Hardox: What Are the Characteristics of This Steel?

There are materials that you cannot fail to notice and remember for their specific characteristics. Those who often work in the world of mechanical metal modifications know well Widia, tungsten carbide and titanium coating: all solutions that allow us to obtain superior drill bits. Like the helical cylindrical bits with reduced shank 10 mm coated with TiN. In this list, however, we must also include a special steel: Hardox.

Do you know exactly what we're talking about? Special steels are particularly used in the world of construction and automotive, but also in aerospace applications because they allow excellent performance, resistance to extreme temperatures and lightness. Well, Hardox is exactly that: a steel with extremely high wear resistance. But these few words are not enough to describe it. Here is what you need to know and how to apply this material.

What is Hardox, a Technical Definition

From a metallurgical point of view, Hardox is a family of special steels resistant to wear and characterized by a combination of high surface hardness, impact toughness, machinability and weldability. It must be remembered that this name is not a universal standard but a trademark patented by the Swedish manufacturer SSAB. Today, in technical jargon, the term Hardox is used to generically indicate a steel with extremely high wear resistance.

What are the Technical Characteristics?

To be defined as such, a Hardox steel must meet strict internal specifications and uniformity and thickness tolerances below standard. To summarize, we can say that in Hardox coexist properties that are difficult to achieve in a single metal: resistance to friction and impact with abrasive materials, toughness and machinability.

This metal can be bent, shaped and welded without breaking. That's why it's often used in heavy carpentry work. The advantages of products made with this steel are evident: there will be less erosion of equipment to increase its lifespan, with relative reduction in overall maintenance costs.

The Specific Fields and Uses

In which contexts is Hardox steel used? Where is it found and which sectors can benefit the most from it? Surely the construction of tools and vehicles used in construction sites has direct benefits.

Excavator buckets, dump truck boxes, mechanical shovels: these structures undergo infinite stresses, and the use of Hardox steel is ideal. The same applies to blades of industrial shears, conveyor chutes, tools used for intensive agriculture and road construction. Where extreme performance is needed, there is Hardox.

What are the Main Types of Hardox Steel?

Drawing inspiration from information present on the official website, we have created a comparison table of the qualities and types of Hardox steel found on the market. Here are the common characteristics.

A note must be made about the HiAce option. As mentioned in the table, this material also resists stresses related to excess heat well. That is why it is chosen by companies that need extraordinary performance.

How Do You Drill a Metal Like This?

Now you're probably asking yourself: "Ok, Hardox is phenomenal, super hard and resistant. But how can I drill it?" Certainly not with a normal bit for making a hole in iron. Tools with certain characteristics are required: it is better to use hard metal bits with tungsten carbide. This is the best choice by far.

They must be equipped with specific coatings for complex materials such as integral hard metal bits coated with TiAlN to withstand high temperatures. Furthermore, the advice is always to use professional column drills. HSS bits in cobalt (HSS-E or HSS-Co 8%) can be used successfully only on softer grades (Hardox 400) or reduced thicknesses, provided that very low cutting speeds are used. They wear out quickly anyway.