ASTM E110-14(2023)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Rockwell and Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials by Portable Hardness Testers
Standard Test Method for Rockwell and Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials by Portable Hardness Testers
ABSTRACT
This test method establishes the standard procedures, including the calibration, precision and bias of the apparatus used, for the determination of indentation hardness of metallic materials by means of portable hardness testers.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Portable hardness testers are used for testing materials that because of their size, location or other requirements such as test point are unable to be tested using traditional fixed instruments.
3.2 Portable hardness testers, by their nature, induce variation that could influence the test results; therefore, hardness measurements made in accordance with this test method are not considered to meet the requirements of E10 or E18. The user should compare the results of the precision and bias studies in E110, E10 and E18 to understand the differences in results expected between portable and fixed instruments.
3.3 Two test parameters that can significantly influence the measurement accuracy when using portable hardness testers are the alignment of the indenter to the test surface and the timing of the test forces. The user is cautioned to do everything possible to keep the centerline of the indenter perpendicular to the test surface and to apply the test forces using the same time cycle as defined in Test Method E10 or Test Methods E18.
3.4 Portable hardness testers are delicate instruments that are subject to damage when they are moved from one test site to another. Therefore, repeating the daily verification process during the testing sequence is recommended to insure that they are working properly.
3.5 Hardness testing at a specific location on a part may not represent the physical characteristics of the whole part or end product.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method defines the requirements for portable instruments that are intended to be used to measure the Rockwell or Brinell hardness of metallic materials by performing indentation tests on the surface of materials in the field or outside of a test lab, or in cases where the size or weight of the test piece prevents it from being tested on a standard E10 or E18 hardness tester.
1.2 The principles used to measure the Rockwell or Brinell hardness are the same as those defined in the E18 standard test method for Rockwell or E10 standard test method for Brinell.
Note 1: Standard test methods E10 and E18 will be referred to in this test method as the standard methods.
1.3 The portable hardness testers covered by this test method are verified only by the indirect verification method. Although the portable hardness testers are designed to employ the same test conditions as those defined in the standard test methods, the forces applied by the portable Rockwell and Brinell testers and the depth measuring systems of the portable Rockwell testers may not meet the tolerance requirements of the standard methods. Portable hardness testers shall use indenters that meet the requirements of the standard test methods.
1.4 This test method does not apply to portable hardness testers that measure hardness by a means or procedure that is different than those defined in E10 or E18 For example, this test method does not apply to the methods defined in ASTM standard Practice A833, Test Methods A956 and A1038 or B647.
1.5 A report section is included to define how to indicate that the test result was obtained by using a portable device that conforms to this document.
1.6 Annex A1 is included that defines the periodic indirect verification and daily verification requirements for these instruments.
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...
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Standards Content (Sample)
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.
Designation: E110 − 14 (Reapproved 2023)
Standard Test Method for
Rockwell and Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials by
Portable Hardness Testers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E110; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 1.6 Annex A1 is included that defines the periodic indirect
verificationanddailyverificationrequirementsfortheseinstru-
1.1 This test method defines the requirements for portable
ments.
instruments that are intended to be used to measure the
Rockwell or Brinell hardness of metallic materials by perform-
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ing indentation tests on the surface of materials in the field or
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
outside of a test lab, or in cases where the size or weight of the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
test piece prevents it from being tested on a standard E10 or
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
E18 hardness tester.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.2 The principles used to measure the Rockwell or Brinell 1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
hardness are the same as those defined in the E18 standard test dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
method for Rockwell or E10 standard test method for Brinell.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
NOTE 1—Standard test methods E10 and E18 will be referred to in this
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
test method as the standard methods.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.3 The portable hardness testers covered by this test
method are verified only by the indirect verification method.
2. Referenced Documents
Although the portable hardness testers are designed to employ
2.1 ASTM Standards:
the same test conditions as those defined in the standard test
A833 Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Metallic
methods, the forces applied by the portable Rockwell and
Materials by Comparison Hardness Testers
Brinell testers and the depth measuring systems of the portable
Rockwell testers may not meet the tolerance requirements of A956 Test Method for Leeb Hardness Testing of Steel
the standard methods. Portable hardness testers shall use Products
indenters that meet the requirements of the standard test
A1038 Test Method for Portable Hardness Testing by the
methods.
Ultrasonic Contact Impedance Method
B647 Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Aluminum
1.4 This test method does not apply to portable hardness
Alloys by Means of a Webster Hardness Gage
testers that measure hardness by a means or procedure that is
E10 Test Method for Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials
different than those defined in E10 or E18 For example, this
E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Ma-
test method does not apply to the methods defined in ASTM
terials
standard Practice A833, Test Methods A956 and A1038 or
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
B647.
