Vickers Hardness
Also known as: Vickers hardness test, Vickers microhardness, HV
Vickers Hardness testing is a mechanical characterization technique for determining material hardness by pressing a diamond pyramid indenter into a material surface under controlled load and measuring the resulting indent dimensions. Invented by Smith and Sandland in 1922, Vickers hardness is applicable across an enormous hardness range (1-2000 HV) using the same indenter geometry at different loads. It is the most versatile hardness test, widely used in materials science, metallurgy, and quality control for assessing material strength and comparing alloy performance.
Key highlights
- Single indenter geometry applicable to broad hardness range (1-2000 HV) via load variation
- Reproducible and repeatable; standardized procedure (ASTM E92) ensures consistency across labs
- Excellent for microstructural analysis: measure hardness of individual phases or fine grains
- Non-destructive for small indents; minimal sample damage; permits multiple indents on same specimen
- Fundamental basis for subsequent nanoindentation techniques; well-understood mechanics
Intuition
This section is available to Pro members. Upgrade to Pro
How it works
This section is available to Pro members. Upgrade to Pro
When to use it
Vickers hardness is the most versatile hardness test, suitable for metals, alloys, ceramics, and composite materials across a huge hardness range. Use for material quality control, comparing alloy strength, assessing hardening effects (case hardening, nitriding), and studying hardness variations across phases or grain boundaries. Standard procedure for metallurgical assessment. Less suitable for very soft materials (use Brinell) or extremely thin films (use nanoindentation).
Strengths & limitations
- Single indenter geometry applicable to broad hardness range (1-2000 HV) via load variation
- Reproducible and repeatable; standardized procedure (ASTM E92) ensures consistency across labs
- Excellent for microstructural analysis: measure hardness of individual phases or fine grains
- Non-destructive for small indents; minimal sample damage; permits multiple indents on same specimen
- Fundamental basis for subsequent nanoindentation techniques; well-understood mechanics
- Measurement relies on optical microscopy; indent edge recognition errors introduce ±5-10% uncertainty
- Surface roughness significantly affects results; polishing effort is substantial
- Load-dependent; true hardness should be load-independent; soft materials show decreasing HV with load
- Long dwell times and thermal relaxation can affect results in metals; creep occurs at elevated temperatures
- Cannot measure elastic properties; only hardness (strength/plasticity)
Common pitfalls
This section is available to Pro members. Upgrade to Pro
Applications
This section is available to Pro members. Upgrade to Pro
Frequently asked
What load should I use for Vickers hardness testing?
Choose load such that indent diagonal is 20-80 micrometers (ideally 30-50 µm) for optimal optical resolution. Harder materials require higher loads; softer materials lower loads. Standard loads: 10, 15, 25, 50, 100 kgf. Always report load with hardness value.
What is Vickers hardness load-independence assumption and why is it violated?
Ideal hardness is load-independent (intrinsic material property). Real materials show hardness varying with load: softer at light loads (indentation size effect, ISE). ISE reflects strain gradients and surface effects. For comparison, use same load or extrapolate to infinite load.
How do I distinguish hardness from toughness?
Vickers measures hardness (resistance to plastic deformation). Toughness is energy absorption during fracture. A material can be hard but brittle (low toughness) or soft but tough. Vickers alone cannot measure toughness; fracture toughness tests or observation of crack patterns around indents provides toughness information.
Why do I get scatter in Vickers hardness measurements?
Main cause: surface roughness and polishing inadequacy; microstructure (grain size, phase distribution); measurement error in diagonal length. Minimize: polish thoroughly to >0.05 µm Ra, take multiple indents (≥3) and average, ensure optical clarity.
Sources
- 1.Smith, E., & Sandland, G. E. (1922). An accurate method of determining the hardness of metals with particular reference to high-hardness alloys. The Institution of Steel Engineers, 8, 623-641.
- 2.ASTM E92-17: Standard test methods for Vickers hardness and Knoop hardness of metallic materials. ASTM International.
- 3.Torrance, A. A., & Horne, A. (2014). The application of surface topography measurement techniques to microhardness testing. Tribology and Interface Engineering, 22, 213-226.
You have read it. What now?
Cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Vickers Hardness. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/materials-science/vickers-hardness