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Glite Dictionary
microhardness

microhardness

8.2
A measure of how hard a very small part of a material is using special tools
  • noun
  • /ˌmaɪkroʊˈhɑrdnəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : microdureza
  • The scientist measured the microhardness of the material using a specialized testing device.

Examples

  • Researchers found that the microhardness of the alloy increased with heat treatment.

  • Understanding the microhardness of various ceramics can help improve their application in electronics.

  • All of the company's instruments to test in the Rockwell, microhardness, Brinell, and nonmetallic methods including IRHD and Shore are presented.

    Academic text (1994)

How Small

microhardness
  • Specialized
8.2
hardness
  • Specialized
5 4.8

Surface Forms

microhardness singular
microhardnesses plural

Morphology

microhardness = hardness (semi-transparent) = micro + hard + ness

The meaning is directly compositional as 'micro-' plus 'hardness', but the term is a specialized technical measurement label rather than an everyday word.

Etymology

The word microhardness is made from the prefix micro-, meaning 'small' like in microscope, and hardness from 'hard', so it literally describes how 'hard' a material is when you measure it on a very small scale.