Hardness standards

Project Description

Traceability in the field of hardness for GB BCS accredited laboratories will be transfered to IMGC, IT. To support the proposed role of IMGC as the EUROMET centre for hardness measurement a scientific and technical collaboration will be established between NPL and IMGC. To ensure a smooth transition to IMGC of traceability, equipment such as indenters, reading blocks and calibrated hardness blocks will be transfered from NPL to IMGC. This will be supported by discussions between the two Laboratories on primary hardness calibration procedures to ensure compatability with BS specifications is maintained. The Laboratories will collaborate on the future development in hardness standards.

Final Report 2003-07-14

NPL has been recently reconstituted the calibration service of hardness blocks, thanks to the realisation of new primary hardness standard machines.
The machines have been compared (on the most important hardness scales) with IMGC standards and the comparison has given positive results (compatibility of measurements between the two laboratories).
Upon request of NPL, after 10 years the agreement for the transfer of the traceability to IMGC for UKAS-accredited laboratories is therefore closed officially.