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Brinell Hardness Test — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateDental MaterialsBrinell Hardness TestMFDS Part 1

A hardness test applies a specified load through a tungsten carbide ball and calculates hardness from the measured diameter of the residual circular indentation. Which test is being described?

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Correct answer: DBrinell hardness test

The correct answer is D, the Brinell hardness test. A specified load is applied through a spherical tungsten carbide indenter, and the diameter of the permanent circular indentation is measured to calculate the Brinell hardness value. Rockwell testing may also use a ball on some scales, but it determines hardness from the change in indentation depth under minor and major loads, not from the residual indentation diameter. Vickers and Knoop are microindentation tests using diamond pyramidal indenters; Vickers produces an approximately square impression, whereas Knoop produces an elongated rhomboidal impression. Shore testing is principally used for polymers and elastomers and assesses durometer indentation or rebound behaviour, depending on the method.

Reference: Low S, Germak A, Knott A, Machado R, Song J. Developing definitions of conventional hardness tests for use by national metrology institutes. Measurement: Sensors. 2021;18:100096. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38868497/