Brinell Hardness
In the Brinell hardness test [6] a ball indenter of diameter D (mm) is pressed into the surface of the test piece using a prescribed force F (N), and the diameter of the indentation d (mm) is measured after the force has been removed. The time for the initial application of the force is 2 s to 8 s, and the test force is maintained for 10 s to 15 s.
The Brinell hardness value is proportional to the test force divided by the surface area of the indentation:
HBW = Constant × Test force / Surface area of indentation
Consultation of the standard provides the complete list of the Brinell hardness scales, as shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Brinell hardness scales and test forces
| Hardness scale | Ball diameter, D / mm |
Nominal value of test force, F / N |
| HBW 10/3 000 | 10 | 29 420 |
| HBW 10/1 500 | 10 | 14 710 |
| HBW 10/1 000 | 10 | 9 807 |
| HBW 10/500 | 10 | 4 903 |
| HBW 10/250 | 10 | 2 452 |
| HBW 10/100 | 10 | 980,7 |
| HBW 5/750 | 5 | 7 355 |
| HBW 5/250 | 5 | 2 452 |
| HBW 5/125 | 5 | 1 226 |
| HBW 5/62,5 | 5 | 612,9 |
| HBW 5/25 | 5 | 245,2 |
| HBW 2,5/187,5 | 2,5 | 1 839 |
| HBW 2,5/62,5 | 2,5 | 612,9 |
| HBW 2,5/31,25 | 2,5 | 306,5 |
| HBW 2,5/15,625 | 2,5 | 153,2 |
| HBW 2,5/6,25 | 2,5 | 61,29 |
| HBW 1/30 | 1 | 294,2 |
| HBW 1/10 | 1 | 98,07 |
| HBW 1/5 | 1 | 49,03 |
| HBW 1/2,5 | 1 | 24,52 |
| HBW 1/1 | 1 | 9,807 |
Last Updated: 25 Mar 2010
Created: 18 Jun 2007