sectors.
Fabrication & Processing Tips
All AR steels require specific handling during fabrication to maintain structural integrity and hardness:
- Preheat before welding – Reduces risk of cracking in higher hardness plates like AR500
- Avoid tight radius bends – Especially in AR500; AR400 allows tighter forming
- Use appropriate filler metals – For weld compatibility and performance
- Machine with care – Use carbide tools or waterjet for precise cuts
Olympic Steel’s processing services laser cutting, plasma cutting, beveling, and kitting ensure that your AR plate arrives ready for assembly or weld-up.
Common Applications by Grade
| Application | Recommended Grade |
|---|---|
| Loader buckets | AR400 |
| Dump truck beds | AR450 |
| Mining chute liners | AR500 |
| Scraper blades | AR450 |
| Agricultural implement wear | AR400 |
| Ballistic protection targets | AR500 |
Need a specific combination of impact and abrasion resistance? Olympic Steel can help you select, process, and deliver the best solution.
FAQs: AR Steel Selection
What does AR stand for in steel?
“AR” means “abrasion resistant.” AR steel is heat-treated and engineered to resist surface wear and damage.
Is AR500 better than AR400?
Not always, it depends on the application. AR500 resists wear better but is harder to cut and form. AR400 is easier to work with and offers better impact toughness.
Can I weld AR500?
Yes, but it requires preheating and slower cooling. Olympic Steel can pre-cut and prep AR500 to reduce welding on-site.
Which AR plate has the best formability?
AR400 is the easiest to bend and form. As hardness increases (AR450, AR500), formability decreases.
Is AR450 a good compromise?
Yes, it offers improved wear resistance over AR400 with better processability than AR500. It’s ideal for general-purpose abrasion-resistant parts.
Final Thoughts
When selecting abrasion resistant steel, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The right grade depends on your balance of:
- Expected abrasion level
- Need for impact resistance
- Required bending or welding
- Lifecycle cost vs. upfront savings
At Olympic Steel, our experienced team works with you to select the right AR plate for your unique project. With nationwide facilities, value-added processing, and proven performance in AR400, AR450, and AR500, we’re your trusted partner in wear-resistant steel.
Contact Olympic Steel today to request a quote or discuss your wear plate needs with a material expert.
