Hard facts
Theory of hardness testing
Back to overviewThe Vickers method is a static hardness testing method, which can be further characterised as follows:
- It is one of the standardised procedures (ISO 6507, ASTM E92, ASTM E384).
- The Vickers method has a test load range from 1 gf according to ISO respectively from 1 gf up to 120 kgf according to ASTM, which means that this method can be used for hardness testing across all load ranges (from the micro to the low-load through to the macro range).
- It is an optical method. This means that the size of indentation left by the indenter is measured to determine the hardness value of a test specimen.
- Indenter shape and material: The indenter is an equilateral pyramid (with a square base) made of diamond with a plane angle of 136°.