Table of Contents

Objectives:...................................................................................................................................................2
Apparatus and materials:............................................................................................................................2
Vickers/Micro Hardness Test.......................................................................................................................2
Introduction and Theory..........................................................................................................................2
Vickers test..........................................................................................................................................2
Formula...................................................................................................................................................3
Procedure:...................................................................................................................................................3
Results:........................................................................................................................................................5
Discussion and Questions:...........................................................................................................................7
Recommendation........................................................................................................................................9
References:..................................................................................................................................................9

Table of figures
Figure 1 Micro-hardness tester...................................................................................................................2
Figure 2 set the indicator.............................................................................................................................4
Figure 3 setting the force.............................................................................................................................4
Figure 4 setting lens.....................................................................................................................................5
Figure 5 micrometer....................................................................................................................................5
Figure 6 indicator mark and lines................................................................................................................5
Figure 7 Relation between d and load.........................................................................................................6
Figure 8 Relation between VHN and d........................................................................................................7
Figure 9 Relation between VHN and load....................................................................................................7

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Objectives:

1. Find the Vickers Hardness number for Steel specimen.

2. Observe the relation between load and hardness number, and relation between average
diagonal length of the impression (d) and load, and d with VHN.

Apparatus and materials:

1. Micro-hardness tester machine (Vickers hardness).
2. Grinded and polished steel specimen.

Figure 1 Micro-hardness tester

Vickers/Micro Hardness Test

Introduction and Theory

The hardness is defined as the ability of material to resist scratches, plastics, deformation,
.abrasion and penetration

Vickers test
A method of determining the hardness of steel whereby a diamond pyramid is pressed into the polished
surface of the specimen and the diagonals of theimpression are measured with a microscope fitted with
amicrometer eye piece. The rate of application and durationare automatically controlled and the load

2
can be varied.Two types of indenters are generally used for the Vickerstest family, a square base
pyramid shaped diamond for testing in a Vickers hardness tester and a narrow rhombusshaped indenter
for a Knoop hardness test

The principle of the Vickers Hardness method is similar to the Brinell testThe Vickers indenter is a 136
degrees square-based diamond pyramid.The indenter is pressed into the sample by an accurately
controlled testforce of 1 to 1000 gf.

Formula

:The Vickers hardness number (HV) is calculated using the formulas are

P 2
H nv= 458
1. × fgK
( mm
/ )
d2

d 1+ d 2
d= mμ( )
0 .1× 2gam
× .
:Where

F: the applied load (measure in kilograms-force)

D: the area of the indentation (measured in square millimeters)

.In our experiment just Vickers number can be calculated, since it is only available in our lab

Procedure:
**In this experiment steel that was used is already grinded and polished.

1. We but the specimen under the micro tester and set the indicator as shown in figure 2.

Figure 2 set the indicator

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 2. After setting the specimen we price Start to start loading the force as we set as shown in
figure 3.

Figure 3 setting the force

3. After that we but lens to see what happens in specimen surface and we celebrate the lines
be using the micrometer to calculate d1 and d2. As shown in figure 4, 5and 6.

Figure 4 setting lens

Figure 5 micrometer

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Figure 6 indicator mark and lines

4. We repeat this steps using different forces (50,100,200,300,500and 1000) and take reading
the micrometer and put it in the table.

Load (gf) D1 (n.m) D2 (n.m)

50 56.5 56.5
100 67 68
200 80.5 82
300 102 111
500 123 116
1000 164.5 169.4

Results:
After making the experiment, tacking the observations and the numbers and with applying HV Rule, we
are enabling to calculate Vickers numbers. We use 400 total mag.

D average (nm)*0.001mm HV (kgf/mm2)

1.4125 46462.526
1.6875 65106.17284
2.03125 89869.63314
2.6625 78460.62289
2.9875 103863.7279
4.17375 106428.2364

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 P d 1 +d 2
H vn =1. 854× 2
∗0 . 001( gf /mm2 ) d= ∗0 . 001(mm)
d 0 .1×2×mag .

4.5

3.5

2.5

2 Total

1.5

0.5

0
50 100 200 300 500 1000

Figure 7 Relation between d and load

120000

100000

80000

60000
Total

40000

20000

0
1.4125 1.6875 2.0325 2.6625 2.9875 4.17375

Figure 8 Relation between VHN and d

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120000

100000

80000

60000
Total

40000

20000

0
50 100 200 300 500 1000

Figure 9 Relation between VHN and load

Discussion and Questions:

1. Comment on your results.

As a result of the previous exp. We see that when the load is increased and the diameter of indentation
increased, the hardness number (HVN) is decreased and the hardness of the specimen is decreased.

2. what are the types of hardness tests?

1. Rockwell and superficial Rockwell hardness test.

2. Brinell hardness test.

3. Vicker hardness test.

4. Knoop micro hardness test.

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3. What are the main differences between Brinell and Vickers hardness' test?

The Brinell hardness test method consists of indenting the test material with a 10 mm diameter
hardened steel or carbide ball subjected to a load of 3000 kg. For softer materials the load can be
reduced to 1500 kg or 500 kg to avoid excessive indentation.

Compared to the Vickers hardness test method, Brinell ball makes the deepest and widest indentation,
so the test averages the hardness over a wider amount of material, which will more accurately account
for multiple grain structures and any irregularities in the uniformity of the material. This method is the
best for achieving the bulk or macro-hardness of a material, particularly those materials with
heterogeneous structures.

The Vickers hardness test method consists of indenting the test material with a diamond indenter, in the
form of a right pyramid with a square base and an angle of 136 degrees between opposite faces
subjected to a load of 1 to 100 kgf. Several different loading settings give practically identical hardness
numbers on uniform material, which is much better than the arbitrary changing of scale with the Brinell
hardness test method. The advantages of the Vickers hardness test are that extremely accurate readings
can be taken, and just one type of indenter is used for all types of metals and surface treatments.
Although thoroughly adaptable and very precise for testing the softest and hardest of materials, under
varying loads, the Vickers machine is a floor standing unit that is more expensive than the Brinell.

4. How hardness number can be converted from one scale to other?

Hardness conversion between different methods and scales cannot be made mathematically exact for a
wide range of materials. Depends on different loads, different shape of indenters, homogeneity of
specimen, cold working properties and elastic properties all complicate the problem. All tables and
charts should be considered as giving approximate equivalents, particularly when converting to a
method or scale which is not physically possible for the particular test material and thus cannot be
verified.

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Recommendation

We recommend that you provide more equipment and all the tools needed for the operations that all
students can do the experiment to the fullest.

References:

Engineering material and metallurgy laboratory manual.