Rockwell Hardness Scales™
Regular Rockwell scales
Preliminary test force: 98.07N (10kgf)
| Scale | Indentor | Test force | | Applications |
| A | Diamond | 588,4N | (60kgf) | Case hardened steel, cemented carbide, thin steel sheet, copper |
| D | Diamond | 980,7N | (100kgf) | Case hardened steel, cemented carbide, thin steel sheet, copper |
| C | Diamond | 1471N | (150kgf) | Case hardened steel, cemented carbide, thin steel sheet, copper |
| F | Steel ball diameter 1/16" | 588.4N | (60kgf) | Annealed steel, bearing metal, hard-drawn aluminium alloys, brass, beryllium
copper, phospor bronze |
| B | Steel ball diameter 1/16" | 980.7N | (100kgf) | Annealed steel, bearing metal, hard-drawn aluminium alloys, brass, beryllium
copper, phospor bronze |
| G | Steel ball diameter 1/16" | 1471N | (150kgf) | Annealed steel, bearing metal, hard-drawn aluminium alloys, brass, beryllium
copper, phospor bronze |
| H | Steel ball diameter 1/8" | 588.4N | (60kgf) | Bearing metal, grinding stone |
| E | Steel ball diameter 1/8" | 980.7N | (100kgf) | Bearing metal, grinding stone |
| K | Steel ball diameter 1/8" | 1471N | (150kgf) | Bearing metal, grinding stone |
| P | Steel ball diameter 1/4" | 588.4N | (60kgf) | Extra mild metal (e.g. aluminum, zinc, lead) |
| M | Steel ball diameter 1/4" | 980.7N | (100kgf) | Extra mild metal (e.g. aluminum, zinc, lead) |
| L | Steel ball diameter 1/4" | 1471N | (150kgf) | Extra mild metal (e.g. aluminum, zinc, lead) |
| R | Steel ball diameter 1/2" | 588.4N | (60kgf) | Tin, plastics, cardboard |
| S | Steel ball diameter 1/2" | 980.7N | (100kgf) | Tin, plastics, cardboard |
| V | Steel ball diameter 1/2" | 1471N | (150kgf) | Tin, plastics, cardboard |
Superficial Rockwell scales
Preliminary test force: 29.4N
(3kgf)
| Scale | Indentor | Test force | | Applications |
| HR15N | Diamond 120? | 147 N | (15kgf) | Nitrided steel, thin steel plate, tubes and pipes, knive blades, small
parts |
| HR30N | Diamond 120? | 294 N | (30kgf) | Nitrided steel, thin steel plate, tubes and pipes, knive blades, small
parts |
| HR45N | Diamond 120? | 441N | (45kgf) | Nitrided steel, thin steel plate, tubes and pipes, knive blades, small
parts |
| HR15T | Steel ball diameter 1/16? | 147 N | (15kgf) | Soft steel, brass, bronze, tubes and pipes, aluminium alloy |
| HR30T | Steel ball diameter 1/16? | 294 N | (30kgf) | Soft steel, brass, bronze, tubes and pipes, aluminium alloy |
| HR45T | Steel ball diameter 1/16? | 441N | (45kgf) | Soft steel, brass, bronze, tubes and pipes, aluminium alloy |
| HR15W | Steel ball diameter 1/8" | 147 N | (15kgf) | Soft steel, bismuth bronze |
| HR30W | Steel ball diameter 1/8" | 294 N | (30kgf) | Soft steel, bismuth bronze |
| HR45W | Steel ball diameter 1/8" | 441N | (45kgf) | Soft steel, bismuth bronze |
| HR15X | Steel ball diameter 1/4" | 147 N | (15kgf) | Soft metal, plastics, etc. |
| HR30X | Steel ball diameter 1/4" | 294 N | (30kgf) | Soft metal, plastics, etc. |
| HR45X | Steel ball diameter 1/4" | 441N | (45kgf) | Soft metal, plastics, etc. |
| HR15Y | Steel ball diameter 1/2" | 147 N | (15kgf) | Soft metal, plastics, etc. |
| HR30Y | Steel ball diameter 1/2" | 294 N | (30kgf) | Soft metal, plastics, etc. |
| HR45Y | Steel ball diameter 1/2" | 441N | (45kgf) | Soft metal, plastics, etc. |
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