LINESES, PRINCESS KATE H.

DMD III – MAXILLA

HARDNESS TEST

A. Give the tests most frequently used in determining the hardness of dental materials.

The Brinell hardness test, Rockwell hardness test, Vickers hardness test, Knoop hardness
test, and the shore and barcol test are the most frequently used tests for determining the hardness
of dental materials. This type of testing has been used for over a century.

B. Indicate its application of use

 Brinell hardness test

The Brinell hardness test, which has been used to assess the hardness of alloys and metals
used in dentistry, is one of the earliest methods for determining the hardness of metals. This test
involves pressing a hardened steel ball into the polished surface of the material under a specific
load.

 Rockwell hardness test

While the Brinell test uses a steel ball or a conical diamond tip, the Rockwell test uses a
wider range of materials and is better suited for brittle materials like plastic.

 Vickers hardness test

The Vickers hardness test follows the same hardness testing premises as the Brinell test,
although Vickers' test uses a square-based pyramid. The standard testing of dental casting gold
alloys uses this test.

 Knoop hardness test

The Knoop hardness test, which can be performed on the same universal or micro hardness
testing machine as the Vickers hardness test, is an alternative in the micro hardness testing
range. It is primarily used to make thin layer hardness testing simple and to stop breaking in
brittle materials.

 The Shore and the Barcol test

The Shore and Barcol test is used to determine the hardness of rubber and plastics.