AR500 steel is a heat-treated, abrasion-resistant (AR) steel plate with a Brinell hardness of about 500. It is made to resist wear and impact in places like dump truck beds, hoppers, chutes and bucket liners. The same hardness that makes it last also makes it harder to bend, drill and weld than ordinary structural plate.
This guide covers what the “AR” and the “500” mean, the published properties, how AR500 compares with A36 and the other AR grades, and what to expect when you cut, drill or weld it.
What the Name AR500 Means
“AR” stands for abrasion resistant. The number is the target hardness on the Brinell scale (BHN), a test that presses a hard ball into the surface and measures the dent. A smaller dent means a harder steel.
AR500 is a trade designation rather than an ASTM structural specification like A36 steel. Mills and distributors each publish their own acceptance range around 500 BHN, so the exact numbers vary a little by source:
- Kloeckner Metals’ abrasion-resistant plate page lists AR500 at 477-534 BHN (checked October 2026).
- Titus Steel’s AR 500 data sheet lists a range of 490-510 BHN (checked October 2026).
If hardness matters for your job, ask for the mill test report for the actual plate. It gives the measured hardness and chemistry of that heat of steel, not a typical value.
AR500 Steel Properties
Titus Steel publishes one of the more complete data sets for AR500. These are typical values from that supplier, not guaranteed minimums for every AR500 plate on the market:
| Property | Typical value (Titus Steel) |
|---|---|
| Brinell hardness | 490-510 BHN |
| Yield strength | 202 ksi |
| Tensile strength | 230 ksi |
| Elongation | 10% |
| Charpy impact at -40°C | 25 ft-lb |
| Carbon | 0.30% |
| Manganese | 1.60% |
| Chromium | 1.50% |
| Nickel | 1.50% |
| Molybdenum | 0.60% |
| Boron | 0.005% |
The alloy list explains the hardness. Carbon, chromium, nickel, molybdenum and a trace of boron let the plate harden deeply when it is heat treated. Titus describes the abrasion resistance as typically 5:1 compared with mild steel; treat that as the supplier’s figure, since real wear depends on what is sliding or hitting the plate.
AR500 vs A36: Hard vs Tough
A36 is the general-purpose structural plate used for base plates, gussets and brackets. Its specified minimum yield strength is 36 ksi (see our guide to the yield strength of steel). AR500’s typical yield is several times higher, but that does not make it a better structural steel. The two are built for different jobs.
| A36 | AR500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Structural members and connections | Wear and impact surfaces |
| Specified by | ASTM A36 (minimum strength) | Supplier hardness range, about 500 BHN |
| Bending and forming | Bends readily in a press brake | Needs large bend radii and high tonnage, or is not bent at all |
| Drilling | Standard high-speed steel bits | Carbide tooling, slow speeds |
| Welding | Straightforward with common processes | Needs a welding procedure that respects the heat treatment |
| Typical uses | Base plates, gussets, brackets | Truck beds, hoppers, chutes, bucket edges, targets |
Do not substitute AR500 for a structural grade on drawings just because its strength is higher. Connection design, weld procedures and ductility requirements are written around specific ASTM grades, and any change of material in a structure has to be approved by the licensed structural engineer of record.
AR500 Compared With Other AR Grades
AR plate comes in a ladder of hardness levels. The numbers below are from Kloeckner Metals’ AR plate page (checked October 2026). The page gives no numeric range for AR400 and AR450 beyond their names.
| Grade | Hardness (Kloeckner) | Typical uses listed |
|---|---|---|
| AR200 | 212-255 BHN | Chutes, moving parts, truck liners; can be machined, punched and formed |
| AR235 | 235 BHN nominal | Chute liners, skirt boards, mixer drums, screw conveyors |
| AR400 | about 400 (from the name) | Mining, material handling and aggregate where forming and welding also matter |
| AR450 | about 450 (from the name) | Bucket parts, construction equipment, dump bodies |
| AR500 | 477-534 BHN | Mining, aggregate, dump trucks, hoppers, buckets |
| AR600 | 570-640 BHN | Severe-wear mining and aggregate work, buckets |
The trade-off runs in one direction: each step up the ladder resists wear better and is harder to fabricate. Kloeckner notes that AR500’s extra hardness makes the steel less malleable than the lower grades. Many fabricators pick AR400 when a part needs bending or a lot of welding, and AR500 when the plate is mostly flat and wear is the main concern.
Working With AR500
Cutting
Plasma, laser, waterjet and oxy-fuel all cut AR500. The hardness comes from heat treatment, so any heat input can soften a narrow band next to the cut. Waterjet leaves no heat-affected zone, which is why it is often chosen for parts where edge hardness matters. Ask the supplier for their cutting recommendations for the plate you buy.
Drilling and machining
Ordinary drill bits dull quickly on plate this hard. Use carbide or cobalt tooling, rigid setups, low speeds and steady feed. Many shops avoid drilling altogether by cutting holes on the plasma or waterjet table.
Bending
AR500 can be bent, but it needs much larger inside radii than mild steel and a press brake with enough capacity. The minimum bend radius depends on thickness and bend direction and should come from the mill’s data sheet. Cracking on the outside of a bend is the usual sign that the radius was too tight.
Welding
AR500 can be welded, but it is less forgiving than A36. Higher carbon and alloy content raise the risk of hydrogen cracking, and too much heat softens the plate around the weld. Low-hydrogen filler, controlled preheat and limited heat input are the usual approach, with the exact procedure taken from the plate supplier. Our overview of types of welding explains the processes involved.
How Much Does AR500 Plate Weigh?
Hardness does not change weight. AR500 has essentially the same density as other carbon steels, about 490 lb/ft³ (see the density of steel). That works out to about 40.8 lb per square foot for every inch of thickness:
| Thickness | lb/ft² | 4 ft x 8 ft sheet (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 in | 10.2 | 327 |
| 3/8 in | 15.3 | 490 |
| 1/2 in | 20.4 | 653 |
| 3/4 in | 30.6 | 980 |
| 1 in | 40.8 | 1,307 |
Values are calculated from 490 lb/ft³ and rounded; actual plate can run slightly heavy because of rolling tolerances. For sheet gauges below 1/4 in, see our steel gauge thickness chart.
AR500 Steel FAQ
What is AR500 steel used for?
Wear and impact surfaces: dump truck beds, hopper and chute liners, bucket cutting edges, mining and aggregate equipment, and steel shooting targets. It is not used as a substitute for structural grades in buildings.
How hard is AR500?
About 500 on the Brinell scale. Published ranges vary by supplier, for example 477-534 BHN from Kloeckner Metals and 490-510 BHN from Titus Steel.
Can you weld AR500?
Yes, with care. Use low-hydrogen filler, follow the supplier’s preheat and heat-input guidance, and expect some softening next to the weld.
Is AR500 stronger than A36?
It is much harder and has a much higher yield strength, but it is less ductile and harder to fabricate. A36 is the right choice for most structural plate, and AR500 for surfaces that wear.
Does AR500 rust?
Yes. It is a carbon alloy steel, not a stainless steel, so it rusts if left bare outdoors. Paint or coat it if appearance or section loss matters.
Reference information only, not engineering advice. Disclaimer.