TITLE OF EXPERIMENT

Hardness Test

OBJECTIVE
To study the hardness of different metallic materials using Indentec machine..

INTRODUCTION
Hardness is a measure of the resistance of a metal to permanent (plastic) deformation.
The hardness of the metal is measured by loading an indenter into its surface. The indenter
material which is usually a ball, pyramid, or cone, is made of a material much harder than the
material being tested. For most standard hardness tests a known load is applied slowly by
pressing the indenter at 90 degrees into the metal surface being tested. After the indentation
has been made, the indenter is withdrawn from the surface. An empirical hardness number is
then calculated or read off a dial (or digital display), which is based on the cross-sectional
area of depth of the indentation. The most common type of tests that widely used and adopted
in engineering practices are the Brinell, Vickers and Rockwell methods.
Rockwell Hardness Test
The Rockwell test differs from the Brinell and Vickers tests is not obtaining a value for the
hardness in terms of an indentation but using the depth of indentation, this depth being
directly indicated by a pointer on a calibrated scale. The indenter of hardened steel ball or
diamond cone can be uses in the Rockwell test. The procedure for applying load specimen is
illustrated in figure 3. A minor load of 10 kg is applied to press the indenter into contact with
the surface. A major (additional) load is then applied and causes the indenter to penetrate into
the specimen. The major load is then removed and there is some reduction in the depth of the
indenter due to the deformation of the specimen not being entirely plastic. The difference in
the final depth of the indenter and the initial depth, before the major load was applied, is
determined.

Vickers Hardness Test

In Vickers test, it involves a diamond indenter in the form of a square-based pyramid with an
apex angle of 136. The indenter is being pressed under load for 10 to 15 seconds into the
surface of the specimen under test. The result is a square-shape indentation. After the load
2
and indenter are removed the diagonals of the indentation d ( m ) are measured. The

Vickers hardness number HV is obtained by dividing the size of the load F (kgf), applied by
the surface area A (mm), of the indentation. Thus the HV is given by
2

HV =1.854 F /d

Typically a load of 30 kg is used for steels and cast irons, 10 kg for copper alloy, 5kg for pure
copper and aluminum alloy, 2.5 kg for pure aluminum and 1 kg for lead, tin and tin alloys. Up
to a hardness value of about 300 HV, the hardness value number given by the Vickers test is
the same as that given by the brinell test.

APPARATUS & MATERIALS

Apparatus
1. Rockwell hardness tester

Fig. 1 : Rockwell Hardness Tester

2. Vickers hardness tester

Fig. 2 : Vicker Hardness Tester

Materials
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Stainless Steel test piece

Brass test piece
Aluminum test piece
Copper test piece
Steel test piece

PROCEDURE
Rockwell Hardness Test
The Rockwell test method consists of indenting the test material with a diamond cone or
hardened steel ball indenter.
1. The light switch was switched on at the right lower side of the frame after the power
supple was connected to the electric source so that an image on the projection screen
is visible clearly.
2. A penetrator/ indenter was chose and it was placed into the hole of main rod
according to the requirement of the test. Screw was set tightened properly.
3. The setting of hardness test machine was configured to Rockwell hardness test.
4. A test force was chose according to the requirement of the test and the load-transfer
was knobbed at the right side of the frame was turned to the desired test force.
5. The test piece was placed on anvil after pushing the control handle to the backward.
The elevating hand wheel was turned until the test piece is in contact with the
penetrator. the hand wheel was turned slowly until a Beep sound was heard
6. The Rockwell hardness number that showing up on the hardness test machine
indicator was recorded.
7. 3 indentations were made on each specimen
i. Close to the center of the specimens.
ii. Close to the edge of the specimens.
iii. In between dents of (i) and (ii)
8. The average Rockwell hardness values of each specimen was determined.

Vickers Hardness Test

The Vickers hardness test method consists of indenting the test material with a 2.5mm
diameter hardened steel carbide ball subjected to a load 1kgf.
1. Steps 1 & 2 in the Rockwell hardness test were repeated.
2. The setting of hardness test machine was configured to Vickers hardness test.
3. The load transfer knob at the right side of the frame was turned to the desired test
force (1kgf).
4. The test piece was placed on anvil after pushing the control handle to the backward.
The elevating handwheel was turned until the test piece is in contact with the
penetrator. The s button on the control panel of hardness test machine was pressed.
5. The diameter of the indentation was measured using microscope. The readings of
indentation diameter, d1 and d2 were recorded after ensuring the baselines in the
projection screen were tangent to the indentation.
6. The Vickers hardness number was recorded that showing up on the hardness test
machine indicator.
7. 3 indentations on each specimen were made.
8. The Vickers hardness number is determined by
1.85 P
HV =
d2
where D is the diameter of the ball indenter in mm and P is the applied load in kgf

RESULT
Rockwell Hardness Test
HRA

Average

Aluminum
Copper
Stainless Steel
Steel
Brass

(i)
Range error
Range error
11.20
6.77
Range error

(ii)
3.10
5.56

(iii)
5.28
4.84

Table 1

Range error
Range error
6.52
5.72
Range error