Screen cylinder with improved slot width protection and method of removing solid contaminants from a solid suspension

A method of removing solid contaminants from a solid suspension, the method comprising:

• contacting the solid suspension with a screen cylinder comprising:
• a plurality of profiled bars coupled to at least one support ring and aligned longitudinally, each of the plurality of profiled bars comprising:
• an outer surface facing away from the at least one support ring;
• a first slot surface extending from the outer surface to an attachment end of the profiled bar opposite the outer surface;
• a second slot surface opposite the first slot surface and extending from the outer surface to the attachment end of the profiled bar;
• and
• a hardened layer integral with or disposed on at least a portion of the first slot surface of each of the profiled bars, the hardened layer having a Vickers hardness value greater than or equal to 500HV0.05, as determined in accordance with ASTM E384-11e1;
• and
• wherein the first slot surfaces and second slot surfaces of side-by-side pairs of profiled bars define a plurality of slots of the screen cylinder;
• wherein contact of the solid suspension with the screen cylinder causes at least a portion of the solid suspension to pass through the slots;
• and
• collecting an acceptable solid suspension from the plurality of slots of the screen cylinder.