Rockwell Hardness Test

It differs from the Brinell test in that the indenter and the loads are smaller, and the Rockwell hardness
number is read directly. The Rockwell hardness test method consists of indenting the test material with
a diamond cone or hardened steel ball indenter. The indenter is forced into the test material under a
preliminary minor load F0 (Fig. 1A) usually 10 kgf. When equilibrium has been reached, an indicating
device, which follows the movements of the indenter and so responds to changes in depth of
penetration of the indenter is set to a datum position. While the preliminary minor load is still applied
an additional major load is applied with resulting increase in penetration (Fig. 1B). When equilibrium
has again been reached, the additional major load is removed but the preliminary minor load is still
maintained. Removal of the additional major load allows a partial recovery, so reducing the depth of
penetration (Fig. 1C). The permanent increase in depth of penetration, resulting from the application
and removal of the additional major load is used to calculate the Rockwell hardness number.

HR = E - e
F0 = preliminary minor load in kgf
F1 = additional major load in kgf
F = total load in kgf
e = permanent increase in depth of penetration due to major load F1 measured in units of 0.002 mm
E = a constant depending on form of indenter: 100 units for diamond indenter, 130 units for steel ball
indenter
HR = Rockwell hardness number
D = diameter of steel ball

Fig. 1.Rockwell Principle

Rockwell Hardness Scales

Scale Indenter

Minor Load Major Load Total Load

Value of
F0
F1
F
E
kgf
kgf
kgf

Diamond cone 10

50

60

100

1/16" steel ball 10

90

100

130

Diamond cone 10

140

150

100

Diamond cone 10

90

100

100

1/8" steel ball

10

90

100

130

1/16" steel ball 10

50

60

130

1/16" steel ball 10

140

150

130

1/8" steel ball

10

50

60

130

1/8" steel ball

10

140

150

130

1/4" steel ball

10

50

60

130

1/4" steel ball

10

90

100

130

1/4" steel ball

10

140

150

130

1/2" steel ball

10

50

60

130

1/2" steel ball

10

90

100

130

1/2" steel ball

10

140

150

130

Typical Application of Rockwell Hardness Scales

HRA .
Cemented carbides, thin steel and shallow case hardened steel
HRB .
Copper alloys, soft steels, aluminium alloys, malleable irons, etc.
HRC . . . .
Steel, hard cast irons, case hardened steel and other materials harder than 100 HRB
HRD . .
Thin steel and medium case hardened steel and pearlitic malleable iron
HRE .
Cast iron, aluminium and magnesium alloys, bearing metals
HRF . . . .
Annealed copper alloys, thin soft sheet metals
HRG . . . .
Phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, malleable irons HRH . . . . Aluminium, zinc, lead
HRK . . . . }
HRL . . . . }
HRM . . . .} . . . . Soft bearing metals, plastics and other very soft materials
HRP . . . . }
HRR . . . . }
HRS . . . . }
HRV . . . . }
Advantages of the Rockwell hardness method include the direct Rockwell hardness number readout
and rapid testing time. Disadvantages include many arbitrary non-related scales and possible effects
from the specimen support anvil (try putting a cigarette paper under a test block and take note of the
effect on the hardness reading! Vickers and Brinell methods don't suffer from this effect)

Rockwell Superficial Hardness Test

The Rockwell Superficial hardness test method consists of indenting the test material with a diamond
cone (N scale) or hardened steel ball indenter. The indenter is forced into the test material under a
preliminary minor load F0 (Fig. 1A) usually 3 kgf. When equilibrium has been reached, an indicating
device that follows the movements of the indenter and so responds to changes in depth of penetration
of the indenter is set to a datum position. While the preliminary minor load is still applied an
additional major load, is applied with resulting increase in penetration (Fig. 1B). When equilibrium
has again been reached, the additional major load is removed but the preliminary minor load is still
maintained. Removal of the additional major load allows a partial recovery, so reducing the depth of
penetration (Fig. 1C). The permanent increase in depth of penetration, e, resulting from the application
and removal of the additional major load is used to calculate the Rockwell Superficial hardness
number.

