Detailed Explanation of Differences Between Brinell, Rockwell and Vickers Hardness & Selection Guide for Metal Material Hardness Testers

2026-07-27

Source: Wanvei Editor

Chongqing Wanwei Instruments Co., Ltd. specializes in the R&D and production of Brinell, Rockwell and Vickers hardness testers. Our products serve thousands of manufacturing enterprises across Southwest China and the whole country. Our full-series Brinell, Rockwell and Vickers hardness testers cover all application scenarios including large castings, mass-produced steel parts on production lines, thin coating layers and tiny precision components. Combined with national standard testing specifications, this article fully analyzes three hardness testing methods and corresponding equipment selection logic.

1. Brinell Hardness HB (HBS/HBW): Integral Hardness Testing for Large Castings and Soft Metals

Testing Principle

A constant load is applied via a cemented carbide ball indenter. Hardness value is determined by measuring the indentation diameter, which reflects the material’s overall resistance to plastic deformation. This method delivers the most stable test results for coarse-grained materials.

Applicable Workpieces and Materials

Soft non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and copper, cast iron, annealed steel and other coarse-grained raw materials. It is widely used for homogeneity inspection of incoming large castings and forgings, and has become the standard testing solution for foundries.

Matching Equipment from Chongqing Wanwei Instruments

Wanwei HBS-3000MD Digital Display Brinell Hardness Tester and CHBS-3000MZ Automatic Turret Brinell Hardness Tester are equipped with standard 10mm cemented carbide ball indenters and a standard load of 3000kg. Built-in optical measurement systems automatically calculate indentation diameters and output HBW values, making them ideal for batch incoming inspection of cast iron and aluminum forgings.

Limitations

The large indentation will damage workpieces. This method is not suitable for thin sheets or high-hardness quenched steel; Brinell equipment is not recommended for hardness testing of quenched steel.

Wanwei Brinell Hardness Tester

2. Rockwell Hardness HR (HRC/HRB/HRA): Rapid Hardness Testing for Mass Steel Production Line Inspection

Testing Principle

Preliminary load plus major load are applied sequentially. Hardness is converted according to the difference in indentation depth. Multiple scales adapt to materials of varying hardness. The tester displays readings directly, delivering the fastest testing speed among all three methods, making it the top choice for mass hardness inspection on production lines.

Application Scope of Three Core Scales

HRC: For quenched steel, tool steel and die steel with a measuring range of 20–70 HRC, the mainstream scale for heat treatment workshops;
HRB: For medium-soft metals including annealed steel plates, brass and copper alloys;
HRA: Hardness measurement of ultra-hard materials such as cemented carbide and industrial ceramics.

Advantages of Matching Equipment from Chongqing Wanwei Instruments

The Wanwei HRS-150MD Touchscreen Rockwell Hardness Tester supports free switching between diamond and steel ball indenters. The large touch screen enables one-click scale switching and automatic hardness value conversion. Its tiny indentation causes nearly no damage to workpieces. This model is widely adopted for mass quality inspection on automotive parts and hardware heat treatment production lines, effectively solving the low-efficiency pain point of mass hardness testing in factories.

Wanwei Touchscreen Rockwell Hardness Tester

3. Vickers Hardness HV: Precision Hardness Testing for Thin Coating Layers and Tiny Components

Testing Principle

A 136° diamond square pyramid indenter is used with an adjustable load ranging from 1gf to 100kg. Hardness is calculated by measuring the diagonal lengths of the indentation, delivering the highest measurement precision among the three testing methods.

Core Application Scenarios

Applicable to materials of all hardness levels, specially designed for hardness detection of nitrided layers, PVD coatings, electroplated layers and carburized layers. It also fits metallographic specimens, thin sheets and micro parts in laboratories. Almost all thin sheet and micro component hardness testers adopt the Vickers testing principle.