Basic standards FWN 10 125

Issue 1977.12
Heat-treated parts Part 4
Procedure according to Vickers Page 1 of 4

1. Scope

1.1 Indentation load range 49…980 N (5…100 kp)

The hardness test according to Vickers can be applied to metal materials of

very small to very great hardness. This technique is particularly suitable for
very hard materials or layers and for small or thin samples.

1.2 Indentation load range 1.96…49 N (0.2…5 kp): small load range

The hardness test according to Vickers with small indentation loads can be
applied to metal materials of very small to very great hardness. This technique
is particularly suitable for samples whose thickness or test area is so small that
the indentation load according to DIN 10 133, page 1, cannot be applied due
to required minimum sample thickness or the necessary minimum distance be-
tween the impressions. This is also the case if, for example, the hardness
course in thin layers is intended to be determined. In addition, the hardness
test with small indentation loads is applied if the testing area of the samples is
Schutzvermerk nach DIN ISO 16016 beachten

intended to suffer as little indentation-related damage as possible.

2. Short description of the technique

2.1 Indentation load range 49…980 N (5…100 kp)

An indenter consisting of diamond and shaped like a straight pyramid with a

square base and a dihedral angle of 136° is pressed into the sample by the
chosen indentation force for a pre-determined time of application. The lengths
of the diagonals of the lasting indentation thus formed are measured, and the
arithmetic means is calculated based on these measurements. Vickers hard-
ness is calculated from the quotient of the indentation load and the surface of
the lasting indentation. For practical application, tables have been compiled
which show Vickers hardness.

2.2 Indentation load range 1.96…49 N (0.2…5 kp): small load range

An indenter consisting of diamond and shaped like a straight pyramid with a

square base and a dihedral angle of 136° is pressed into the sample by the
chosen indentation force for a pre-determined time of application.

The lengths of the diagonals of the lasting indentation thus formed are meas-
ured, and the arithmetic means is calculated based on these measurements.
Vickers hardness is calculated from the quotient of the indentation load and
the surface of the lasting indentation. For practical application, tables have
been compiled which show Vickers hardness.
 Basic standards FWN 10 125
Issue 1977.12
Heat-treated parts Part 4
Procedure according to Vickers Page 2 of 4

3. Term

Vickers hardness HV is proportional to the quotient of the indentation force F

and the surface A of the lasting indentation. This indentation is considered a
straight pyramid which has a square base with the diagonal d and the same
dihedral angle as the indenter.

if F is given in N

if F is given in kp
Schutzvermerk nach DIN ISO 16016 beachten

Figure 1:
Principle of the
hardness test

cf. figure 1

4. Short sign
4.1 For 49…980 N (5…100 kp)
The short sign of Vickers hardness is composed of the letters HV, the number
value of the indentation force F in N (or the number value of the indentation
force F in kp) multiplied with the factor 0.102 and the number value of the ap-
plication time of the indentation force in seconds after a slash. If the applica-
tion time of the indentation force is 10 to 15 seconds, it is not indicated in the
short sign. The hardness value stands in front of this short sign.

Examples:
640 HV 30 means: Vickers hardness is 640. It has been measured at an in-
dentation force F = 294 N (30 kp) and an application time of the indentation
force of 10 to 15 seconds.

180 HV 50/30 means: Vickers hardness is 180. It has been measured at an

indentation force F = 490 N (50 kp) and an application time of the indentation
force of 30 seconds.
 Basic standards FWN 10 125
Issue 1977.12
Heat-treated parts Part 4
Procedure according to Vickers Page 3 of 4

4.2 For 1.96…49 N (0.2…5 kp): small load range

The short sign for Vickers hardness is composed of the letters HV, the number
value of the indentation force F in N (or the number value of the indentation
force F in kp) multiplied with the factor 0.102 and the number value of the ap-
plication time of the indentation force in seconds after a slash. If the applica-
tion time of the indentation force is 10 to 15 seconds, it is not indicated in the
short sign. The hardness value stands in front of this short sign.

Examples:
640 HV 0.2 means: Vickers hardness is 640. It has been measured at an in-
dentation force F = 1.96 N (0.2 kp) and an application time of the indentation
force of 10 to 15 seconds.

180 HV 5/30 means: Vickers hardness is 180. It has been measured at an in-
dentation force F = 49 N (5 kp) and an application time of the indentation force
of 30 seconds.
Schutzvermerk nach DIN ISO 16016 beachten

1)

Vickers hardness 180 ± 15 HV 50 / 30

Vickers hardness

permissible variation

test according to Vickers

indentation force in kp 1)

application time of the indentation force in s

1)
= 490 N
 Basic standards FWN 10 125
Issue 1977.12
Heat-treated parts Part 4
Procedure according to Vickers Page 4 of 4

Kurve Nr.: curve number

Prüfkraft in F in N/kp: indentation force F in N/kp
Schutzvermerk nach DIN ISO 16016 beachten

Vickers hardness HV

Kurve Nr.: curve number

Prüfkraft in F in N/kp: indentation force F in N/kp

Vickershärte HV: Vickers hardness HV