Crusher Wear Part Materials
Seven material families cover almost every crusher and mill wear application: Mn13, Mn18, Mn22, Mn13Cr2, Mn18Cr2 high manganese steel, high chrome alloy iron and carbon cast steel. This page sets out what each grade is, its typical chemistry and hardness, where it belongs and where it does not.
Grades We Cast
Select a grade to see its typical chemistry, hardness, impact toughness, suitable wear parts and the applications we recommend it for.
Material Grade Comparison
The fastest way to choose: match the grade to the failure mode. Parts that break need toughness; parts that wear need hardness.
| Grade | Material Type | Typical Hardness | Impact Toughness | Abrasion Resistance | Best Suited To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mn13 | Austenitic manganese steel | 180 – 230 HB (as-supplied) | Very high | Moderate | Mixed feed with heavy impact — jaw plates, hammers, primary liners |
| Mn18 | Austenitic manganese steel | 200 – 250 HB (as-supplied) | Very high | Good | Hard abrasive rock with strong impact — cone liners, jaw plates |
| Mn22 | Austenitic manganese steel | 190 – 240 HB (as-supplied) | Highest | Good | Very large liners and severe impact where cracking must be avoided |
| Mn13Cr2 | Chromium-alloyed manganese steel | 200 – 250 HB (as-supplied) | High | Good | Impact plus abrasion together — moderate-abrasion jaw plates, mill liners |
| Mn18Cr2 | Chromium-alloyed manganese steel | 210 – 260 HB (as-supplied) | Very high | Very good | Best all-round grade for hard abrasive rock — cone mantles, jaw plates |
| High Chrome Alloy Iron | Martensitic white iron (Cr15 / Cr20 / Cr26) | 58 – 65 HRC | Low | Outstanding | Abrasion-dominant duty with low impact — blow bars, hammers, chute liners |
| Carbon & Low-Alloy Cast Steel | Cast carbon / low-alloy steel | 150 – 200 HB | Good | Low | Structural castings — frames, housings, brackets and bases |
Reference ranges are compiled from standard application experience in comparable crushing and grinding duties. Chemical and mechanical values are typical ranges for each grade — the actual values for your order are confirmed on the mill certificate and inspection report issued for that heat.
Mn13
Standard Austenitic Manganese Steel (Hadfield Steel)
Standards: ASTM A128 Grade A / B · GB/T 5680 ZGMn13-1
What Is Mn13?
Mn13 is the original Hadfield manganese steel and remains the baseline grade for impact-loaded wear parts. Its surface work-hardens under impact from roughly 200 HB to well over 450 HB, while the core stays tough enough to absorb shock without cracking.
Typical Chemistry (wt%)
| Carbon (C) | 1.05 – 1.45 % |
|---|---|
| Manganese (Mn) | 11.0 – 14.5 % |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.30 – 1.00 % |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.070 % max |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.040 % max |
Hardness
Typically 180 – 230 HB as-supplied; work-hardened surface layer commonly reaches 450 – 550 HB in service
Impact Toughness
High — unnotched Charpy impact values typically 150 J/cm² and above after solution treatment
Advantages
- Excellent work-hardening under impact
- Very high toughness — resists cracking and deformation
- Non-magnetic and dimensionally stable in service
- Cost-effective baseline grade for impact duty
Limitations
- Low initial hardness, so it wears quickly in low-impact sliding abrasion
- Poor choice for metal-to-metal contact or chute liners
- Difficult to machine — usually supplied to near-net shape
Suitable Wear Parts
- Jaw plates and cheek plates
- Cone mantles and bowl liners (primary and coarse stages)
- Gyratory concaves and mantles
- Hammer heads for impact crushers
- Ball mill liners
Typical Applications
Jaw plates, cone and gyratory liners, hammer heads, mill liners and other parts subjected to repeated high-impact loading.
How We Use This Grade
Supplied solution-treated and water-toughened, with hardness and chemical reports for every heat. Used as the standard choice where the feed is mixed and impact loading is the dominant wear mechanism.
Mn18
High Manganese Steel with Increased Austenite Stability
Standards: ASTM A128 (high-Mn family) · GB/T 5680 ZGMn18 series
What Is Mn18?
