Hardox HiAce Doubles Service Life Of Reclaimer Buckets

Jan 15, 2025 - one year ago

Hardox HiAce wear steel improves the service life of equipment such as reclaimer buckets used by major copper producers.

Hardox HiAce Doubles Service Life Of Reclaimer Buckets — *Reclaimer buckets at one of the largest copper mines in Chile.*

Mining operations demand tough equipment that can withstand extreme impacts, stresses and wear, day in and day out. Compromising on quality — and safety — can be costly, and keeping operating costs under control is a non-negotiable. You’ve got to build your machinery with the best steels possible to not only stand up to the job, but to boost long-term productivity.

This is where Hardox HiAce wear steel comes into play as a significant factor. Mining and processing copper ore creates corrosive agents such as sulfuric acid and iron sulfates, which attack steel and decrease the service life of equipment used for excavating and transporting the ore.

A case in point is the reclaimer buckets for wheel excavators operated by one of the largest copper producers in the world. This company was not satisfied with the service life of their buckets and asked one of SSAB’s steel service centers to come up with a better solution.

Enter Hardox HiAce
Hardox HiAce is a recent steel grade developed by SSAB with the sole purpose of resisting corrosive wear. This wear steel has a nominal hardness of 450 HBW, the same as the well-established grade Hardox 450. Under non-corrosive wear conditions, they both provide the same high service life. The distinction lies in how the steels perform when exposed to acidic low pH environments.

If corrosion is present, Hardox HiAce can increase service life by 2 to 3 times compared to a 450 HBW steel, depending on the abrasive materials and the acidic conditions.

This made Hardox HiAce a natural choice when the company wanted to design and manufacture new reclaimer buckets. Hardox HiAce was used for the bucket’s floor and sides, which are exposed to corrosive materials.
Based on the mining conditions these buckets are operating in, the company expects to get twice the service life compared to its previous buckets.

The mechanics of corrosive wear
Corrosive wear is caused by oxidation of the steel’s surface. The oxidation process reduces the hardness of the surface, resulting in an accelerated wear rate. This leads to higher repair costs and a shorter service life than expected – which, of course, can negatively impact productivity and profitability.

Source: Hardox