ASTM C1327-15

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the Vickers indentation hardness of advanced ceramics. In this test, a pointed, square base, pyramidal diamond indenter of prescribed shape is pressed into the surface of a ceramic with a predetermined force to produce a relatively small, permanent indentation. The surface projection of the two diagonals of the permanent indentation is measured using a light microscope. The average diagonal size and the applied force are used to calculate the Vickers hardness, which represents the material's resistance to penetration by the Vickers indenter. Hardness is computed as the ratio of the force to the contact surface area.