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Vickers to Rockwell Hardness Conversion Chart

In this blog post, you’ll read:For accurate and reliable results, scales provided by the ASTM should be used while performing any Vickers hardness test. This is the ASTM Vickers Hardness test standards.

Table of Contents

While measuring the hardness value of materials in the manufacturing industry, changing scales is a common process. ASTM and ISO have provided many standardized conversion scales to help the manufacturing industry. Vickers hardness test is a micro testing method used for some specified cases. Sometimes it becomes necessary to change the hardness value from one scale to another. Here we compare the Vickers hardness method with the Rockwell method and their conversion charts.

I. What is Vickers Hardness?

The Vickers hardness test is represented by (HV). The test is the method to measure the hardness of thin sections or small parts of materials. The test proceeds by throwing the light load on the material test surface to produce penetration to create an indentation. The intender used in this method is diamond.  The depth of the indentation then determines the value of the hardness.  Generally, in the Vickers hardness test, the material to be tested is harder if the indentation is small. 

 

Vickers to Rockwell Hardness

II. What is Rockwell Hardness?

The Rockwell hardness test is represented by (HR) and has four types: HRC, HRA, HRB, and HRD. The Rockwell hardness test is performed by measuring the depth of indenter caused by throwing the heavy load on the material testing surface, causing penetration.  In this case, the intender can be a diamond and also a steel ball.

 

Related Article: What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Rockwell Method?

Related Article: What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Vickers Method?

III. What is the Difference between Vickers and Rockwell Hardness?

The Vickers hardness test is a macro and microhardness testing method, while the Rockwell test is used only as a macro testing method. The Rockwell test is a quick and direct process, while the Vickers hardness test is a slow process and requires other optical devices such as a microscope to measure the hardness of the object.

 

Related Article: Hardness Test Comparison: Vickers vs Rockwell

Related Article: What is the Difference between Rockwell, Brinell, and Vickers?

IV. Vickers to Rockwell Hardness Conversion Chart

Vickers Hardness Test

(HV)

Rockwell Hardness Test

 

(HRC)

C scale

(HRA) A

60kgf diamond conical indenter

(HRB) B

100kgf diameter

1.6mm (1/16ln) ball

(HRD) D

100kgf diamond conical indenter

940

900

865

832

800

772

746

720

697

674

653

633

613

595

577

560

544

528

513

498

484

471

458

446

434

423

412

402

392

382

372

363

354

345

336

327

318

310

302

294

286

279

272

266

260

254

248

243

238

230

222

213

204

196

188

180

173

166

160

68

67

66

65

64

63

62

61

60

59

58

57

56

55

54

53

52

51

50

49

48

47

46

45

44

43

42

41

40

39

38

37

36

35

34

33

32

31

30

29

28

27

26

25

24

23

22

21

20

(18)

(16)

(14)

(12)

(10)

(8)

(6)

(4)

(2)

(0)

85.6

85.0

84.5

83.9

83.4

82.8

82.3

81.9

81.2

80.7

80.1

79.6

79.0

78.5

78.0

77.4

76.8

76.3

75.9

75.2

74.7

74.1

73.6

73.1

72.5

72.0

71.5

70.9

70.4

69.9

69.4

68.9

68.4

67.9

67.4

66.8

66.3

65.8

65.3

64.7

64.3

63.8

63.3

62.8

62.4

62.0

61.5

61.0

60.5

(109.0)

(108.5)

(108.0)

(107.5)

(107.0)

(106.0)

(105.5)

(104.5)

(104.0)

(103.0)

(102.5)

(101.5)

(101.0)

100.0

99.0

98.5

97.8

96.7

95.5

93.9

92.3

90.7

89.5

87.1

85.5

83.5

81.7

76.9

76.1

75.4

74.5

73.8

73.0

72.2

71.5

70.7

69.9

69.2

68.5

67.7

66.9

66.1

65.4

64.6

63.8

63.1

62.1

61.4

60.8

60.0

59.2

58.5

57.7

56.9

56.2

55.4

54.6

53.8

53.1

52.3

51.5

50.8

50.0

49.2

48.4

47.7

47.0

46.1

45.2

44.6

43.8

43.1

42.1

41.6

40.9

40.1

Conclusion

Rockwell Hardness test is the most widely used method but in some cases Vickers Hardness testing method has to be used especially when thin parts have to be tested. It is important to look up the hardness scale standardized by ISO and ASTM while performing any hardness test to get accurate and reliable results. If you want to know more about the hardness methods, their procedures and conversion scales then visit our website and find answers for your questions.