Mn18 raises manganese content to roughly 17 – 19 %, which stabilises the austenitic structure and increases both toughness and the rate of work hardening compared with Mn13. It is the grade most widely used for cone crusher liners and jaw plates in hard rock.
Typical Chemistry (wt%)
| Carbon (C) | 1.10 – 1.45 % |
|---|---|
| Manganese (Mn) | 17.0 – 19.0 % |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.30 – 0.80 % |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.070 % max |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.040 % max |
Hardness
Typically 200 – 250 HB as-supplied; work-hardened surface layer commonly 500 – 600 HB in service
Impact Toughness
Very high — higher than Mn13 because the austenite is more stable
Advantages
- Higher work-hardening rate than Mn13, giving longer life in abrasive hard rock
- Better toughness, so less risk of cracking in large sections
- Widely proven in granite, basalt and hard ore crushing
Limitations
- Still not a solution for pure sliding abrasion without impact
- Higher alloy content than Mn13, so slightly higher cost
Suitable Wear Parts
- Cone mantles and bowl liners
- Fixed and swing jaw plates
- Large impact crusher hammers
- Gyratory liners
Typical Applications
Cone crusher mantles and bowl liners, primary jaw plates in hard rock, large hammer heads and gyratory liners.
How We Use This Grade
One of the most frequently supplied grades. Recommended for aggregate and mining feeds where the rock is hard and abrasive, and where change-out intervals need to be extended without moving to a higher-chrome material.
Mn22
Extra-High Manganese Steel for Severe Impact
Standards: High-Mn family per ASTM A128 principles · GB/T 5680 ZGMn22 series
What Is Mn22?
Mn22 pushes manganese content to roughly 20 – 24 %, giving the most stable austenite of the manganese family. It is chosen when a casting must survive severe impact without cracking — typically very large liners where a crack would scrap the part and stop production.
Typical Chemistry (wt%)
| Carbon (C) | 1.00 – 1.40 % |
|---|---|
| Manganese (Mn) | 20.0 – 24.0 % |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.30 – 0.80 % |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.070 % max |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.040 % max |
Hardness
Typically 190 – 240 HB as-supplied; strong work-hardening response in service
Impact Toughness
Highest of the manganese grades — used where crack resistance is the priority
Advantages
- Maximum toughness across the manganese family
- Lowest risk of cracking in heavy-section castings
- Good work-hardening when the application delivers sufficient impact energy
Limitations
- Needs genuine high-impact duty to work-harden — performs poorly in light, low-energy applications
- Highest alloy cost of the manganese grades
Suitable Wear Parts
- Large gyratory concaves and mantles
- Heavy cone liners for the roughest duty
- Primary jaw plates in very hard rock
- Oversize hammer heads
Typical Applications
Very large primary gyratory and cone liners, heavy hammer heads, primary jaw plates in extremely hard rock, parts with high section thickness.
How We Use This Grade
Selected after reviewing section thickness, impact energy and failure history. Where a customer has previously lost parts to cracking rather than to wear, Mn22 is usually the first grade reviewed.
Mn13Cr2
Chromium-Alloyed Manganese Steel
Standards: ASTM A128 Grade C (Cr-bearing) · GB/T 5680 ZGMn13Cr2
What Is Mn13Cr2?
Mn13Cr2 adds roughly 1.5 – 2.5 % chromium to the standard manganese composition. The chromium raises yield strength and wear resistance while keeping the toughness that manganese steel is known for, making it a better all-round choice when impact and abrasion occur together.
Typical Chemistry (wt%)
| Carbon (C) | 1.05 – 1.35 % |
|---|---|
| Manganese (Mn) | 11.0 – 14.0 % |
| Chromium (Cr) | 1.50 – 2.50 % |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.30 – 0.80 % |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.070 % max |
Hardness
Typically 200 – 250 HB as-supplied, with a work-hardened surface layer in service
Impact Toughness
High — slightly lower than plain Mn13 but well above high chrome iron
Advantages
- Better wear resistance than plain Mn13 in the same duty
- Higher yield strength, so less deformation in service
- Retains good toughness for a mixed impact and abrasion duty
Limitations
- Not suitable where wear is purely low-impact sliding abrasion — high chrome alloy performs better there
- Requires proper solution treatment to develop its properties
Suitable Wear Parts
- Jaw plates for moderate-abrasion feed
- Secondary and tertiary cone liners
- Ball mill liners and lifter bars
- Screen deck and feeder wear plates
- Bucket teeth and cutting edges
Typical Applications
Jaw plates in limestone and mixed feed, cone liners in secondary and tertiary stages, mill liners, screen and feeder wear plates.