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1.5 A report section is included to define how to indicate
E140 Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals Relationship
that the test result was obtained by using a portable device that
Among Brinell Hardness, Vickers Hardness, Rockwell
conforms to this document.
Hardness, Superficial Hardness, Knoop Hardness, Sclero-
scope Hardness, and Leeb Hardness
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E28 on
Mechanical Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E28.06 on
Indentation Hardness Testing. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2023. Published January 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1955. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as E110– 14. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E0110-14R23. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E110 − 14 (2023)
2.2 ISO Standards: 4.3.1 Portable testers are not verified by direct verification.
ISO/IEC 17025 : General requirements for the competence 4.3.2 A portable hardness tester does not have to undergo
of testing calibration laboratories indirect verification each time it is moved.
ISO/IEC 17011 : Conformity assessment -- General require- 4.3.3 SomeportableBrinellhardnesstestersdonotmaintain
ments for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity the force. It is very important to follow manufacturer’s
assessment bodies instructions on how to operate the portable Brinell hardness
tester.
3. Significance and Use
4.4 Rockwell Hardness Test Principle (see Test Method
3.1 Portable hardness testers are used for testing materials
E18)—the general principle of the Rockwell indentation hard-
that because of their size, location or other requirements such
ness test is divided into three steps of force application and
as test point are unable to be tested using traditional fixed
removal.
instruments.
4.4.1 Step 1—The indenter is brought into contact with the
test piece in a direction perpendicular to the surface, and the
3.2 Portable hardness testers, by their nature, induce varia-
preliminary test force is applied. After preliminary test force,
tion that could influence the test results; therefore, hardness
the baseline depth of indentation is measured.
measurements made in accordance with this test method are
4.4.2 Step 2—The force on the indenter is increased to
not considered to meet the requirements of E10 or E18. The
additional test force to achieve the total test force.
user should compare the results of the precision and bias
4.4.3 Step3—Theadditionaltestforceisremoved,returning
studies in E110, E10 and E18 to understand the differences in
to the preliminary test force. The final depth of indentation is
results expected between portable and fixed instruments.
measured. The preliminary test force is removed and the
3.3 Two test parameters that can significantly influence the
indenter is removed from the test piece. The Rockwell hard-
measurement accuracy when using portable hardness testers
ness value is derived in accordance with E18 from the
are the alignment of the indenter to the test surface and the
difference in the final and baseline indentation depths while
timingofthetestforces.Theuseriscautionedtodoeverything
under the preliminary test force.
possible to keep the centerline of the indenter perpendicular to
4.5 Brinell Hardness Test Principle–(see Test Method
the test surface and to apply the test forces using the same time
E10)—the general principle of the Brinell indentation hardness
cycle as defined in Test Method E10 or Test Methods E18.
test consists of two steps.
3.4 Portable hardness testers are delicate instruments that
4.5.1 Step 1—The indenter is brought into contact with the
are subject to damage when they are moved from one test site
test piece in a direction perpendicular to the surface, and the
to another. Therefore, repeating the daily verification process
test force is applied. The test force is then removed.
during the testing sequence is recommended to insure that they
4.5.2 Step 2—The diameter of the indentation is measured.
are working properly.
The Brinell hardness value is derived from the mean of the
3.5 Hardness testing at a specific location on a part may not
diameter measurements.
represent the physical characteristics of the whole part or end
5. Test Piece
product.
5.1 Accurate hardness test results are dependent on proper
4. Principles of Test and Apparatus
preparation of the test piece. All requirements for test pieces
upon which the indentation will be made shall conform to the
4.1 Theportablehardnesstestershallbecapableofapplying
applicable standard methods.
the same test forces, use the same indenter types, and use the
same methods for determining and calculating the hardness
6. Test Procedures
value as defined in Test Method E10 or Test Methods E18.
6.1 A daily verification (see A1.1.3 and Table A1.1)ofthe
4.2 Portable hardness testers are generally provided with
testing machine shall be performed in accordance with the
various means of holding the indenter in contact with the
applicable standard methods. It is recommended that daily
surface to be tested. For example, the testers may be clamped
verification should be performed just prior to making the
to the object to be tested, attached to an adjacent fixed object
hardness tests at the test worksite where the hardness tests are
or attached to the surface to be tested by a magnet. For testing
tobemade.Thedailyverificationshouldbeperformedwiththe
inside a cavity the tester may be placed against one wall of the
testing machine oriented in the position that it will be used.
cavity to make a test on the opposite wall.
