Dual shaft shredder blade material is a core component in solid waste treatment and resource recovery systems. It critically affects shredding efficiency, service life, operational reliability, and total cost of ownership. Four principal blade materials are widely adopted in industry today. Selection depends on waste composition, processing intensity, and operational needs.
SKD11 is a high-carbon, high-chromium cold-work tool steel. It is the most prevalent choice for general-purpose applications. With a hardness of HRC 58–60 and moderate toughness, it reliably handles medium- to low-hardness materials. These include plastics, rubber, paper, and light composites. SKD11 is cost-effective, and heat treatment and machining protocols are well established. Maintenance requirements are low. This material is suitable for small- to medium-scale recycling under standard duty cycles.

H13 is a chromium–molybdenum–vanadium hot-work tool steel. Compared to other hot-work tool steels, H13 offers superior thermal stability, high hardenability, and strong resistance to thermal fatigue and cracking. H13 keeps its strength and hardness even at high temperatures. Its wear resistance and toughness are well balanced due to the higher carbon and vanadium content. H13 is recommended for shredding tough solid waste, like metal waste or waste containing metal.

NM550 (HBW 550) is an abrasion-resistant structural steel. It combines high toughness (impact energy: 30–40 J) with exceptional wear resistance (roughly HRC 55). Its microstructure lessens the risk of chipping and edge fracture. This increases robustness when handling impurity-heavy waste, such as construction debris, mixed municipal waste, or contaminated wood. NM550 improves fault tolerance and reduces downtime from foreign objects. It is well-suited for variable or poorly sorted feed.

Material selection must be tailored to the feedstock and operational parameters. SKD11 is best for consistent, low-abrasion processing. Use DC53 for high-strength, high-cycle needs. Prefer H13 when thermal stress or metal content is high. Choose NM550 for very variable, impurity-rich waste streams. Matching materials to needs optimizes operations and lowers lifecycle costs.