Rockwell hardness

Rockwell hardness is a measurement of how resistant a material—usually metal—is to indentation or scratching. It involves pressing an indenter (a small, standardized tip) into the material under a specific load and then measuring how deep the indentation is. The shallower the indentation, the harder the material. The Rockwell scale provides a numerical value that correlates to the material’s hardness, allowing for quick and consistent comparisons of different materials or treatments. This test helps determine the suitability of metals for various applications, such as tools, machinery, or structural components.