Two Common Wear Material Families
Material selection for wear parts affects maintenance costs and operating reliability in mining and mineral processing. Common material families include Manganese Steel (Hadfield Steel) and High-Chromium Cast Iron. Each offers advantages in different duties. Selection should consider the wear mechanism, impact loading and part geometry.
Manganese Steel: Impact Toughness and Work Hardening
Common commercial material designations include Mn13Cr2 or Mn18Cr2; the full grade, composition limits and delivery condition must be specified in the drawing and technical agreement. An important property is Work Hardening: plastic deformation can harden the surface of the austenitic matrix while retaining a tougher core. The degree of hardening depends on composition, microstructure and actual loading; it should not universally be attributed to martensitic transformation.
Manganese Steel Applications:
- Jaw crusher jaw plates; toggle plate materials must separately meet the overload protection design
- Cone crusher bowl liners and mantles
- Hammer crusher hammers and grate bars
- Ball mill liners for high-impact duties
Solution treatment and water quenching must follow the grade requirements, casting section size and qualified procedure. Grain-boundary carbides and unsuitable heat treatment can impair toughness. Review heat-treatment records and the corresponding microstructure or mechanical test results.
High-Chromium White Iron: Abrasion Resistance
Common commercial designations for high-chromium white iron include Cr26 (KmTBCr26) or Cr15Mo3; performance depends on the carbon-to-chromium balance, alloying elements, carbides and matrix microstructure. Confirm hardness and heat-treatment condition for the specified grade and part.
High-Chromium White Iron Applications:
- Liners for low-impact abrasive wear; SAG liners and lifter bars require separate selection for their actual impact loading
- Vertical mill grinding rolls and table liners
- Slurry pump impellers and volute liners
- Classifier wear plates and chute liners
High-chromium white iron is generally more susceptible to brittle failure than properly heat-treated austenitic manganese steel. Toughness values can only be compared under consistent specimen, notch, temperature and test conditions. Assess fracture risk carefully in high-impact applications.
Property Comparison
| Property | Manganese Steel (Mn13Cr2) | High-Chromium White Iron (Cr26) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Hardness | Test in the specified delivery condition | Per grade and heat-treatment requirements |
| Hardness After Work Hardening | Depends on actual loading and deformation | Primarily relies on its initial microstructure and hardness |
| Impact Toughness | Per the specified impact test method | Compare under identical test conditions |
| Tensile Strength | Per grade and specimen requirements | Test to the technical agreement |
| Suitable Wear Conditions | Impact with moderate abrasion | Severe abrasion with low impact |
| Relative Cost | Reference Material | Quoted by grade, weight and process |
| Service Life Assessment | Evaluate from site wear records | Compare under equivalent operating conditions |
Material Selection Framework
For jaw, cone and hammer crusher wear parts exposed to substantial impact, and where the equipment design permits, consider Manganese Steel. Work hardening depends on actual loading and plastic deformation. Under low-stress sliding abrasion, compare alternative materials using service wear records.
For vertical mill or slurry pump parts assessed as abrasion-dominated with controlled impact, consider High-Chromium Cast Iron. Carbides and the matrix provide abrasion resistance, but impact, corrosion, temperature and assembly loads must also be assessed.
For duties between these categories, consider composite material designs, such as a wear-resistant working layer combined with a tough backing. The bond, residual stress and manufacturing process require design assessment and inspection. Designs incorporating High-Chromium Cast Iron in a bimetallic construction must be assessed for the individual part and cannot automatically replace every monolithic casting.
Quality Verification Checklist
When purchasing either material, specify the following documentation:
- Chemical composition certificate: manganese steel may be specified to ASTM A128 or GB/T 5680; abrasion-resistant white iron should follow an applicable standard such as ASTM A532 or GB/T 8263.
- Heat-treatment records with temperature curves
- Hardness results: define test locations, quantity, method and acceptance criteria in the order inspection plan
- Impact test data for critical applications
- CMM dimensional inspection reports for precision parts
ANRANST provides material traceability for every heat used to manufacture wear parts. Contact Our Engineering Team for material selection guidance tailored to your operating conditions.