ROCKWELL HARDNESS TEST

OBJECT

To determine the Rockwell Hardness number of Mild Steel and Hardened

steel specimens.

INTRODUCTION AND THEORY

The Rockwell scale is a hardness scale based on the indentation hardness of a

material. There are different scales, which are denoted by a single letter, that use
different loads or indenters. The result, which is a dimensionless number, is noted by
HRX where X is the scale letter. The Rockwell test measures the indentation hardness
of a material directly. When testing metals, indentation hardness correlates linearly
with tensile strength. This important relation permits economically important
nondestructive testing of bulk metal deliveries with lightweight, even portable
equipment, such as hand-held Rockwell hardness testers. The chief advantage of
Rockwell hardness is its ability to display hardness values directly, thus obviating
tedious calculations involved in other hardness measurement techniques. It is
typically used in engineering and metallurgy. Its commercial popularity arises from
its speed, reliability, robustness, resolution and small area of indentation. On
account of the rapidity and simplicity of the test this has gained popularity in the
industry and because of the small impression made on the specimen, makes it
suitable for use on finished components.

Scale Penetrator Total Material for which scale is used

Symbol load in
A Diamond Cone
B Steel Ball 1/16” dia
C Diamond Cone
D Diamond Cone
E 1/8” ball
F 1/16” ball
G 1/16” ball
H 1/8” ball
kgf
60 Thin hardened steel strip, other extremely
hard materials when small impressions are
required.
100 All mild and medium carbon steel, sheet
steel and soft steel bars.
150 Hardened steels, Hardened and tempered
steels, alloy steels, materials harder than B
100
100 Case hardened steel when a lighter load
than 150 Kgf is advisable
100 Cast Iron, aluminium and magnesium alloys
60 Annealed brass and copper and for thin
sheets
100 For materials in range B 100 where greater
sensibility is required, e.g., beryllium,
copper, bronze
60 Soft aluminium, non metallics, plastics

The Rockwell number is inversely proportional to the depth of impression

and less is the penetration, harder is the material.
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An accurately shaped indenter is used to make an indent in the sample to be

tested. This indenter is either a spheroconical diamond (120° cone with a 0.2mm
radius tip) or hard metal ball (1/16, 1/8, 1/4, or 1/2 inch diameter) and the
magnitude of the load is 60 kgf, 100 kgf or 150 kgf. The penetrator and the load
combination are different for different materials. Eight scales A to H are being used
for different combinations of penetrator and load to cover different materials as
given in the table above. The most common among them is the B and C scale. Both
express hardness as an arbitrary dimensionless number.

The Rockwell principle is described as follows:

The indenter is first pressed into the sample a small amount by a relatively low
preliminary force of 10kgf. After the preliminary force has been fully applied, the
depth-indicating device is set to a zero indication. Then, a much larger additional test
force (140kgf for C scale or 90kgf for B scale) is applied to the indenter for a total
force on the sample of 150kgf/100kgf. This large total force causes the indenter to
penetrate the sample much farther. After the total force is fully applied, it is
maintained for a short time to make sure that all penetration has stopped. Then, the
additional force is removed while still maintaining the preliminary 10kgf force. After
the preliminary force has been removed, the depth indicating devise indicates the
difference of penetration of the indenter as a result of the additional force. This
depth is converted into the Rockwell number by subtracting the value from 100 (HRC
scale) or 130 (HRB scale) (see figure below). This will result in a harder material
giving a higher number than a softer material. In the HRC scale the formula is setup
to have one Rockwell point be equal to 0.002mm (2 microns or 0.00008in). However
the dial gauge automatically gives the Rockwell Hardness number.

Minor load
Major load
removed
Minor +major Surface of test
load specimen

A
B
e
D

RHN C

AB: Depth of impression by minor load (10kgf) applied by way of pressing

the specimen from bottom

AC: Depth of impression by total load (150kgf for C scale and 100kgf for
B scale)

DC: Recovery of metal upon taking major load off. This is an index of the
elasticity of the specimen, but does not enter in the hardness reading.

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BD: Depth of impression made by major load which gives the measure of the
hardness of material ‘e’.

BE: 100 Rockwell points (0.2mm) for C scale or 130 Rockwell points (0.26mm) for B
scale.

DE: Rockwell Hardness number

e
Rockwell Hardness number = 100− for C scale
0.002

e
Rockwell Hardness number = 130− for B scale
0.002

While the HRC scale uses a maximum of 0.2 mm (100 Rockwell points) penetration,
the HRB and other regular scales use a ball indenter because they test softer
materials and have a maximum depth of 0.26mm (130 Rockwell points).

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP

The instrument is designed to position the centerline of the indenter

perpendicular to the test surface. The machine consists of a lever at one end of
which proportional weights are hung and the penetrator receives the required
pressure through the lever. By means of hand lever, suspended weights can be
wholly assisted or made to act on the specimen. Initially the specimen is pressed
against the penetrator till the minor load comes to act on it, which is indicated by a
pointer moving to set position on the dial after which the major load is applied. The
dial is graduated in two scales B (red) and C (black).

The shock free and smooth application of major load is ensured by allowing
the proportional weights to descend on a dash pot.

PROCEDURE

1) Draw a neat sketch of the apparatus.

2) Use 100 Kg load and 1/16” steel ball penetrator to test Mild steel specimen
and 150 Kg load and diamond cone penetrator to test hardened steel.

3) Place the specimen upon the anvil of the machine. Raise the anvil and the
specimen by means of the elevating screw until the specimen comes in
contact with the ball. Continue to raise the specimen slowly until the initial
load is applied and the printer is within plus or minus five scale divisions of its
upper vertical positions. Turn the dial until the mark B30 which is also
designated as ‘SET’ is directly behind the pointer.

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4) Apply the major load by releasing the operation handle. After the
proportional weights are completely free from the dashpot, bring back the
operating handle to its original position.

5) Read the position of the pointer on the red or B scale for mild steel (black or C
scale for hardened steel) which gives the Rockwell hardness number.

6) Make three tests on each specimen.

OBSERVATION AND COMPUTATION TABLE

Material: Mild Steel

Sl.No Penetrator Load Rockwell Mean
Hardness No.
1
2
3

Material : Hardened Steel

Sl.No Penetrator Load Rockwell Mean
Hardness No.
1
2
3

PRECAUTIONS

1) If the machine is idle for some time, one or two preliminary tests should be
made which should be disregarded.

2) The test surface should be level.

3) The speed of the dash pot should be correctly adjusted to descend in 2 - 5

seconds.

4) Do not raise the test piece against the penetrator with full load applied. This
may damage the penetrator.

5) Do not leave weights suspended on the main lever suspension rod.

6) The surface of the test piece should be smooth, even and free from scales,
rust etc.

7) The thickness of the test piece should be at least 8 times the permanent
increase of depth. No deformation shall be visible at the back of the test
piece after test.

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8) The distance between the centers of two adjacent indentations or of the

center of any indentation from the edge of the test piece shall be at least
three times the diameter of the impression.

QUESTIONNAIRE

1) What problem would arise if a 1/16” ball is used on a hardened steel

specimen and the diamond cone is used on a mild steel specimen?

2) Why is the minor load principle used in Rockwell test?

3) What are the practical applications of this test?

4) State three major differences between the Rockwell hardness test and
the Brinell hardness test.