Hardness testing for Industry 4.0:
Get more information about your material in one test procedure
Is the material suitable? Does the treatment achieve the desired results? Only if you know the characteristic values of your materials is sustainable quality assurance possible. One of the most important tests is the hardness test. However, conventional methods for hardness testing have limitations: Only the hardness can be determined and for further statements on the material, a tensile testing machine must usually be used, which destroys the samples.
This is where Imprintec's innovation comes in: By combining proven testing technology with the latest findings in materials testing, it is possible to make more comprehensive statements across materials than with conventional hardness testing.
Make your company fit for Industry 4.0: Imprintec's innovative hardness testing provides you with all important key figures about your materials quickly and automatically!
More than just a hardness test: With the patented and standardized imprinting method according to DIN SPEC 4864 from Imprintec, you obtain characteristic values such as the ultimate tensile strength UTS and the 0.2% proof stressYSin one step.
We would be pleased to inform you about this new form of quality assurance and product optimisation: Contact our specialists by e-mail, contact form or by telephone under 0234/ 970 414 02 - we will be pleased to advise you!
How does the conventional hardness test work?
A hard body is pressed into the surface of the specimen and the hardness is determined. With the help of a conversion table for hardness values and tensile strength, the tensile strength can be estimated for some materials.
The most common methods for hardness testing are:
- Rockwell: The Rockwell hardness test (DIN EN ISO 6508-1) is particularly common, as it can be carried out quickly and the results can be read off immediately. The specimen is loaded with a diamond cone or a tungsten carbide ball and the difference of the indentation depths before and after the main load is determined. A hardness t ester working according to Rockwell is well suited for large specimens.
- Vickers: The Vickers hardness test (DIN EN ISO 6507-1) is particularly suitable for testing small and thin specimens. A diamond pyramid-shaped indenter is pressed into the specimen and the indentation is measured optically. The Vickers hardness HV is determined from the results using a table or formula.
- Brinell: In the Brinell hardness test (EN ISO 6506-1), a ball of cemented carbide is pressed into the material surface and the impression is evaluated. The Brinell test method is mainly used for inhomogeneous, soft to medium-hard materials.
What are the disadvantages of conventional hardness testing?
It is impossible to imagine materials testing and quality control without hardness testing methods. However, despite continuous improvements in testing equipment, there is still a significant drawback with conventional methods of testing hardness:
- Only one key figure: A conventional test provides only one characteristic value, the hardness. For some materials, the approximate tensile strength can be determined with a conversion table, but for most, a complex, destructive tensile test in a materials testing laboratory is necessary.
Innovative hardness testing from Imprintec: Optimize products and quality assurance
The indentation method according to DIN SPEC 4864 from Imprintec enables you to test materials with pinpoint accuracy and low destruction. Our testing devices are based on the innovative principle of 3D evaluation of hardness impressions with the aid of detailed FEM simulations.
Advantages of the imprinting process
Detection of optimization potential
The indentation method transparently provides you with more and more comprehensive information about the mechanical properties than a conventional test - you immediately receive information about optimization potential.
Saving resources
With the clever combination of state-of-the-art measurement technology and FEM simulations, you save time and money on material, personnel and/or machine costs.
Digital logging
The determined material properties can be collected digitally in a very uncomplicated way and can thus be traced quickly and in-house.
Real, precise component testing
With Imprintec's indentation method, a tensile test can be dispensed with in many cases - the characteristic values are determined directly on your components and samples. Local differences on the component become visible due to the pinpoint testing.
