Methods for Processing Wear-Resistant Steel Plates

Due to its excellent wear resistance, wear-resistant steel plates are widely used in industries such as mining, power stations, and the cement industry. Its high strength and hardness enable the material to maintain good durability under harsh working conditions. However, due to its high hardness, higher requirements are placed on cutting technology during processing. Choosing a suitable cutting method can not only improve processing efficiency but also reduce material loss and processing defects, which is an important part of improving production quality.

Cutting methods of wear-resistant steel plates

Common wear-resistant steel plate cutting methods mainly include plasma cutting and laser cutting. These two methods have their advantages and are suitable for different thicknesses and processing accuracy requirements.

Characteristics of plasma cutting

Plasma cutting is to use a high-speed high-temperature plasma gas flow to heat the metal locally to a molten state, and use the kinetic energy of the gas flow to blow the molten metal away from the cut to complete the cutting. This method is widely used in the blanking of medium and thick plates, especially for high-strength steel plates.

Plasma cutting has the characteristics of fast cutting speed and wide adaptability. Its heat-affected zone is relatively small, which can effectively reduce the risk of thermal deformation. In addition, modern CNC plasma systems are equipped with automatic height adjustment systems to greatly improve cutting accuracy and efficiency.

To ensure cutting quality, the appropriate current, voltage, and cutting speed should be selected according to the thickness and material of the steel plate. Proper preheating before cutting can reduce the risk of cracks, and reasonable cooling after cutting can help control residual stress and avoid material deformation or cracking.

Characteristics of laser cutting

Laser cutting is to heat the material with a high-energy laser beam, melt it locally and blow it away with auxiliary gas to achieve high-precision cutting.

Laser cutting is limited by power and penetration ability, and is usually more suitable for wear-resistant steel plates with a thickness of less than 20mm. During the cutting process, the spot focus, speed and gas pressure must be strictly controlled to ensure uniform slits and no slag.

Problems of cracking and softening during cutting

A. Risk of cutting cracks

Because the wear-resistant steel plate contains more alloy elements, its structure is prone to producing hardened areas and residual stresses under high temperatures, thus forming delayed cracks. If the cooling rate is too fast after cutting, microcracks will be generated in the heat-affected zone due to stress concentration, which may develop into fractures after long-term use.

B. Factors affecting crack formation

The generation of cracks is closely related to the chemical composition of the material itself, plate thickness, cutting heat input, and cooling rate. To reduce the risk of cracks, it is recommended to perform moderate preheating before cutting, slow cooling after cutting, and stress relief heat treatment if necessary. In addition, choosing an appropriate cutting method can also effectively reduce thermal stress concentration and inhibit the generation of cracks from the source.

Conclusion

The cutting of wear-resistant steel plates is not only the first step in forming, but also directly affects their subsequent performance. Whether it is plasma cutting or laser cutting, reasonable process parameters, scientific pretreatment, and post-processing measures are the key to ensuring processing quality. With the continuous advancement of technology, intelligent cutting equipment will further improve cutting efficiency and quality, and provide strong support for the efficient application of wear-resistant materials.