Objective

To determine the hardness of materials using Brinnel Hardness

tester, Rockwell Hardness tester, and Vickers hardness tester.

Applying hardness test and to understand the importance of

those tests in engineering.

To understand the different hardening mechanisms in different material systems
and effect on hardness values.

Abstract
The start of madding any piece of device is begin with metallurgy by
extract the piece material out of its ore use the proper method of
extracting metallurgy. To check wither the process is done properly
and the required atomic structure is reached. We perform some type
of testing material that show to us wither we reach or not to the
required structure. Hardness test are perform for this reason.
There are several devices for testing the material we are going to
discuses Brinell hardness test, Rockwell hardness test and Vickers
hardness test.
Introduction
Hardness is a characteristic of a solid material expressing its
resistance to permanent plastic deformation. There are three
general types of hardness measurements: (1) scratch hardness, (2)
Indentation hardness, and (3) rebound or dynamic hardness. Among
three only indentation hardness is of major engineering interest for
metals. Some of the scales used for indentation hardness in
engineering - Rockwell, Vickers, Brinell, and Knoop - can be
compared using practical conversion tables for a particular material.
The different techniques are shown in Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1. Different hardness test techniques.

BRINELL HARDNESS TEST:

This test consists of applying a constant load, usually between 500
and 3000 kgf for a specified time (10 to 30 s) using a 5 or 10-mm
diameter hardened steel or tungsten carbide ball on the flat surface
of a workpiece.

Figure 1. Brinell Hardness Test Schematic

Hardness is determined by taking the mean diameter of the

indentation and calculating the Brinell hardness number (BHM or
HB) by dividing the applied load by the surface area of the
indentation according to following formula:

Rockwell Hardness:
This hardness test uses a direct reading instrument based on the
principle of differential depth measurement. Initially a minor load is
applied, and a zero datum position is established. The major load is
then applied for a specific period and removed, leaving the minor
load applied. The resulting Rockwell number represents the
difference in depth from zero datum position as a result of the
application of major load. The conical diamond (Brale) indenter is
used mainly for testing hard materials such as hardened steels and
cemented carbides. Hardened steel ball indenters with diameters
1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 in. are used for testing softer materials such as
fully annealed steels, softer grades of cast irons, and a wide variety
of nonferrous metals. Generally, in Rockwell testing, the minor load
is 10 kgf, and the major load is 60, 100 or 150 kgf. The indenter
used may be either a diamond cone (Brale) or steel ball, depending
principally on the characteristics of the material being tested.
Common Rockwell hardness scales are provided in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1. Common Rockwell hardness scales

VICKERS HARDNESS TEST:

The Vickers hardness test uses a square base diamond pyramid as

the indenter. The included angle between the opposite faces of the
pyramid is l36. The Vickers hardness tester operates on the same
basic principle as the Brinell tester, the numbers being expressed in
the terms of load and area of the impression. As a result of the
indenters shape, the impression on the surface of the specimen will
be a square. The length of the diagonal of the square is measured
through a microscope fitted with an ocular micrometer that contains
movable knife-edges. The Vickers hardness values are calculated by
the formula:

Where P is the applied load in kg, and d is the diagonal length in

mm.
METHOD :
Brinell Test Method
All Brinell tests use a carbide ball indenter. The test procedure is as
follows:

The indenter is pressed into the sample by an accurately

controlled test force.

The force is maintained for a specific dwell time, normally 10 15 seconds.

After the dwell time is complete, the indenter is removed

leaving a round indent in the sample.

The size of the indent is determined optically by measuring

two diagonals of the round indent using either a portable
microscope or one that is integrated with the load application
device.

The Brinell hardness number is a function of the test force

divided by the curved surface area of the indent. The
indentation is considered to be spherical with a radius equal to
half the diameter of the ball. The average of the two diagonals
is used in the following formula to calculate the Brinell
hardness.

Rockwell Test Method

The test perform using diamond cone or hardened steel ball
indenter.

The specimen is place in the table and a minor load is apply .

Then we set the test machine to the zero.

Major load is apply.

Wait tell the reading become stable.(the stresses release)

Take the reading.

Vickers Hardness Test Procedure

Set the load (10 kgf) by placing the desired weight on the
pedestal.

Place the specimen on the anvil.

Observe the specimen surface using an objective lens.

Twist the indenter onto the specimen surface.

Select the scale by pressing HV/HK and press OK.

Adjust the turret to lock the indenter in place.

Press START to begin the test. Wait for beep to indicate that
the test is over.

Lower the specimen by turning the thumbwheel.

Turn the turret to lock the position of the 10x objective lens.

Adjust the two filar lines to get the diagonal lengths of

indentation mark on the specimen.

Measure the diagonal length using the onboard micrometer.

