GHATGE PATIL INDUSTRIES LIMITED
GUIDELINES FOR HARDNESS TESTING BRINELL HARDNESS NUMBER
PROCESS – 07 – DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
Document Number Revision / Update Date
GPIL-L03-P07-D&D-DI-A016-R08-22052019. 08 22.05.2019
1.0 Purpose:
This Inspection Method describes the methodology for hardness testing metal product and welds
using Brinell (3000kg, 10mm ball) Hardness Testing Methods.
This inspection method meets requirements of ASTM E10, ASTM E110, ASTM E18
2.0 Scope:
This procedure is applicable to determination of the Brinell Hardness of Metallic Material.
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3.0 Reference:
API 6A 21st edition
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ASTM A370
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ASTM E10
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4.0 Definitions:
Brinell Hardness – Brinell hardness test is an indentation hardness test using calibration machine
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to force a hard ball under specified condition in to the surface of the material under test and to
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measure the diameter of impression.
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5.0 Abbreviations:
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HBW: Brinell hardness number
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6.0 Equipments:
a) Brinell Hardness Testing Machine.
b) King portable Brinell hardness tester-chain type / frame.
c) Ball – Tungsten carbide [The standard tungsten carbide ball for Brinell hardness testing is 10
mm (0.3937 in.) in diameter with a deviation from this value of not more than 0.005 mm (0.0002
in.) in any diameter]
d) Measuring microscope [The divisions of the micrometer scale of the microscope or other
measuring devices used for the measurement of the diameter of the indentations shall be such
as to permit the direct measurement of the diameter to 0.1 mm and the estimation of the
diameter to 0.05 mm.]
e) Standard test block.
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7.0 Equipment calibration:
Hardness testing equipment used for acceptance shall be calibrated within one year in accordance
with documented calibration requirements in accordance with the latest editions of ASTM E10 .
The indenter Ball shall be verified for its size and form.
Measuring microscope shall be calibrated twice in a year.
Standard test block shall be certified for hardness value with traceability record (Refer Doc. No.
GPIL-L04-P10-QA&QC-DI-A150).
8.0 Test Specimen:
A) General:
The thickness of the piece tested shall be such that no bulge or other marking showing the effect of
the load appears on the side of the piece opposite the impression. In any event the thickness of
the specimen shall be at least ten times the depth of the indentation.
B) Surface Preparation:
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1) Appropriate surface preparation is necessary to avoid the detrimental effects of
decarburization, scale, cold work, etc. During surface preparation care should be taken to avoid
overheating or cold working the area to be tested. The following table provides recommended
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preparation depths for accurate hardness measurement C
PREPARATION DEPTH
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Material type Material condition Recommended preparation
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Low Alloy Steels Cast or Forged and Heat 1/8 – 3/16” (3.3-4.8mm)
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(such as A487,4130, Treated
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8620, 2 ¼ Chrome, etc).
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Martensite Stainless Cast or Forged and Heat 1/8 – 3/16” (3.3-4.8mm)
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Steels(such as 410, Treated.
CA15 etc.)and 17-4 PH
Low Alloy Martensitic Rough Machined and Heat 1/16– 1/8” (1.5-3.3mm)
Stainless Steels,17-4PH Treated
Austenitic Stainless Cast or Forged and Heat As required to obtain
Steels, Nickel and High Treated surface finish
Nickel Alloys(such as
316,625,718)
All Materials Finish Machined Surfaces As required to obtain
surface finish and
remove any cold work
Present.
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2) When necessary the surface prepared for hardness testing may require preparation by filing,
grinding, machining or polishing with abrasive material to permit accurate testing.
For Brinell testing where the diameter of the indentation will be determined using a Brinell microscope,
the surface shall be prepared so that the edge of the indentation is clearly defined, smooth, even and
free of oxide, scale and lubricants.
3) The following table provides recommended surface finish for accurate hardness measurement.
Recommended surface finish preparation
Hardness method Maximum surface roughness
(RMS)
Brinell : manually read impression
(optical scope) 125
Brinell : automatic machine
500
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impression
9.0 Testing procedure :
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1) Study the product testing requirements
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2) Ensure the testing machine, indenter, measuring microscope, standardized test block are under
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calibration control with traceability report.
3) Daily Verification :
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3.1 A daily verification of the testing machine shall be performed prior to making tests or
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whenever the indenter or test force is changed.
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3.2 The hardness value of the test block should be chosen as approximately same hardness
value as the material to be tested.
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3.3 The indenter ball to be used for daily verification shall be the indenter ball that is normally
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used for testing.
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3.4 Make at least two indentations on a standardized test block, the Brinell hardness testing
equipment shall be considered verified if the mean of these two values differs by no more
than 3% from the hardness value of the standardized test block.
