Discover the key differences between PIP and hardness testing
PIP vs hardness testing
PIP testing (Profilometry-based Indentation Plastometry) is the test method that drives the PLX-Benchtop, a compact mechanical testing system that measures metal stress-strain curves and hardness numbers in just a few minutes.
While there are some commonalities between PIP and hardness testing, major differences lie in the data delivered by each method.
Explore a comparison of the PLX-Benchtop and hardness test machines to see which is the best indentation-based testing technology for you.
Features
PIP Testing
Hardness Testing
Measures yield stress
Measures hardening behaviour
Measures ultimate tensile strength
Measures uniform elongation
Measures hardness numbers
Able to map properties
Quantitive actionable data
Test small volumes of material
Minimal sample preparation
Fast testing times
Low testing costs
Why is a stress-strain curve better than a hardness number?
A hardness number is not a fundamental material property. Hardness tests into the same material generate different hardness numbers if the tip shape and/or peak applied load are changed. As a result, hardness numbers can’t be used to make important engineering decisions with any real degree of confidence. They can only be used in a semi-quantitative way to rank materials.
This is not true of the stress-strain curve which is a far more meaningful measure of a material's strength characteristics. A stress-strain curve reveals many of the fundamental mechanical properties of a metal such as its yield stress, its hardening behaviour, and the ultimate tensile strength. These properties are used to accurately determine how materials and components behave structurally under loads, and feed data into finite element models, engineering design calculations, life extension calculations and more.
Read more in our technical blog article
This is not true of the stress-strain curve which is a far more meaningful measure of a material's strength characteristics. A stress-strain curve reveals many of the fundamental mechanical properties of a metal such as its yield stress, its hardening behaviour, and the ultimate tensile strength. These properties are used to accurately determine how materials and components behave structurally under loads, and feed data into finite element models, engineering design calculations, life extension calculations and more.
Read more in our technical blog article
