Inquiry

Hardness Testing

Hardness refers to properties of solid materials that give them resistance when a force is applied. Although it has been known for thousands of years that materials differ in hardness, it was not until the early 20th century that hardness testing began to be commercialized. As a fast and cost-effective method, hardness testing is mainly used to determine the condition of the material after heat treatment, or to provide insight into strength and wear resistance.

The hardness of alloys plays a crucial role in determining their durability, strength, and resistance to wear and deformation. Therefore, hardness testing is an essential tool for evaluating the quality of alloys and their suitability for specific applications. The results of hardness testing can be used to optimize alloy composition, processing conditions, and to ensure the quality and suitability of alloys for specific applications. Alfa Chemistry offers a comprehensive range of alloy hardness testing services to our customers. Our commitment to quality, accuracy and customer satisfaction sets us apart from the competition.

Our Test Projects

Our test projects include, but are not limited to the following.

• Brinell Hardness Test

The most commonly used method for measuring the hardness of alloys is the Brinell hardness test. This test involves pressing a hardened steel ball into the surface of the alloy under a specific load, and then measuring the diameter of the resulting indentation. The Brinell hardness number (BHN) is obtained by dividing the load by the indentation surface area. This test is particularly useful for castings and forgings because their surface or microstructure is rough and not suitable for other hardness testing methods.

• Rockwell Hardness Test

The Rockwell hardness test evaluates the hardness of a material by measuring the permanent depth of the indentation due to the applied concentrated load. The difference between the depth of penetration before and after application of the major load is used to calculate the Rockwell hardness number (RHN). This test is particularly useful for measuring the hardness of harder materials, and is commonly used for testing ferrous alloys such as steel and iron.

• Vickers Hardness Test

The Vickers hardness test is similar to the Brinell hardness test, with the main difference being the use of a square based pyramidal diamond indenter rather than a hardened steel ball. Vickers hardness number (VHN) can be found directly from the Vickers hardness testing machine. This test is particularly useful for measuring the hardness of thin films and coatings.

• Knoop Hardness Test

In addition to the three common tests mentioned above, we also offer the Knoop hardness test. This test involves pressing a diamond indenter into the surface of the alloy under a specific load, and then measuring the length of the resulting indentation. The Knoop hardness test is particularly useful for measuring the hardness of brittle materials.

Our Testing Capabilities

Alfa Chemistry has the capability to perform hardness testing on the following alloys:

Our Testing Standards

We offer testing for a variety of specifications, including but not limited to the following standards.

We will perform hardness testing in accordance with the above standards. In addition, we also test according to the customer's specifications and requirements.