Engineering Materials Testing

Hardness Test Lab. Report

Name of Student/ID:
穆賢/K1006117
Testing Place:
Material Testing Lab
Testing Date:
2022/10/18
 I. INTRODUCTION

Hardness is one of the mechanical properties of a material. The hardness of

a material must be known, especially for materials that in use will experience

friction (frictional force), in this case the scientific field that plays an important

role in studying it is Engineering Materials Science (Metallurgy Engineering).

Hardness is defined as the ability of a material to withstand indentation or

penetration (compression) loads. In the engineering world, generally hardness

testing uses 4 types of hardness testing methods, namely:

1. Brinnel (HB / BHN)

2. Rockwell (HR/RHN)

3. Vikers (HV/VHN)

4. Micro Hardness (But rarely used-red)

The selection of each scale (test method) depends on:

a. Material surface

b. Material type and dimensions

c. Desired data type

d. Availability of test equipment

1. Brinell method

This method was first performed by Brinell in 1900. This method is in the

form of identifying a number of loads on the surface of the material with a

penetrator used in the form of a hardened steel ball with a diameter of 10 mm

and a standard load of 0.97 to 3000 kgf. Loading is done with a standard time,

usually 30 seconds.

The hardness given is the product of the compressive load by the surface area of

the indentation of the former pressing of the steel ball. Can be formulated with
 P
BHN=
( πD2 )( D−√ D −d )
2 2

where :

BHN = brinell hardness value

P = applied load (kg)

D = ball diameter (mm)

d = indentation diameter (mm)

Brinell Test Standard Table (ASTM 10)

Ball Diameter Load (kgf) Recommended Hardness Rate

(mm) (HB)

10 3000 96-600

10 1500 48-300

10 500 16-100

2. Rockwell Method

The Rockwell hardness test method is the method most often used to

measure hardness because this method is easy to practice and does not require

special skills. Several different scales can be used for the possible combinations

of different indenters and different loads. The indenter consists of a hardened

steel ball having diameters between 1/16, 1/8, , and in (1,588, 3,175, 6,350, and

12.70 mm), and a conical diamond press which is used for very heavy materials.

hard.

With this method, the hardness number can be determined through the

difference in depth from the compression result from the application of a minor

initial load and followed by a major load, the use of a minor load can increase

the accuracy of the test. Based on the magnitude of the load from minor and
major, there are two types of tests, namely Rockwell and Superficial Rockwell.

For Rockwell, the minor loads are 10kgf, where the major loads are 60, 100, and

150 kgf. Each scale is represented by the letters of the alphabet in the table. For

Superficial Rockwell, the minor loads are 3 kgf and the major loads are 15, 30,

and 45 kgf. This scale is identified with 15, 30, or 45 (based on load) followed

by N, T, W, X, or Y, depending on the stressor. Superficial testing is usually used

for thin specimens.

When determining Rockwell and Superficial hardness, the hardness number

and scale must be indicated. The scale is indicated by the HR symbol followed by

the appropriate scale designation. For example, 80 HRB indicates a Rockwell

hardness of 80 on a B scale and 60HR30W indicates a Superficial hardness of 60

on a 30W scale.

For each - the hardness scale can reach 130, but the hardness value increases

above 100 or decreases below 20 on any scale, they become inaccurate.

Inaccuracies can also be experienced if the specimen is too thin. The thickness of

the specimen should be at least 10 times the depth of compression.

Image of Rockwell Hardness Test Press Eye and Rockwell Testing Process

3. Vickers Method
This method is similar to the Brinell method but the penetrator used is in the
form of a diamond in the form of a pyramid with a square base and a peak angle
of 1360. The load used is usually 1 to 120 kg [6].
 Picture of How to Measure Diameter on Vickers Identer
d 1+ d 2
d=
2

P
HV =1 ,854
L2
where:
P = Defined load
L = Average diagonal length
4. Microhardness Test (Microhardness Tester)
This method uses the principle of indentation which is used to measure the
hardness of micro objects. The penetrator is a diamond with a long to short
diagonal ratio of about 7:1. The diamond is a rough diamond shaped like a
pyramid. Knoop hardness number (KHN) is the load divided by the projected
area of the indentation that will not return to its original shape.

The Knoop diamond-pyramid indenter image

The Knoop hardness number (KHN) is formulated as follows
(Dieter, Goerge . Mechanical Metallurgy)
P P
KHN= =
A LC
2

where

P = applied load (kg)

Ap = projected area of indentation that does not recover to its original shape

L = length of the longer diagonal

C = constant for each pounder

II. METHODOLODY
EQUIPMENT:
 Compression machine

 10 mm steel ball- known as the indenter

 Microscope- Optical instrument to measure the diameter

 Finished surface of Steel

PROCEDURE:

Proceed with the steps below.

Step 1. Place the steel disc on the bottom plate. In order to not distort the

indentation upon pressure, ensure that there is a minimal contact between the

steel disc and the indenter.

Step 2. Adjust the pressure load to 10 x 103 N for Steel plate and apply the

load for 15 seconds.

Step 3. After 15 seconds has elapsed, lift the load and measure the indent

using the optical microscope. When measuring, dimensions will be in X and Y

direction, calculate its average to get its diameter. If while measuring, the

diameters are off by more than 0.1 mm, make a new indentation and do

another reading.

