1. What is Hardness Scale Conversion?

Hardness scale conversion allows you to translate hardness values between different measurement systems including Mohs, Vickers, Brinell, and Rockwell scales. Each scale measures material resistance to deformation differently.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses established approximate conversion formulas between different hardness scales:

Process:

1. Convert from source scale to Vickers (HV)
2. Convert from Vickers to target scale

3. About Hardness Scales

Mohs Scale: Qualitative ordinal scale (1-10) based on scratch resistance.
Vickers (HV): Measures indentation hardness using diamond pyramid indenter.
Brinell (HB): Uses spherical indenter, good for softer materials.
Rockwell (HRC): Measures depth of penetration under load, common for metals.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter a positive hardness value, select source and target scales. Note that conversions are approximate and may have limited accuracy at scale extremes.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why are conversions approximate?
A: Different scales measure different aspects of hardness, and exact conversion depends on material properties.

Q2: What's the most accurate hardness scale?
A: Vickers is generally considered most accurate as it's not affected by material elasticity.

Q3: Can I convert between all scales?
A: Some conversions have limited ranges where they're valid (e.g., Rockwell C only between 20-70 HRC).

Q4: Why use different scales?
A: Different scales are optimized for different materials and hardness ranges.

Q5: How accurate are Mohs scale conversions?
A: Mohs conversions are least precise as it's an ordinal rather than quantitative scale.