Hardness test

In the lab of IFA Matsuzawa hardness tester (Vickers and Knoop method), Buhhler micro-hardness tester and portable hardness tester made by Proceq are used to examine a variety of metals and nonmetals.
The hardness tester and the micro-hardness tester are used on lab samples that are taken from element for characterization. Alternatively, portable hardness tester is used at field and on as is systems.

Hardness test examines the material resist to plastic deformation by penetration of indenter. By this method the mechanical property of the material can be measured.

The Vickers hardness test method

An indenter which is diamond in the form of pyramid with square base is loaded that is normally to the sample, in range of 5kg to 20kg (and between 50g to 500g in micro-hardness tests). The procedure forces the indenter into the surface of the sample and by measuring the diagonals length of the indentation on the surface, the hardness can be calculated.

L hardness test method

A magnetic body with round tip is released, by impelled spring force, against the testing surface from which it rebounds in some velocities. The magnetic body, which has a permanent magnetism, passes through a coil and induces an electric voltage during its forward and return travel. The voltage is proportional to this velocity and is processed to calculate the hardness value L. The surface quality need to be at least N 32 before performing the test. This method is applicable for materials with thickness of at least 3 mm.