Vickers Diamond Pyramid Hardness tester

metallurgy

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July 14, 2026

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The Vickers Diamond Pyramid Hardness tester is a metallurgical tool used to measure the hardness of materials. Devised in the 1920s, it employs a square-based diamond pyramid indenter with a 136° angle between opposite sides. This indenter is pressed into the material's surface with a specific load, typically ranging up to 120 kilograms-force. The size of the resulting impression is then measured using a calibrated microscope. The Vickers number (HV) is calculated using the formula: HV = 1.854(F/D²), where F is the applied load and D² is the area of the indentation. This test is reliable for metals and is also used for ceramic materials. It is particularly useful for very hard materials and thin sheets.12

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hardness tester
The Vickers hardness tester uses a square-based diamond pyramid indenter, and the hardness number is equal to the load divided by the product of the lengths of the diagonals of the square impression. Vickers hardness is the most accurate for very hard materials and can be…
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The Vickers hardness tester uses a square-based diamond pyramid indenter, and the hardness number is equal to the load divided by the product of the lengths of the diagonals of the square impression. Vickers hardness is the most accurate for very hard materials and can be…
Read More

steel
Testing of properties
The Vickers Diamond Pyramid Hardness tester, which measures the DPH mentioned above, uses an indenter with an included angle of 136° between opposite faces of a pyramid and usually a load of 10, 30, or 50 kilograms-force. The diagonal of the impression is measured optically, and…
Read More
The Vickers Diamond Pyramid Hardness tester, which measures the DPH mentioned above, uses an indenter with an included angle of 136° between opposite faces of a pyramid and usually a load of 10, 30, or 50 kilograms-force. The diagonal of the impression is measured optically, and…
Read More

abrasive
Abrasive materials: their composition and properties
The Vickers test was designed primarily for metals. With the Knoop test, however, the hardness of extremely brittle materials including glass and even diamonds can be measured without harming either the indenter or the test piece.
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The Vickers test was designed primarily for metals. With the Knoop test, however, the hardness of extremely brittle materials including glass and even diamonds can be measured without harming either the indenter or the test piece.
Read More