AbstractIndentation tests are well established methods of measuring the hardness and toughness of surfaces, and the results can often be related to wear behaviour. Response to indentation in simple tests has been used in models for sliding wear, abrasion, and impact erosion; more sophisticated procedures can provide additional information about wear by stress corrosion. Despite the increased refinement of indentation fracture models, the scope for assessing the accuracy of theoretical predictions is limited considerably by the approximations used in the theories and the poor reproducibility of wear test data. An aspect of wear usually neglected is the brittle failure of edges and corners of components and tools. Recently, many of the experimental problems associated with using indentation to measure the susceptibility to edge flaking have been overcome, and it may soon be possible to recommend a test procedure for measuring this property.MST/452