HR = E - e
F0 = preliminary minor load in kgf
F1 = additional major load in kgf
F = total load in kgf
e = permanent increase in depth of penetration due to major load F1, measured in units of 0.001 mm
E = a constant of 100 units for diamond and ball indenters
HR = Rockwell hardness number
D = diameter of steel ball

Fig. 1.Rockwell Superficial Principle

Rockwell Superficial Hardness Scales

Scale

Indenter Type

Minor Load Major Load Total Load

Value of
F0
F1
F
E
kgf
kgf
kgf

HR 15 N N Diamond cone 3

12

15

100

HR 30 N N Diamond cone 3

27

30

100

HR 45 N N Diamond cone 3

42

45

100

HR 15 T 1/16" steel ball

12

15

100

HR 30 T 1/16" steel ball

27

30

100

HR 45 T 1/16" steel ball

42

45

100

HR 15 W 1/8" steel ball

12

15

100

HR 30 W 1/8" steel ball

27

30

100

HR 45 W 1/8" steel ball

42

45

100

HR 15 X 1/4" steel ball

12

15

100

HR 30 X 1/4" steel ball

27

30

100

HR 45 X 1/4" steel ball

42

45

100

HR 15 Y 1/2" steel ball

12

15

100

HR 30 Y 1/2" steel ball

27

30

100

HR 45 Y 1/2" steel ball

42

45

100

Vickers Hardness Test

The Vickers hardness test is very popular with the research workers because it provides a continuous
scale of hardness for a given load from very soft metals with a VPN 5 to extremely hard materials with
a VPN 1500. Vickers hardness machine also functions on the same principle as the Brinell hardness
testing machine. The Vickers hardness test method consists of indenting the test material with a
diamond indenter, in the form of a right pyramid with a square base and an angle of 136 degrees
between opposite faces subjected to a load of 1 to 100 kgf. The full load is normally applied for 10 to
15 seconds. The two diagonals of the indentation left in the surface of the material after removal of the
load are measured using a microscope and their average calculated. The area of the sloping surface of
the indentation is calculated. The Vickers hardness is the quotient obtained by dividing the kgf load by
the square mm area of indentation.

F= Load in kgf
d = Arithmetic mean of the two diagonals, d1 and d2 in mm
HV = Vickers hardness

The area of of the pyramidal impression is calculated from the mensuration formula:
A = 4a S/2
Where S is the slant height of the impression.
From above fig:
d2 = 2a2 or a = d/ 2
Thus
A = (4d/2) (S/2) = 2dS
S = a /2 sin 136/2 = d / 2 / 2 sin 68
Substituting the values of S we get A = d2 / 2 sin 68
Hardness number HV or D.P.H. = 2 F sin 68 / d2

== 1.854 F / d2

When the mean diagonal of the indentation has been determined the Vickers hardness may be
calculated from the formula, but is more convenient to use conversion tables. The Vickers hardness
should be reported like 800 HV/10, which means a Vickers hardness of 800, was obtained using a 10
kgf force. Several different loading settings give practically identical hardness numbers on uniform
material, which is much better than the arbitrary changing of scale with the other hardness testing
methods. The advantages of the Vickers hardness test are that extremely accurate readings can be
taken, and just one type of indenter is used for all types of metals and surface treatments. Although
thoroughly adaptable and very precise for testing the softest and hardest of materials, under varying
loads, the Vickers machine is a floor standing unit that is more expensive than the Brinell or Rockwell
machines. Very high degree of polishing of the metal surface is required so that the impression can be
perfectly focused and viewed and the diagonal accurately measured. Very careful handling of the
indenter is recommended, besides periodic checking of the instrument against the standard steel blocks
supplied alongwith.

