Vickers hardness testing

Precisely determine material hardness – verify material condition

The hardness of a material is a key parameter for its strength, wear behavior, and load-bearing capacity. Deviations in hardness can indicate faulty heat treatment, incorrect material composition, or process deviations.

In the Vickers hardness test, a pyramid-shaped diamond indenter is pressed into the material surface with a defined test force. After unloading, the diagonal of the indentation is measured microscopically, and the hardness value is calculated from this.

The method is suitable for a wide range of metallic materials and allows for both macro- and micro-hardness testing.

What characteristics are evaluated?

The following aspects, among others, can be assessed as part of the Vickers hardness test:

• Surface and core hardness
• Hardness profiles in edge zones
• Influence of heat treatment processes
• Deviations from target values according to specifications

The measurement results provide objective parameters that can be compared with drawing or standard specifications.

Supplementary testing methods

Hardness testing is often combined with other testing methods:

• Microstructural analysis – for microscopic analysis of the material’s condition
• Eddy current testing (ET) – for non-destructive evaluation of heat-treated conditions
• Crack testing – in cases of suspected hardening cracks or thermally induced defects

The selection depends on the material, component geometry, and test objective.

When is hardness testing appropriate?

Vickers hardness testing is used in particular:

• After heat treatment processes
• To verify case hardening or induction hardening
• In incoming inspection of safety-critical components
• For complaint or damage analyses
• For process validation in series production runs

Depending on the requirements, individual tests or systematic test series can be performed.

In which industries is hardness testing used?

Hardness testing is relevant in industrial sectors where mechanical strength and wear behavior are critical to function, including:

• Automotive and supplier industry
• Aerospace
• Machinery and plant engineering
• Energy and power plant sector
• Metal processing and heat treatment

The specific design of the test depends on the material, component geometry, and testing requirements.

Conducting hardness testing at Technomix

Hardness testing is performed based on defined test force ranges and coordinated test plans. The indentations are measured microscopically and documented. If necessary, hardness profiles or comparison series can be created.

The organizational integration takes place within the framework of our quality management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001.