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Experiment No. 3
EXPERIMENT WITH VICKERS HARDNESS TESTER

Agtarap, Ralfh Vincent

Antonio, Thomas Jefferson E.
Arellano, Jeah Magna
Ariola, Jose Luiz Cruzat
Ayala, John Felix Espinosa

Date performed
April 20, 2022
Date Submitted
April 22, 2022

Engr. Gonzalo Salvador Jr

Professor
 Experiment No. 3
EXPERIMENT WITH VICKERS HARDNESS TESTER

I. OBJECTIVES:
1. To understand the principle, structure, and method of experiment of Vickers
hardness testing machine.
2. To determine the Vickers hardness number (HV) of selected non-ferrous metals.

II. MATERIAL:
Copper, Brass, Bronze

III. PROCEDURE:
1. Turn on the power switch.
2. Set a proper test load using the load control dial.
3. Select a proper load duration time using the timer knob.
4. Place the specimen on the anvil.
5. Elevate the specimen by turning the capstan approximately 1 mm between the tip
of the diamond indenter and the specimen.
6. Turn the turret until the objective is set on the front side.
7. Check the image using the microscope eyepiece.
8. Gradually elevate the specimen until it is focused.
9. Turn the turret until the indenter is set on the front side.
10. Press the start switch board for 1-2 seconds. Loading, load duration and unloading
operations are automatically performed and then the pilot lamp comes on once
again.
11. Turn the turret and confirm the focused condition. Measure the lengths of diagonal
lines in X and Y directions to calculate a mean value.
12. Calculate the hardness number using the formula:
 Where: P is the indentation load
d is the average length of the diagonal of the indentation.

RAW DATA:

Copper d1 = 0.736 d2 = 0.745

Brass d1 = 0. 574 d2 = 0.568

Bronze d1 = 0.347 d2 = 0.313

Note: All dimensions are in mm.

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

The table 1 shows the computed average length of the diagonal of the indentation, and
it’s computed HV Values.

Where P = 20kgf

Table 1
HV
Specimen d1 d2 dave.
(d1+d2)/2

Copper 0.736 0.745 0.7405 67.637

Brass 0. 574 0.568 0.571 113.752

Bronze 0.347 0.313 0.33 340.569

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. The full load is normally
applied for 10 to 15 seconds. In this experiment we use 20kgf that is applied for 5
seconds. The two diagonals of the indentation left in the surface of the material after
removal of the load are measured using a microscope and their average calculated. The
area of the sloping surface of the indentation is calculated. The Vickers hardness is the
quotient obtained by dividing the kgf load by the square mm area of indentation.

Copper, brass, and bronze are part of a category of metals. Copper is a pure metal, Brass
is a metal alloy primarily composed of copper and zinc, and Bronze is also a metal alloy
primarily composed of copper and tin, other metals may also added.

The experiment shows that Brass are harder than Copper and Bronze are generally harder
than Brass and Copper. Bronze is harder than Brass and Copper as a result of alloying
copper metal with tin or other metals.

V. COMPUTATIONS:

Copper Brass
HV= 1.8544 (20kgf) HV= 1.8544 (20kgf)
0.74052 mm 0.5712 mm
HV = 67.637 kgf/mm2 HV = 113.752 kgf/mm2

Bronze
HV= 1.8544 (20kgf)
0.332 mm
HV = 340.569 kgf/mm2

VI. CONCLUSIONS:

In this experiment we are able to understand the principle, structure, and method of
experiment of Vickers hardness testing machine and determine the Vickers hardness
number (HV) of selected non-ferrous metals which are Copper, Brass, and Bronze.

Reference:

https://www.sequoia-brass-copper.com/blog/metal-alloy-comparison-guide/