Mechanical assets in the industrial industry are quite costly. Therefore, it is understandable that business owners do their best to maintain and protect their equipment, especially their exposed parts. Whether you own your business equipment or you’re leasing them, you know how important it is to keep them in excellent running condition so as not to affect the productivity of the company. Also, you wouldn’t want to keep on repairing or replacing them because that can be expensive.
The problem is that no matter how careful you might be in handling and using your equipment and machines, there will always be wear and tear over time. The mechanical parts that grind against each other, especially, will get damaged as years go by. When that happens, downtime cannot be avoided.
It’s a good thing that there’s a way to protect those exposed parts of the machinery to reduce damages – and that is by using a chromium carbide wear plate. In this post, you will learn what a chromium carbide wear plate is and why it is essential for your industrial equipment:
What Are Wear Plates?
Wear plates, or abrasion resistant plates, as they are also called, are used to minimize wear and tear in surfaces that are exposed to excessive friction that eventually causes degradation of both sides or parts. These are often used for equipment parts that either rotate or slide when the machine is running. The plates are easy enough to install, efficient, and are definitely a cheaper solution than replacing the parts or getting them repaired.
Some of the most common equipment that requires wear plates include casting equipment, crushers, shredders, as well as some mining tools, bucket scrapers, and more.
Different Types of Wear Plates
Here are three types of wear plate materials that can be used for different purposes:
Wear Plates Made from Minerals
The hardness of the base material dictates what coating is required for it to function optimally. As you can expect, more rigid wear plates usually provide better wear resistance. Some examples of mineral coatings include wear plates that are made of chromium carbide, mild steel, Bennox, Grade 50b, CorTen, Roq Last, and others.
Made with Ceramic Liners
This particular wear plate material is used to lessen sliding abrasion as well as moderate and slightly heavy impact. This works because of the smooth surface of the ceramic that effectively reduces friction during the sliding process.
Low Friction UHMWPE
UHMWPE or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is molded to sheet and rod shapes and then bolted into the machine as a plate. The plates are often used on gears, conveyor flights, canning lines, sprockets, skid plates, and other kinds of machines. It is often preferred for specific applications because it is non-stick, self-lubricating impact-, friction-, and chemical-resistant.
Conclusion
Wear plates and liners are necessary for many applications where there’s friction between two parts or two materials and the plate’s hardness level and the liner’s intent. Know that the harder the plate, the longer it will last, but there are some drawbacks, too—also, note which parts require a softer material before you invest in a wear plate.
When you need a durable chromium carbide wear plate or a custom solution, Tricon Wear Solutions can provide them for your business. We serve companies in Birmingham, AL, Chicago, IL, and Eiko, NV. Contact us today to know more about our wear components!
