ASTM E384-09

Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Hardness tests have been found to be very useful for materials evaluation, quality control of manufacturing processes and research and development efforts. Hardness, although empirical in nature, can be correlated to tensile strength for many metals, and is an indicator of wear resistance and ductility.
Microindentation tests extend hardness testing to materials too thin or too small for macroindentation tests. Microindentation tests allow specific phases or constituents and regions or gradients too small for macroindentation testing to be evaluated.
Because the microindentation hardness will reveal hardness variations that may exist within a material, a single test value may not be representative of the bulk hardness.
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 9.8 × 10-3 to 9.8 N ( 1 to 1000 gf ).
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: 30-Apr-2009
• ICS: 19.060 - Mechanical testing
• Technical Committee: E04 - Metallography
• Drafting Committee: E04.05 - Microindentation Hardness Testing

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E384-08ae1 - Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Replaced By: ASTM E384-10 - Standard Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2010
• Referred By: ASTM F3055-14a(2021) - Standard Specification for Additive Manufacturing Nickel Alloy (UNS N07718) with Powder Bed Fusion
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM E18-22 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F837M-20 - Standard Specification for Stainless Steel Socket Head Cap Screws [Metric] (Withdrawn 2023)
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B476-21 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Precious Metal Electrical Contact Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B1015-20 - Standard Practice for Form and Style of Standards Relating to Refined Nickel and Cobalt and Their Alloys
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM C1327-15(2019) - Standard Test Method for Vickers Indentation Hardness of Advanced Ceramics
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B386/B386M-19e1 - Standard Specification for Molybdenum and Molybdenum Alloy Plate,<brk/>Sheet, Strip, Foil, and Ribbon
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F688-19 - Standard Specification for Wrought Cobalt-35Nickel-20Chromium-10Molybdenum Alloy Plate, Sheet, and Foil for Surgical Implants (UNS R30035)
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM E1077-14(2021) - Standard Test Methods for Estimating the Depth of Decarburization of Steel Specimens
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM C849-88(2020) - Standard Test Method for Knoop Indentation Hardness of Ceramic Whitewares
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F606/F606M-21 - Standard Test Methods for Determining the Mechanical Properties of Externally and Internally Threaded Fasteners, Washers, Direct Tension Indicators, and Rivets
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B477-21 - Standard Specification for Gold-Silver-Nickel Electrical Contact Alloy
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B693-17(2022) - Standard Specification for Silver-Nickel Electrical Contact Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E384 – 09
Standard Test Method for
1
Microindentation Hardness of Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E384; 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 (´) 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* E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,
With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic
1.1 This test method covers determination of the microin-
of a Lot or Process
dentation hardness of materials, the verification of microinden-
E140 Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals Relationship
tation hardness testing machines, and the calibration of stan-
Among Brinell Hardness, Vickers Hardness, Rockwell
dardized test blocks.
Hardness, Superficial Hardness, Knoop Hardness, and
1.2 This test method covers microindentation tests made
Scleroscope Hardness
withKnoopandVickersindentersundertestforcesintherange
-3
E175 Terminology of Microscopy
from 9.8 3 10 to9.8N(1to 1000 gf ).
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
1.3 This test method includes an analysis of the possible
ASTM Test Methods
sourcesoferrorsthatcanoccurduringmicroindentationtesting
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
and how these factors affect the accuracy, repeatability, and
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
reproducibility of test results.
E766 Practice for Calibrating the Magnification of a Scan-
NOTE 1—WhileCommitteeE04isprimarilyconcernedwithmetals,the
ning Electron Microscope
test procedures described are applicable to other materials.
3. Terminology
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
method, see Terminology E7.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.1 calibrating, v—determining the values of the signifi-
cant parameters by comparison with values indicated by a
2. Referenced Documents
reference instrument or by a set of reference standards.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.2 Knoop hardness number, HK, n—an expression of
C1326 Test Method for Knoop Indentation Hardness of
hardness obtained by dividing the force applied to the Knoop
Advanced Ceramics
indenter by the projected area of the permanent impression
C1327 Test Method for Vickers Indentation Hardness of
made by the indenter.
Advanced Ceramics
3.2.3 Knoop indenter, n—a rhombic-based pyramidal-
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
shaped diamond indenter with edge angles of/ A = 172° 308
E7 Terminology Relating to Metallography
and/ B = 130° 08 (see Fig. 1).
3.2.4 microindentation hardness test, n—a hardness test
using a calibrated machine to force a diamond indenter of
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E04 on
specific geometry into the surface of the material being
Metallography and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.05 on Micro-
indentation Hardness Testing.
evaluated, in which the test forces range from 1 to 1000 gf (9.8
–3
Current edition approved May 1, 2009. Published June 2009. Originally
310 to9.8N),andtheindentationdiagonal,ordiagonalsare
´1
approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as E384 – 08a . DOI:
measured with a light microscope after load removal; for any
10.1520/E0384-09.
2
microindentation hardness test, it is assumed that the indenta-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
tion does not undergo elastic recovery after force removal.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. NOTE 2—Use of the term microhardness should be avoided because it
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E384 – 09
FIG. 1 Knoop Indenter
implies that the hardness, rather than the force or the indentation size, is
1-9, variations in the applied force, geometrical variations
very low.
between diamond indenters, and human errors in measuring
indentation lengths can affect the calculated material hardness.
3.2.5 verifying, v—checking or testing the instrument to
The amount of error each of these paramet
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´1
Designation:E384–08a Designation: E 384 – 09
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 (´) 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
´ NOTE—Sections X5.5.1, X5.5.4, and Table A1.5 were editorially corrected in July 2008.
1. 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
-3
9.8 3 10 to9.8N(1to 1000 gf ).
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C 1326 Test Method for Knoop Indentation Hardness of Advanced Ceramics
C 1327 Test Method for Vickers Indentation Hardness of Advanced Ceramics
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
E7 Terminology Relating to Metallography
E 122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a Lot or
Process
E 140 Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals Relationship Among Brinell Hardness, Vickers Hardness, Rockwell Hardness,
Superficial Hardness, Knoop Hardness, and Scleroscope Hardness
E 175 Terminology of Microscopy
E 177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E 766 Practice for Calibrating the Magnification of a Scanning Electron Microscope
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions— For definitions of terms used in this test method, see Terminology E 7.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 calibrating, v—determining the values of the significant parameters by comparison with values indicated by a reference
instrument or by a set of reference standards.
3.2.2 Knoop hardness number, HK, n—an expression of hardness obtained by dividing the force applied to the Knoop indenter
by the projected area of the permanent impression made by the indenter.
3.2.3 Knoop indenter, n—a rhombic-based pyramidal-shaped diamond indenter with edge angles of/ A = 172° 308 and/ B
= 130° 08 (see Fig. 1).
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E04 on Metallography and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.05 on Microindentation
Hardness Testing.
Current edition approved March 15, 2008. Published April 2008. Originally approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 2008as E384–08.
´1
Current edition approved May 1, 2009. Published June 2009. Originally approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as E 384 – 08a .
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E384–09
FIG. 1 Knoop Indenter
3.2.4 microindentation hardness test, n— a hardness test using a calibrated machine to force a diamond indenter of specific
–3
geometry into the surface of the material being evaluated, in which the test forces range from 1 to 1000 gf (9.8 3 10 to 9.8 N),
and the indentation diagonal, or diagonals are measured with a light microscope after load removal; for any microindentation
hard
...