A hardness testing method in which an indenter is pressed into the specimen using a definite load for a definite amount of time. A common Brinell test uses a 6,600 pound, or 3,000 kilogram, load. For Brinell tests, the indenter is typically a 0.4 inch, or 10 millimeter, hardened steel ball. However, other indenters, such as the 0.2 inch, or 5 millimeter, hardened steel ball and the 10 millimeter tungsten carbide ball, are also used. The two diagonals of the indentation formed by the indentor are measured and converted into a Brinell Hardness Number, or BHN.
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