DK621.785.52 : 620.178.

15-408 GERMAN STANDARDS 3220 March 1979

Hardness depth of heat-treated parts DIN

Determination of the effective depth of hardening after hardening of
surface layer
50 190
Part 2

In accordance with the International standard ISO 3754-1976 published by the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) and with the EURONORM 116-72 published by the European Coal and Steel Community
(EGKS); refer to annotation.
Reprint permitted, even in parts only with the permission of DIN German Institute for Standardization e.V. Berlin
Previous issues: 10.73

Hardness
1 Aim and field of application
This standard specifies the methods for determining the
hardness depth1) on the basis of hardness measurements. It
further determines the threshold hardness required for the
determination of the hardness depth (refer to section 4).
If required, the test methods are used for work pieces that
have hardened surface layers and are subsequently
tempered.

2 Further applicable standards

DIN 50 133 Part 2 Testing of metallic work pieces;
Hardness testing according to Vickers; Hardness depth Distance from
Test load range: 1.96 to 49 N (0.2 to 5 surface
kp) (Light load range) Illustr. 1. For definition and graphical determination of
hardness depth.
3 Terms
Also refer to DIN 17 014 Part 1
The threshold limit GH should be determined as Vickers
hardness as per DIN 50 133 Part 2. It amounts to 80 %
3.1 Hardness depth of the specified Minimum-Surface hardness. As a rule, it
Perpendicular distance from the surface of a hardened
Contents revised and edited factually. Refer to annotation

is specified in HV 1.
work piece to the point where the hardness is equal to the The following table shows the numerical values for the
appropriately determined threshold value. threshold hardness. It also contains the threshold
hardness values for cases where the hardness of the
3.2 Threshold value surface is specified in the production documents in
Reference value for determining the distance from the HRC.
surface up to which the surface layer of a heat-treated part N o t e: The following condition is a prerequisite in order
has its impact (an impact that decides the properties). that this criterion is applicable
GH ≥ (Core hardness + 100) HV
4. Hardness depth – specifications
1)
Short for hardening-hardness depth, i.e. the depth of
4.1 Determining the threshold value the hardened surface layer, determined on the basis
The threshold value as described in this standard is a of the hardness measurements.
hardness value (refer to illustration 1), referred to as the
threshold hardness (short form GH). The threshold
hardness refers to the condition specified in the production
documents for the work piece with hardened surface layer. Continuation Page 2 to 4
Annotations Page 4

The National Standardization Committee Technology of Materials (NWT)

in DIN German Institute for Standardization e.V.
Iron and Steel Standards Committee (FES) in DIN
Standards Committee for Material Testing (FNM) in DIN

Exclusive selling rights of standards by Beuth Verlag GmbH, Berlin 30 and Cologne 1 DIN 50 190 Part 2 March 1979 Price bracket 4
03.79 Presentation. No 0004
Page 2 DIN 50 190 Part 2
If this condition is not fulfilled, the threshold hardness If the test load or test method for hardness differ from this
has to be manipulated. As core hardness, the rule after appropriate manipulation, the corresponding
hardness that is measured from thrice the distance of deviations are to be specified after the short form for
the hardness depth plays an important role. hardness depth and numerical value.
Example of a hardness depth of 0.55 mm, determined by
Table for threshold hardness HV 0.5 (Test load 4.90 N) with GH = 600 HV:
Surface hardness Threshold Rht 600 Hv 0.5 = 0.50 mm,
Surface hardness
HV2) hardness
HRC2) permitted short form:
HV
0.50 Rht 600 HV 0.5
to to

to to 5. Short description of procedures

The hardness depth can be determined either by a
to to
graphical or numerical method.
to to
5.1 Graphical Procedure (A)
to to In the cross section of a work piece with hardened
surface layer, the hardness is measured starting vertically
to
from the surface at various distances from the surface.
to to
The hardness values thus obtained are recorded as
function of the distance from the surface. The hardness
to depth is taken from this hardness curve as the distance
to from the surface at threshold hardness. (Refer to
illustration 1).
to

to
5.2 Numerical Procedure (B)
For a work piece with hardened surface layer, the
to hardness is measured at two suitable distances from the
surface and the hardness depth is calculated from these
to values. Hardness can either be measured in a cross
to section (refer to illustration 2, Method a) or after suitable
sharpening of two levels parallel to the surface (refer to
to illustration 2, Method b).
to

