ASTM E140-97e3

Standard Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals Relationship Among Brinell Hardness, Vickers Hardness, Rockwell Hardness, Superficial Hardness, Knoop Hardness, and Scleroscope Hardness

SCOPE
1.1 Conversion presents data in the Rockwell C hardness range on the relationship among Brinell hardness, Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness, Rockwell superficial hardness, Knoop hardness, and Scleroscope hardness of non-austenitic steels including carbon, alloy, and tool steels in the as-forged, annealed, normalized, and quenched and tempered conditions provided that they are homogeneous.
1.2 Conversion Table 2 presents data in the Rockwell B hardness range on the relationship among Brinell hardness, Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness, Rockwell superficial hardness, Knoop hardness, and Scleroscope hardness of non-austenitic steels including carbon, alloy, and tool steels in the as-forged, annealed, normalized, and quenched and tempered conditions provided that they are homogeneous.
1.3 Conversion Table 3 presents data on the relationship among Brinell hardness, Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness, Rockwell superficial hardness, and Knoop hardness of nickel and high-nickel alloys (nickel content over 50 %). These hardness conversion relationships are intended to apply particularly to the following: nickel-aluminum-silicon specimens finished to commercial mill standards for hardness testing, covering the entire range of these alloys from their annealed to their heavily cold-worked or age-hardened conditions, including their intermediate conditions.
1.4 Conversion Table 4 presents data on the relationship among Brinell hardness, Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness, and Rockwell superficial hardness of cartridge brass.
1.5 Conversion Table 5 presents data on the relationship between Brinell hardness and Rockwell B hardness of austenitic stainless steel plate in the annealed condition.
1.6 Conversion Table 6 presents data on the relationship between Rockwell hardness and Rockwell superficial hardness of austenitic stainless steel sheet.
1.7 Conversion Table 7 presents data on the relationship among Brinell hardness, Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness, Rockwell superficial hardness, and Knoop hardness of copper.
1.8 Conversion Table 8 presents data on the relationship among Brinell hardness, Rockwell hardness, and Vickers hardness of alloyed white iron.
1.9 Conversion Table 9 presents data on the relationship among Brinell hardness, Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness, and Rockwell superficial hardness of wrought aluminum products.
1.10 Many of the conversion values presented herein were obtained from computer-generated curves of actual test data. Most Rockwell hardness numbers are presented to the nearest 0.1 or 0.5 hardness number to permit accurate reproduction of these curves. Since all converted hardness values must be considered approximate, however, all converted Rockwell hardness numbers shall be rounded to the nearest whole number in accordance with Practice E 29.
1.11 Appendix X1-Appendix X9 contain equations developed from the data in Tables 1-9, respectively, to convert from one hardness scale to another. Since all converted hardness values must be considered approximate, however, all converted hardness numbers shall be rounded in accordance with Practice E 29.
1.12 Conversion of hardness values should be used only when it is impossible to test the material under the conditions specified, and when conversion is made it should be done with discretion and under controlled conditions. Each type of hardness test is subject to certain errors, but if precautions are carefully observed, the reliability of hardness readings made on instruments of the indentation type will be found comparable. Differences in sensitivity within the range of a given hardness scale (for example, Rockwell B) may be greater than between two different scales or types of instruments. The conversion values, whether from the tables or calculated from the equations, are only approximate and may be inaccurate for specific application.

