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The Case for Manganese in High-Wear Applications

  • Writer: Declan Buggle
    Declan Buggle
  • May 7
  • 2 min read

Why Manganese Steel (Hadfield Steel) Is the Go-To for Crushing and Impact Wear Parts

In high-impact industries like mining, quarrying, and metal recycling, the right material can mean the difference between frequent downtime and long-lasting equipment. One material continues to outperform the rest when it comes to crushing and impact wear parts—Manganese Steel, also known as Hadfield Steel.


What Makes Manganese Steel So Tough?


It Hardens Under Pressure

Manganese steel starts with a relatively low yield strength (around 250–450 MPa), but unlike most metals, it gets stronger the more it’s impacted. This is due to work hardening, where the material toughens as it absorbs energy from repeated blows.


Extreme Toughness from Twinning

Another unique feature of manganese steel is deformation twinning—a phenomenon where the metal's internal crystal structure mirrors itself under stress. This gives it extraordinary resistance to further wear, especially in high-impact scenarios.


Not Ideal for Everything

It’s important to note that manganese steel isn’t a universal solution. In purely abrasive environments—where there’s little impact—its performance drops off, as it needs repeated strikes to harden effectively.


Design Considerations

Because manganese steel deforms as it work-hardens, smart design is critical. We recommend:

  • Allowing clearance for material expansion

  • Using flexible or floating mounts to accommodate movement



Manganese steel wear liner
Manganese steel wear liner


When to Use Manganese Steel

Manganese steel is best suited when:

  • Impact is high

  • Toughness matters more than initial hardness

  • Deformation is acceptable

  • Abrasion is moderate

If you're selecting cast, forged, or fabricated wear parts, understanding these trade-offs is key to both durability and cost-efficiency.


Need Help Selecting the Right Material?

At Gradient, we help customers choose the right materials for demanding applications—whether you're specifying components for crushers, hammers, liners, or other wear parts.

PS... Historical Note ... did you know?

  • Manganese steel was discovered by Sir Robert Hadfield in 1882 and is also known as Hadfield steel.

  • It was one of the first commercially successful steel alloys.

 
 
 

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