COMPARISON OF MICROINDENTATION HARDNESS AND COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF NATURAL JADEITE JADE WITH TREATED JADEITE JADE

Three groups of natural jadeite jade and treated jadeite jade samples are tested in microindentation hardness and compressive strength. The results show that there are great difference in durability between natural jadeite jade and treated jadeite jade. The microindentation hardness of natural jadeite jade is highest, generally 700~1300kg/mm², equally about 1100kg/mm²; that of unfilled acid treated jadeite jade is lowest, generally 230~672kg/mm², equally about 490kg/mm²; that of filled acid treated jadeite jade is between above two, generally 500~900kg/mm², equally about 750kg/mm².Also, the compressive strength of natural jadeite jade is highest, 495~775MPa; that of unfilled acid treated jadeite jade is lowest, 231~273 MPa; that of filled acid treated jadeite is between above two, 363~579MPa.