When testing the hardness of a material, you may need to convert your test results from one scale to another. For example, if you are using the Rockwell hardness test on a metal part, you need to convert your test results from the Rockwell scale to the Vickers scale. Various scales are used when measuring the hardness of materials because each has advantages depending on the properties of the material being evaluated. There are many ways to convert hardness measurements from one scale to another, but this HRC to Vickers hardness conversion guide will make it simple.
I. What is HRC in Hardness?
HRC stands for Rockwell Hardness C scale. It is a scale that measures the resistance of materials to indentation. The harder the material, the greater the resistance to be indented or otherwise damaged. Rockwell hardness is measured on the Rockwell scale, which ranges from 0 to 68. HRC of a material is calculated by taking the score obtained in the Rockwell scale and translating it to another unit.
II. What is Vickers Hardness?
The Vickers Hardness test is a microhardness test used to measure an indentation made on a test material using a diamond indenter and a light load. The indent made is measured using a microscope and converted to a hardness scale. The Vickers hardness test is used on materials that are well polished to make it easier for measurements to be taken.
Related Article: Hardness Test Comparison: Vickers vs Rockwell
Related Article: What is the Difference between Rockwell, Brinell, and Vickers?
III. HRC to Vickers Hardness Conversion Chart
HRC(Rockwell C Scale) | Vickers (HV) |
68 | 940 |
67 | 900 |
66 | 865 |
65 | 832 |
64 | 800 |
63 | 772 |
62 | 746 |
61 | 720 |
60 | 697 |
59 | 674 |
58 | 653 |
57 | 633 |
56 | 613 |
55 | 595 |
54 | 577 |
53 | 560 |
52 | 544 |
51 | 528 |
50 | 513 |
49 | 498 |
48 | 484 |
47 | 471 |
46 | 458 |
45 | 446 |
44 | 434 |
43 | 423 |
42 | 412 |
41 | 402 |
40 | 392 |
39 | 382 |
38 | 372 |
37 | 363 |
36 | 354 |
35 | 345 |
34 | 336 |
33 | 327 |
32 | 318 |
31 | 310 |
30 | 302 |
29 | 294 |
28 | 286 |
27 | 279 |
26 | 272 |
25 | 266 |
24 | 260 |
23 | 254 |
22 | 248 |
21 | 243 |
20 | 238 |
(18) | 230 |
(16) | 222 |
(14) | 213 |
(12) | 204 |
(10) | 196 |
(8) | 188 |
(6) | 180 |
(4) | 173 |
(2) | 166 |
(0) | 160 |
Conclusion
The Vickers hardness test measures the indentation depth or the minimum depth of a test mark made by a diamond stylus. The measurement is then converted to hardness value using the percent obtained for each area of diamond penetration in the Vickers Hardness Scale.
You should use the HRC to Vickers hardness conversion chart above to convert a value from the Rockwell scale to the Vickers scale. This will make it easy to determine a material’s hardness in both measurement scales.