What is AR 400 material?
AR400 stands for abrasion resistant with a minimum hardness on the Brinell scale of 360 and a nominal hardness of 400. Typical uses of AR steel, which is classified as a carbon steel, include chutes for gravel or coal in mining, liners for heavy equipment, and rifle range silhouette targets.
What is equivalent to AR400 material?
AR400 steel equivalents include other abrasion-resistant steels like Hardox 400 and Dillidur 400, and standards such as ASTM A514 or T-1 steel. Various brands have their own product names for AR400 steel, including Brinar 400, Fora 400, and Raex 400, all designed to meet a similar hardness range of approximately 360-430 BHN.
Abrasion-resistant steels
Hardox 400: A direct equivalent from SSAB, with slightly different specifications.
Dillidur 400: Another brand-name equivalent with similar hardness and performance.
AR450 and AR500: While not direct equivalents, they are often compared. AR450 is slightly harder but more formable than AR500, while AR500 is harder and better for high-impact situations but less formable.
ASTM standards
ASTM A514: A standard for quenched and tempered alloy steel plates that can be used as an equivalent, notes American Galvanizers Association.
T-1 steel: A trade name for ASTM A514 steel, often used as an AR400 equivalent.
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What are typical applications where AR400 shines?
AR400 is ideal for anywhere steel slides, scrapes, or gets pounded:
Wear liners & wear bars: chutes, hoppers, conveyors, buckets.
Off-road/industrial armor: skid plates, rock guards, protective panels.
Agricultural/mining/construction: blades, scraper edges, impact plates.
Tooling & fixtures: where long-life surfaces reduce downtime.
Is AR400 stronger than mild steel?
AR400 Mild Steel: Compared to mild steel, AR400 is significantly harder and more durable, making it more suitable for high-wear applications. Nevertheless, it is much more difficult to weld or form.
Does AR400 steel rust?
AR400 Steel
The addition of chromium to AR400 makes it more corrosion resistant as well, making it well suited for outdoor applications where weathering is a concern.
Can you weld AR400 with 7018?
Most AR400 manufacturers specify generic 7018 welding rods, confirming their plate has little alloy content.
Can you laser cut AR400?
Yes, fiber laser cutting is an excellent method for AR400, and it's how SendCutSend produces clean, repeatable parts: Tolerances: we hold ±0.005″ on laser-cut parts. Edge quality: smooth, minimal dross, tight kerf that is ideal for holes, slots, and detailed profiles.
Is Hardox the same as AR400?
Hardox is a brand of abrasion-resistant steel manufactured by SSAB, while AR400 is a generic term for a class of abrasion-resistant steel with a hardness of approximately 400 Brinell (HBW). Hardox 400 is a high-quality version of AR400 that offers more predictable performance due to its controlled, guaranteed through-thickness hardness. While both are used for high-wear applications, Hardox typically has superior yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation, making it more suitable for high-impact situations, whereas AR400 can be a more cost-effective option for applications with less impact resistance.

Which is harder, AR400 or AR500?
AR500 is harder than AR400, making it more resistant to wear and impact damage.
Can AR400 be welded?
Yes, you can weld AR400 steel, but it requires careful preheating, using low-hydrogen welding rods (like 7018), and a slow cooling process to prevent cracking. The high strength and hardness of AR400 can lead to cracks in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) if proper procedures aren't followed.
How hard is AR400?
AR400 steel has a hardness of 360-440 Brinell Hardness Number (BHN), with a nominal hardness of 400 BHN. This hardness gives it excellent abrasion resistance, making it suitable for applications with moderate wear and high impact, such as heavy equipment liners, chutes, and cutting edges. Its hardness can be measured using the Brinell scale, with a Rockwell C hardness of approximately 42.
Hardness: The minimum hardness is 360 BHN, and it typically ranges up to 440 BHN.
Scale: This hardness is measured on the Brinell scale, a common method for testing the hardness of metals.
Rockwell Hardness: On the Rockwell C scale, AR400 has a hardness of about 42.
Comparison to AR500: AR400 is softer than AR500 steel, which makes it more suitable for applications with high impact where cracking is a concern, as opposed to pure sliding abrasion.
Impact Resistance: The higher toughness and ductility compared to AR500 means it is less prone to cracking under high-impact conditions.
What is AR400 steel used for?
Common Applications for AR400 Steel
Bed liners.
Bucket liners.
Heavy machinery equipment liners.
Facings.
Loader cutting edges.
Drag bucket wear plates.
Heavy-duty fan blades.
Conveyor liners.
What is the difference between AR400 and AR400F?
AR400F is a type of AR400 steel that has been processed for improved bendability and formability, making it easier to shape without cracking. Both grades are abrasion-resistant steels with a similar hardness (around 400 BHN), but AR400F is specifically designed for applications where bending is required, such as curved liners or pressed shapes. Standard AR400 is less formable and more prone to cracking when bent.

Can you use AR400 for targets?
AR400 is a softer steel than AR500, and is not meant for all-purpose training for everything you've got in the safe. However, these targets will hold up great for the types of calibers many individuals use for self-defense and their carry option.
Can AR400 be rolled?
Because AR400 and AR360 are so hard, extra care for the material must be taken during the rolling process. The tensile strength and thickness of material can cause materials to have a lot of springback.
Can AR400 be laser cut? What methods work best?
Yes, fiber laser cutting is an excellent method for AR400, and it's how SendCutSend produces clean, repeatable parts:
Tolerances: we hold ±0.005″ on laser-cut parts.
Edge quality: smooth, minimal dross, tight kerf that is ideal for holes, slots, and detailed profiles.
Heat input: lower and more localized than plasma/oxy-fuel, helping preserve base properties away from the edge.
DIY cutting tools (abrasive saws, consumer plasma) tend to leave rough edges, wider kerfs, and larger HAZ-which can soften the steel where you need it hardest.
What are the material properties of AR400?
Property values vary by mill and thickness, but AR400 generally targets:
Hardness: ~360–440 HBW (nominal "400")
Tensile strength: commonly in the 170–190+ ksi range
Yield strength: typically > 140 ksi
Elongation: lower than mild steel; depends on thickness/heat treatment
Density: ~0.283 lb/in³ (steel baseline)
| GB | NM 300/360/400/450/500/550/600 |
| ASTM | AR400 /AR450 /AR500 |
| High manganese steel plate | X120Mn12, Mn13 |
| Chromium Carbide Overlay Plate | 3+3, 4+4, 5+5 |
| 6+4, 6+5, 6+6, 6+8 | |
| 8+4, 8+5, 8+6, 8+7, 8+8 | |
| 10+4, 10+5, 10+6, 10+7, 10+8, 10+9, 10+10, 10+20 | |
| 12+4, 12+5, 12+6, 12+7, 12+8, 12+10, 12+11, 12+12 | |
| 14+6, 14+8, 14+10, 16+6, 16+8, 16+10 | |
| 18+6, 18+8, 18+10, 20+5, 20+6, 20+8, 20+10, 20+20, 30+10, 40+10 |