Repeating the daily verification between multiple tests in a
4.3 Portable hardness testers of the types covered in this
sequence and after a test sequence is completed is recom-
method do not employ dead weights to apply the indenting
mended.Thepurposeofperformingthedailyverificationatthe
forces.Thisimposescertainlimitationsandnecessitatescertain
test site is to ensure that environmental conditions
precautions. All requirements of the standard methods except
(temperature),positionordamageduringtravelandusagehave
those modified by the following sections shall apply to the use
not affected the ability of the test equipment to perform
of portable hardness testers.
properly.
6.2 Relative motion between the tester and the test piece
will affect the results of the test; therefore the tester shall be
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de
la Voie-Creuse, CP 56, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org. held and supported such that relative motion is minimized.
E110 − 14 (2023)
This is particularly true for the portable Rockwell hardness the Rockwell and Brinell testing were treated as two separate
tester. Mount the tester in such a position that the axis of the studies.The full results are filed underASTM Research Report
indenter is normal to the surface to be tested. RR: RR:E28-1043.
6.3 Adhere to manufacturer’s instructions manual for the 9.2 Seven laboratories were used for each study. Three of
proper operating procedures and testing precautions. the laboratories were manufactures of instruments and four
were users of the equipment. The testing for five of the
6.4 The test procedure defined by the applicable standard
laboratorieswasdoneattheNovember2008ASTMmeetingin
method shall be used.
TampaFlorida.Theremaindersweredoneattheuser’sfacility.
In some cases the testing was done by calibration agency
7. Conversion to Other Hardness Scales or Tensile
personal.
Strength Values
9.3 Separate studies were done for Rockwell and Brinell
7.1 There is no general method of accurately converting the
testing machines.
hardnessnumbersononescaletohardnessnumbersonanother
9.3.1 For the Rockwell scale testing, four different types of
scale or to tensile strength values. Conversions between
instruments of various ages were used that were produced by
hardness scales are approximations and therefore, should be
three manufacturers.
avoided except for special cases where a reliable basis for the
9.3.2 The Brinell tests were all performed on one manufac-
approximate conversion has been obtained by comparison
turer’s instrument since it is by far the most common used by
tests. The measured values (Rockwell or Brinell) must be
industry.Theseveninstrumentsusedtodothetestrangedfrom
reported as required in Section 8 along with any converted
a new unit to one that was 30 years old. There were five
values, clearly marked as converted values.
different measuring systems used to determine the size of the
NOTE 2—The Standard Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals, E140,
Brinell indent. Two were computer controlled systems and the
give approximate conversion values for specific materials and reporting
others were manual scopes with 20X magnification from three
requirements for converted values.
different manufacturers.
9.4 Since the E110-82(2002) standard, which was current at
8. Report
the time of the study, did not clearly specify indirect verifica-
8.1 The report shall meet the requirements of the standard
tionresultsrequiredoftheinstrumentstomeetthestandard,no
method with the following additions.
attempt was made to qualify them by verifying their overall
8.2 Reports shall reference this standard.
performance on test blocks before using them in the study.All
of the instruments used for the testing were considered to be in
8.3 The measured hardness number shall be reported in
good working order and typical of those used for every day
accordance with the standard methods and appended with a /P
testing.
to indicate that it was determined by a portable hardness tester.
9.5 Standardized test blocks used were calibrated according
Rockwell hardness examples:
toASTMTestMethodsE18orTestMethodE10TheRockwell
40 HRC/P = Rockwell hardness number of 40 on Rockwell
HRC and HRBW and the Brinell HBW 10/3000 scales were
C scale.
used. In each scale three test blocks were used, one each in the
72 HRBW/P = Rockwell hardness number of 72 on the
high, medium, and low hardness ranges. Three tests were
Rockwell B scale using a tungsten carbide ball indenter.
performed on each test block in specific locations.
Brinell hardness examples:
NOTE3—PracticeE691requiresaminimumoffour(4)testblockstobe
220 HBW/P 10/3000 = Brinell hardness of 220 determined
used for each study. Since the Brinell study only used three blocks, the
withaballof10mmdiameterandwithatestforceof3000kgf
Brinell part of this study will have to be redone. Until then the Brinell part
(29.42 kN) applied for 10 s to 15 s. is considered to be provisional.
350 HBW/P 5/750 = Brinell hardness of 350 determined
9.6 A summary of the test data is shown in Table 1 and
with a ball of 5 mm diameter and with a test force of 750
...
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