Vickers Hardness Number Calculator

Force (kgf)
150
Mean diagonal length d (mm) 15

Enter value
Enter value

HV

Result

Clear

There is now a trend towards reporting Vickers hardness in SI units (MPa or GPa) particularly in
academic papers. Unfortunately, this can cause confusion. Vickers hardness (e.g. HV/30) value should
normally be expressed as a number only (without the units kgf/mm 2). Rigorous application of SI is a
problem. Most Vickers hardness testing machines use forces of 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, 50 and 100 kgf and
tables for calculating HV. SI would involve reporting force in newtons (compare 700 HV/30 to
HV/294 N = 6.87GPa) which is practically meaningless and messy to engineers and technicians. To
convert aVickers hardness number the force applied needs converting from kgf to newtons and the
area needs converting form mm2 to m2 to give results in Pascals using the formula above.
To convert HV to MPa multiply by 9.807
To convert HV to GPa multiply by 0.009807

The Brinell and Vickers hardness values are similar in their nature from the basic principles. The two
values will tally up to the hardness number 400, and thereafter, the Vickers values are found to be
more. However, in this range, i.e., above 400 Vickers hardness values are more reliable.

Micro hardness Test

The term microhardness test usually refers to static indentations made with loads not exceeding 1 kgf.
The indenter is either the Vickers diamond pyramid or the Knoop elongated diamond pyramid. The
procedure for testing is very similar to that of the standard Vickers hardness test, except that it is done
on a microscopic scale with higher precision instruments. The surface being tested generally requires a
metallographic finish; the smaller the load used, the higher the surface finish required. Precision
microscopes are used to measure the indentations; these usually have a magnification of around X500
and measure to an accuracy of +0.5 micrometres. Also with the same observer differences of +0.2
micrometres can usually be resolved. It should, however, be added that considerable care and
experience are necessary to obtain this accuracy.

Knoop Hardness Indenter Indentation

The Knoop hardness number KHN is the ratio of the load applied to the indenter, P (kgf) to the
unrecovered projected area A (mm2)

KHN = F/A = P/CL2

Where:
F = applied load in kgf
A = the unrecovered projected area of the indentation in mm2
L = measured length of long diagonal of indentation in mm
C = 0.07028 = Constant of indenter relating projected area of the indentation to the square of the
length of the long diagonal.

The Knoop indenter is a diamond ground to pyramidal form that produces a diamond shaped
indentation having approximate ratio between long and short diagonals of 7:1. The depth of
indentation is about 1/30 of its length. When measuring the Knoop hardness, only the longest diagonal
of the indentation is measured and this is used in the above formula with the load used to calculate
KHN. Tables of these values are usually a more convenient way to look-up KHN values from the
measurements.

Knoop Hardness Number Calculator

Force (kgf)

Enter value

Long diagonal length (mm)

Enter value

KHN

Result

Clear

Knoop vs. Vickers

Comparing the indentations made with Knoop and Vickers Diamond Pyramid indenters for a given
load and test material:
Vickers indenter penetrates about twice as deep as Knoop indenter
Vickers indentation diagonal about 1/3 of the length of Knoop major diagonal
Vickers test is less sensitive to surface conditions than Knoop test
Vickers test is more sensitive to measurement errors than knoop test
Vickers test best for small rounded areas
Knoop test best for small elongated areas
Knoop test good for very hard brittle materials and very thin sections

There is now a trend towards reporting Vickers and Knoop hardness in SI units (MPa or GPa)
particularly in academic papers. Unfortunately, this can cause confusion. Vickers hardness (e.g.
HV/30) value should normally be expressed as a number only (without the units kgf/mm 2). Rigorous
application of SI is a problem. Most Vickers hardness testing machines use forces of 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, 50
and 100 kgf and tables for calculating HV. SI would involve reporting force in newtons (compare 700
HV/30 to HV/294 N = 6.87 GPa) which is practically meaningless and messy to engineers and
technicians. To convert a Vickers hardness number the force applied needs converting from kgf to
newtons and the area needs converting form mm 2 to m2 to give results in pascals using the formula
above.
To convert HV to MPa multiply by 9.807
To convert HV to GPa multiply by 0.009807

HARDNESS CONVERSION TABLE

Approximate Equivalents of Rockwell C Hardness Numbers for Hard Materials
VICKERS
ROCKWELL
DPH

