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Hardness Testing

Metallic hardness testing standards are published by ASTM, ISO, and SAE. Many documents cover a variety of testing methods, including Rockwell, Brinell, Knoop, Vickers, Leeb, ultrasonic contact impedance, and more. Others cover the tools used to test hardness, such as SAE J 864 which deals with files. Other standards such as ASTM B294 cover hardness testing for a variety of different material configurations and materials meant for a specific application.

ASTM E18-20

Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials

1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the Rockwell hardness and the Rockwell superficial hardness of metallic materials by the Rockwell indentation hardness principle. This standard provides the requirements for Rockwell hardness machines and the procedures for performing Rockwell hardness tests. 1.2 This test method includes requirements for the use of portable Rockwell hardness testing machines that measure Rockwell hardness by the Rockwell hardness test principle and can meet all the requirements of this test method, including the direct and indirect verifications of the testing machine. Portable Rockwell hardness testing machines that cannot meet the direct verification requirements and can only be verified by indirect verification requirements are covered in Test Method E110 . 1.3 This standard includes additional requirements in the following annexes: 1.4 This standard includes nonmandatory information in the following appendixes that relates to the Rockwell hardness test. 1.5 Units At the time the Rockwell hardness test was developed, the force levels were specified in units of kilograms-force (kgf) and the indenter ball diameters were specified in units of inches (in.). This standard specifies the units of force and length in the International System of Units (SI); that is, force in Newtons (N) and length in millimeters (mm). However, because of the historical precedent and continued common usage, force values in kgf units and ball diameters in inch units are provided for information and much of the discussion in this standard refers to these units. 1.6 The test principles, testing procedures, and verification procedures are essentially identical for both the Rockwell and Rockwell superficial hardness tests. The significant differences between the two tests are that the test forces are smaller for the Rockwell superficial test than for the Rockwell test. The same type and size indenters may be used for either test, depending on the scale being employed. Accordingly, throughout this standard, the term Rockwell will imply both Rockwell and Rockwell superficial unless stated otherwise. 1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

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ISO 6506-2:2017

Metallic materials - Brinell hardness test - Part 2: Verification and calibration of testing machines

ISO 6506-2:2017 specifies methods of direct and indirect verification of testing machines used for determining Brinell hardness in accordance with ISO 6506 1 and also specifies when these two types of verification have to be performed. The direct verification involves checking that individual machine performance parameters fall within specified limits whereas the indirect verification utilizes hardness measurements of reference blocks, calibrated in accordance with ISO 6506 3, to check the machine's overall performance. If a testing machine is also to be used for other methods of hardness testing, it has to be verified independently for each method. ISO 6506-2:2017 is applicable to both fixed location and portable hardness testing machines. For machines that are incapable of satisfying the specified force-time profile, the direct verification of force and testing cycle can be modified by the use of Annex B.

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ISO 4545-2:2017

Metallic materials - Knoop hardness test - Part 2: Verification and calibration of testing machines

ISO 4545-2:2017 specifies the method of verification and calibration of testing machines for determining Knoop hardness for metallic materials in accordance with ISO 4545 1. A direct method of verification and calibration is specified for the testing machine, indenter, and the diagonal length measuring system. An indirect verification method using reference blocks is specified for the overall checking of the machine. If a testing machine is also to be used for other methods of hardness testing, it will be verified independently for each method.

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ISO 6508-2:2015

Metallic materials - Rockwell hardness test - Part 2: Verification and calibration of testing machines and indenters

ISO 6508-2:2015 specifies two separate methods of verification of testing machines (direct and indirect) for determining Rockwell hardness in accordance with ISO 6508 1:2015, together with a method for verifying Rockwell hardness indenters. The direct verification method is used to determine whether the main parameters associated with the machine function, such as applied force, depth measurement, and testing cycle timing, fall within specified tolerances. The indirect verification method uses a number of calibrated reference hardness blocks to determine how well the machine can measure a material of known hardness. The indirect method may be used on its own for periodic routine checking of the machine in service. If a testing machine is also to be used for other methods of hardness testing, it shall be verified independently for each method. ISO 6508-2:2015 is applicable to stationary and portable hardness testing machines. Attention is drawn to the fact that the use of tungsten carbide composite for ball indenters is considered to be the standard type of Rockwell indenter ball. Steel indenter balls may continue to be used only when complying with ISO 6508 1:2015, Annex A.