How We Use This Grade
Commonly specified where Mn13 wears out too quickly but the application still carries enough impact that a high chrome grade would be at risk of cracking.
Mn18Cr2
Chromium-Alloyed High Manganese Steel — Premium Wear Grade
Standards: High-Mn Cr-bearing family · GB/T 5680 ZGMn18Cr2
What Is Mn18Cr2?
Mn18Cr2 combines high manganese content with chromium alloying. It is the grade most often specified for cone mantles, bowl liners and jaw plates in hard abrasive rock, because it delivers the best available balance between work hardening, wear resistance and toughness in one material.
Typical Chemistry (wt%)
| Carbon (C) | 1.10 – 1.45 % |
|---|---|
| Manganese (Mn) | 17.0 – 19.0 % |
| Chromium (Cr) | 1.80 – 2.50 % |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.30 – 0.80 % |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.070 % max |
Hardness
Typically 210 – 260 HB as-supplied; work-hardened surface layer commonly 500 – 600 HB in service
Impact Toughness
Very high — the most balanced grade for combined impact and abrasion
Advantages
- Best combination of toughness and wear resistance in the manganese family
- Longer service life than Mn13 or Mn18 in hard abrasive rock
- Proven in granite, basalt and hard ore applications
Limitations
- Higher alloy content, so a higher cost per kilogram than standard Mn13
- Still offers less pure abrasion resistance than high chrome iron in a no-impact duty
Suitable Wear Parts
- Cone mantles and bowl liners
- Fixed and swing jaw plates
- Gyratory concaves and mantles
- Large impact hammers
- Mill liners
Typical Applications
Cone mantles and bowl liners, jaw plates in granite and basalt, gyratory liners, mill liners in abrasive grinding circuits.
How We Use This Grade
Widely used as the standard upgrade when a customer needs longer intervals between change-outs in hard rock without accepting the cracking risk of a brittle material.
High Chrome Alloy Iron
Martensitic White Iron — Cr15, Cr20 and Cr26
Standards: ASTM A532 Class II / Class III (high-chromium white iron)
What Is High Chrome Alloy Iron?
High chrome alloy iron develops hardness of roughly 58 – 65 HRC through a martensitic matrix carrying hard chromium carbides. It offers the highest abrasion resistance of any wear material we cast, but its toughness is much lower than manganese steel, so it is specified for low-impact, abrasion-dominant duty.
Typical Chemistry (wt%)
| Carbon (C) | 2.00 – 3.30 % |
|---|---|
| Chromium (Cr) | 15.0 – 30.0 % (grade dependent) |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | Up to 1.50 % (where specified) |
| Nickel (Ni) | Up to 2.50 % (where specified) |
| Manganese (Mn) | 2.00 % max |
| Silicon (Si) | 1.00 % max |
Hardness
Typically 58 – 65 HRC, with hardness retention generally maintained up to about 350 – 450 °C
Impact Toughness
Low compared with manganese steel — not suitable for heavy impact or large unbroken tramp metal
Advantages
- Highest abrasion resistance of the grades we cast
- Hardness retained at elevated temperature, unlike manganese steel
- Excellent where the material flow is abrasive and impact is limited
Limitations
- Brittle — will crack or break under heavy impact or tramp metal
- Not readily weldable in the field
- Poor choice for primary crushing of large hard rock
Suitable Wear Parts
- Impact crusher blow bars
- Impact plates and breaker plates
- Hammer heads for limestone and clinker
- Pulveriser rolls and grinding rings
- Chute, hopper and bin liners
- Wear plates and grate bars
Typical Applications
Blow bars, impact plates, hammer heads for limestone and cement, pulveriser rolls and rings, chute and hopper liners, wear plates.
