Calculate Vickers hardness from applied load and the arithmetic mean of two indentation diagonals.
Method notes
Hardness is a measure of the resistance of a material to plastic deformation induced by applied forces. Some materials, such as metals and ceramics, are harder than plastics or wood. Hardness is an important parameter correlating with wear resistance, and high-hardness materials are commonly used where wear must be restricted.
The Vickers Hardness test (ISO 6507) characterizes solid materials by pressing a diamond pyramid into the surface under a normal load. Hardness may vary as a function of load, so the applied load should be specified when HV hardness is reported.
- Use applied load in N and the arithmetic mean of two indent diagonals in mm.
- The Vickers indenter is a square-based pyramid with opposite sides meeting at the apex at 136 degrees.
- Square imprints are easier to measure than the round impressions from Brinell and Rockwell approaches, and Vickers uses one hardness scale rather than several Rockwell/Brinell scales.
- At low values below roughly 400 HV, Vickers hardness has been shown to match Brinell hardness. Use hardness-conversion tables with the usual material and test-method caveats.
- References: Wikipedia’s Vickers hardness test page and the Struers Vickers hardness testing knowledge page.
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