Fabrication
Is Hardox 450 weldable, and does it need preheat?
Yes. Abrasion resistant plate in the 450 HBW class is readily weldable with standard low-hydrogen consumables because the carbon equivalent is kept low. Plate up to about 20 mm usually needs no preheat above 20 C; thicker sections, restrained joints or cold workshops call for 75 to 100 C preheat.
Quenched and tempered abrasion resistant plate is supplied hard — around 450 HBW — and the hardness comes from the heat treatment, not from high carbon. That is what makes it weldable: the carbon equivalent is deliberately low.
Practical rules for the 450 HBW class:
- Use low-hydrogen consumables with strength matched to the *structure*, not to the plate hardness. Over-matching the consumable makes the joint crack-sensitive without improving wear life — the weld is never the wear surface.
- Keep heat input moderate and interpass temperature below about 200 C. Excess heat softens the heat affected zone and you lose the hardness you paid for.
- Preheat by thickness and restraint: typically none needed to 20 mm, 75 C for 20 to 40 mm, 100 C above that, and always preheat if the plate is below 5 C or the joint is heavily restrained.
- Do not stress relieve. PWHT will temper the plate back and destroy the hardness.
Cutting: plasma and laser cut cleanly; oxy-fuel is fine with preheat on thick sections. Bending is possible with the bend line across the rolling direction and a generous inside radius (typically 4 to 5 x thickness for the 450 class).
Axicor supplies the 400, 450, 500 and 600 HBW classes with EN 10204 3.1 certificates, and plasma profiles liners, chute plates and wear parts to your drawing.
Grades referenced
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