10.0 Ensure the surface on which the impression is to be made shall be filed, ground machined, or
polished with abrasive material so that the edge of the impression shall be clearly enough defined
to permit the measurement of the diameter to the specified accuracy. Care should be taken to
avoid overheating or cold working the surface
11.0 Indentation procedure :
1) Bring the indenter into contact with the test surface in a direction perpendicular to the surface
without shock, vibration or overshoot. The angle between the indenter force-line and the surface of
the specimen should be perpendicular.
2) Apply the test force within 1 to 8 seconds.
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3) Apply the load to the specimen steadily, without a jerk. Apply the full test load for 10 to 15
second except for certain soft metals.
4) a) Perform hardness testing with king portable tester.
b) Place the tester on the part (ensure proper surface preparation).
c) Tighten the clamp (or chain) down as tight as possible
d) Close the valve and pump the pressure up to 3000 kg. By using controlled strokes
e) Pump 2 – 3 additional times only! Do not “hold for 15 seconds “
f) Open the valve and remove the tester
g) Read impression.
12.0 Measurement of indentation :
1) Two diameters of the impression at right angles to each other shall be measured and their
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mean value used as a basis for calculation of the Brinell hardness number.
2) When indentations are made on a curved surface, the minimum radius of curvature of the
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surface shall be two and a half times the diameter of the ball.
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3) For hardness conversion and brinell hardness number refer tables attached as per cameron
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procedure x-008065 and ASTM E-10.
13.0 Indentation spacing :
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1) The distance between the centers of two adjacent indentation shall be at least three times the
diameter of the mean indentation
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2) Ensure the distance of the center of the indentation from the edge of the specimen or edge of
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another indentation shall be at least two and one half times the diameter of the indentation.
3) Brinell hardness test should be carried out at an ambient temperature within the limits of 10 to
35 deg.C
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14.0 Hardness Test Location:
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Hardness test location as per GPIL Drawing & Process sheet.
For Example,
a) Gate Valve Body (6A) b) Bonnet (6A)
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15.0 Report:
1) Daily verification of hardness testing machine GPIL-L04-P10-QA&QC-DI-A115
2) Testing temperature.
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BRINELL HARDNESS NUMBERS FOR 0.05 MM GRADUATIONS
DIA. HBW DIA. HBW DIA. HBW DIA. HBW DIA. HBW
3.10 388 3.45 311 3.80 255 4.15 212 4.50 179
3.15 375 3.50 302 3.85 248 4.20 207 4.55 174
3.20 363 3.55 293 3.90 241 4.25 201 4.60 170
3.25 352 3.60 285 3.95 235 4.30 197 4.65 167
3.30 341 3.65 277 4.00 229 4.35 192 4.70 163
3.35 331 3.70 269 4.05 223 4.40 187 4.75 159
3.40 321 3.75 262 4.10 217 4.45 183 4.80 156
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Reviewed by – for suitability & Approved by - For suitability &
Created – Prepared By
adequacy adequacy
Barde M D Name Kulkarni N S Name Sankpal V K
Name
Sr. Manager Position SGM Position AVP
Position
Date 22.05.2019 Date 22.05.2019 Date 22.05.2019
Signature Signature Signature
GPIL - ISO - API - IMS REFERENCES
LEVEL 02 LEVEL 03 LEVEL 04
LEVEL 01
ISO-API-IMS ISO-API-IMS WORK ISO-API-IMS FORMS -
ISO-API-IMS MANUAL
PROCEDURES INSTRUCTION FORMATS - RECORDS
GPIL-L01-P05-MR-DI- GPIL-L02-P10-QA-QC- GPIL-L04-P10-QA&QC-
001 DI-017 GPIL-L03-P07-D&D-DI- DI-A115
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A016 GPIL-L04-P10-QA&QC-
DI-A150
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GPIL - ISO - API - IMS - STANDARD CLAUSE REFERENCES
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ISO 9001: 2015 API SPEC Q1 ISO 14001: 2015 ISO 45001:2018
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- - - -
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GPIL - ISO - API - IMS - Standard Clause References
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API SPEC 6D API SPEC 6A Customer Requirement
21st edition
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6.4.4.2,10.4.1.4,10.4.2.4 -
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AMENDMENT HISTORY
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Description of the Change / Amendment /
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Rev No. Date Approval Authority
Revision
01 21.10.2005 Originated Process Owner
02 22.02.2006 New Release Process Owner
procedure updated as per revised ASTM Process Owner
03 26.06.2007
E10
Test temperature % equipment verification Process Owner
04 26.03.2008
points added.
Hardness Brinell with king test procedure Process Owner
05 10.05.2010
added.
Work Instructions are revised to include IMS Process Owner
06 14.10.2017
& Product Standard clauses
Revised document to include requirements of Process Owner
07 28.04.2018 ISO 45001:2018
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08 22.05.2019 Revised document as per API 6A 21st edition Process Owner
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