HARDNESS TESTS

DEPARTMENT OF PROSTHODONTICS, CROWN & BRIDGE

HARDNESS
 Resistance to permanent surface indentation or penetration.

• BRINELL
• ROCKWELL
HARDNES • KNOOP
•
S TESTS •
VICKERS
SHORE A
• BARCOL
 BRINELL HARDNESS TEST (BHN)

Used to test metals and alloys used in dentistry.

A small spherical steel or tungsten carbide indenter,

typically 1.6 mm in diameter, and a 123 N load.

Pressed into the polished surface of a material.

Load is applied for 30 seconds and then removed.

Load is divided by the area of the projected surface of

the indentation.
 The Brinell hardness test produces a relatively large
indentation area, making the test good for determining
average hardness values in a specimen and poor for
determining very localized values.
 ROCKWELL HARDNESS TEST (RHN)

Rapid method for hardness measurement.

Similar to Brinell test in that a steel ball or a conical

diamond point is used.
Instead of measuring the area of indentation, the depth of
penetration is measured directly by a dial gauge (sensitive dial
micrometer) on the instrument.
Various diameters of balls or cones are used with a
range loads [60 to 150 kgf (588 to 1470 N)].
Neither the Brinell test nor the Rockwell test is
suitable for brittle materials.
 KNOOP HARDNESS TEST (KHN OR HK)

Suitable for thin plastic or metal sheets or brittle materials

where the applied load does not exceed 3.6 kgf (35 N).

A diamond-tipped tool that is cut in a geometrical

configuration.

Indentation is rhombic in outline, and the length of the

largest diagonal is measured.

Load is divided by the projected area to give the

Knoop hardness number.
Microindentation test
 VICKERS HARDNESS TEST (VHN OR HV)

Test uses a diamond indenter that produces a square

indentation (square based pyramid used).

Similar in principle to the Knoop and Brinell tests, but

Vickers test uses a 136-degree pyramid-shaped indenter.

Load is divided by the projected area of indentation.

The lengths of the diagonals of the indentation are

measured and averaged.
The test is suitable for determining the hardness of
brittle materials; therefore this test has also been
used for measuring the hardness of other cast
dental alloys and tooth structure.
SHORE A HARDNESS TEST (SHORE A DUROMETER)

For elastomers that do not yield to permanent indentation for

measurement.
The principle of the test is also based on resistance to
indentation.
Instrument consists of a 0.8-mm diameter blunt-pointed indenter
that tapers to a 1.6-mm cylinder.
Measures the depth of an indentation in the material created by a
given force using a scale of 0 (soft) to 100 (hard).
The hardness number is based on the depth of penetration of the
indenter point into the material.
If the indenter completely penetrates the specimen, a
reading of 0 is obtained.
If no penetration occurs, a reading of 100 units results.

Used to evaluate soft denture liners, mouth

protectors, and maxillofacial elastomers
BARCOL HARDNESS TEST

Uses a 1-mm diameter spring-loaded needle

(Barcol impressor) that is pressed against the
surface to be tested.

Reading on the instrument dial decreases as the

impressor penetrates the surface.