Hardness testing

From GAWDAwiki

Hardness testing involves pressing an indenter into a prepared, flat surface of the material under examination, using a known static load, and measuring the size of the impression produced. The hardness number is then obtained by reference to conversion tables for the specific test method being used. These numbers are based on a stress value obtained by dividing the load by the area of the impression. The most common hardness test method is the Vickers, which uses a diamond pyramid indenter. Other tests include Rockwell (diamond cone indenter), and Brinell (hard steel ball indenter). The Shore Scleroscope is a dynamic test using a falling hammer to make the indent.^[1]

References

1. http://www.bocindustrial.co.uk/bocindustrial/technical/glossary/a.asp