What is Brinell Hardness?
Brinell Hardness
Indentation hardness from a hardened steel or tungsten carbide ball indenter and applied force, evaluated by measuring the impression diameter and computing HBW or legacy BHN.
Definitions, key equations, and cross-links to Vector standards coverage and compatible equipment.
Materials Testing Glossary
Definitions, key equations, and cross-links to Vector standards coverage and compatible equipment.
27 terms across 6 categories
Reference for materials testing terminology
The Vector materials testing glossary explains mechanical, impact, hardness, rheology, and sample-preparation terms used in ISO, ASTM, and EN laboratory methods. Each entry links to related standards, interactive calculators where applicable, and compatible Vector test equipment.
Use these pages to align procurement specs, train operators, and support quality documentation—always confirm binding requirements in the official standard text and your accredited procedures.
Category
27 terms shown
Material testing 14 terms
What is Elongation at Break?
Elongation at Break
Permanent tensile strain after fracture, usually reported as percentage elongation A using original gauge length L0; depends strongly on L0/specimen proportionality.
What is Extensometer?
Extensometer
Strain-measuring device attached to a specimen gauge section so tensile machines report elongation and modulus independent of crosshead displacement and grip compliance.
What is Hardness Scale Conversion?
Hardness Scale Conversion
Empirical relationships between Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers, and Shore hardness scales for metals and plastics; approximate only and material-specific per ASTM E140 guidance.
What is Microhardness?
Microhardness
Low-force Vickers or Knoop indentation to measure hardness in small volumes—thin films, coatings, weld HAZ, and microstructural constituents.
What is Proof Stress?
Proof Stress
Stress at a specified plastic strain offset on the engineering stress–strain curve when a distinct yield point is absent; Rp0.2 at 0.2% offset is the most common metals reporting convention.
What is Reduction of Area?
Reduction of Area
Percent decrease in minimum cross-sectional area after tensile fracture relative to the original area; a ductility indicator reported alongside elongation at break.
What is Rockwell Hardness?
Rockwell Hardness
Indentation hardness determined by measuring residual depth after a defined preliminary force, total test force, and recovery interval, expressed on scales such as HRC, HRB, and HRA.
What is Shore Hardness?
Shore Hardness
Rebound or spring-indentation hardness of elastomers and plastics using durometer scales, most commonly Shore A for flexible rubbers and Shore D for rigid polymers.
What is Stress–Strain Curve?
Stress–Strain Curve
The graph of stress versus strain in a tensile or compression test; engineering curves use original area A0, while true curves use instantaneous area and reveal continued hardening after necking.
What is Ultimate Tensile Strength?
Ultimate Tensile Strength
Maximum engineering stress σUTS = Fmax/A0 reached in a monotonic tensile test, also called tensile strength Rm in ISO metals vocabulary; necking causes true stress to exceed engineering stress afterward.
What is Vickers Hardness?
Vickers Hardness
Microindentation hardness from a square-based diamond pyramid indenter, reported as HV from the impression diagonal length and applied force.
What is Yield Strength?
Yield Strength
The stress at which a material begins to deform plastically under monotonic loading; metals are often reported as Rp0.2 using the 0.2% plastic strain offset on the engineering stress–strain curve.
What is Young's Modulus?
Young's Modulus
The proportionality constant E between uniaxial stress and elastic strain in Hooke's regime (σ = Eε); slope of the initial linear region on a stress–strain curve for isotropic materials.
Testing & Analysis Systems 3 terms
What is Blaine Fineness?
Blaine Fineness
Cement fineness index from air permeability through a packed powder bed, expressed as Blaine specific surface area (m²/kg) per EN 196-6 or ASTM C204.
What is Cement Flow (Flow Table)?
Cement Flow (Flow Table)
Spread of cement paste or mortar on a flow table after standardized drops, expressed as percent flow or spread diameter per ASTM C1437 using apparatus per ASTM C230.
What is Vicat Setting Time?
Vicat Setting Time
Initial and final setting times of cement paste measured by needle penetration under defined load and temperature per EN 196-3 or ASTM C191.
Sieving Systems 1 terms
Melt flow index (MFI) 2 terms
What is Melt Flow Index?
Melt Flow Index
MFI (MFR) is the extruded mass of polymer per unit time through a standard die under specified temperature and piston load, typically reported in g/10 min.
What is Melt Volume Rate?
Melt Volume Rate
MVR is the volumetric flow rate of molten polymer through the standard MFI die, reported in cm³/10 min; relates to MFR through melt density at test temperature.
Sample preparation 3 terms
What is Grinding and Polishing?
Grinding and Polishing
Sequential abrasive steps from coarse SiC paper through diamond suspensions to remove deformation and achieve a scratch-free surface for optical etching and microscopy.
What is Metallographic Mounting?
Metallographic Mounting
Encapsulating a specimen in resin (hot compression or cold pour) to support edges, retain fragile features, and produce a flat surface for grinding and polishing.
What is Specimen Preparation?
Specimen Preparation
Cutting, grinding, and finishing steps that produce test pieces with required geometry, surface integrity, and alignment before mechanical, impact, or microstructural testing.
Impact testing 4 terms
What is Absorbed Impact Energy?
Absorbed Impact Energy
Kinetic energy lost by the pendulum striker when a notched specimen fractures, reported in joules after friction corrections per Charpy or Izod methods.
What is Charpy Impact Test?
Charpy Impact Test
A notched bar is broken by a swinging pendulum striker; absorbed energy KV or KU (joules) characterizes toughness and ductile-to-brittle transition versus temperature.
What is Ductile-to-Brittle Transition?
Ductile-to-Brittle Transition
Temperature range where ferritic steels shift from high absorbed impact energy (ductile) to low energy (brittle) fracture; mapped with Charpy or Izod energy versus test temperature.
What is Izod Impact Test?
Izod Impact Test
A notched cantilever specimen is struck on its notched face by a pendulum; absorbed energy reflects toughness with a different stress distribution than Charpy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Charpy and Izod impact tests?
Charpy tests a notched bar supported on two anvils with a striker on the opposite face; Izod tests a cantilevered notched bar. Both report absorbed energy in joules, but notch geometry, specimen orientation, and governing standards differ (ISO 148-1 / ASTM E23 for Charpy; ISO 180 / ASTM D256 for Izod).
What is yield strength (Rp0.2)?
Yield strength is the stress at which plastic deformation begins. When no sharp yield point exists, proof stress Rp0.2 is defined at 0.2% plastic strain offset on the engineering stress–strain curve per ISO 6892-1 and ASTM E8.
How is melt flow index (MFI) reported?
MFI (melt mass-flow rate) is the mass of polymer extruded through a standard die in a set time, normalized to grams per 10 minutes under specified temperature and piston load.
Can I convert between Rockwell, Brinell, and Vickers hardness?
Empirical conversions exist (ASTM E140 family) but are approximate—use the method required by your specification and validate on the material grade. See our hardness converter calculator and individual hardness term pages.
Does glossary content replace accredited test methods?
No. These entries are educational summaries. Binding compliance requires the official standard document, calibrated equipment, and your laboratory quality system.