to

to
2)
Refer to DIN 50 150 for hardness specifications by other
methodsto
Method a
For manipulation, one may also use
- test loads that deviate from 9.81 N (HV 1), but
only in the range of 4.90 N (HV 0.5) and 49.0
N (HV 5).
- other test methods for hardness, for e.g.,
hardness test as per Knoop (HK) 3).
Method b
4.2 Specification of hardness depth
The specification of hardness depth comprises at Illustr. 2. Position of the hardness test impressions during the
least of the abbreviation Rht with the numerical value numerical procedure, Method a and Method b.
of the threshold hardness, which, as a rule, is given as
Vickers hardness HV 1 and the quantity of hardness 6 Denotation of procedures
depth in mm. Denotation of the graphical procedure (A):
Example of a hardness depth of 0.55 mm for Test DIN 50 190 – Rht – A.
threshold hardness 600 HV: Denotation of the numerical procedure (B), if there are no
Rht 600 = 0.55 mm, further specifications:
Permitted short form: Test DIN 50 190 – Rht – B.
0.55 Rht 600. 3)
Refer [1], [2], [3]. A standard for the hardness test as
If, as per the rule, the hardness has been measured
per Knoop is in the pipeline
in HV 1, only this is specified.

If the method as given in illustration 2 is specified
during a numerical procedure, this is done by
adding the code letter of the method to the code
letter of the procedure.
Denotation of the numerical procedure, Method b
(Bb):
Test DIN 50 190 – Rht – Bb
7 Devices
The hardness measurements are to be taken with the
help of hardness testing devices, which are especially
suited for the test load range laid down in this standard.
8 Preparation
While preparing a testing surface, one should take care
that the condition of the material does not change. The
testing surfaces have to be so smooth and well-
processed, that accurate measurement of the hardness
test impressions is possible. (also refer to DIN 50 133
Part 2).
9 Execution
The hardness measurements are to be taken as per DIN
50 133 Part 2. The test conditions laid down here are to
be applied even for the test procedures that are not
standardized (e.g. as per Knoop 3)).The test load is to
be chosen on the basis of the surface hardness and
hardness depth in the given case; refer to annotation.
If there is no agreement upon the procedure to be
applied, the selection is made by the test centre
according to the purpose.
9.1 Graphical Procedure (A)
The hardness curve is to be recorded (Illustration 3) – at
two different places at least (in case of dispute) - in a
cross section in the specified testing range. Every
hardness curve must be referenced – especially in its
escarpment – with adequate reading points. A distance
of at least 2.5 times the middle length of both the
diagonals of the impression must be maintained
between the centre of a hardness test impression and
the edge of every related impression (refer to DIN 50
133 Part 2). An arrangement of the hardness test
impressions is thus recommended as per illustration 3.
Hardness curve Hardness curve
Illustr. 3. Arrangement of the hardness test impressions.
9.2 Numerical Procedure (B)
The numerical procedure is based on the fact that the
hardness curve in the range where the hardness depth
should lie, can be represented by a straight line.
At least five hardness measurements are taken – at two
different places at least (in case of dispute) – at the
distances t1 and t2 from the surface of the work piece in
a cross section in the specified testing range. The
distance t1 should be smaller, the distance t2, larger than
the desired hardness depth (refer to illustration 4). The
difference t2 - t1 should not cross 0.3 mm.
DIN 50 190 Part 2 Page 3
The same conditions apply for sharpening both the levels
in illustration 2 Method b.
If the hardness depth is not specified, or if it cannot be
estimated, the distances t1 and t2 can be laid down on the
basis of a hardness curve that has been established
previously by some reading points.
Hardness
Distance from
surface
Illustr. 4. For numerical determination of hardness depth.
N o t e : The numerical procedure in illustration 2, Method
b, should be applied – if nothing else is agreed upon – for
hardness depths that are less than 0.33 mm. It is
advisable to use the same test load for measuring the
hardness for individual levels. This test load is to be
determined on the basis of the surface hardness and the
hardness depth of the lowest layer; refer to annotation.
10 Evaluation
10.1 Graphical Procedure (A)
At appropriate threshold hardness, the hardness depth is
taken from every hardness curve, refer to illustration 1.
10.2 Numerical Procedure (B)
The hardness depth is calculated in mm from the obtained
numerical values in the following way (also refer to
illustration 4)
Hardness depth Rht……
where:
GH threshold hardness
H1 arithmetic mean of measured hardness at distance t1
H2 arithmetic mean of measured hardness at distance t2
In case, for a work piece, the hardness depth has been
determined at several places, only the arithmetic mean is
to be specified if the difference between the individual
hardness depths does not cross 10 % of the largest value.
The individual values of the hardness depths are to be
specified additionally in the test report in case of larger
differences.
3
) Refer to page 2
Page 4 DIN 50 190 Part 2

