Full definition
Wear plates are essential components in industries subjected to severe abrasion and impact, particularly in mining and materials handling. Typically made from high-hardness steel, these plates serve as sacrificial linings that protect the underlying structures from wear and tear caused by bulk materials. The hardness of these plates generally ranges between 400 and 600 HBN, making them suitable for various applications. The choice of wear plate material depends on the specific wear mechanism encountered, such as sliding or impact abrasion, as well as the characteristics of the particles being handled.
There are several types of wear plates available in the market. Through-hardened plates, like Hardox 400, 450, and 500, are quenched and tempered steel with varying hardness levels to suit different wear conditions. For instance, Hardox 400 provides good impact and abrasion resistance, while Hardox 500 is designed for extreme abrasion with reduced impact tolerance. Chromium carbide overlay (CCO) plates offer a hard chromium carbide layer bonded to a mild steel backing, ideal for low-angle sliding abrasion but with limited impact resistance. Tungsten carbide clad wear plates are among the hardest, achieving over 1,200 HV, making them suitable for extreme conditions like nozzles and guide vanes.
Composite ceramic-rubber tiles represent another innovative solution, combining the benefits of rubber's energy absorption with ceramics' hardness to tackle both impact and sliding abrasion. The thickness of wear plates can range from 6 mm to 100 mm, and they can be installed through bolting, welding, or adhesive bonding, depending on the application and environmental conditions. In high-impact zones, such as crusher discharges or primary chutes, rubber linings may outperform steel wear plates due to their superior ability to absorb energy. This choice between rubber and steel is critical and should be made based on the specific wear mechanism and material properties encountered in the operation.