Microhardness of Alloys
The microhardness of alloys refers to the measure of the hardness of an alloy or a sample of it at a given point using a microindenter. It is one of the material properties widely used in research to measure the hardness of materials, in order to study deformation and cracking behaviours.
Hardness is essentially the measure of resistance of a material against plastic deformation. It is one of the most fundamental properties of a material, and it can be used to indirectly measure its other properties such as strength, impact and wear resistance. The characteristics of the microhardness of an alloy depend on the combination of components and the manufacturing techniques used.
The microhardness of an alloy is determined by the combination of mechanical, physical and chemical properties of the different components making up the alloy. It is usually determined by an indirect measurement like the Vickers or Knoop hardness number. The Vickers Hardness number is calculated from the load applied to a diamond indenter and the surface area of the indentation caused by the indenter. The Knoop Hardness number is measured by a pyramidal indenter and is determined by two factors, the applied load and the specified area of the indentation.
A variety of alloys are used in engineering and industrial applications. Different types of alloys are used in different industries and applications due to the different properties that each alloy has that make it suitable for the particular use. Steel, aluminium, copper and nickel alloys are some of the most commonly used alloys. While steel alloys, like carbon steel and alloy steel, are used for more heavy-duty applications like construction, aluminium alloys are more suited for aircraft engineering because they are lighter and easier to work with.
The microhardness of alloys is determined by measuring the strength of the alloy and the resistance it offers to deformation. This can be done by a number of tests, and the resulting microhardness is usually given as a Vickers or Knoop hardness number. It is important to note that different alloys have different properties and therefore their microhardness numbers may vary. It is also important to remember that the alloy microhardness values may not always match the macro hardness values as the two measurements are taken from different sized indents and use different loads.
Therefore, when using alloys in manufacturing or engineering applications, it is important to ensure that the desired microhardness is achieved. The microhardness of alloys is important in determining the strength, resilience and durability of the material, which is important in ensuring that the material can perform its intended function properly.
