Crushing and grinding are widely used in mining, mineral processing, cement making, and coal power generation. The mechanical components that contact with materials being processed are working under the conditions of high abrasion and impact. How to reduce the wearing damages and prevent from the cracking failure of the mechanical parts is one of the crucial challenges facing the operations of many industries, involved crushing and grinding processes. Whit cast irons, and specifically high chromium white cast irons, have been developed and deployed worldwide for making mechanical components of crushing and grinding machines due to the combination of high wear resistance and good mechanical strength. The paper is aimed to give an overview on the white cast iron alloys, and particularly high chromium white cast iron alloys, including their classifications, their standard specifications in USA, China and Australia, their main usages and the new developments.