The indenter used in the Vickers test method is a diamond pyramid with a square base, whose opposite sides meet at the apex at an angle of α = 136°. It is applied to the specimen with a test force (to standard starting at 10 g) and held according to the holding time.
The lengths of both diagonals of the residual test indentation are optically measured. The Vickers hardness is then calculated from the average of the diagonals and the test force applied.
Advantages of Vickers hardness testing
- Virtually no limit to application of method due to specimen hardness.
- Can be used for tests on thin sheet-metal, small specimens or test areas, thin-walled pipes and thin case-hardened layers and electroplating.
- Hardness value not dependent on test load in macro range (test loads > 49.03 N).
- No measuring errors due to limited specimen elasticity in effective test force direction.
