Posted by Hardness and Toughness are both engineering properties of a material. If you are confused between Hardness and Toughness then here is your solution.
What is Hardness?
Hardness: Hardness is resistance of a material to scratching.
Hardness is measured by Mohs Scale. Mohs Scale ranges from 1 to 10 where 1 being the softest material and 10 is for the hardest material.
Hardness could also be measured by Brinnel Hardness Number. This one is particularly used for alloys.
What is Toughness?
Toughness: The toughness of a material is its ability to resist impact load.
Tough materials are used where resistance to sudden or dynamic forces is important, such as in structural components, automotive parts, and safety gear. One more interesting thing to note is that materials are not necessarily hard.
Rubber is an excellent example of tough material but is not hard.
| Property | Hardness | Toughness |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Resistance to deformation or scratching | Ability to absorb energy before fracturing |
| Testing Methods | Hardness tests (Brinell, Rockwell, Vickers) | Impact tests (Charpy, Izod) |
| Behavior | Associated with surface strength | Associated with energy absorption capacity |
| Examples | Diamond, ceramics | Rubber, ductile metals like steel |
| Common Trade-off | Hard materials are often brittle | Tough materials may lack hardness |
Read Also-
Prestressed Concrete – Advantages and Disadvantages
Types of Estimation in Civil Engineering Projects
Average Salary of Civil Engineer in USA