How We Use This Grade
Grade is chosen against the feed rather than the crusher model: Cr26 for limestone and clinker where abrasion dominates, Cr20 where some impact is present, and a tougher manganese or alloy steel grade is recommended instead when the feed carries uncontrolled tramp metal.
Carbon Steel & Low-Alloy Cast Steel
Structural Castings and Support Components
Standards: ASTM A27 / A148 · GB/T 11352 (ZG230-450, ZG270-500 families)
What Is Carbon Steel & Low-Alloy Cast Steel?
Carbon and low-alloy cast steels are used for structural and support components rather than for the wear surface itself. They provide the toughness, weldability and dimensional stability needed for housings, frames, brackets and bases that carry the wear parts.
Typical Chemistry (wt%)
| Carbon (C) | 0.20 – 0.50 % |
|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 0.20 – 0.60 % |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.50 – 1.20 % |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.040 % max |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.040 % max |
Hardness
Typically 150 – 200 HB depending on grade and heat treatment
Impact Toughness
Good — ductile and readily weldable
Advantages
- Good toughness and weldability
- Stable dimensions for machined fits and mounting surfaces
- Cost-effective for large structural components
Limitations
- Not a wear material — low abrasion resistance
- Requires a wear liner or hardfacing where abrasion is present
Suitable Wear Parts
- Crusher frames and housings
- Bearing housings and supports
- Brackets, bases and mounting plates
- Machine guards and covers
Typical Applications
Crusher frames and housings, bearing housings, brackets, bases, guards, girth gear covers and non-wear structural castings.
How We Use This Grade
Cast, heat treated and machined to drawing, with mounting faces and bolt patterns held to the tolerances required for fitment. Supplied alongside wear parts so that a complete assembly can be sourced from one foundry.
How to Choose a Material Grade
Material selection follows the failure mode, not the hardness number. These are the decisions we apply when reviewing a wear part application.
If: The part fails by cracking or breaking, not by wearing out
Then: Move to a tougher grade — Mn18, Mn22 or a manganese grade in place of high chrome iron. Selecting a harder material makes this failure mode worse, not better.
If: The part wears out quickly but the feed delivers strong impact
Then: Stay within the manganese family and raise the grade — Mn13 to Mn18, or Mn13Cr2 to Mn18Cr2. High chrome iron is not suitable where impact energy is high.
If: The part wears out quickly in a low-impact, abrasion-dominant duty
Then: Move to high chrome alloy iron (Cr15 to Cr26). Manganese steel cannot work-harden without impact, so its low initial hardness becomes the limiting factor.
If: The wear part operates at elevated temperature
Then: High chrome alloy iron retains hardness generally up to about 350 – 450 °C. Manganese steel loses its work-hardening advantage as temperature rises, so grade selection has to follow the operating temperature.
If: Wear is uneven across a set of parts, such as a mantle wearing faster than the bowl liner
Then: Check chamber geometry, closed side setting and feed distribution before changing material. Uneven wear is normally a geometry or feed problem rather than a material problem.
If: A very large or heavy-section casting relies on work hardening
Then: Confirm the application actually delivers enough impact energy. Very heavy parts in low-impact duty do not work-harden, and a different grade would serve better.
Quality of the Material You Receive
ISO 9001 certified. Every heat is analysed by spectrometer before pouring, and the chemical composition report issued with your shipment states the actual values for that heat — not a catalogue range.
Not Sure Which Grade Fits Your Application?
Send us the part, the crusher model and the feed material. We will recommend a grade with the chemistry, hardness and price for your duty.
Related Technical Information
Wear parts are selected on material, application and quality data together. These pages cover each part of that decision.
Products
Crusher wear parts by equipment type — jaw, cone, impact, hammer, grinding mill and custom castings.
Read more →Applications
How wear parts are selected for mining, quarrying, aggregate, cement, coal, recycling and earthworks duty.
Read more →Manufacturing
The nine controlled production steps from pattern making to final packing, and why each step is controlled.
Read more →Quality
Raw material inspection, chemical analysis, hardness and mechanical testing, dimensional inspection and traceability.
Read more →Case Studies
Application profiles showing how grade and profile selection changed wear life in real crushing duties.
Read more →