HARDNESS TEST

Hardness can be defined as ‘Resistance of metal to plastic deformation, usually by indentation.’

However, the term may also refer to stiffness or temper, or to resistance to scratching, abrasion, or
cutting. It is the property of a metal, which gives it the ability to resist being permanently,
deformed (bent, broken, or have its shape changed), when a load is applied. The greater the
hardness of the metal, the greater resistance it has to deformation.
EQUIPMENT: Electrically operated Brinell Hardness Testing Machine, round flat specimen of
the material to be tested
PRINCIPLE OF THE TEST: The Brinell Hardness Test consists of pressing a hardened steel ball
of known size into a test specimen. A standard ball used of 2.5 mm diameter and a load of 187.5
kg for hard metal is used, while for intermediate hardness 62.5 kg load is used and 31.5 kg is used
for soft metals.
Hard Metals: Soft Iron, Mild Steel, Cast Iron – P/D2 = 30
Intermediate Metals: Copper, Brass, Nickel – P/D2 = 10
Soft Metals: Pure Aluminum, Zinc and Cast Brass – P/D2 = 5
In this system, the hardness number is defined as the total pressure divided by the area of the
resulting impression (mm2).
𝐹 𝐹
BHN = =
𝜋𝐷𝐻 (𝜋𝐷)(𝐷−√𝐷2 −𝑑2 )
2
where BHN : Brinell Hardness Number
F : Total Load in kg
D : Diameter of ball in mm
d : Mean diameter of impression in mm
h : Depth of impression

TYPES OF HARDNESS TESTS:

Most commonly used hardness tests are Brinell Hardness and Rockwell Hardness Tests. Some
other types of tests are also used to determine hardness of special types of materials like hard
steels, such tests are Vicker Hardness Test, Monotrom Hardness Test and Rockwell superficial
test. For very thin specimen specially designed hardness test known as micro-hardness test is used
in laboratory.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
1. Prepare a surface on which the observation is to be taken.
2. Select the Load required for the given specimen. Apply full load for 15 seconds for ferrous
metals and 30 seconds for softer metals.
 3. Get the impression on the polished surface of the specimen.
4. Measure the diameter of the given specimen.
5. For the given value of load and diameter of impression, find the Brinell Hardness Number.

PRECAUTIONS:
1. Thickness of the specimen should be such not be taken less than 8 times the depth of
indentation to avoid deformation to the opposite surface of the specimen.
2. Indentation should not be made nearer to the edge of a specimen from edge should be at
least 2.5 times the diameter of indentation.
3. Minimum distance between two consecutive indentations should be 4 times the diameter
of indentation.
4. Rapid rate of applying load should be avoided.