HRC58-60 Hardened Screw & Barrel – Long Life PP Band Line
Product Overview
The screw and barrel of the extruder are the components that withstand the most wear, and their surface hardness directly determines equipment service life. In this production line, both screw and barrel are made of 38CrMoAlA alloy steel, and after full nitriding, the surface hardness reaches HRC58-60. This hardness level is close to tool steel hardening, effectively resisting abrasion from hard particles that may exist in PP materials (such as fillers, regrind impurities). Additionally, the inner surface hardness of the barrel is R2-R3 degrees higher than the screw flight crest, forming a "hard-on-hard" but slightly mismatched fit, further reducing adhesive wear. This high-hardness combination ensures that core components maintain dimensional accuracy during long-term operation, greatly reducing maintenance frequency.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter |
Screw |
Barrel |
| Material |
38CrMoAlA |
38CrMoAlA |
| Surface Treatment |
Full nitriding |
Bore nitriding + grinding |
| Surface Hardness |
HRC 58-60 |
HRC 58-60 (inner slightly higher) |
| Hardness Fit |
-- |
Inner higher than flight crest R2-R3 |
| Wear Resistance |
Extremely high |
Extremely high |
| Corrosion Resistance |
Good |
Good |
Key Features
- High hardness: HRC58-60 effectively resists abrasive wear from hard particles
- Nitrided treatment: Full nitriding ensures uniform hardness with no soft spots
- Hardness gradient: Barrel inner hardness higher than screw flight reduces adhesive wear
- Wear life: Under normal PP processing, core component life 5-10 years
- Fatigue resistance: Nitrided layer improves surface contact fatigue resistance
- Corrosion resistance: Nitrided layer resists chemical attack
- Dimensional stability: High hardness keeps clearance from increasing over time
- Low maintenance: Reduces screw/barrel replacement frequency
- Cost-effective: Higher initial cost but lower total lifecycle cost
- Suitable for modified materials: Especially beneficial for glass-filled, mineral-filled PP
Frequently Asked Questions
How high is HRC58-60 hardness? How much more durable than ordinary steel?
Ordinary carbon steel has a hardness of about HRC20-30. HRC58-60 is equivalent to hardened tool steel, offering several to ten times greater wear resistance than stainless steel. Under normal PP production, nitrided screw and barrel can last 5-10 years.
Why should the barrel inner hardness be higher than the screw?
This creates a "hard-hard" fit with slight mismatch, reducing the risk of adhesive wear (cold welding) between materials of identical hardness. A slight hardness difference results in a more stable friction pair after running in, extending the life of both components.
How long will this hardness last when processing glass-reinforced PP?
Glass fibers are highly abrasive and will accelerate wear. Actual life depends on glass content and processing temperature. Typically at 15-30% glass content, life is about 1/3 to 1/2 of pure PP. Regular clearance checks and timely replacement are recommended.