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160 • Chapter 6 / Mechanical Properties of Metals

alloys are contained in ASTM Standard E 140, “Standard Hardness Conversion

Tables for Metals.” In light of the preceding discussion, care should be exercised in
extrapolation of conversion data from one alloy system to another.

Correlation Between Hardness and Tensile Strength

Both tensile strength and hardness are indicators of a metal’s resistance to plastic
deformation. Consequently, they are roughly proportional, as shown in Figure 6.19,
for tensile strength as a function of the HB for cast iron, steel, and brass. The same
proportionality relationship does not hold for all metals, as Figure 6.19 indicates.
As a rule of thumb for most steels, the HB and the tensile strength are related
according to
For steel alloys,
conversion of Brinell TS1MPa2 5 3.45 3 HB (6.20a)
hardness to tensile
strength
TS1psi2 5 500 3 HB (6.20b)

Concept Check 6.4

Of those metals listed in Table 6.3, which is the hardest? Why?
[The answer may be found at www.wiley.com/college/callister (Student Companion Site).]

Rockwell hardness Figure 6.19 Relationships

between hardness and tensile
60 70 80 90 100 HRB
strength for steel, brass, and
cast iron. [Data taken from
20 30 40 50 HRC Metals Handbook: Properties
and Selection: Irons and
Steels, Vol. 1, 9th edition,
250
B. Bardes (Editor), American
Society for Metals, 1978,
1500 pp. 36 and 461; and Metals
200 Handbook: Properties and
Steels
Selection: Nonferrous Alloys
Tensile strength (103 psi)
Tensile strength (MPa)

and Pure Metals, Vol. 2, 9th

edition, H. Baker (Managing
1000
150 Editor), American Society for
Metals, 1979, p. 327.]

100

500
Brass Cast iron (nodular)
50

0 0
0 100 200 300 400 500

Brinell hardness number