Abdication of Wear-Resistant Steel Plate: History, Properties, and Market Overview

Historical Development of Wear-Resistant Steel Plate

Wear-resistant steel plates, a category of special alloy steel, have a history that spans over a century. The foundational research in the field of alloy steel by Faraday in the early 19th century laid the groundwork for the development of wear-resistant steel. By the end of the 19th century, the successful development of nickel steel marked the beginning of medium carbon alloy structural steel, which in turn initiated the development of medium and low alloy wear-resistant steel. In the 1960s, medium carbon low alloy wear-resistant steel began to replace high manganese cast steel in applications such as cement mill liner plates, demonstrating an excellent cost-performance ratio.

Entering the 21st century, the application fields of wear-resistant steel have further expanded to include metallurgy, engineering, railways, military, aerospace, and other industries. With technological advancements, the self-sufficiency rate of wear-resistant steel has been increasing year by year, playing an increasingly significant role in cost control and economic benefits.

II. Product Performance of Wear-Resistant Steel Plate

Wear-resistant steel plates consist of two parts: a low-carbon steel base and an alloy wear-resistant layer. This structure allows the wear-resistant steel plate to provide the necessary strength, toughness, and plasticity during operation, while the alloy wear-resistant layer provides wear resistance suitable for specific working conditions.

The alloy wear-resistant layer of wear-resistant steel plates is mainly composed of chromium alloy, supplemented by other alloying elements such as manganese, molybdenum, niobium, and nickel. The microstructure features a fibrous distribution of carbides perpendicular to the surface. This structure endows the wear-resistant steel plate with extremely high wear resistance, which is 15 to 20 times higher than that of ordinary steel plates.

III. Global Market Status

At present, the global market for wear-resistant steel exhibits a diverse demand trend. In the domestic market, despite a surplus of ordinary products, the demand for wear-resistant steel continues to rise.

Wear-resistant steel production enterprises in China are mainly state-owned enterprises that hold a dominant position, while companies like Baosteel, Wuhan Iron and Steel (WISCO), and Xingcheng Special Steel utilize specialized technical conditions to produce higher-end wear-resistant steel products, enhancing market coverage.

In the international market, the high-end wear-resistant steel market is mainly occupied by foreign companies such as Sweden's SSAB with its HARDOX series and Germany's ThyssenKrupp with its XAR series. Their product prices are usually more than double that of domestic equivalent wear-resistant steel.

Performance Introduction of Baosteel Wear-Resistant Plate

Baosteel, as a leading steel producer in China, has advanced technology and rich experience in the production of wear-resistant steel plates. Baosteel wear-resistant plates are renowned in both domestic and international markets for their outstanding performance. Here are some key performance features of Baosteel wear-resistant plates:

1. High Strength and Hardness: Baosteel wear-resistant plates have a very high hardness, typically in the range of HRC50-60, allowing them to maintain performance under extreme wear conditions.

2. Excellent Wear Resistance: Due to the special structure of the alloy wear-resistant layer, the wear resistance of Baosteel wear-resistant plates is far superior to that of ordinary steel plates, capable of withstanding high loads and abrasive wear.

3. Good Toughness and Plasticity: Baosteel wear-resistant plates not only have high hardness but also maintain good toughness and plasticity, making them less likely to break under impact.

4. Corrosion Resistance: The alloying elements in Baosteel wear-resistant plates endow the material with certain corrosion resistance, suitable for various environmental conditions.

5. Processing Performance: Baosteel wear-resistant plates can be processed through cutting, bending, welding, etc., facilitating the needs of different projects.

6. Diversity of Specifications: Baosteel offers a variety of specifications for wear-resistant plates, with thickness and dimensions that can be customized according to specific customer requirements.

7. Quality Assurance: Baosteel strictly controls product quality to ensure that each wear-resistant plate meets high-quality standards.

Baosteel wear-resistant plates are widely used in mining machinery, construction machinery, agricultural machinery, metallurgical equipment, and other fields, helping customers to increase the service life and production efficiency of equipment. With continuous technological advancements and market demand growth, the development prospects for Baosteel wear-resistant plates are broad, and they are expected to occupy a more important position in the global market