Micro Hardness Testers
Description
Micro Hardness Testers are precision instruments designed to measure the hardness of materials on a microscopic scale. They assess the resistance of a material to deformation by applying a known force through an indenter and measuring the resulting indentation. These testers are particularly useful for evaluating small samples or thin layers, where traditional hardness testing methods may not be applicable.
Working Principle
Micro Hardness Testers operate by pressing an indenter, which can be conical, pyramidal, or spherical, into the surface of a material with a specific force. The hardness is determined by measuring the dimensions of the indentation left by the indenter. This method allows for the evaluation of the material's resistance to deformation and is particularly useful for testing the hardness of coatings, surface treatments, and small components. The ability to test small areas with minimal sample preparation makes micro hardness testing a valuable tool in material science and engineering.
Applications
Micro Hardness Testers are used in a variety of applications, including:
- Evaluating the hardness of thin films and coatings, such as paint, sealants, and vapor deposits.
- Testing the hardness of small components in microelectronics and precision engineering.
- Assessing the quality of surface treatments and coatings in automotive and aerospace industries.
- Measuring the hardness of weld zones and heat-affected areas in metalworking.
Advantages over other Hardness Testers
Micro Hardness Testers offer several advantages over other types of hardness testers:
- They can test very small samples or thin layers that are not suitable for larger-scale hardness tests.
- Minimal sample preparation is required, often only needing surface polishing.
- They provide precise measurements of hardness in localized areas, which is essential for evaluating surface treatments and coatings.
Limitations
Micro Hardness Testers have some limitations, including:
- They may not be suitable for testing large or bulk materials due to their focus on small-scale measurements.
- The accuracy of the test can be affected by surface roughness and sample preparation.
- Indentation measurements can be influenced by the geometry of the indenter and the applied load, requiring careful calibration and standardization.
Considerations
When selecting and using Micro Hardness Testers, several considerations should be taken into account:
- Initial Costs: These instruments can be expensive due to their precision and specialized nature.
- Operating Expense: Regular calibration and maintenance are necessary to ensure accurate results, which can add to operating costs.
- Durability: The durability of the tester depends on the quality of the components and the frequency of use.
- Accuracy: Ensuring accurate measurements requires careful calibration and adherence to testing standards.
- Replacement and Maintenance Costs: Indenters and other components may need periodic replacement, and maintenance costs should be factored into the overall expense of using these testers.
from Tinius Olsen, Inc.
The model Evotech 2030 Micro Vickers, Vickers, Knoop Hardness testing machines is a new generation of instrument, improving conventional hardness testing methods and focused on eliminating user influence on the test results. The unique force actuator system utilizes an electronically controlled... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Test: Vickers / Knoop
from Tinius Olsen, Inc.
The model Evotech 2050 Micro-Vickers, Vickers Hardness testing machines are a new generation that use a unique, electronically controlled, closed loop system and advanced force sensor technology to achieve absolute accuracy, reliability and repeatability, on each of the forces used for a test. The... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Test: Brinell; Vickers / Knoop
from AMETEK Sensors, Test & Calibration
The Newage ® MT91 System is an automatic microhardness testing system that uses the Rockwell method for the hardness result. Hardness is measured based on the depth of penetration rather than using an optical system to determine hardness based on the impression diameter. The main advantages of... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Rockwell
from LECO Corporation
The AMH Series supports both microindentation and Macro/Vickers hardness testing in fully automatic and semi-automatic configurations for greater precision, accuracy, and efficiency. A patented method allows you to create a path for indentation patterns directly on an overview image of the part,... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro; Macro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Vickers / Knoop
from Fischer Technology, Inc.
FISCHERSCOPE HM2000 is a professional microhardness measurement instrument for the analysis of mechanical and elastic properties of materials by means of nanoindentation. Its very rigid and dimensionally stable construction reduces the influence of vibrations and fluctuations in temperature. [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Vickers / Knoop; Berkovich or Spherical Indentors
from ZwickRoell LP
The DuraScan micro hardness tester is ideal for solving a wide variety of test tasks providing you with an efficient laboratory companion for hardness testing. A wide variety of applications are covered through the use of templates and help settings according to the current specifications of the... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Brinell; Vickers / Knoop
from Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc.
