ASTM E18-00

Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials

SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the Rockwell hardness and the Rockwell superficial hardness of metallic materials, including test methods for the verification of machines for Rockwell hardness testing (Part B) and the calibration of standardized hardness test blocks (Part C).
1.2 Values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. SI units are provided for information only.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. (See Note 6.)Note 1—The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) maintains the national Rockwell hardness standards for the United States. In June 1998, NIST released new Rockwell C scale (HRC) test blocks as Standard Reference Materials (SRMs). The blocks were calibrated using NIST's primary reference standardizing machine. The major benefit of the NIST standards is that their HRC levels are in line with the other industrialized countries around the world. The NIST HRC levels establish the hardness of materials slightly harder than the historical standards used in the United States for the past 75 years. The revision of E 18 requires that all performance verifications of Rockwell hardness indenters and hardness machines must be made using test blocks calibrated traceable to the Rockwell standards maintained by NIST. This can be accomplished through the use of commercial test blocks calibrated traceable to the NIST standards or by directly using the NIST SRMs. This requirement will apply only to the Rockwell scale(s) for which NIST supplies primary reference test blocks
Note 2—In previous editions of this standard, ball indenters were required to be of hard steel. Beginning with this edition, tungsten-carbide balls are also allowed. This change is a first step in a planned future transition to eliminate steel balls and allow only the use of tungsten carbide balls. The elimination of steel ball indenters is scheduled to occur in about two years. The use of tungsten carbide balls will provide an improvement to the Rockwell hardness test because of the tendency of steel balls to flatten with use, which results in an erroneously elevated hardness value. In addition, NIST is planning to standardize the HRB scale using tungsten-carbide balls. As a result of this change, this edition also requires that when a ball indenter is used, the Rockwell hardness value must be reported with the scale designation followed by the letter "S" to indicate the use of a steel ball or the letter "W" to indicate the use of a tungsten carbide ball. The user is cautioned that Rockwell hardness tests comparing the use of steel and tungsten carbide balls have been shown to give different results. For example, depending on the material tested and its hardness level, Rockwell B scale tests using a tungsten carbide ball indenter have given results up to one Rockwell point lower than when a steel ball indenter is used.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-2002
• ICS: 77.040.10 - Mechanical testing of metals
• Technical Committee: E28 - Mechanical Testing
• Drafting Committee: E28.06 - Indentation Hardness Testing

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E18-02 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM C1138M-19 - Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Concrete (Underwater Method)
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D4830/D4830M-98(2021) - Standard Test Methods for Characterizing Thermoplastic Fabrics Used in Roofing and Waterproofing
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM B570-22 - Standard Specification for Copper-Beryllium Alloy Forgings and Extrusions (UNS Nos. C17000 and C17200)
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM F2434-19 - Standard Specification for Metal Insert Fittings Utilizing a Copper Crimp Ring for SDR9 Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing and SDR9 Cross-linked Polyethylene/Aluminum/Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX-AL-PEX) Tubing
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM B248-22 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM B306-20 - Standard Specification for Copper Drainage Tube (DWV)
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM B848/B848M-21 - Standard Specification for Powder Forged (PF) Ferrous Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM F3160-21 - Standard Guide for Metallurgical Characterization of Absorbable Metallic Materials for Medical Implants
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM F31-21 - Standard Specification for Nickel-Chromium-Iron Sealing Alloys
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM B648-23 - Standard Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Aluminum Alloys by Means of a Barcol Impressor
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM F879M-16 - Standard Specification for Stainless Steel Socket Button and Flat Countersunk Head Cap Screws (Metric) (Withdrawn 2023)
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E3246-22 - Standard Test Methods for Differential Indentation Depth Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D7336/D7336M-22 - Standard Test Method for Static Energy Absorption Properties of Honeycomb Sandwich Core Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E604-18 - Standard Test Method for Dynamic Tear Testing of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 18 – 00 An American National Standard
Standard Test Methods for
Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell Superficial Hardness of
1,2
Metallic Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 18; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope B 19 Specification for Cartridge Brass Sheet, Strip, Plate,
4
Bar, and Disks (Blanks)
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the
B 36/B36 M Specification for Brass Plate, Sheet, Strip, and
Rockwell hardness and the Rockwell superficial hardness of
4
Rolled Bar
metallic materials, including test methods for the verification
B 96 Specification for Copper-Silicon Alloy Plate, Sheet,
of machines for Rockwell hardness testing (Part B) and the
Strip, and Rolled Bar for General Purposes and Pressure
calibration of standardized hardness test blocks (Part C).
4
Vessels
1.2 Values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as
B 97 Specification for Copper-Silicon Alloy Plate, Sheet,
the standard. SI units are provided for information only.
5
Strip, and Rolled Bar for General Purposes
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
B 103/B 103 M Specification for Phosphor Bronze Plate,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4
Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
B 121/B 121 M Specification for Leaded Brass Plate,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4
Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. (See Note 5.)
B 122/B 122 M Specification for Copper-Nickel-Tin Alloy,
NOTE 1—The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Copper-Nickel-Zinc Alloy (Nickel Silver), and Copper-
maintains the national Rockwell hardness standards for the United States.
4
Nickel Alloy Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar
In June 1998, NIST released new Rockwell C scale (HRC) test blocks as
B 130 Specification for Commercial Bronze Strip for Bullet
Standard Reference Materials (SRMs). The blocks were calibrated using
4
Jackets
NIST’s primary reference standardizing machine. The major benefit of the
4
B 134 Specification for Brass Wire
NIST standards is that their HRC levels are in line with the other
industrialized countries around the world. The NIST HRC levels establish
B 152 Specification for Copper Sheet, Strip, Plate, and
4
the hardness of materials slightly harder than the historical standards used
Rolled Bar
in the United States for the past 75 years. The revision of E 18 requires
B 291 Specification for Copper-Zinc-Manganese Alloy
that all performance verifications of Rockwell hardness indenters and
4
(Manganese Brass) Sheet and Strip
hardness machines must be made using test blocks calibrated traceable to
B 370 Specification for Copper Sheet and Strip for Building
the Rockwell standards maintained by NIST. This can be accomplished
4
Construction
through the use of commercial test blocks calibrated traceable to the NIST
6
standards or by directly using the NIST SRMs. This requirement will E 4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
apply only to the Rockwell scale(s) for which NIST supplies primary
E 29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
reference test blocks 7
Determine Conformance with Specifications
6
E 140 Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards: 3. Terminology
A 370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing
3.1 Definitions:
3
of Steel Products
3.1.1 calibration—determination of the values of the sig-
nificant parameters by comparison with values indicated by a
reference instrument or by a set of reference standards.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-28 on
3.1.2 Rockwell hardness number, HR—a number derived
Mechanical Testing and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E28.06 on
from the net increase in the depth of indentation as the force on
Indentation Hardness Testing.
Current edition approved May 10, 2000. Published August 2000. Originally
published as E 18 – 32 T. Last previous edition E 18 – 98.
2 4
In this test method, the term Rockwell refers to an internationally recognized Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.01.
5
type of indentation hardness test as defined in Section 3, and not to the hardness Discontinued, see 1981 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Part 6.
6
testing equipment of a particular manufacturer. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
3 7
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.03. Annual Bo
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