Establishing a Worldwide Unified Rockwell Hardness Scale With Metrology Traceability

Published

January 1, 1997

Author(s)

Jun-Feng Song, Samuel Low, David J. Pitchure, A Germak, S Desogus, T Polzin, H Yang, H Ishida, G Barbato

Abstract

Recently developed microform measurement techniques have reduced the measurement uncertainties in the geometry of Rockwell diamond indenters. It is now possible to establish standard grade Rockwell diamond indenters characterized by high geometry uniformity, high hardness performance uniformity, interchangeability and reproducibility. By using the standard indenters under different national standard machines and a standardized testing cycle, a worldwide unified Rockwell hardness scale could be established with metrological traceability, stability and reproducibility. Geometrical measurements and hardness tests in five national laboratories have shown that tightly controlled indenter geometry can significantly improve the consistency of Rockwell C hardness (HRC) measurements. These results support the feasibility of establishing a worldwide unified HRC scale with an expanded uncertainty of approximately ¿ 0.2 HRC and without significant bias with respect to an ideal scale.

Citation

Metrologia

Volume

34(4)

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

diamond indenter, HRC, Rockwell hardness

Citation

Song, J. , Low, S. , Pitchure, D. , Germak, A. , Desogus, S. , Polzin, T. , Yang, H. , Ishida, H. and Barbato, G. (1997), Establishing a Worldwide Unified Rockwell Hardness Scale With Metrology Traceability, Metrologia (Accessed October 20, 2025)