What Are Brinell and Rockwell Hardness Measurements?

What is steel Hardness?

The capacity of a steel or steel alloy to resist plastic deformation in a specific, localized region rather than a general location is described as hardness. It’s also the resistance of a steel to indentation, scratching, or abrasion.

Hardness is an essential characteristic since a steel’s capacity to resist wear is directly proportional to its hardness. Within a particular kind of steel, hardness levels might vary based on alloying elements, heat treatment, work hardening, and other hardening processes utilized.

Because of the diversity in hardness among steels and even within a family of steels, methods for measuring hardness such as Brinell hardness and Rockwell hardness were developed to provide a common understanding of hardness levels.

What is Brinell hardness?

Brinell hardness is a scale that assigns a numerical value to a material’s level of hardness. ASTM E10 specifies the procedure for performing a Brinell hardness test in detail. A certified Brinell indenter is pushed against a steel under a specified load for a predetermined length of time to conduct the test. All of this is described in order to limit the possibility of experiment technique variation impacting findings. For steels and other comparable materials, the indenter is typically a 10mm hardened steel ball with a force of 3,000 kg.

The test varies somewhat depending on whether the material is softer or tougher. After applying stress to the steel, the indenter is withdrawn and the breadth of the resulting indentation is measured with a microscope. A Brinell hardness scale may then be used to translate the indentation measurement into a Brinell hardness value.

What is Rockwell Hardness?

Rockwell’s hardness is similar to Brinell hardness it is used to determine the numerical hardness of a material. A Rockwell hardness test and a Rockwell hardness scale are used to accomplishing this. ASTM E18 specifies the specific procedure. Rockwell hardness tests, like Brinell hardness tests, use an indenter of a given size applied with a predetermined force for a certain period of time. Using a Rockwell hardness scale, the indentation measurement is converted to a Rockwell hardness value.

What is the Difference between Rockwell and Brinell Tests?

While the two tests have similarities, there are several important differences, listed below:

Depending on the material being evaluated, the Brinell test utilizes a 10mm hardened steel ball, whereas the Rockwell test uses either a 4mm steel ball or a diamond cone.

The Rockwell test determines the depth of the indentation, whereas the Brinell test determines its width. A preload is used in Rockwell hardness testing to create a zero position before the main load is applied. The primary load is then removed, leaving just the preload. The Rockwell testing equipment then measures the distance traveled.

It’s also worth noting that the conversion scales for Rockwell and Brinell hardness are not the same and should not be used interchangeably.

Where are Brinell and Rockwell Hardness Tests Used?

Almost every industry uses the Brinell and Rockwell hardness tests. They’re important for determining whether steels and other materials will withstand indentation, abrasion, scratching, and other kinds of wear in a specific application. Materials for engine pistons, jet turbine blades, ship hulls, bronze fixturing equipment, railcar wheels, and many other components that may be exposed to wear conditions are just a few examples.