ASTM E103-17

Standard Practice for Rapid Indentation Hardness Testing of Metallic Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice is used when it is desired to make Brinell type hardness tests very rapidly on a high volume of samples, as in the inspection of the output of a heat-treating furnace.  
4.2 This practice requires the measurement of indentation depth and eliminates the need to measure the diameter of the indent optically as required in a Brinell hardness test.  
4.3 This practice is not a standard Brinell hardness test method and does not meet the requirements of Test Method E10.  
4.4 Since the test forces and method of display of the depth measurement differ between manufacturers of rapid indentation hardness testing equipment, the test results from equipment from different manufacturers are not comparable.
SCOPE
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.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2017
• ICS: 77.040.10 - Mechanical testing of metals
• Technical Committee: E28 - Mechanical Testing
• Drafting Committee: E28.06 - Indentation Hardness Testing

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: E103 − 17
Standard Practice for
1
Rapid Indentation Hardness Testing of Metallic Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E103; 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.
1. Scope* 3. Terminology
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for rapid indentation 3.1 Definitions:
hardness testing of metallic materials. 3.1.1 calibration—determination of the values of the sig-
nificant parameters by comparison with values indicated by a
1.2 This practice includes additional requirements in Annex
reference instrument or by a set of reference standards.
A1 for the direct, indirect, and daily verification of rapid
3.1.2 rapid indentation hardness test—an indentation hard-
indentation hardness testing machines.
ness test using calibrated machines to force a tungsten carbide
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
ball, under specified conditions, into the surface of the material
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
under test and to measure the depth of the indentation. The
standard.
depth measured can be from the surface of the test specimen or
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
from a reference position established by the application of a
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
preliminary test force. The depth measurement is usually
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
correlated to another scale or Brinell hardness number.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.3 verification—checking or testing to assure confor-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
mance with the specification.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4. Significance and Use
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4.1 This practice is used when it is desired to make Brinell
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
type hardness tests very rapidly on a high volume of samples,
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
as in the inspection of the output of a heat-treating furnace.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
4.2 This practice requires the measurement of indentation
2. Referenced Documents
depth and eliminates the need to measure the diameter of the
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
indent optically as required in a Brinell hardness test.
E10 Test Method for Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials
4.3 This practice is not a standard Brinell hardness test
E74 Practice of Calibration of Force-Measuring Instruments
method and does not meet the requirements of Test Method
for Verifying the Force Indication of Testing Machines
E10.
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
4.4 Since the test forces and method of display of the depth
ISO 17025 General requirements for the competence of
measurement differ between manufacturers of rapid indenta-
testing and calibration laboratories
tion hardness testing equipment, the test results from equip-
ISO/IEC 17011 Conformity assessment -- General require-
ment from different manufacturers are not comparable.
ments for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity
assessment bodies
5. Apparatus
5.1 Testing Machine—Equipment for rapid indentation
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E28 on
hardness testing usually consists of a testing machine, which
Mechanical Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E28.06 on
Indentation Hardness Testing.
supports the test specimen and applies an indenting force(s) to
Current edition approved April 1, 2017. Published May 2017. Originally
aballincontactwiththespecimen,andasystemformeasuring
publishedasE103 – 84.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2012asE103 – 12 .DOI:
and displaying an indication of the depth of the indentation.
10.1520/E0103-17.
2
The test force can be applied either as a single total test force
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
whereby the depth is measured usually from the surface of the
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
test specimen or as a preliminary and total test force whereby
the ASTM website.
3
the depth is measured as the increase from the preliminary to
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de
...

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: E103 − 12 E103 − 17
Standard Practice for
1
Rapid Indentation Hardness Testing of Metallic Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E103; 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.
1. Scope Scope*
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
E10 Test Method for Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials
E74 Practice of Calibration of Force-Measuring Instruments for Verifying the Force Indication of Testing Machines
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO/IEC 17011 Conformity assessment -- General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment
bodies
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 calibration—determination of the values of the significant parameters by comparison with values indicated by a reference
instrument or by a set of reference standards.
3.1.2 rapid indentation hardness test—an indentation hardness test using calibrated machines to force a tungsten carbide ball,
under specified conditions, into the surface of the material under test and to measure the depth of the indentation. The depth
measured can be from the surface of the test specimen or from a reference position established by the application of a preliminary
test force. The depth measurement is usually correlated to another scale or Brinell hardness number.
3.1.3 verification—checking or testing to assure conformance with the specification.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This practice is used when it is desired to make Brinell type hardness tests very rapidly on a high volume of samples, as
in the inspection of the output of a heat-treating furnace.
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, 2012April 1, 2017. Published March 2012May 2017. Originally published as E 103 – 84.E103 – 84. Last previous edition
E 103 – 84 (2002) which was withdrawn in July 2011approved in 2012 as E103 – 12and reinstated in January 2012. DOI: 10.1520/E0103-12. . DOI: 10.1520/E0103-17.
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.
3
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de la Voie-Creuse, CP 56, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
*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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E103 − 17
4.2 This practice requires the measurement of indentation depth and eliminates the need to measure the diameter of the indent
optically as required in a Brinell hardness test.
4.3 This practice is not a standard Brinell hardness test method and does not meet the requirements of Test Method E10.
4.4 Since the test forces and method of display of the depth measurement differ between manufacturers of rapid indentation
hardness testing equip
...