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Brinell-hardness

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Brinell-hardness

What is Brinell Hardness?

Brinell hardness is a standardized method for measuring the hardness of materials such as metals, plastics, and wood. It indicates how resistant the material is to mechanical indentations and is commonly used in the metal industry and material testing. During the measurement, a steel ball with a specified diameter and constant force is pressed into the material. The resulting indentation is measured and used to calculate the hardness value, known as the Brinell hardness number (HBW), which is given in N/mm².

 

BrinellHardness
BrinellSkizze.jpg
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The Brinell Hardness Test

In the Brinell hardness test, a steel ball (or a carbide ball for harder materials) is pressed with a defined force into the material's surface for a specific period. The diameter of the resulting indentation is then measured, and the hardness value is calculated based on the indentation diameter and the applied force.

This test is especially suitable for relatively soft to medium-hard materials and provides reliable comparative values for assessing materials' wear resistance and load-bearing capacity. The Brinell test is often used in the metal and wood industries to evaluate material quality and suitability for specific applications.

 

Brinell Hardness vs. Janka Hardness

Although both Brinell and Janka hardness measure a material's resistance to indentation, there are differences in their application and methodology. The Janka hardness test is specifically designed for wood and measures the force required to press a steel ball halfway into the material. In contrast, the Brinell hardness calculates the full indentation depth. The Brinell method can be more broadly applied to metals and plastics and offers greater comparability across different material types.

 

In Summary - Explained Simply

Brinell hardness measures a material's resistance to mechanical indentations. It is widely used in metal and material testing to determine the durability and suitability of materials.

 

Related article:

Janka hardness

Synonyms: Brinell-Widerstandswert, Härte nach Brinell, Brinell-Härtegrad

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