MATERIALS ENGINNERING LAB – I

EXPERIMENT 03: Knoop HARDNESS TEST

Submitted to: Mr. Aqib Zahoor.

Submitted By: Group 1.
Submission Date: 23𝑡ℎ of November, 2023.

Registration Number Name

12-3-1-001-2022 Adnan Mehmood.
12-3-1-009-2022 Ibraheem Ejaz.
12-3-1-011-2022 Junaid Habib.
12-3-1-019-2022 Muhammad Abdullah Nasir.
12-3-1-031-2022 Muhammad Zubair.
12-3-1-036-2022 Saad Iqbal.

Abstract Format Results Discussion

DEPARTMENT OF METALLURGY AND MATERIALS

ENGINEERING
 Table of contents:
1. Introduction………………………………………………….5
1.1 Knoop hardness test…………………………………………5
1.2 Objectives………………………………………………….6
2. Apparatus……………………………………………..……..6
3. Procedure……………………………………………..…...…6
4. Results…………………………………………………..……7
4.1 Table of results recorded……………………………...….......7
4.2 Knoop hardness of different materials……………….…….......8
4.3 Microscopic view of indented sample…………….…………...9
5. Discussion …………………………………….……………...9
6. Conclusion …………………………………….…………….10
7. References…………………………………..….…………….10

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List of figure:
Knoop harness testing machine ………………………………………………………4

Knoop Indenter………………………………………………………………….……5

Comparison of Knoop hardness of various materials………………………….……..7

Microscopic view of indentation mark ………………………………………………8

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Abstract:
The Knoop hardness test is an alternative to the Vickers hardness test in the
micro-hardness testing range. It is mainly used to overcome cracking in brittle
materials, as well as to facilitate the hardness testing of thin layers. This
experiment used a diamond pyramid indenter which was elongated as compared
to the indenter in Vickers’s hardness test. The width of indenter provided
more resolution for measurement and the indentation is also less deep.
A force was applied with the indenter for a certain time, then the indentation
length on vertical and horizontal axis is measured. Knoop method only uses the
long axis. Sample preparation for the experiment constitutes smoothening the
surface, while its length is perpendicular to the intender. The indentation should
be large so as to facilitate the measurement resolution.

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 1. Introduction
1.1 Knoop hardness test:
Knoop Hardness test is a micro-hardness test to measure hardness of
especially very brittle materials of thin layers. It is mainly used to overcome
the problem of cracking in brittle material. However knoop hardness is also
not recommended if the diagonal length is less than 20µm because it leads to
inaccuracy. The indenter for knoop was an elongated diamond pyramid but in
this type the dimensions are rather different. The geometry of this indenter
was an extended pyramid with the length to width ratio being 7:1 and
respective face angles are 172.30° for the long edge and 130° for the short
edge. The depth of the indentation can be approximated as 1/30 of the long
dimension and is usually about less than 0.5µm.
Formulae: HK = 14.2𝑃⁄𝑙 2

Fig.1 Micro-Knoop hardness machine

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 Fig.2 Knoop Indenter
1.2 Objectives:
 To measure the hardness of brittle materials, to facilitate the hardness
testing of thin layers, and to overcome cracking in brittle materials.
 To measure knoop hardness values can be used to select a material for a
specific applications.

2. Apparatus:
i. Knoop Hardness tester
ii. Knoop indenter
iii. Material to be tested
iv. Sandpaper
v. Polishing setup

3. Procedure:
 The surface of sample was polished and cleaned before testing so that
indent can be easily seen.
 Place the sample on to the stage.
 Adjust microscope by moving the stage accordingly up and down within
the focus of microscope.
 Adjust the position of indenter by rotating holder.
 Place required load on back side of machine.
 Start indentation and hold it for 10-15 seconds.
 After holding time replace the indenter by microscope.
 Take the reading of first diagonal by adjusting scale on microscope
according to indent.
 Now take second reading by rotating it by angle of 90°.
 Record both reading and take their average.
 Now repeat same process for second and third reading.

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 4. Results:

Material Load KHN(Kg/m𝒎𝟐 ) Average

(1Kg) (Kg/m𝒎𝟐 )
1 2 3

Mild steel 0.1 280.6 255.2 252.7 262.8

Copper 0.1 95.7 93.6 94.8 94.7

Brass 0.1 118.2 120.8 125.6 121.5

Aluminum 0.1 121 117 98.1 112.0

Formulae: KHN = 𝑃⁄𝐶 𝐿2

𝑝

Where
P is applied load in kg
Cp is the correction factor related to the shape of intender
Cp = 0.070279
L is the length of indent along the long axis

Average Hardness of mild steel= 280.6 + 255.2 + 252.7⁄3

= 262.8 Kg/m𝑚2

Standard deviation =
2 2 2
√[(280.6 − 262.8) + (255.2 − 262.8) + (252.7 − 262.8) ]⁄
3

=12.6043

4.2 Knoop hardness of different materials

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Fig.3 Comparison of Knoop hardness of various materials

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 Fig.4 Microscopic view of indentation mark

5. Discussion:
In this experiment we saw that the hardest material among our sample was
mild steel this is because of presence of C element. After MS , brass and then
Aluminum was found hard materials.

We know that the aluminum sample has low density and also softer than other
metals that’s why it showed more hardness than other two materials. Whereas
the hardness of Copper is more than Aluminum because of high density and of
strong metallic bond, but when we include brass in it its strength and hardness
is increased.

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 6. Conclusion:
In this experiment we saw that the mild steel copper, aluminum and Brass
showed following trend for hardness

Mild steel ˃ Brass ˃ Copper ˃ Aluminum

7. References:

References
Hardness properties of material. (n.d.). Retrieved from studocu:
https://www.studocu.com/my/document/universiti-sains-malaysia/makmal-sifat-sifat-
bahan/lab-report-hardness-properties-of-materials/15751660

Vickers & Knoop Hardness Tester. (n.d.). Retrieved from gennex:

https://www.laboratory.com.ph/product/vickers-knoop-hardness-tester-philippines/

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