BRINELL SCLEROU.T.S.
BHN
SCOPE

HV/10

A C D 15-N 30-N 45-N 3000kg

Kpsi MPa

1865

92 80 87 97

92

87

1787

92 79 86 96

92

87

1710

91 78 85 96

91

86

1633

91 77 84 96

91

85

1556

90 76 83 96

90

84

1478

90 75 83 95

89

83

1400

89 74 82 95

89

82

1323

89 73 81 95

88

81

1245

88 72 80 95

87

80

1160

87 71 80 94

87

79

1076

87 70 79 94

86

78

101

1004

86 69 78 94

85

77

99

940

86 68 77 93

84

75

97

900

85 67 76 93

84

74

95

865

85 66 75 93

83

73

92

832

84 65 75 92

82

72

739

91

800

84 64 74 92

81

71

722

88

772

83 63 73 91

80

70

705

87

746

83 62 72 91

79

69

688

85

720

82 61 72 91

79

68

670

83

697

81 60 71 90

78

67

654

81

320 2206

674

81 59 70 90

77

66

634

80

310 2137

653

80 58 69 89

76

64

615

78

300 2068

633

80 57 69 89

75

63

595

76

290 1999

613

79 56 68 88

74

62

577

75

282 1944

595

79 55 67 88

73

61

560

74

274 1889

577

78 54 66 87

72

60

543

72

266 1834

560

78 53 65 87

71

59

523

71

257 1772

544

77 52 65 86

70

57

512

69

245 1689

528

77 51 64 86

69

56

496

68

239 1648

513

76 50 63 86

69

55

481

67

233 1606

498

75 49 62 85

68

54

469

66

227 1565

484

75 48 61 85

67

53

455

64

221 1524

471

74 47 61 84

66

51

443

63

217 1496

458

74 46 60 84

65

50

432

62

212 1462

446

73 45 59 83

64

49

421

60

206 1420

434

73 44 59 83

63

48

409

58

200 1379

423

72 43 58 82

62

47

400

57

196 1351

412

72 42 57 82

61

46

390

56

191 1317

402

71 41 56 81

60

44

381

55

187 1289

392

71 40 55 80

60

43

371

54

182 1255

382

70 39 55 80

59

42

362

52

177 1220

372

70 38 54 79

58

41

353

51

173 1193

363

69 37 53 79

57

40

344

50

169 1165

354

69 36 52 78

56

38

336

49

165 1138

345

68 35 52 78

55

37

327

48

160 1103

336

68 34 51 77

54

36

319

47

156 1076

327

67 33 50 77

53

35

311

46

152 1048

318

67 32 49 76

52

34

301

44

147 1014

310

66 31 48 76

51

33

294

43

144 993

302

66 30 48 75

50

31

286

42

140 965

294

65 29 47 75

50

30

279

41

137 945

286

65 28 46 74

49

29

271

41

133 917

279

64 27 45 73

48

28

264

40

129 889

272

64 26 45 73

47

27

258

39

126 869

266

63 25 44 72

46

26

253

38

124 855

260

63 24 43 72

45

24

247

37

121 834

254

62 23 42 71

44

23

240

36

118 814

248

62 22 42 71

43

22

234

35

115 793

243

61 21 41 70

42

21

228

35

112 772

238

61 20 40 69

42

20

222

34

109 752

HV/10

A C D 15-N 30-N 45-N 3000kg

VICKERS
ROCKWELL
DPH

Kpsi MPa

BRINELL SCLEROU.T.S.
BHN
SCOPE

Approximate Equivalents of Rockwell C Hardness Numbers for Hard Materials

Hardness Conversion Table

Approximate Hardness Equivalents Covering Range of Rockwell C and
Rockwell B Scales
VPN
DPH
HV/10
1865
1787
1710
1633
1556
1478
1400
1323
1245
1160
1076
1004
940
900
865
832
800
772
746
720
697
674
653
633
613
595
577
560
544

ROCKWELL SCALES

BRINELL

A B

BHN BHN
500kg 3000kg

C D E

92
80 87
92
79 86
91
78 85
91
77 84
90
76 83
90
75 83
89
74 82
89
73 81
88
72 80
87
71 80
87
70 79
86
69 78
86
68 77
85
67 76
85
66 75
84
65 75
84
64 74
83
63 73
83
62 72
82
61 72
81
60 71
81
59 70
80
58 69
80
57 69
79
56 68
79 120 55 67
78 120 54 66
78 119 53 65
77 119 52 65