Step 4. Repeat three times – step 1 to 3, with the given load of steel and

aluminum. Ensure to properly space the indent to prevent error. Note the

measured diameter (x and y direction) and proceed with calculating the

following:

 Mean of diameter

 Brinell Hardness

 Depth of indentation

 Area of indentation
 Average Brinell number for steel

III. RESULT AND ANALYSIS

Test Result Data

 P D d Hardness
Ingredient
Kg mm mm Brinnel

Stainless-Steel 3000 10 4.5 179

From the data we can calculate with the formula :

P
B HN =
( πD2 ) ( D−√ D −d )2 2

3000
B HN =
( (3.14)(10)
2 ) (10− √10 −4.5 )2 2

3000
B HN =
( 15.7 ) ¿ ¿

3000
B HN =
( 15.7 )(10−8.93)

3000
B HN =
( 15.7 )(1.07)

3000
B HN =
16.80

B HN =178.5∨17 9

IV. DISCUSSION
 After successfully conducting the Brinell Hardness test it is found that for

steel, it has a hardness of approximately 179. Many factors could have

challenged the results during the experiment, for example, mis- calibration of

the machine when replacing the discs, or the setting of the indenter. There is

also a possibility that a minor indent was already present, and it was not taken

into consideration when setting up the sample (Newage Hardness testing, n.d.).

When conducting hardness test, it is important to ensure proper spacing

from one indentation to another. Failure to do so will adversely influence the

results obtained. The proper spacing is judged from being three times the size

of the indentation diameter from the center of the indentations (Solution for

material testing, 2021). However, it defers when considering the imprints from

the edge of the sample. According to Buehler, the safety line is drawn from 2.5

times the size of the diameter from the edge of the disc. Also, If the

indentations are too close to other indentations, the material sample is more

prone to breaking and faulty results.

Beside Brinell Hardness Test, there are three other types of test that can be

useful in different setting. Each test is made to gather indentation of a material

differently, for example, the Brinell Hardness Test is used when an indenter is

pushed with a given force onto a plate for a certain time (in seconds) then using

an optical measurement and Brinell’s equation, we solve for its hardness. The

other test also known as The Rockwell Hardness test is widely used when

testing material because it is easier to conduct and generally more accurate

data-wise. In such setting, it is used when the indentation mark is too large or

simply because the sample is bigger. On the other hand, the Knoop Hardness

test is used mainly for smaller sample, and for indents that are closer to the
edge. Similarly, an optical measurement is used to measure the indentation and

successively calculated using its respective equation. Finally, the fourth test is

Vickers hardness test. It is used in situation where the testing material is wider

than most materials.

V.3. How do you

compare the hardness
values of tested
specimens with values
from reference
VI. sources or
manufacturer’s data?
VII.
VIII. Hardness values of
tested specimens and
 value from reference
sources or
manufacturer’s
IX. data are different
methods and scales
cannot be made
mathematically exact for
a wide range
X.of materials. Different
loads, different shape of
indenters, mechanical
properties of the
XI. specimen all
complicate the problem.
All tables and charts
should be considered as
giving
XII. approximate
equivalents, particularly
when converting to a
method or scale which is
not
XIII. physically possible
for the particular test
 material and thus cannot
be verified. An example
XIV. would be converting
HV/10 or HR-15N value
on a thin coating to the
HRC equivalent.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII. 4. Why are the
importances of hardness
 test in engineering
practice?
XIX.
XX. - It is a measure of
a material’s resistance to
localized plastic
deformation.
XXI. - It is based on
natural materials with
a scale constructed
solely on the ability of
one
XXII. material to scratch
another that was softer.
XXIII. - The precise and
exactness of a hardness
test require following
strict hardness protocol
XXIV.and adherence to
standards.
 V. CONCLUSION

Despite having other tests to compute the hardness of a material, Brinell

Hardness test was used in this lab. After calculating the hardness number, many

factors could have challenged the results. As a possibility, a mis-calibration or

unpolished surface could have led to this disagreement from its actual number, being

179 respectively. However, while keeping this aside, the objective of this lab was

achieved, by using Brinell’s Hardness equation to calculate its hardness.

REFERENCES
[1]
W. D. Callister and D. G.
Rethwisch, Materials
Science and Engineering:
An Introduction, 9
ed., 2016.
[2]
ChefSteps, "Deep Freezing
Makes Things Brittle," 1
1 2019. [Online].
Available:
https://
www.chefsteps.com/
activities/deep-freezing-
makes-things-brittle.
[Accessed 29 10
2019].
[3]
University of Texas at
Tyler, "Lab: Impact
Testing," 2019.
REFERENCES

1) Aldon Company. (n.d.). Aluminum vs steel. Retrieved from Aldon Company:

https://www.aldonco.com/PDFs/AlumvsSteel.pdf

2) HARDNESS TESTING. (n.d.). Retrieved from Struers Ensuring Certainty:

https://www.struers.com/en/Knowledge/Hardness-testing#hardness-testing-

how-to

3) Newage Hardness testing. (n.d.). Retrieved from Hardness Testers:

https://www.hardnesstesters.com/test- types/brinell-hardness-testing

4) solution for material testing. (2021). Retrieved from Buehler:

https://metallography- matters.buehler.com/2016/04/14/rockwell-hardness-

test-indent-spacing/

5) Cheng Shiu University, "Lab: Material Testing," 2022.