ASTM E384-99

Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers determination of the microindentation hardness of materials, the verification of microindentation hardness testing machines, and the calibration of standardized test blocks.
1.2 This test method covers microindentation tests made with Knoop and Vickers indenters under test forces in the range from 1 to 1000 gf (9.8 10-3  to 9.8 N).
1.3 This test method includes an analysis of the possible sources of errors that can occur during microindentation testing and how these factors affect the accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility of test results.
Note 1—While Committee E04 is primarily concerned with metals, the test procedures described are applicable to other materials.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Nov-1999
• Technical Committee: E04 - Metallography
• Drafting Committee: E04.05 - Microindentation Hardness Testing

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E384-99e1 - Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B884-11(2019) - Standard Specification for Niobium-Titanium Alloy Billets, Bar, and Rod for Superconducting Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B388-06(2018) - Standard Specification for Thermostat Metal Sheet and Strip
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F2924-14(2021) - Standard Specification for Additive Manufacturing Titanium-6 Aluminum-4 Vanadium with Powder Bed Fusion
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM E606/E606M-21 - Standard Test Method for Strain-Controlled Fatigue Testing
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B69-21 - Standard Specification for Rolled Zinc
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F2150-19 - Standard Guide for Characterization and Testing of Biomaterial Scaffolds Used in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue-Engineered Medical Products
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B934-21 - Standard Test Method for Effective Case Depth of Ferrous Powder Metallurgy (PM) Parts Using Microindentation Hardness Measurements
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B1015-20 - Standard Practice for Form and Style of Standards Relating to Refined Nickel and Cobalt and Their Alloys
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B386/B386M-19e1 - Standard Specification for Molybdenum and Molybdenum Alloy Plate,<brk/>Sheet, Strip, Foil, and Ribbon
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM D1474/D1474M-13(2023) - Standard Test Methods for Indentation Hardness of Organic Coatings
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM E92-23 - Standard Test Methods for Vickers Hardness and Knoop Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F2162-01(2016) - Standard Specification for Bearing, Roller, Needle: Drawn Outer Ring, Full Complement, Without Inner Ring, Open and Closed End, Standard Type
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F879-23 - Standard Specification for Stainless Steel Socket Button, Low and Flat Countersunk Head Cap Screws
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F3042-13(2018) - Standard Specification for Nonferrous Hex Socket, Slotted Headless, and Square Head Set Screws
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1999

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 384 – 99
Standard Test Method for
1
Microindentation Hardness of Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 384; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope E 766 Practice for Calibrating the Magnification of a Scan-
3
ning Electron Microscope
1.1 This test method covers determination of the microin-
dentation hardness of materials, the verification of microinden-
3. Terminology
tation hardness testing machines, and the calibration of stan-
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
dardized test blocks.
method, see Terminology E 7.
1.2 This test method covers microindentation tests made
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
with Knoop and Vickers indenters under test forces in the range
–3
3.2.1 calibrating, v—determining the values of the signifi-
from 1 to 1000 gf (9.8 3 10 to 9.8 N).
cant parameters by comparison with values indicated by a
1.3 This test method includes an analysis of the possible
reference instrument or by a set of reference standards.
sources of errors that can occur during microindentation testing
3.2.2 Knoop hardness number, HK, n—an expression of
and how these factors affect the accuracy, repeatability, and
hardness obtained by dividing the force applied to the Knoop
reproducibility of test results.
indenter by the projected area of the permanent impression
NOTE 1—While Committee E-4 is primarily concerned with metals, the
made by the indenter.
test procedures described are applicable to other materials.
3.2.3 Knoop indenter, n—a rhombic-based pyramidal-
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
shaped diamond indenter with edge angles of / A = 172° 308
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
and / B = 130° 08 (see Fig. 1).
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.4 microindentation hardness test, n—a hardness test
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
using a calibrated machine to force a diamond indenter of
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
specific geometry into the surface of the material being
evaluated, in which the test forces range from 1 to 1000 gf (9.8
2. Referenced Documents –3
3 10 to 9.8 N), and the indentation diagonal, or diagonals are
2.1 ASTM Standards:
measured with a light microscope after load removal; for any
C 1326 Test Method for Knoop Indentation Hardness of
microindentation hardness test, it is assumed that the indenta-
2
Advanced Ceramics
tion does not undergo elastic recovery after force removal.
C 1327 Test Method for Vickers Indentation Hardness of
NOTE 2—Use of the term microhardness should be avoided because it
2
Advanced Ceramics
implies that the hardness, rather than the force or the indentation size, is
3
E 3 Methods of Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
very low.
3
E 7 Terminology Relating to Metallography
3.2.5 verifying, v—checking or testing the instrument to
E 122 Practice for Choice of Sample Size to Estimate the
assure conformance with the specification.
4
Average Quality for a Lot or Process
3.2.6 Vickers hardness number, HV, n—an expression of
E 140 Test Method for Hardness Conversion Tables for
hardness obtained by dividing the force applied to a Vickers
3
Metals
indenter by the surface area of the permanent impression made
5
E 175 Terminology of Microscopy
by the indenter.
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
3.2.7 Vickers indenter, n—a square-based pyramidal-shaped
4
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
diamond indenter with face angles of 136° (see Fig. 2).
3.3 Formulae—The formulae presented in 3.3.1-3.3.4 for
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-4 on
calculating microindentation hardness are based upon an ideal
Metallography and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.05 on Micro-
tester. The measured value of the microindentation hardness of
hardness.
a material is subjected to several sources of errors. Based on Eq
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1999. Published March 2000. Originally
published as E 384 – 69. Last previous edition E 384 – 89. 1-9, variations in the applied force, geometrical variations
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.01.
between diamond indenters, and human errors in measuring
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
indentation lengths can affect the calculated material hardness.
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
5
The amount of error each of these parameters has on t
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