When choosing a bucket, it is well worth doing some extra upfront research when selecting a China bucket manufacturer to ensure you are getting the most bang for your buck.
No matter who you buy your excavator bucket from, make sure you know exactly what steel grade your buckets are constructed. We can’t simply think that high price or more weight is good steel plate. Usually, producers will give their common steel grade a beautiful name to get a higher price. A heavier attachment doesn’t necessarily mean more strength or durability, it could also mean it was produced with a lower grade of steel.
Here are some of the most common Chinese steel grades used for excavator buckets:
Q345, Q460, NM400, Hardox 400, and Hardox 500 are all high-strength steels that are commonly used for buckets. They are all known for their high tensile strength and wear resistance, which makes them ideal for applications where the bucket will be subjected to a lot of wear and tear.
Q345 is a medium-carbon steel but the lowest-hardness steel in this group, with a nominal hardness of 345 HBW. It is also the most ductile, making it easy to weld. It is a good general-purpose steel that is often used for buckets in less demanding applications.
Q460 is a high-carbon steel and slightly harder than Q345, with a nominal hardness of 460 HBW. It is more wear resistant than Q345. It is also more brittle, making it more difficult to weld. It is often used for buckets in more demanding applications, such as those that will be used in quarries or mines.
NM400 is a high-manganese steel and similar to Q460 in terms of hardness and toughness. However, it is more weldable than Q460. It is even more wear-resistant than Q460.NM400 is a good choice for buckets that will be subjected to heavy wear and tear and that need to be welded.
Hardox 400 and Hardox 500 are wear-resistant steels that are made by SSAB. They are both very high-strength steels with a nominal hardness of 400 HBW and 500 HBW, respectively. Hardox 400 is the most common type of Hardox steel and is used for a wide variety of applications, including buckets. Hardox 500 is more wear-resistant than Hardox 400 and is often used for buckets in the most demanding applications.
The best type of steel for a bucket will depend on the specific application. For less demanding applications, Q345 or Q460 may be sufficient. For more demanding applications, NM400, Hardox 400, or Hardox 500 may be necessary.
Here is a table summarizing the properties of these steels:
| Steel Grade | Hardness (HBW) | Wear Resistance | Application |
| Q345 | 345 | Good | Moderate wear and tear |
| Q460 | 460 | Very good | Heavy wear and tear |
| NM400 | 400 | Excellent | Heavy wear and tear, welded applications |
| Hardox 400 | 400 | Excellent | Extreme wear and tear |
| Hardox 500 | 500 | Outstanding | Extreme wear and tear |
Severe buckets out of Hardox 450 offer a number of benefits for businesses, including: Increased durability and lifespan: Hardox 450 is a high-strength and wear-resistant steel
Severe buckets are designed to handle a variety of tough rock materials, including: Granite Shot rock Aggregate Coal Recycled concrete Other abrasive materials commonly encountered
Yes, it is true that severe duty buckets are more popular than heavy duty buckets and general purpose buckets. This is because severe duty buckets
The most popular steel plates for severe buckets are: Hardox 450 is a high-strength, wear-resistant steel that is ideal for severe-duty applications. It has a Brinell