ALVAREZ, John Edriane A.

BSME – 2B

Engr. Gonzalo Salvador Jr.

 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

Vickers hardness test method is mostly used for small parts, sections, and case
depth work. In Vickers hardness testing we use the square diamond cutter which in the
actual field gives 2 length of the diagonal indentation. The three non- ferrous specimens
that we used as test subjects are Copper, Brass, and Bronze, in this experiment we do not
set the diameter 1 and 2 as equal to each other because of the factors that are needed to be
taken accountable for a precise measurement. We applied 20 kgf of load to three
specimens to test which one has the higher Vickers hardness number. The results below
are the data gathered to further know the differences of each specimen when it comes to
their Vickers hardness number.
 As we can see, among the three specimens when applied with a 20 kgf of load,
the Bronze specimen has the greater value of Vickers hardness number of 340.569
kgf/mm2, which means it is harder than the Copper which has 67.637 kgf/mm2 of Vickers
hardness number and Brass that has 113.753 kgf/mm2 of Vickers hardness number. The
indentation diameter tells whether the specimen will have a greater Vickers hardness
value, it is because the more the diameter of indentation the less harder the material or
specimen is.

V. Conclusion

By all testing, the students are able to obtain the data needed to compute for the
Vickers hardness number by which it would it would tell what is the hardest among the
three non-ferrous metal which are the Copper, Bronze, and Brass. The data gathered from
the computations and formula to obtain the Vickers hardness number clearly stated that
the Bronze has the higher Vickers hardness number of 340.569 kgf/mm2 which indicates
it is harder than the Copper of 67.637 kgf/mm2 and Brass of 113.753 kgf/mm2 Vickers
hardness number.