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

• Replaces: ASTM E140-97e2 - Standard Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals Relationship Among Brinell Hardness, Vickers Hardness, Rockwell Hardness, Superficial Hardness, Knoop Hardness, and Scleroscope Hardness
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Replaced By: ASTM E140-02 - Standard Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals Relationship Among Brinell Hardness, Vickers Hardness, Rockwell Hardness, Superficial Hardness, Knoop Hardness, and Scleroscope Hardness
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM F3607-22 - Standard Specification for Additive Manufacturing – Finished Part Properties – Maraging Steel via Powder Bed Fusion
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM B637-18 - Standard Specification for Precipitation-Hardening and Cold Worked Nickel Alloy Bars, Forgings, and Forging Stock for Moderate or High Temperature Service
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM A1038-19 - Standard Test Method for Portable Hardness Testing by the Ultrasonic Contact Impedance Method
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM A1120/A1120M-21 - Standard Specification for Electric-Resistance-Welded Carbon Steel Boiler, Superheater, Heat-Exchanger, and Condenser Tubes with Textured Surface
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM A726-18 - Standard Specification for Cold-Rolled Magnetic Lamination Quality Steel, Semiprocessed Types
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM F1026-86(2022) - Standard Specification for General Workmanship and Performance Measurements of Hemostatic Forceps
• 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 B688-22 - Standard Specification for Chromium-Nickel-Molybdenum-Iron Plate, Sheet, and Strip
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM E92-23 - Standard Test Methods for Vickers Hardness and Knoop Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM B164-03(2019) - Standard Specification for Nickel-Copper Alloy Rod, Bar, and Wire
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM G73-10(2021) - Standard Test Method for Liquid Impingement Erosion Using Rotating Apparatus
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM F1613-95(2023) - Standard Specification for Surgical Tissue/Dressing/Pick-Up Forceps (Thumb Type)
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM F2332-06(2022) - Standard Specification for Annular Ball Bearings for Instruments and Precision Rotating Components
• 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.
e3
Designation: E 140 – 97 An American National Standard
1
Standard Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals
Relationship Among Brinell Hardness
Vickers Hardness, Rockwell Hardness,
Superficial Hardness, Knoop Hardness,
and Scleroscope Hardness
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 140; 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
e NOTE—Equation X3.16 was corrected editorially in September 1999.
2
e NOTE—Table 3 was editorially revised in April 2000. Equations X2.8 and X5.1 were editorially revised in May 2000.
3
e NOTE—Equations X1.6, X1.8, X2.5, X3.6, X3.7, X3.11, X3.14, X3.16, X4.1, X4.6, X5.1, X6.3 X7.5 and X9.7 as well as
Section X7.1.2 were editorially revised in May 2001.
1. Scope between Brinell hardness and Rockwell B hardness of austen-
itic stainless steel plate in the annealed condition.
1.1 Conversion Table 1 presents data in the Rockwell C
1.6 Conversion Table 6 presents data on the relationship
hardness range on the relationship among Brinell hardness,
between Rockwell hardness and Rockwell superficial hardness
Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness, Rockwell superficial
of austenitic stainless steel sheet.
hardness, Knoop hardness, and Scleroscope hardness of non-
1.7 Conversion Table 7 presents data on the relationship
austenitic steels including carbon, alloy, and tool steels in the
among Brinell hardness, Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness,
as-forged, annealed, normalized, and quenched and tempered
Rockwell superficial hardness, and Knoop hardness of copper.
conditions provided that they are homogeneous.
1.8 Conversion Table 8 presents data on the relationship
1.2 Conversion Table 2 presents data in the Rockwell B
among Brinell hardness, Rockwell hardness, and Vickers
hardness range on the relationship among Brinell hardness,
hardness of alloyed white iron.
Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness, Rockwell superficial
1.9 Conversion Table 9 presents data on the relationship
hardness, Knoop hardness, and Scleroscope hardness of non-
among Brinell hardness, Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness,
austenitic steels including carbon, alloy, and tool steels in the
and Rockwell superficial hardness of wrought aluminum prod-
as-forged, annealed, normalized, and quenched and tempered
ucts.
conditions provided that they are homogeneous.
1.10 Many of the conversion values presented herein were
1.3 Conversion Table 3 presents data on the relationship
obtained from computer-generated curves of actual test data.
among Brinell hardness, Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness,
Most Rockwell hardness numbers are presented to the nearest
Rockwell superficial hardness, and Knoop hardness of nickel
0.1 or 0.5 hardness number to permit accurate reproduction of
and high-nickel alloys (nickel content over 50 %). These
these curves. Since all converted hardness values must be
hardness conversion relationships are intended to apply par-
considered approximate, however, all converted Rockwell
ticularly to the following: nickel-aluminum-silicon specimens
hardness numbers shall be rounded to the nearest whole
finished to commercial mill standards for hardness testing,
number in accordance with Practice E 29.
covering the entire range of these alloys from their annealed to
1.11 Appendix X1-Appendix X9 contain equations devel-
their heavily cold-worked or age-hardened conditions, includ-
oped from the data in Tables 1-9, respectively, to convert from
ing their intermediate conditions.
one hardness scale to another. Since all converted hardness
1.4 Conversion Table 4 presents data on the relationship
values must be considered approximate, however, all converted
among Brinell hardness, Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness,
hardness numbers shall be rounded in accordance with Practice
and Rockwell superficial hardness of cartridge brass.
E 29.
1.5 Conversion Table 5 presents data on the relationship
1.12 Conversion of hardness values should be used only
when it is impossible to test the material under the conditions
1
These conversion tables are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E28 on
specified, and when conversion is made it should be done with
Mechanical Testing and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E28.06 on
discretion and under controlled conditions. Each type of
Indentation Hardness Testing.
hardness test is subject to certain errors, but if precautions are
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1997. Published December 1997. Originally
published as E 140 – 58. Last previous edition E 140 – 95.
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