Experiment (4)

HARDNESS TEST

Introduction:
this experiment about hardness and I will try to compare the hardness of two metals steel and aluminum by
using Vickers Hardness method. The hardness is defined as resistance of metal to plastic deformation, usually
by indentation. However, the term may also refer to resistance to scratching, abrasion, or cutting. It is the
property of a metal, which gives it the ability to resist being permanently, deformed when a load is applied.
The greater the hardness of the metal, the greater resistance it has to deformation.

HARDNESS MEASUREMENT METHODS :

There are three types of tests used with accuracy by the metals industry; they are the Brinell hardness test, the
Rockwell hardness test, and the Vickers hardness test. Since the definitions of metallurgic ultimate strength
and hardness are rather similar, it can generally be assumed that a strong metal is also a hard metal. The way
the three of these hardness tests measure a metal's hardness is to determine the metal's resistance to the
penetration of a non-deformable ball or cone. The tests determine the depth which such a ball or cone will
sink into the metal, under a given load, within a specific period of time. The followings are the most common
hardness test methods used in today`s technology:
1. Rockwell hardness test
2. Brinell hardness
3. Vickers

1- Brinell Hardness Test

The Brinell hardness test consists in indenting the metal surface with 10mm- diameter- steel ball at a load of
3000 Kg, for soft metals the load is reduced to 500 Kg to avoid too deep impression, for very hard metals we
use a tungsten carbide ball to minimize distortion of the indenter.
The load is applied for a standard time, usually 30 seconds, and the diameter of the indentation is measured
with a low power microscope after removal of the load. The average of two diameters of the impression at
right angles is made, and then the Brinell hardness number (BHN) is expressed as the load "P" divided by
the surface area of the indentation as shown in the following figure(1).

Figure(1)

1
2- Vickers Hardness

The Vickers harness test uses a square base diamond pyramid as the indenter. The vickers hardness number
(VHN) is defined as the load divided by the surface area of the indentation. In practice, the area is measured
by microscopic measurements of the lengths of the diagonals of the impression as shown in the following
figure(2).

Figure(2)

Ordinarily, the loads used in this test are in the range of 1 to 120 Kg, depending on the hardness of the metal
to be tested. The test isn't widely accepted because it is slow, requires careful surface preparation for the
specimen, and allows for personal error in determination of the diagonals.

3- Rockwell hardness test:

It is one of the most widely used hardness test, because it is a fast test, freedom from human error, ability to
distinguish small hardness differences in hardness and producing a small size indentation. The test uses the
depth of indentation from constant load as a measure of hardness. A minor load of 10 Kg is used to set the
specimen. Then, the major load is applied and the depth of indentation is automatically recorded on a dial
gage in terms of arbitrary hardness numbers.

Procedure
1. The indenter and anvil should be clean and well seated.
2. The surface to be tested should be clean, dry, smooth and free from oxide.
3. The surface should be flat and perpendicular to the indenter.
4. Tests on cylindrical will give low readings, the error depend on the curvature, load, indenter and hardness
of the material. Theoretical and empirical corrections for this effect have been published.
5. The thickness of the specimen should be such that a mark isn't produced on the reverse side of the piece.
6. The spacing between indentations should be three to five times the diameter of the indentation.

Conclusion:
Hardness of any metal depends on its density if the density is high, its hardness means that they have a direct
relationship. The hardness of the metal also depends on the speed of cooling
2
3
:Test materials
.Aluminum. 2- Steel -1

:Table of hardness reading

Aluminum hardness Steel hardness
1 18.5 103.7
2 26.1 104.9
3 22.6 109.9
4 33.5 107.8
5 61.6 118.1
Average hardness 25.2 106.6

NOTE: Average hardness calculated without fifth reads. The fifth reads come greater because the place in
.indentation where we test was tested before so the hardness come greater

.Aluminum is a soft and steel is a hard