ASTM E110-14

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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2014
• ICS: 77.040.10 - Mechanical testing of metals
• Technical Committee: E28 - Mechanical Testing
• Drafting Committee: E28.06 - Indentation Hardness Testing

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E110 − 14
Standard Test Method for
Rockwell and Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials by
1
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
the same test conditions as those defined in the standard test 2.1 ASTM Standards:
methods, the forces applied by the portable Rockwell and
A833 Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Metallic
Brinell testers and the depth measuring systems of the portable
Materials by Comparison Hardness Testers
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
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E28 on
Mechanical Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E28.06 on
2
Indentation Hardness Testing. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved July 1, 2014. Published July 2014. Originally approved contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
in 1955. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as E110– 10. DOI: 10.1520/E0110- Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
14. 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
1

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E110 − 14
3
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 test
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E110 − 10 E110 − 14
Standard Test Method for
Indentation Rockwell and Brinell Hardness of Metallic
1
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 Scope*
1.1 This test method covers determination of the indentation defines the requirements for portable instruments that are intended
to be used to measure the Rockwell or Brinell hardness of metallic materials by means of portable 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 testers.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 applies only to those does not apply to portable hardness testers which that measure hardness by a means
or procedure that is different than those defined in E10 or E18apply the same nominal forces and use the For example, this test
method does not apply to the methods defined in ASTM standard Practice A833same indenters as are, Test Methods A956 used
inand A1038 the methodsor B647 listed in Section 2.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E10A833 Test Method Practice for BrinellIndentation Hardness of Metallic Materials by Comparison Hardness Testers
E18A956 Test MethodsMethod for RockwellLeeb Hardness Testing of Metallic MaterialsSteel Products
E92A1038 Test Method for Vickers Hardness of Metallic MaterialsPortable Hardness Testing by the Ultrasonic Contact
Impedance Method (Withdrawn 2010)
B647 Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Aluminum Alloys by Means of a Webster Hardness Gage
E10
E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials
1
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.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2010July 1, 2014. Published February 2010July 2014. Originally approved in 1955. Last previous edition approved in 19972010 as E110–
82 (2002).10. DOI: 10.1520/E0110-10.10.1520/E0110-14.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on 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
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E110 − 14
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E140 Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals (RelationshipRelationship Among Brinell Hardness, Vicker
...