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ISO 6507-2:2018

Metallic materials - Vickers hardness test - Part 2: Verification and calibration of testing machines

ISO 6507-2:2018 specifies a method of verification and calibration of testing machines and diagonal measuring system for determining Vickers hardness in accordance with ISO 6507 1. A direct method of verification and calibration is specified for the testing machine, indenter and the diagonal length measuring system. An indirect verification method using reference blocks is specified for the overall checking of the machine. If a testing machine is also to be used for other methods of hardness testing, it shall be verified independently for each method. ISO 6507-2:2018 is also applicable to portable hardness testing machines but not applicable to hardness testing machines based on different measurement principles, e.g. ultrasonic impedance method.

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ASTM A956/A956M-17a

Standard Test Method for Leeb Hardness Testing of Steel Products

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the Leeb hardness of steel, cast steel, and cast iron (Part A), including the methods for the verification of Leeb hardness testing instruments (Part B), and the calibration of standardized test blocks (Part C). Note 1: The original title of this standard was Standard Test Method for Equotip Hardness Testing of Steel Products. 1 1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. 1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

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ASTM A1038-19

Standard Test Method for Portable Hardness Testing by the Ultrasonic Contact Impedance Method

1.1 This test method covers the determination of comparative hardness values by applying the Ultrasonic Contact Impedance Method (UCI Method). 1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. 1.2.1 Exception Informational inch-pound units are provided in Note 1 and ksi is used in 12.1 . 1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

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ASTM D7735-17

Standard Test Method for Type A Durometer Hardness Testing of Thermoplastic Pavement Marking at Elevated Temperatures

1.1 This test method covers Type A Durometer hardness of thermoplastic pavement marking material at elevated temperatures. 1.2 This test method is similar to Test Method D2240 for hardness with special attention given to keeping the temperature of the test sample and instrument constant. Within the highway materials community, it is sometimes known as indentation resistance. 1.3 All materials, instruments or equipment used for the determination of temperature, hardness and time shall be traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology or other internationally recognized organizations parallel in nature. 1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only. 1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

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ASTM E103-17

Standard Practice for Rapid Indentation Hardness Testing of Metallic Materials

1.1 This practice covers a procedure for rapid indentation hardness testing of metallic materials. 1.2 This practice includes additional requirements in Annex A1 for the direct, indirect, and daily verification of rapid indentation hardness testing machines. 1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. 1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

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ASTM B294-17

Standard Test Method for Hardness Testing of Cemented Carbides

1.1 This test method covers the hardness testing of cemented carbides by use of a Rockwell hardness tester performing tests in the Rockwell HRA scale (regular scale, diamond indenter, 10 kgf (98.07 N) preliminary test force, and 60 kgf (588.4 N) total test force in the range of Rockwell 80 HRA and above. Also covered are the procedures for the testing and selection of diamond indenters, the management and traceability of the four levels of standardized test blocks, and the making and calibration of Primary, Secondary, and Working standardized test blocks. 1.2 The Rockwell hardness tester is a convenient and reliable means of measuring the hardness of cemented carbides. A hardness value is obtained easily, but it is subject to considerable error unless certain precautions are observed. 1.3 The latest version of Test Methods E18 shall be followed except where otherwise indicated in this test method. 1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard except that force and length values associated with the Rockwell hardness testers will comply with E18 with force values specified as N (kgf) and indenter length values specified as mm. 1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

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ISO 14577-2:2015

Metallic materials - Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters - Part 2: Verification and calibration of testing machines

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ASTM E448-82(2008)

Standard Practice for Scleroscope Hardness Testing of Metallic Materials

1.1 This practice covers the determination of the Scleroscope hardness of metallic materials (Part A), the verification of Scleroscope hardness instruments (Part B), and the calibration of standardized hardness test blocks (Part C). 1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard. 1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

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SAE J 864-2018

Surface Hardness Testing with Files

Hardness testing with files consists essentially of cutting or abrading the surface of metal parts, and approximating the hardness by the feel, or extent to which, the file bites into the surface. The term 'file hard' means that the surface hardness of the parts tested is such that a new file of proven hardness will not cut the surface of the material being tested.

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