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A Comprehensive Guide! Brinell, Rockwell, and Vickers Hardness Tests: What's the Difference?
2025-11-07
In the world of metallic materials, "hardness" is a key indicator of performance. However, many people are confused by the different hardness testing methods: Brinell, Rockwell, and Vickers. What are the differences between them? Which one should I use for my product? Today, we'll explain it all clearly.
Core Differences: From Testing Principles to Result Presentation
The essence of all three hardness tests is to assess hardness through "indenter application + deformation measurement," but they differ significantly in indenter type, force control, and measurement indicators, directly determining their applicable scenarios.
1. Brinell Hardness (HB): "Large Indenter + Large Load," Measuring the Overall Hardness of Materials
LABTT Computerized Brinell Hardness Tester
The Brinell hardness (HB) test uses hardened steel balls or cemented carbide balls with diameters of 1, 2.5, 5, or 10 mm for material testing, applying a load/test force of 1–3,000 kgf (illustrated).
Key Features: Large indentation area, effectively offsetting the effects of localized material unevenness, making it more suitable for reflecting the overall hardness of the material, and resulting in high stability.
2. Rockwell Hardness (HR): "Stage-wise force application + depth measurement," flexibly adaptable to different hardness levels.
LABTTo Advanced Digital Rockwell Hardness Tester
Whether to perform Rockwell hardness or surface Rockwell hardness testing depends on the material being tested. Both use the HR scale.
The Rockwell hardness test uses a diamond cone (HRC) or hardened (tungsten) steel ball indenter (HRB, etc.). An indentation is created on the material by applying a preload of 10 kg and a main test force of 60, 100, or 150 kg, and then the depth of the indentation is measured (illustrated).
Key Features: The segmented scale design allows it to cover the hardness range from soft metals to hard alloys, and the testing speed is fast (no calculation required, the device directly displays the value).
3. Vickers Hardness (HV): "Pyramid Indenter + High-Precision Measurement," Pursuing Ultimate Accuracy
LABTT Intelligent Vickers Hardness Tester
The Vickers hardness test indenter is shaped like an inverted pyramid, with a square base and an included angle of 136 degrees between opposite faces. The test force used is 1–120 kgf. Micro Vickers hardness testing can be performed when a test force of 1 kgf or less is required. (Illustration).
Key Features: The indentation is a regular rhomboid shape; the measurement error is much smaller than Brinell and Rockwell indenters, making it suitable for high-precision research-grade testing.
Summary and Selection Guide
To help you make quick choices in practical applications, we have summarized the following selection logic:
For testing soft metals, cast iron, and when overall hardness is required → Choose Brinell hardness, focusing on "comprehensive performance";
For testing hard steel and when rapid on-site inspection is needed → Choose Rockwell hardness, emphasizing "efficiency and practicality";
For testing thin parts, coatings, or when high-precision scientific data is required → Choose Vickers hardness, pursuing "microscopic precision".
Understanding the core differences between these three hardness testing methods will not only enable accurate selection but also provide reliable data support for product development, quality control, and process optimization. Next time you face a hardness test, we hope you can choose confidently, achieving accurate measurements and understanding the process.
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