The Vickers hardness test is a widely used standard test method for measuring the hardness of metals. It measures the ability of a material to withstand penetration by an indenter when it is pressed with a fixed load. You can also use it to measure the indentation hardness of non-metallic materials, provided they are sufficiently dense. The method was invented by British engineers George Sandland and Robert L. Smith in 1921. This article explains the Vickers hardness test, its principle, and how it can be applied in various industries.
I. What is the Principle of Vickers Hardness Testing?
The Vickers hardness testing basic principle is to observe the ability of a material to resist permanent deformation from a specified load. All materials have a certain level of elasticity.
The Vickers hardness test measures the maximum load applied to an object without its deformation exceeding a specified value. To measure the hardness, a diamond indenter is pressed against a test sample, and a specified load is applied. The indent’s measurement is then used to calculate the value of Vickers hardness which is translated and converted using the Vickers hardness scale chart. You can use this method to test the hardness of almost all materials, and its scale is one of the widest among all other hardness tests.