Key in the two diagonal lengths of indentation marks and

press the OK button to get the HV hardness value.

Lower the test anvil. Reposition the test piece.

Results & Analysis

Brinell Test Method
Diameter of materials :
Polymer: 3.4 cm

composites = 3.8 cm

cm
Repetition/Sa

Polymers

Composites

Rubber

mple

mm

mm

mm
7.7
7.0
7.5
7.2
7.1
7.3

1
2
3
4
5
Average

3.5
3.2
3.4
3.4
3.5
3.4

2.5
2.9
2.6
2.6
2.7
2.66

rubber = 3.5

Brinell Test Method

9
8
7
6

polymer

composite
rubber

4
3
2
1
0
1

Rockwell Test Method

Diameter of materials :
Polymer: 3.4 cm

composites = 3.8 cm

rubber = 3.5

cm
Repetition/Sa
mple
1
2
3
4
5
Average

Polymers

Rubber

100.5
101
102.5
98
104
101.2

356
329
374
349
311
343.8

composit
e
B
78
81
80
82
80
80.2

600
500
400
composite

300

rubber
polymer

200
100
0
1

VICKERS HARDNESS TEST:

Diameter of materials :
Polymer: 3.4 cm

composites = 3.8 cm

metal= 3.2

Composite:
X
Y

722
761.3

720.6
720.5

661.9
684.2

687.7
687.7

746.1
743.4

composite
780
760
740
composite

720
700
680
660
640
722

720.6

661.9

687.7

746.1

Polymer:
X
Y

723
728

733.5
745.2

678.3
713.5

730.6
720.4

730.6
735

polymer
750
740
730
polymer
720
710
700
690
723

733.5

678.3

730.6

730.6

metal :
X
Y

318
312

metal
400
300
200
100
0
318

metal

Calculation
Sample calculation:
Brinell Test Method

HB=

1225
34
2
2

[34 34 3.4 ]
2

( )

=134.59

Discussion
The Brinell Hardness Test consists of applying a constant load,
usually 500 to 3000 kilograms, on a hardened steel ball-type
indenter, 10 mm in diameter, to the flat surface of a workpiece. The
500-kilogram load is usually used for testing nonferrous metals such
as copper and aluminum alloys, whereas the 3000- kilogram load is
most often used for testing harder metals such as steels and cast
irons. Highly hardened steel (or other very hard metals) cannot be
tested by a hardened steel ball by the Brinell method because the
ball would plastically deform and flatten during penetration.
General precautions of Brinell hardness testing include the
following:
1. Indentations should not be made on a curved surface having a
radius of less than 1 inch.
2. The load should be applied in such a way that the direction of
loading and the test surface. are perpendicular to each other within
2o.

3. The thickness of the workpiece being tested should be such that

no bulge or mark showing the effect of the load appears on the side
of the workpiece opposite the indentation. In any event, the
thickness of the specimen shall be at least 10 times the depth of the
indentation .
The Brinell hardness test has three principal limitations as follows:
1. Size and shape of the workpiece must be capable of
accommodating the relatively large indentations.
2. Because of the relatively large indentations, the workpiece may
not be usable after testing.
3. The limit of hardness range -- about 11 HB with the 500-kg load
to 627 with the 3000-kg load -- is generally considered the practical
range.
As we can see from graphs, according to the hardness among
materials the composites have the high hardness then polymers and
last is rubber. Thats result refer to the intermolecular,
microstructure and other factor which the composite has different
material which that give it new characteristics hardness one of
those characteristics.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we conclude that Hardness is a measure of a
materials resistance to localized plastic deformation (e.g., a small
dent or scratch). Hardness testing involves a small indenter being
forced into the surface of the material being tested under controlled
conditions of load and rate of application. The depth or size of the
resulting indentation is measured, which in turn is related to a
hardness number; the softer the material, the larger and deeper the
indentation, and the lower the hardness index number. Measured
hardnesses are only relative (rather than absolute) thus care must
be taken when comparing values determined by different

techniques. Macro-Hardness (Rockwell and Brinell) testing is the

most commonly applied materials test in industry due to several
factors:
1) Macro-Hardness Testing is simple to perform and does not require
highly skilled operators;
2) Through the use of different loads and indenters, hardness testing
can be used for determining the hardness and approximate strength
of most metals and alloys including soft bearing materials and
highstrength steels;
3) Hardness readings can be taken in a few seconds with minimal
preparation.

REFFERENCES :
http://www.instron.us/wa/applications/test_types/hardness/rockwell.
aspx
http://www.corrosionsource.com/FreeContent/1/Hardness+Conversio
n+Table
http://www.carbidedepot.com/formulas-hardness.htm
http://imechanica.org/files/handout2_0.pdf