| Austenitic manganese steel | Often about 180–250 HB when supplied; the working surface can harden considerably under impact. Actual values vary by grade and service. | High-impact crushing of hard rock and variable feed, particularly where the material can work-harden the surface. | High | Good when sufficient impact causes work-hardening; performance can be poor in low-impact, highly abrasive conditions. | Jaw plates, cone and gyratory crusher liners, and some impact-crusher wear parts. | Consider feed size, impact level, and whether the part receives enough working impact. Check for fit and compatibility with the crusher. |
| Martensitic alloy steel | Commonly supplied in a broad range around 300–500 HB, depending on alloy, heat treatment, and component design. | Impact crushing where a combination of toughness and abrasion resistance is required, including many recycled or natural aggregates. | Moderate to high; varies with hardness and heat treatment. | Generally higher than manganese steel in low-to-moderate impact service, but depends on the alloy and operating conditions. | Impact-crusher blow bars and selected impact plates. | Higher hardness may improve wear resistance but can reduce toughness. Match the grade to feed size, impact severity, and risk of tramp material. |
| High-chromium white iron | Typically around 550–700 HB; the hard carbide structure provides high resistance to sliding abrasion. | Highly abrasive feed with relatively low or controlled impact. | Low to moderate; generally less tolerant of severe shock than manganese or tougher steel alloys. | High in suitable abrasive applications. | Selected impact-crusher blow bars, liners, and wear plates. | Avoid where severe impact, large uncrushable objects, or frequent shock loading is expected. Confirm the part is approved for the machine and duty. |
| Ceramic-insert composite | Composite construction combines ceramic inserts with a metal matrix; a single hardness value does not describe the complete part. | High-abrasion impact-crushing applications where the machine and operating conditions are suitable for composite blow bars. | Application-dependent; generally not the first choice for severe shock or frequent tramp-metal impacts. | Very high at the ceramic wear surfaces in appropriate service. | Specialized impact-crusher blow bars and selected wear plates. | Use only after checking crusher compatibility, feed characteristics, impact severity, and the composite’s recommended operating range. |