When measuring the hardness of materials, many different test methods are available. For example, you can use the Vickers test, the Brinell test, or the Rockwell test. All three of these tests measure hardness in very different ways.
It can be difficult to transfer data between these different tests if you need to compare results from multiple sources or want to report your testing results accurately and concisely in the future. Thanks to this Brinell to Vickers hardness conversion chart, you can easily convert from one unit of measurement to another. Read this guide to understand how to convert Brinell hardness to Vickers hardness.
I. What is BHN/ HB in Hardness?
BHN/HB is the symbol used to represent the Brinell Hardness scale. The Brinell hardness test measures the material’s resistance to being pressed into its surface by a rounded probe with a defined radius. The harder the material, the more difficult it is for such structures to form, so the greater resistance there is to penetration by the probe.
There are 10 different possible values of hardness given by this test: these range from 0 to 200 in steps of 2.5. The higher the value, the greater the resistance a material offers to penetration by a rounded probe with a defined radius.
II. What is HV in Hardness?
HV is the symbol used to represent the Vickers hardness scale. The Vickers hardness test is a microhardness test that measures a material’s resistance to being scratched by a conical diamond pyramid.
The highest reading possible with the Vickers test is 1000, which can be expressed as HV1000. The lower the value this test gives, the greater resistance a material offers to be indented by a diamond indenter.
III. How do you Convert BHN to HV?
The HV scale allows for measurements from 0 to 1000. So you can take the BHN value and convert it to HV using the conversion chart below:
Before converting, it is important to note that there are two different values of Brinell hardness: The standard Brinell hardness of 200 and the micro-Brinell hardness of 200. The standard Brinell hardness is often used in commercial applications where high precision and accuracy is required. The micro-Brinell hardness scale offers a more convenient way to make comparative measurements in lab settings.
Related Article: How to Convert Brinell Hardness to HRC?
Related Article: Leeb to Vickers Hardness Conversion Chart
IV. Brinell to Vickers Hardness Conversion Chart
Brinell (HB; 10mm Ball, 3000kg load) | Vickers (HV; 5kg) |
800 | – |
780 | 1220 |
760 | 1210 |
745 | 1114 |
725 | 1060 |
712 | 1021 |
682 | 940 |
668 | 905 |
652 | 867 |
626 | 803 |
614 | 775 |
601 | 746 |
590 | 727 |
576 | 694 |
552 | 649 |
545 | 639 |
529 | 606 |
514 | 587 |
502 | 565 |
495 | 551 |
477 | 534 |
461 | 502 |
451 | 489 |
444 | 474 |
427 | 460 |
415 | 435 |
401 | 423 |
388 | 401 |
375 | 390 |
370 | 385 |
362 | 380 |
351 | 361 |
346 | 352 |
341 | 344 |
331 | 335 |
323 | 320 |
311 | 312 |
301 | 305 |
293 | 291 |
285 | 285 |
276 | 278 |
269 | 272 |
261 | 261 |
258 | 258 |
249 | 250 |
245 | 246 |
240 | 240 |
237 | 235 |
229 | 226 |
224 | 221 |
217 | 217 |
211 | 213 |
206 | 209 |
203 | 201 |
200 | 199 |
196 | 197 |
191 | 190 |
187 | 186 |
185 | 184 |
183 | 183 |
180 | 177 |
175 | 174 |
170 | 171 |
167 | 168 |
165 | 165 |
163 | 162 |
160 | 159 |
156 | 154 |
154 | 152 |
152 | 150 |
150 | 149 |
147 | 147 |
145 | 146 |
143 | 144 |
141 | 142 |
140 | 141 |
135 | 135 |
130 | 130 |
114 | 120 |
105 | 110 |
95 | 100 |
90 | 95 |
81 | 85 |
76 | 80 |
Brinell (HB; 10mm Ball, 3000kg load) | Vickers (HV; 10kg) |
(721) | 762 |
(699) | 737 |
(675) | 711 |
(654) | 688 |
634 | 667 |
614 | 645 |
595 | 625 |
577 | 605 |
559 | 586 |
542 | 568 |
526 | 550 |
511 | 534 |
496 | 517 |
482 | 503 |
467 | 487 |
455 | 473 |
442 | 460 |
430 | 447 |
418 | 434 |
407 | 422 |
395 | 410 |
385 | 398 |
375 | 388 |
365 | 377 |
356 | 368 |
347 | 358 |
338 | 349 |
328 | 339 |
320 | 330 |
313 | 323 |
305 | 314 |
297 | 306 |
291 | 299 |
283 | 291 |
276 | 284 |
270 | 277 |
264 | 271 |
258 | 264 |
252 | 258 |
246 | 251 |
240 | 245 |
235 | 240 |
229 | 234 |
Conclusion
While many different tests allow for a wide range of hardness measurements, the Brinell test is the standard method for determining if a material can resist indenting. This Brinell to Vickers hardness conversion chart allows you to easily convert from one unit of measurement to another.