Considerations Before Performing Portable Hardness Testing

1. Considerations Before Performing Portable Hardness Testing Portable hardness testers help perform hardness testing on-site or in-situ. This form of testing is required for two reasons – to confirm that the test piece meets required specifications and to check the quality of a new sample test piece. There are different known methods of conducting portable hardness test. However, before choosing a particular method over another, these parameters of the material and the process needs to be considered thoroughly: 1.The material type of the sample that is being tested. 2.If there is an approximate value of the hardness of the material? 3.Whether the material is homogeneous or heterogeneous? 4.What is the size of the material being tested? 5.Does the testing result need to be compliant with a specific standard? 6.How accurate the testing result needs to be? 7.What are the number of samples that need to be tested? 8.Whether the test piece needs to be mounted or not for carrying out the test? Other factors that impact the hardness testing Accuracy of the test is vital. Hence, it is important to consider not only the test sample that is to be tested, one also needs to ensure that other external factors too are in control for conducting the test. •Factors like the temperature and humidity need to be under control. •Presence of dirt in the testing environment needs to be controlled. •The testing base/surface should be a horizontal table that is strong and sturdy – for macro hardness, it is okay to use the ground while for micro hardness, the surface should be electropolished or mechanically polished. •The sample being tested should be clamped or held in place properly. •It is highly crucial that the indenter is placed perpendicular to the testing plane. •Proper calibration of the tester should be done at each and every step. •For tests that require illumination, like the Vickers or the Brinell test, the light setting should be consistent throughout the test. •The testing environment should feature only required vibrations. Hardness testing is a very important step in quality control. Hence, it is crucial that all aspects related to the test is duly followed before the testing starts.