Classification and Conversion Relationship of Metal Hardness
Metal hardness is a key property in metal materials. It is used to determine the ability of a material to resist plastic deformation when it is subjected to mechanical loading, and to measure the materials strength, rigidity and wear resistance. Generally, metal hardness is associated with the amount of force required to deform a material. The greater the force required to deform a material, the higher the metal hardness.
Metal hardness can be classified into two categories, namely, relative hardness (RB) and absolute hardness (HB). In general, relative hardness is determined by the evaluation to make relative comparisons between different materials, for example between stainless steels and aluminium alloys. Relative hardness is often expressed in the form of a rating or score, and various methods are used to calculate relative hardness, such as Rockwell, Vickers, Brinell and G-type scale. On the other hand, absolute hardness is expressed in terms of the amount of force that is required to deform a material, and various tests can be used to measure the absolute hardness of metal materials, such as the Shore scleroscope, the Leeb hardness tester, the Izod impact tester and the Ultrasonic Contact Impedance(UCI) apparatus.
The conversion between relative hardness (RB) and absolute hardness (HB) is based on the following three factors: the material properties, the test scale and the test method. For example, when converting Rockwell hardness to ultimate tensile strength, the material type must be known. The Rockwell and UTS scales must also be known, as well as the test method used. In general, the conversion factor is expressed in terms of a ratio or as an equation.
To summarize, metal hardness is a key property used to measure the rigidity, strength and wear resistance of metal materials. It can be classified into two types, relative hardness (RB) and absolute hardness (HB). The conversion between different hardness scales and test methods is based on the three factors of the material properties, the test scale and the test method.