The DUH series uses low electromagnetic force to press an indenter into a specimen and measure the depth during indentation up to 10 µm. A triangular pyramid indenter with a tip angle of 115° is used as standard. This process determines dynamic changes that occur in the specimen's resistance to... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Vickers / Knoop
from AMETEK Sensors, Test & Calibration
The Newage ® HMV-2 Series microhardness tester is designed for measuring the hardness of small parts and metallic structures used in precision equipment, processed surface layers, and metal plating layers. The HMV-2 Series is ideal for metallographic research and product quality control. It... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Brinell (optional feature); Vickers / Knoop (optional feature)
from LECO Corporation
Perfect for a production facility or a research lab, LECO's LM Series Microindentation Hardness Testing Systems offer a variety of models (including analog and digital) with the advanced features that meet your requirements and budget. Manual or auto turret. A variety of objectives, from 2.5X to... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Vickers / Knoop
- Test Load: 1.00E-3 to 2
from Fischer Technology, Inc.
PICODENTOR HM500 is Fischer's highest performance microhardness measurement instrument. Normally, only very elaborate and extremely costly measurement instruments offer similarly high resolution and the corresponding accuracy of force and travel measurement. By contrast, PICODENTOR HM500 combines... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Vickers / Knoop; Berkovich, Martens, Indentation
- Test Load: 5.10E-7 to 0.0510
from ZwickRoell LP
Robust and versatile - the key characteristics of the DuraJet. Through electronic load application and a load range of 9.8 N to 2,450 N (1 kg to 250 kg), this hardness testing machine covers the complete Rockwell hardness range. But that's not all, this hardness tester can do even more: Plastics and... [See More]
- Test Method: Superficial; Micro; Macro
- Mounting: Handheld or Portable
- Test: Brinell; Rockwell; Vickers / Knoop; Super Rockwell, Plastics Testing, Carbon Testing
from Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc.
The MCT series testers are designed for strength evaluation of micro components, micro particles, and fine fibers under compression. Test forces from 9.8 mN (1 gf) to 1,961 mN (200 gf) or 4,903 mN (500 gf), 10x and 50x objective lenses as standard, and the ability to measure displacements up to 100... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Vickers / Knoop
- Test Load: 9.99E-4 to 0.1999
from LECO Corporation
LECO's LR Series Rockwell-Type Hardness Tester is built to handle high-volume workloads while maintaining accuracy and repeatability. A variety of models —including analog, digital, and twin testers —are designed to suit specific needs and applications. User-friendly operation panel. [See More]
- Test Method: Micro; Macro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Rockwell
from Fischer Technology, Inc.
The FISCHERSCOPE HM2000 S is ideally suited for the manual measurement of mechanical and electrical material properties in the inspection of inbound goods or the testing of fabricated goods. Uncomplicated construction and high quality components make this an outstanding instrument for measuring... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Vickers / Knoop; Berkovich or Spherical Indentors
from ZwickRoell LP
The ZHVµ micro Vickers hardness tester covers Vickers hardness tests and Knoop hardness tests according to ISO 6507, ISO 4545 and ASTM E384 in the test-load range of HV0.01 to HV2. For more sophisticated or for automated applications, a fully automated PC controlled version of the ZHVµ micro Vickers... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Vickers / Knoop
from Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc.
Convenient, Accurate Micro Hardness Measurements. Shimadzu ’s HMV-G series of Micro Hardness Testers determine hardness by indenting a material and then measuring the size of the resulting indentation. Systems range from standalone models with manual stage movement and indentation reading... [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Mounting: Fixtured or Permanent
- Test: Brinell; Vickers / Knoop
from ZwickRoell LP
The ZwickRoell 3103 IRHD micro compact digital hardness tester consists of a base housing with integrated electronics and display, a height-adjustable support table for specimens and a column with built-in IRHD micro measurement device (ISO 48). [See More]
- Test Method: Micro
- Mounting: Handheld or Portable
- Test: Durometers