Discover the key differences between PIP and hardness testing

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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
Tensile
Testing
Measures yield stress
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a close up of a red x sign on a black background
Measures hardening behaviour
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a close up of a red x sign on a black background
Measures ultimate tensile strength
a close up of a green tick symbol on a black background
a close up of a red x sign on a black background
Measures uniform elongation
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a close up of a red x sign on a black background
Measures hardness numbers
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a close up of a green tick symbol on a black background
Able to map properties
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a close up of a green tick symbol on a black background
Quantitive actionable data
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Test small volumes of material
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a close up of a green tick symbol on a black background
Minimal sample preparation
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a close up of a green tick symbol on a black background
Fast testing times
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a close up of a green tick symbol on a black background
Low testing costs
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a close up of a green tick symbol on a black background

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

Explore our products

PLX-Benchtop

Compact and easy to use, the PLX-Benchtop extracts metal stress-strain curves in just a few minutes from small and irregular specimens, and maps properties across parts or welds.

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PLX-HotStage

An add-on module to the PLX-Benchtop that generates stress-strain curves at temperatures up to 800 °C in minutes.

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PLX-Portable

Extract metal asset yield and tensile strength quickly, reliably, and non-destructively, with industry-leading accuracy.

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