Study on the Hardness Measurement of Earthenware : Focusing on the Cup of the Baekje

We have investigated the suitable measuring method and condition on the hardness testing for the earthenwares excavated from Poongnap mud castle in Hanseong Baekje period. The earthenwares which used on hardness testing have been classified according to Mohs hardness and external form and color. The Ultrasonic and Equotip testing method have used to the hardness testing on the surface of the earthenwares and the Rockwell and Micro-vickers testing methods have used to the hardness testing on the cross section of the earthenwares. As the results, the two methods applied to the surface of the earthenwares were very hard on the precise measurement and the measuring values were incompatible with the tendency classified according to Mohs hardness and external form and color. On the testing for the cross section of earthenware, the Rockwell-superficial hardness testing method was more suitable for the soft texture earthenware and highest reproducibility of the measuring value obtained at the test load and indentor are 15kgf and 1/16 “iron ball, respectively. The Micro-Vickers hardness testing method was suitable for the hard texture earthenware and highest reproducibility and accuracy of the measuring value obtained at the test load is 100gf. This results show strong possibility of progress on the classifying and comparing study for hardness of the earthenware and therefore active studies are expected on the field.