In a tipper body, the wear plate is the surface in constant contact with the material carried and the one that determines the body's economic life. The 400 and 450 hardness grades of wear-resistant steels are the two most common choices in this area; the right decision depends on the character of the cargo carried.
The Character of the Two Grades
The 400 Brinell grade offers a balanced profile between hardness and toughness: it can be bent, is easy to weld and carries a low risk of cracking under impact loads. The 450 grade, with roughly ten percent higher hardness, delivers markedly longer life against sliding wear; in return, forming and drilling operations demand greater care.
Selection by Cargo Type
- Excavation spoil, earth, sand: The 400 grade is usually sufficient; its toughness advantage comes to the fore
- Crushed stone, rubble, asphalt millings: The 450 grade makes a life difference in sliding wear
- Large rock and shock loading: Mixed solutions such as a 450 floor with 400 side walls deliver balanced results
The equation to remember is this: a harder plate can be used thinner; a thinner section lowers tare weight and carries more load on every trip. That is why plate selection is not a materials catalogue question, but an operating economics calculation.