500 (MIL-A-46100)
MIL-A-46100 Grade 500 is a high-hardness armor steel plate designed for maximum ballistic protection in military and security applications. With a nominal hardness of 500 Brinell (BHN), this quenched and tempered plate offers exceptional resistance to armor-piercing rounds and high-velocity projectiles, outperforming lower-hardness armor grades in penetration and weight efficiency. Produced to meet the U.S. Department of Defense MIL-DTL-46100 specification, this steel features a tightly controlled microstructure for superior impact resistance, uniform hardness, and dimensional stability.
500 is a specially processed plate product that meets all the requirements of the MIL-DTL-46100 specification
Chemistry
Property
specification
Weldability
Carbon equivalent of 0.69 Typical
Mechanical Properties (ASTM A370)
- Hardness (per ASTM E10)
- Yield Strength (Typical)
- Tensile Strength (Typical)
- Elongation 2″ (Typical) 477-534 BHN
- 215 Ksi
- 240 Ksi
- 8% (50.8mm gage)
- 50-54 Rc (for reference)
- 1480 MPa
- 1655 MPa
Charpy V-Notch Impact (ASTM 23) Standard size, -40F test temp, hardness
Specimen Orientation
Impact Resistance (ft/lbs)
Longitudinal (L-T)
Standard Width
14.0
½ Width
7.0
Bend Test
Plate Thickness
0.118-0.3125 in. (3-8mm)
0.3126-0.500 in. (8.1-12.7mm)
0.50-0.750 in (12.8-19mm)
0.751-1.000 in (19.1-25.4mm)
Inside Radius
4T
6T
8T
10T
Flatness
Requirements are specified in ASTM-A-6. Tighter flatness tolerances are available on request.
Thickness
Requirements are specified in MIL-DTL-46100E Table 4. Special tolerances are available (subject to SWC approval).
