NM400 vs NM 500

NM 500 and NM 400 are hardened steel products manufactured by Swedish company SSAB. NM 500 is a hardened wear steel with a typical hardness of 500 HBW (hardness of Brinell) and is intended for applications with high abrasive wear and moderate impact. NM 400 is a hardened wear steel with a typical hardness of 400 HBW and is for applications with extreme abrasion and light to moderate impact.
    
    Both NM 500 and NM 400 are perfect for many applications in industries that require a combination of wear resistance and impact toughness. Some of these industries include mining, dredging, earth-moving, forestry and agriculture. Both NM 500 and 400 offer excellent welding, cutting and bending properties, meaning they can be formed into a broad range of finished parts without additional machining efforts.
    
    When it comes to choosing between NM 500 and NM 400, the main difference is in their hardness. NM 500 is a much harder material than NM 400. This means that NM 500 is able to resist a higher level of wear in many abrasive applications, providing improved durability and a longer service life, while NM 400 has a greater impact toughness and is more suitable for impact-heavy applications.
    
    It is important to note, however, that NM 500 is slightly more brittle and has a lower cold formability, meaning it can have a slightly more difficult machining time, compared to NM 400. Therefore, for some applications, it might be more suitable to use the harder, more wear-resistant NM 400 material.
    
    Overall, in conclusion, NM 500 and NM 400 both offer excellent wear and impact resistance qualities, making them ideal for use in many industries where a combination of enhanced abrasion and tough impact performance is required. Depending on your specific requirements, one grade may be more suitable than the other. To ensure the best performance and durability, it’s essential to choose the right grade for your application.