Measuring a coating’s hardness using the indentation method, the Elcometer 3095 Buchholz Hardness Tester consists of a bevelled disc indenting tool that is fitted into a stainless steel block exerting a constant test load of 500g (17.6oz).
The gauge is placed onto the coating and then removed after 30 seconds. The length of any subsequent indentation in the coating is measured using the graduated microscope.
The result is expressed as units of Buchholz Indentation Resistance using the scale provided.
| Measure of Buchholz Hardness | |||||
| Indentation Length | Indentation Resistance | Indentation Depth | Minimum coating thickness for which a measurement is valid | ||
| mm | µm | mils | µm | mils | |
| 0.8 | 125 | 5 | 0.2 | 15 | 0.59 |
| 0.85 | 118 | 6 | 0.24 | 20 | 0.79 |
|
0.9 |
111 | 7 | 0.28 | 20 | 0.79 |
| 0.95 | 105 | 7 | 0.28 | 20 | 0.79 |
| 1.0 | 100 | 8 | 0.31 | 20 | 0.79 |
| 1.05 | 95 | 9 | 0.35 | 20 | 0.79 |
| 1.1 | 91 | 10 | 0.39 | 20 | 0.79 |
| 1.15 | 87 | 11 | 0.43 | 25 | 1 |
| 1.2 | 83 | 12 | 0.47 | 25 | 1 |
| 1.3 | 77 | 14 | 0.55 | 25 | 1 |
| 1.4 | 71 | 16 | 0.63 | 30 | 1.18 |
| 1.5 | 67 | 18 | 0.71 | 30 | 1.18 |
| 1.6 | 63 | 21 | 0.83 | 35 | 1.38 |
| 1.7 | 59 | 24 | 0.94 | 35 | 1.38 |
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