G H K 15N 30N 45N 15T 30T 45T

97
96
96
96
96
95
95
95
95
94
94
94
93
93
93
92
92
91
91
91
90
90
89
89
88
88
87
87
86

92
92
91
91
90
89
89
88
87
87
86
85
84
84
83
82
81
80
79
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70

87
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
64
63
62
61
60
59
57

739
722
705
688
670
654
634
615
595
577
560
543
523
512

SCLEROU.T.S.
SCOPE
Kpsi Mpa

101
99
97
95
92
91
88
87
85
83
81
80
78
76
75
74
72
71
69

320
310
300
290
282
274
266
257
245

2206
2137
2069
2000
1944
1889
1834
1772
1689

528
513
498
484
471
458
446
434
423
412
402
392
382
372
363
354
345
336
327
318
310
302
294
286
279
272
266
260
254
248
243
238
234
230
226
222
217
213
208
204
200
196
192
188
184

77 118 51 64
76 117 50 63
75 117 49 62
75 116 48 61
74 116 47 61
74 115 46 60
73 115 45 59
73 114 44 59
72 113 43 58
72 113 42 57
71 112 41 56
71 112 40 55
70 111 39 55
70 110 38 54
69 110 37 53
69 109 36 52
68 109 35 52
68 108 34 51
67 108 33 50
67 107 32 49
66 106 31 48
66 105 30 48
65 104 29 47
65 104 28 46
64 103 27 45
64 103 26 45
63 102 25 44
63 101 24 43
62 100 23 42
62 99 22 42
61 98 21 41
61 97 20 40
60 97 19
59 96 18
59 96 17
58 95 16
58 95 15
58 94 14
57 93 13
57 92 12
56 92 11
56 91 10
56 90 9
55 89 8
54 88 7

91
91
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
81
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
73
71
70
69
68
66
64
63

86
86
85
85
84
84
83
83
82
82
81
80
80
79
79
78
78
77
77
76
76
75
75
74
73
73
72
72
71
71
70
69

100
100
100
99
98
97

69
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
50
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
42

56
55
54
53
51
50
49
48
47
46
44
43
42
41
40
38
37
36
35
34
33
31
30
29
28
27
26
24
23
22
21
20

93
93
93
92
92
92
92
92
92
91
91
91
91
90
90
90
90

82
82
81
81
80
80
80
79
79
79
78
78
77
77
76
76
75

72
71
70
69
69
68
68
67
67
66
66
65
64
64
63
62
61

201
195
189
184
181
179
177
175
171
169
167
163
162
160
157
154
151

496
481
469
455
443
432
421
409
400
390
381
371
362
353
344
336
327
319
311
301
294
286
279
271
264
258
253
247
240
234
228
222
218
214
210
208
205
203
200
195
193
190
185
180
176

68
67
66
64
63
62
60
58
57
56
55
54
52
51
50
49
48
47
46
44
43
42
41
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
35
34
34
33
33
32
31
31
30
30
29
28
27
26
26

239
233
227
221
217
212
206
200
196
191
187
182
177
173
169
165
160
156
152
147
144
140
137
133
129
126
124
121
118
115
112
109
107
106
104
102
100
99
98
96
95
93
91
88
86

1648
1607
1565
1524
1496
1462
1420
1379
1351
1317
1289
1255
1220
1193
1165
1138
1103
1076
1048
1014
993
965
945
917
889
869
855
834
814
793
772
752
738
731
717
703
690
683
676
662
655
641
627
607
593

180
176
172
168
164
160
156
152
148
144
141
139
137
135
132
130
127
125
123
120
118
116
115
114
113
112
111
110
108
107
106
105
104
103
102
101
100
100
99
98
97
96
95
95
94

