Including: Brinell Hardness Number, Vickers Hardness, Hardness
One of the most common indexes of hardness is the Brinell hardness number. It is measured by forcing a small steel ball into the material under a set load and measuring the indentation. The smaller the indentation, the harder the material.
Another common hardness test is the Vickers hardness test where a pyramidal shaped piece of diamond is used as the indentor.
Note that hardness is not simply related to the yield strength of a material as the subsequent deformation behaviour of the material after yield also contributes to the reading.
Very hard materials are often brittle and prone to fracture.
| |