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Hardness reference blocks

Vickers, Rockwell, Knoop and Brinell

Hardness reference blocks, also referred to as test plates, are used for indirect calibration methods and periodic daily inspection of hardness testing instruments.

The use of high quality, consistent hardness reference blocks with minimal hardness deviation is essential to ensure the operational reliability of hardness testing machines. To ensure traceability to the hardness standard, the reference blocks must have a minimal hardness deviation and be calibrated with minimal measurement uncertainty.

Hardness reference blocks from ZwickRoell are calibrated according to UKAS standards in the Indentec UKAS-accredited lab to ensure that every block is reliable and meets the required standard. Our hardness reference blocks cover the full spectrum of hardness test methods, scales and values and are used in a number of different industries around the world, including aerospace, automotive, science, engineering, manufacturing, medicine and primary metal production.

Trust through accreditation Vickers Rockwell & Superficial Knoop and micro-Knoop Brinell Additional options

Trust through calibration

The calibration lab at Indentec is accredited by UKAS, the national accreditation organization for Great Britain. As part of the European and international accreditation organizations and a signatory to the ISO/IEC 17011 agreements, UKAS provides global recognition to ensure that the highest standards are met, giving customers full confidence in ZwickRoell Indentec products.

Every hardness reference block from ZwickRoell Indentec is delivered with a UKAS certificate.

Vickers hardness reference blocks

  • We deliver hardness reference blocks for macro-Vickers, low load Vickers and micro-Vickers hardness scale, which cover the entire range of hardness values.
  • All hardness reference blocks are delivered with a UKAS calibration certificate.

The following hardness values by Vickers hardness scale are available:

Rockwell & Superficial Rockwell hardness reference blocks

  • We supply hardness reference blocks that cover both Rockwell and Superficial Rockwell hardness, with blocks for all scales that cover the range of hardness values.
  • All reference blocks are delivered with a UKAS calibration certificate.

The following hardness values by scale are available:

Hardness reference blocks for Knoop and micro-Knoop

  • We supply hardness reference blocks for a wide range of Knoop scales and hardness values.
  • All reference blocks are delivered with a UKAS calibration certificate.

Hardness reference blocks to Knoop for the following values by scale are available:

Brinell hardness reference blocks

We supply hardness reference blocks for a series of Brinell hardness scales, which cover a wide range of hardness values. All reference blocks are delivered with a UKAS calibration certificate. See below for the values by scale options.

Additional options for hardness reference blocks

  • Adding grid lines to the reference block:

    • Rockwell standards; 3 mm or 4 mm

    • Macro-Vickers reference blocks; 4 mm

    • Brinell; 4 mm, 11 mm or 18 mm

  • Recalibration of existing hardness reference blocks

  • Additional calibration of a new hardness reference block

Vickers hardness reference blocks
Rockwell & superficial hardness reference blocks
Knoop hardness reference blocks
Brinell hardness reference blocks

Vickers hardness reference blocks

Nominal Vickers hardness reference block values
Indents produced <20µm are not covered by ISO/ASTM standard

Standard loads (Kg) available:
HV2 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV3 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV5 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV10 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV20 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV30 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV50 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV100 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900

Nominal low force Vickers & micro Vickers reference block values
Low force loads (Kg) available:HV0.2 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV0.3 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV0.5 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV1 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900


Micro force loads (Kg) available:
HV0.010 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV0.025 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV0.050 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900
HV0.1 40 70 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 900

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