Rockwell/Brinell

Hardness tests are used in mechanical integrity to determine the hardness of a material to deformation. Several such tests exist, wherein the examined material is indented until an impression is formed; these tests can be performed on a macroscopic or microscopic scale.

​When testing metals, indentation hardness correlates linearly with tensile strength. This relation permits economically important nondestructive testing of bulk metal deliveries with lightweight, even portable equipment, such as hand-held Rockwell hardness testers or Brinell.