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Tuesday 19 May 2015

Difference Between Brinell and Vickers Hardness test

Difference between Brinell and Vickers hardness test is due to different load and indenter. Principle of test is similar for Brinell and Vickers hardness test.Brinell is macro indentation hardness test while Vickers can be performed by macro as well as micro indentation.
For difference between Brinell and Vickers hardness, I have considered Vickers Macro indentation test.

 

Principle of Hardness testing :

As already mentioned above principle of test is same for both Brinell and Vickers hardness test.
 
Indenter with defined shape is pressed on material surface under defined load for set time, then load is removed. After indentation is formed dimensions of indentation either diameter or diagonal are measured and hardness is calculated by dividing the force by surface area of indentation.   

 
 

Difference in Brinell and Vickers Hardness Test: 


  • In Brinell hardness test ball indenter is pressed under load on surface in Vickers square base pyramidal diamond indenter with 136°internal angle  is pressed under load.

  • In Brinell diameter of indentation is measured, in Vickers diagonals of indentation are measured to calculate hardness. 

  • In Brinell Load ranges from 500-3000 Kgf for Vickers load range is 5- 120 Kgf.

  • Vickers Hardness values are independent of applied load e.g. on homogenous material Vickers hardness values at 5 kg load and 10 kg load are same. Brinell hardness values vary as per applied load. This is major difference between Brinell and Vickers hardness test. 

  • More precise surface preparation is required for Vickers hardness test (Especially for shallow indentation) as compare to Brinell hardness test.

  • Problem of Indenter deformation in Brinell Hardness test is eliminated by diamond indenter in Vickers hardness test. 

 
Know exact difference between Brinell and Rockwell Hardness test