The Hardness of Metals [Paperback]

This book is an attempt to explain hardness measurements of metals in terms of some of their more basic physical properties. It does not deal with the atomic and crystalline mechanism of elastic or plastic deformation, but starting with the elastic and plastic characteristics it shows that the hardness behavior of metals may be expressed in terms of these characteristics. It is hoped that this presentation will provide, for physicists, engineers, and metallurgists, a better understanding of what hardness means and what hardness measurements imply. The book places an emphasis on the physical concepts involved, so that the non-mathematical reader may grasp and appreciate the general physical picture without needing to follow the more detailed treatment.

1. Introduction
2. Hardness measurements by spherical indenters
3. Deformation and indentation of ideal plastic metals
4. Deformation of metals by spherical indenters. Ideal plastic metals
5. Deformation of metals by spherical indenters. Metals which work-harden
6. Deformation of metals by spherical indenters. 'Shallowing' and elastic 'recovery'
7. Hardness measurements with conical and pyramidal indenters
8. Dynamic or rebound hardness
9. Area of contact between solids
Appendix I. Brinell hardness
Appendix II. Meyer hardness
Appendix III. Vickers hardness
Appendix IV. Hardness conversion
Appendix V. Hardness and ultimate tensile strength
Appendix VI. Some typical hardness values
Name index
Subject index

This book is clearly written and illustrated and can be warmly recommended to all those who are interested in the hardness of metals. It is without doubt the most important work on the subject to have appeared for many years. --Nature

It is in its fresh and unusual approach to the subject that this book will appeal most. Work from a very wide field is collected and critically discussed, and the author is to be congratulated on a volume wl3!