TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Ayala Blvd., Ermita Manila

Experiment No. 3

Experiment with Vickers Hardness Tester

Bartolome, Dominick C. Cabrela, Noe G.

Cataulin, Carlos Luis Cepeda, Sofia Margaret

Cajurao, Noah B.

BSME 2F
COURSE & SECTION
MR. GONZALO SALVADOR JR. INSTRUCTOR

Date Performed Date Submitted

May 13, 2022 May 22, 2022
 Experiment No. 3
EXPERIMENT WITH VICKERS HARDNESS TESTER

I. 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; and

d is the average length of the diagonal of the indentation

Result and Discussion:

Vickers hardness testing, also known as microhardness testing, is mostly utilized for small
components and thin sections. An optical measurement system is used in the Vickers method. The
indenter is a diamond, and the indentation is measured and converted to a hardness rating. Indentation
with a diamond indenter measures a set of modest stresses and converts them into hardness value. Besides
being useful for analyzing a variety of materials, it can also be used for determining the size of
impressions made by test samples that have been polished adequately.

Table 1. Measured width of the indentation

Diameter (mm)
Specimen Average (mm) Hv
d1 d2
Copper 0.736 0.745 0.7405 67.637
Brass 0. 574 0.568 0.571 113.753
Bronze 0.347 0.313 0.330 340.569

For Copper: For Bronze:

v
H = = 67.6368368 v = 340.5693297
33
H =
Hv (copper) = 67.637 Hv (bronze) = 340.569

For Brass:
Hv = = 113.7525649

Hv (brass) = 113.753

As shown on the table above, Vickers hardness test was performed with 20 kg f and three
different metal specimens. The full load was applied for 5 seconds. A microscope is used to
measure the two diagonals of the indentation left in the material's surface when the load is
removed, and the average is determined. The table above shows the results of Vickers Hardness
test on Copper, Brass, and Bronze. After performing the experiment, Copper has the lowest Hv of
67.637, while Brass ranked second at 113.753; Bronze received the highest Hv of 340.569. The
data clearly shows that the average diameter plays a significant role in hardness testing. Hardness
results are positively affected when the average diameter decreases. Finally, the average diameter
and the Vickers hardness test result are inversely proportional.

Conclusion:

Vickers hardness testing is one of the ways to measure the hardness of a material. It is a
relatively simple and inexpensive nondestructive test. In the experiment; after testing bronze,
brass, and copper using diamond indenter; bronze had the smallest indentation mark compared to
the other tested specimens therefore it was the hardest among the three specimens with an Hv of
340.569. Copper had the lowest Hv of 67.637.