11 Test report During procedure A: All the referenced hardness curves

Information to be specified in the test report with reference During procedure B: Individual vales of the hardness at t1
to this standard: and t2 as well as mean values.
Information about the tested work piece (For e.g., name, Hardness depth Rht (As per the specifications in section
material, drawing number, work schedule) 4.2) in mm, rounded from 0.1 mm to 0.05 mm, also
Type of sampling and the place where the sample was arithmetic mean as well as individual values (refer to note in
taken from the work piece. section 10) if necessary.
Number of samples Deviations from this standard if necessary
Information about the test report Test date
Procedures applied
Bibliography

Other standards

DIN 6773 Part 3 Heat-treatment of ferrous materials; Heat treated parts, presentation and indications on drawings: Surface
layer hardness
DIN 17 014 Part 1 Heat treatment of ferrous materials; Technical terms and expressions
DIN 50150 Testing of Steel and Cast Steel: Conversion Table for Vickers Hardness, Brinell Hardness, Rockwell
Hardness and Tensile Strength
DIN 50 190 Part 1 Hardness depth of heat treated parts; determination of effective depth
DIN 50 190 Part 3 Hardness depth of heat treated parts; determination of nitride hardness depth

Annotations
This standard was laid down by the working committee 3
“Testing the effects of heat treatment” of the National
Standardization Committee Technology of Materials
(NWT) under the centralised control of Standards
Committee for Material Testing (FNM) and in collaboration
with the Iron and Steel Standards Committee (FES).
The international standard ISO 3754-1976 corresponding
to this standard was published by the International
Organization for Standardization
st th 4
1 Issue 15 June 1976 ).
The European Coal and Steel Community published the
EURONORM 116-72 that corresponds to the present
standard
Determination of the hardening depth of surface hardened
parts.
4
Issue November 1972 ).
Both the international standards are in complete
agreement with each other. The present standard follows
this standard very strictly; it is advisable to mention the
following differences:
- In ISO 3754 and EURONORM 116, the
abbreviation for the hardness depth is “DS”, while
"Rht" has been laid down in DIN 50 190 Part 2.
- In DIN 50 190 Part 2, further provisions for the
specification of the hardness depth and for the
name of the procedure are included.
4
) Refer to by Beuth Verlag GmbH, Burggrafenstraße, 4-7,
1000 Berlin 30.
- DIN 50 190 Part 2 is applicable for all hardness
depths, while ISO 3754 and EURONORM 116 are
restricted to hardness depths that are larger than 0.3
mm. Due to the range of low hardness depths, the
condition for the entry of individual values of hardness
depths is relativised: a difference of 10 % of the
highest value between the hardness depths instead of
0.1 mm is valid in ISO 3754 and EURONORM 116.
(refer to note in section 10).
- The provision in ISO 3754 and EURONORM 116, that
only the graphical procedure laid down in these
standards may be applied in cases of dispute, has not
been adopted in DIN 50 190 Part 2.
- Only the graphical procedure is described in ISO 3754
and EURONORM 116, the numerical procedure is not
mentioned in both the standards.
The following modifications have been made vis-à-vis DIN 50
190 Part 2, Issue October 1973:
The definitions of the term hardness depth have been
reconciled in DIN 17 014 Part 1.
Further corrections were necessary in order to achieve the
most extensive adaptation to Part 1 of this standard that has
already been agreed upon.
Commensurate to DIN 50 190 Part 1, it is also intended in the
present Part 2, that in case of low hardness depths, the test
load for the hardness measurements is determined on the
basis of the surface depth and the hardness depth. Till then,
the test load, if it functions perpendicular to the hardened
surface layer, is to be selected so low (as per experience),
that the hardened surface layer does not “break through” while
taking the hardness measurements of a penetrator. For
estimation, you can refer to the specifications in DIN 50 133
Part 2. Specifications for the selection of the test load have
also been given in DIN 6773 Part 3.