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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Relationships of indentation hardness numbers to to other physical properties are demonstrated. They differ depending on the type of chemical bonding; metals, alloys ionic, covalent, and metal-metalloid. The properties are: shear modulus; ionic charge; band-gap density; polarizability; and formation energy, respectively. In each case the rationale is provided. The concept of a “bonding Modulus” is introduced. It is concluded that the conventional wisdom that hardness is a purely empirical property does not hold. Phase transformations and indentation hardness are connected broadly.