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In all hardness tests, the material under the indent should be representative of
the whole microstructure (unless you attempting to ascertain the different
constituents in the microstructure). Therefore, if a microstructure is very coarse
and heterogeneous, you need a larger impression than for a homogeneous
material.
There are four main hardness tests, each with their own set of benefits and
requirements. There are different standards for these tests, which explain the
procedures and application of the hardness test in detail.
When selecting a hardness test method, important considerations include:
The Rockwell hardness test is a fast method, making it ideal for quick hardness
testing. We give a definition of the Rockwell hardness test, as well as practical
information of how to apply it in practice.
The Rockwell hardness test calculation (HR) is made by measuring the depth of
an indentation made with a diamond or tungsten carbide ball.
Indenters
Diamond cone
Main loads
HRE 1/8” diameter tungsten carbide ball indenter, 100 kgf major load
Surface preparation
Before application of the Rockwell hardness test, you must prepare the surface
of the material to be tested. The required surface condition for the Rockwell
hardness test depends on the load used.
The Rockwell hardness test is used for macro hardness tests, which are
generally defined as tests that use indentation loads below or equal to 1 kgf.
Therefore, a ground surface is usually sufficient, and sometimes no preparation
is required.
LOADS
Used for hardness testing of all solid materials, including metallic materials
Suitable for a wide range of applications
Includes a sub-group of hardness testing of welds
The Vickers hardness test is suitable for a wide range of applications, including
micro hardness testing. On this page, you can find a description of the Vickers
hardness test, practical information on how to apply it and a list of our micro
hardness testing machines for Vickers.
The Vickers hardness test is a versatile hardness test method, used for both
macro and micro hardness testing. It has a broad load range, and is suitable for
a wide range of applications and materials.
The Vickers hardness test is often regarded as easier to use than other
hardness tests: The process can be performed on a universal or micro
hardness tester; the required calculations are independent of the size of the
indenter; and the same indenter (a pyramidal diamond) can be used for all
materials, irrespective of hardness.
SURFACE PREPARATION
Before placing the sample material in the micro hardness testing machine, you
should ensure it is correctly prepared.
The required surface condition for the Vickers hardness test depends on the
load used.
LOADS
INDENT SPACING
Regardless of the micro hardness tester you use, when you perform a
Vickers hardness test, your indentation will deform the surrounding material and
alter its properties. In order to avoid misinterpretations of perceived hardness,
the Vickers hardness testing standards prescribe a certain distance between
multiple indentations.
For instance, this implies that CHD (see below) measurements using less than
HV0.2 should generally be avoided, as they will produce indents smaller than
20 µm.
The Rockwell hardness test calculation (HR) is made by measuring the depth of
an indentation made with a diamond or tungsten carbide ball.
Indenters
Diamond cone
Main loads
HRE 1/8” diameter tungsten carbide ball indenter, 100 kgf major load
The Knoop hardness test is an alternative to the Vickers test in the micro
hardness testing range. This page describes the Knoop hardness test and gives
you practical information on how to apply it in practice.
As in the Vickers hardness test, the indenter used in the Knoop hardness test is
a pyramidal diamond. However, instead of being symmetrical, the pyramid is
elongated. Knoop Hardness (HK) is ascertained by measuring optically along
the long diagonal of the indent.
Surface preparation
Before application of the Knoop hardness test, you must prepare the surface of
the material to be tested.
The Knoop hardness test is used for micro hardness testing (loads below or
equal to 1 kgf) and so the surface of the sample material should be highly
polished or electropolished before it is introduced to the micro hardness tester.
Loads
The Knoop micro hardness test should not be used if it produces diagonal
lengths less than 20 μm, as this will result in measurement inaccuracy.
Indentation time: 10-15 seconds
Sample thickness ASTM: At least 10 times the indentation depth
Sample thickness ISO: At least one-third of the length of the long
diagonal
When deciding whether to use the Knoop or Vickers micro hardness testing
method, there are a few things to consider.
The Brinell hardness test is used for larger samples in materials with a coarse
or inhomogeneous grain structure. This page describes the Brinell hardness
test in detail and gives you practical information on how to apply it.
The Brinell hardness test was originally developed in the late 1800s by the
Swedish engineer of the same name. He wanted to find a method to control the
quality/hardness of steel. His solution was to press a railway wheel-bearing ball
into the material and then measure the size of the mark it left. The method
proved reliable and in 1900 the Brinell hardness test was officially born.
Today, the Brinell test is performed using a Brinell hardness test unit. The
machine presses a tungsten carbide ball into the sample, and then optically
measures the diameter of the impression.
Good to know
HBW stands for Hardness Brinell Wolfram carbide. Wolfram carbide (= tungsten
carbide) underlines that newer Brinell standards call for the use of tungsten
carbide balls, as opposed to the (softer) steel balls previously used (HBS).
Values will differ at higher hardness.
Before performing the Brinell hardness test, you must prepare the surface of the
material to be tested.
Surface preparation
Before the sample material is placed in the Brinell hardness test unit, it must be
either:
Machined
Ground
Lapped
Polished
Loads
The Brinell methods are generally divided into four subgroups (HB30, HB10,
HB5, HB2.5), each suitable for a different group of materials.
Here are a few of the most important factors to consider to ensure an accurate
conclusion from a hardness test.
Deformations
Cutting and grinding may introduce deformations. These must be removed by
polishing down to 6.0, 3.0, or 1.0 μm, depending on the hardness test load.
For small loads (less than 300 gf1) the surface needs to be completely free of
deformations, and the specimens require oxide or electrolytic polishing to obtain
a completely damage-free surface. You should also take into account that soft
and/or ductile materials (i.e. for HV less than 120-150) are more sensitive when
it comes to introducing preparation artefacts.
In the table below, you can see the surface preparation requirements for the
different hardness tests.
DEFINITION OF HARDNESS TESTING LOADS
Officially, hardness testing loads are expressed in Newton (N). However,
historically, loads were expressed in kilogram-force (kgf), gram-force (gf), or
pond (p). The correlation between kgf, kp, and N is: 1.0 kgf = 1,000 gf = 1.0 kp
= 9.81 N.
The term micro hardness testing is usually used when indentation loads
are below or equal to 1 kgf
The term macro hardness testing is used when loads are higher than 1
kgf
If standards permit, use the highest possible load/force for largest indent to
ensure the most accurate results.
The loads used by each of the four methods for hardness testing of metallic
materials* comply with the different ISO and ASTM standards.
INDENT SPACING
During hardness testing, the indentation will deform the surrounding material
and alter its properties. In order to avoid misinterpretations of the perceived
hardness, the standards prescribe a certain distance between multiple
indentations.
Examples of indent spacing in the Vickers hardness test for metallic materials
For steel, copper, and copper alloys: Spacing between indents must be
at least three diagonal widths
For lead, zinc, aluminum, and tin: Spacing between indents must be at
least six diagonal widths
https://www.struers.com/en/Knowledge/Hardness-testing#