MOHS HARDNESS SCALE

Mohs Hardness Scale is a scratch-hardness evaluation of materials and is the oldest hardness evaluation. The Mohs Hardness Scale (circa 1822) was developed by mineralogists and is based on the capability of a harder material to scratch the surface of a softer material. The ten minerals listed in Table M-14 were selected to form the Mohs scale, and each makes a permanent scratch (one that cannot be rubbed off) on all minerals listed below it. There is a very great difference between diamond and corundum compared to the relatively small differences between softer minerals. A human fingernail can scratch gypsum. A hardness approximation of a polished metal surface can be obtained by determining which pair of adjacent minerals scratch and do not scratch the sample. Hardened tool steel is between 8 and 9 on the Mohs scale. Low carbon steel is usually between 3 and 4, while annealed copper is between 2 and 3. The Mohs scratch

test is not normally applied to metals because of its semi-quantitative nature; however, a uniformly applied scratch with the tip of a sharp needle across the face of a polished and etched metallographic specimen can give useful information on the metal’s microconstituents. Careful observation and perhaps measurement of the scratch width along its length, can provide an indication of the relative hardness of the microconstituents. See HARDNESS TESTING.

 

Back to Glossary Index Page