Application Note

Tribology and Mechanical Testing Unit

Vickers and Knoop Hardness Tests Using a Diamond Indenter
on the Universal Materials Tester mod. CETR-UMT 2,
CETR-UMT 3, or CETR-APEX
per ASTM E92-82 (re-approved 2003) and ASTM E384-99
Summary of Test Method:
Vickers is an indentation hardness test using calibrated machines to force a square-based pyramidal diamond
indenter having included face angles of 136, under a predetermined force, into the surface of the material under test
and to measure the diagonals of the resulting impression after removal of the force. Vickers hardness number, HV is a
number related to the applied force Fz and the surface area of the resultant permanent impression:

HV = 2F z sin (a
/2) / d 2 = 1.8544 F z / d 2 ,

where Fz = force, kg, d = mean diagonal of impression, mm, and a = 136 (face angle of diamond).
As an alternative for thin layers, there is Knoop lower-load test with a rhombohedra-shaped diamond indenter. The
long diagonal is 7.114 times as long as the short diagonal. With this indenter shape, elastic recovery can be held to a
minimum. The Knoop test is conducted in the same manner, and with the same tester, as the Vickers test, but only the
long diagonal is measured. The Knoop hardness is calculated from:
2

HK = 14.229 Fz / d .
Vickers and Knoop Test Parameters per ASTM 384-99
Lubricant Temperature Applied Load
Duration
None
Ambient
1 to 1000 g
10 15 sec.
Vickers Test Parameters per ASTM E92-82

Lubricant Temperature
None
Ambient

Applied Load
1 to 120 kg

Duration
10 15 sec.

UMT or Apex Hardware Configuration:

!

4" Mounting Block - PN M30C570A-2

! Model DFH-120 Dual Friction/Load Sensor

- range 20 to 120 kg
! Model DFM-2 Dual Friction/Load Sensor
!
!
!
!
!

- range .02 to 2kg

Pin Holder - PN AM30BB534B
Vickers Diamond Indenter
Test Specimen
Stationary Specimen Table
Optional Visual Modules: Microscope, 3D Profiler

The UMT/APEX allows actual dynamic normal force

monitoring during the test. Thus, any discrepancy in
measured results can be verified with recorded force data.

1717 Dell Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008, USA

Phone: +1.408.376.4040 Fax: +1.408.376.4050

Email: productinfo@bruker-nano.com
Web: www.bruker-axs.com

Application Note
Tribology and Mechanical Testing Unit
UMT Software Test Setup:
UMT Options File:
Load the options file that contains settings for the DFH force/load sensor.
Test Sequence: (example)
The Test Sequence should consist of 1 sheet (repeated 5 - 10 times randomly distributed)
Carriage - applies a 1kg Constant Force for a Duration of 15 sec.
Spindle - Velocity is 0 revs/min.
Slider - is idle.
Data Collection:
The following should be checked under DataFile:
Fx - Friction Force
Fz - Normal Force
T - Time
Z1 - Carriage Position (Used to determine Depth)
Report: Diagonals measured on the 3D Profiler

Indent 1

Indent 2

Indent 3

Indent 4

Indent 5

Overall Avg.

Diagonal X
Diagonal Y
Avg.
Diagonal X
Diagonal Y
Avg.
Diagonal X
Diagonal Y
Avg.
Diagonal X
Diagonal Y
Avg.
Diagonal X
Diagonal Y
Avg.

0.332
0.332
0.332
0.332
0.332
0.332
0.329
0.342
0.3355
0.317
0.33
0.3235
0.32
0.33
0.325
0.3296

HV (Avg.)

16.82

HV (Avg.)

16.82

HV (Avg.)

16.42

HV (Avg.)

17.66

HV (Avg.) 17.55
HV

17.13

The UMT/Apex hardness accuracy is 2%, which is better than the standard specified 4% of the Vickers
hardness number of the standardized reference hardness test blocks.

Page 2

1717 Dell Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008, USA

Phone: +1.408.376.4040 Fax: +1.408.376.4050

Email: productinfo@bruker-nano.com
Web: www.bruker-axs.com