Rockwell and Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials ASTM E110

ASTM E110 test method covers determination of the indentation hardness of metallic materials by means of portable hardness testers. Portable hardness testers are used for testing articles that are too large or unwieldy to be tested in the usual types of testing machines; for example, to test parts of fixed structures.

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Rockwell and Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials ASTM E110

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Overview
Scope, Applications, and Benefits
Test Process
Specifications
Instrumentation
Results and Deliverables

Overview

ASTM E110 is a standardized procedure for assessing the relative hardness of metals by examining the resulting impression formed when a portable Rockwell or Brinell hardness tester is applied. Essentially, you apply a specified force and determine the depth or size of the resulting impression, and this gives you the hardness value.

In the Rockwell hardness test, hardness is determined by the depth of the resulting impression formed by a light preload and a heavier force. In the Brinell hardness test, the hardness value is determined by calculating the surface area of the resulting impression formed by a spherical indenter. This standard is very useful in situations where it is not possible to send samples to a laboratory for analysis.

Scope, Applications, and Benefits

Scope

ASTM E110 applies to portable hardness testers used for Rockwell and Brinell hardness testing of metallic materials. It covers field and on-site hardness measurements, including indentation hardness determination outside controlled laboratory environments. The standard specifies the requirements and procedures for portable instruments designed to measure Rockwell or Brinell hardness accurately in non-laboratory settings.

Applications

Manufacturing quality control
Field inspection of metal components
Aerospace material verification
Automotive component testing
Heavy machinery inspection
Structural steel evaluation
Weld inspection
Research and development of alloys
Maintenance and failure analysis

Benefits

Enables on-site hardness testing
Reduces need for laboratory sample preparation
Quick and efficient testing method
Minimal material damage
Suitable for large or fixed components
Supports material selection and verification
Standardized and repeatable testing procedure
Improves quality assurance processes

Test Process

Surface Preparation

The specimen surface is prepared to be flat, smooth, clean, and plane-parallel.

Load Application

Rockwell uses minor and major loads with a diamond or steel indenter, while Brinell uses a ball indenter under a specified load.

Measurement

Rockwell hardness is based on penetration depth, while Brinell hardness is based on indentation diameter.

Hardness Calculation

Rockwell is read from depth; Brinell is calculated from load and indentation.

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Details
Applicable Materials	Metallic materials and alloys
Rockwell Minor Load	10 kgf
Rockwell Major Load	Typically 150 kgf
Brinell Load Range	187.5 to 3000 kgf
Brinell Indenter	2.5 mm or 10 mm tungsten carbide ball
Rockwell Indenter	Diamond cone (Brale) or steel ball

Instrumentation Used for Testing

Portable Rockwell hardness tester
Portable Brinell hardness tester
Diamond cone (Brale) indenter
Steel or tungsten carbide ball indenter
Optical microscope (for Brinell indentation measurement)
Calibration blocks
Load application mechanism
Hardness dial indicator or digital display

Results and Deliverables

Rockwell hardness value (HR scale)
Brinell hardness number (HB)
Indentation measurements (for Brinell)
Field inspection reports
Material conformity verification

Frequently Asked Questions

ASTM E10 is a lab-based method focused solely on Brinell hardness testing, while ASTM E110 is a more flexible, portable method designed for both Brinell and Rockwell hardness testing in the field.

They are used in shipbuilding, pipelines, and other industries where materials or components are too large to be tested in a lab and Ideal for quality control on production lines or for testing in-service components without dismantling them.

Steel, aluminum, copper alloys, and other metals are commonly testing using both Brinell and Rockwell scales.

For Brinell testing, the material must be thick enough to avoid deformation from the back side. Also, the surface of the material should be clean, flat, and free of contaminants.