54 87
53 86
53 85
52 84
51 83
51 82
50 81
50 80
49 79
49 78
48 77
47 76
47 75
46 74
46 73
45 72
45 71
44 70
44 69
43 68
43 67
42 66
42 65
42 64
41 63
41 62
40 61
40 60
39 59
39 58
38 57
38 56
38 55
37 54
37 53
36 52
36 51
35 50
35 49
35 48
34 47
34 46
33 45
33 44
32 43

6
5
4
3
2
1
0

61
59
58
56
54
53
51
49
48
46
44
43
100 41
99 39
99 38
98 36
100 98 35
100 97 33
99 96 31
98 96 30
98 95 28
97 95 27
96 94 25
96 94 24
95 93 22
95 92 21
94 92 19
93 91 18
93 91 16
92 90 15
91 90 13
91 89 12
90 88 10
90 88 9
89 87 7
88 87 6
88 86 4
87 86 3
87 85
86 85
85 84
85 83
84 83
84 82
83 82

97
96
95
94
93
92
91
91
90
89
88
87
86
85
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58

89
89
89
88
88
88
87
87
87
86
86
86
85
85
85
84
84
84
83
83
83
82
82
82
81
81
81
81
80
80
80
79
79
79
78
78
78
77
77
77
76
76
76
75
75

75
74
74
73
72
72
71
70
70
69
68
68
67
66
66
65
64
64
63
62
62
61
60
60
59
58
57
57
56
55
55
54
53
53
52
51
51
50
49
49
48
47
46
46
45

60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
50
49
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16

148
145
142
140
137
135
133
130
128
126
124
122
120
118
116
114
112
110
109
107
106
104
102
101
99
98
96
95
94
92
91
90
89
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
79
78
77

172
169
165
162
159
156
153
150
147
144
141
139
137
135
132
130
127
125
123
121
119
117
116
114
112
110
108
107
106
104
102
101
99

26
25
25
25
24
24
24

84
83
81
79
78
76
75
73

579
572
558
545
538
524
517
503

93
92
91
90
90
89
88
88
87
87
86
86
85
85
84
84
83
83
82
82
81
81
80
80
79
79
78
78
77
77
76
76
75
75
74
74
73
73
72
72
71
71
70
DPH
HV/10

32 42
31 41
31 40
31 39
30 38
30 37
29 36
29 35
28 34
28 33
28 32
27 31
27 30
26 29
26 28
25 27
25 26
24 25
24 24
24 23
23 22
23 21
22 20
22 19
21 18
21 17
21 16
20 15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
A B

82
82
81
80
80
79
79
78
77
77
76
76
75
74
74
73
73
72
71
71
70
70
69
68
68
67
67
66
65
65
64
64
63
62
62
61
61
60
59
59
58
58
57
C D E

81
81
80
79
79
78
78
77
77
76
75
75
74
74
73
73
72
71
71
70
70
69
69
68
67
67
66
66
65
65
64
64
63
62
62
61
61
60
60
59
58
58
57
F

58
57
56
55
54
53
100 52
100 52
99 51
99 50
99 49
98 48
98 47
98 46
97 45
97 45
97 44
96 42
96 42
96 41
95 40
95 39
95 38
94 38
94 37
93 36
93 35
93 34
92 33
92 32
92 32
91 31
91 30
91 29
90 28
90 27
90 26
89 26
89 25
88 24
88 23
88 22
87 21

75
74
74
74
73
73
73
72
72
72
71
71
71
70
70
70
69
69
69
68
68
68
68
67
67
67
66
66
66
65
65
65
64
64
64
63
63
63
62
62
62
61
61

44
44
43
42
42
41
40
40
39
38
38
37
36
36
35
34
33
33
32
31
31
30
29
29
28
27
26
26
25
24
24
23
22
22
21
20
20
19
18
17
17
16
15

15
14
13
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

76
75
74
74
73
72
71
71
70
69
68
68
67
66
66
65
65
64
64
63
63
62
62
61
61
60
60
59
59
58
58
57
57
56
56
56
55
55
55
54
54
53
53
BHN BHN
G H K 15N 30N 45N 15T 30T 45T
500kg 3000kg

Kpsi Mpa

VPN

ROCKWELL SCALES

BRINELL

SCLEROU.T.S.
SCOPE