Options File:
Load the options file which contains settings for the 5kg force/load sensor and linear drive.
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Application Note
Tribology and Mechanical Testing Unit
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STEP 3: //Holding at final load of FZ
General :
Controlled: Carriage/Load; Step: Constant Force (Fz); Duration : 3 s.
Carriage :
Force: - FZf N
Linear(spindle): Distance: 0; Velocity: 0
Slider :
Position: Idle
Method of Measurement: The specified initial and final test loads for all scales are shown in Table 1. There are four different
indenters types (Type A and C; Type B and D; Type O, DO, and OO; Type M) that are available to cover all the eight scales
of Shore hardness measurements. Choose an indenter for a particular scale of measurement and mount below the force sensor
of the UMT with an appropriate adaptor. Mount the sample on the lower linear drive. Schematic test set-up is shown in Fig.1.
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Table 1: Specified Initial (FZi ) and final (FZ ) loads for hardness tests in various scales, N
Load
Scale
Initial ( F Zi )
Final ( F Zf )
DO
OO
0.55
8.05
0.55
8.05
0
44.45
0
44.45
0
44.45
0.55
8.05
0.203
1.111
0.324
0.765
Load the proper UMT option file corresponding to the force sensor and the drive. Prepare a test script as shown in 'UMT Software
Set-up' section, which will apply the initial and final loads and record Fz and Z. Bring down the indenter near to the sample
surface. Run a test using that script. The scale with zero initial load, apply minimum load of 0.05N. Open the test data file with the
UMT Viewer. Find out the total displacement from Z1 plot (say Z in mm) between initial and final load. Use the equation (1) to
calculate hardness (H):
1 Z0
H=
1 Z 1
k
+
S1 F S 2
Where, Z0 = 2.5 mm for all scales except scale M. For scale M, Z0 = 1.25 mm. The terms S1 and S2 are spring stiffness of the Shore
indenter system and the frame stiffness of UMT in N/mm, respectively. F is the difference between final and initial loads in N. The
values of terms k, S1, Z0 and F depend on type hardness scale as shown in Table 2. Move the specimen using the lower linear drive
and repeat the measurements to get a statistical data, if required.
Table 2: Parameters for Shore hardness tests in various scales.
Parameter
Scale
A
DO
OO
0.075
0.075
0.4445
0.4445
0.4445
0.075
0.00908
0.0044
Z0
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
1.25
S1
17.78
17.78
17.78
0.363
0.353
7.5
7.5
44.4
44.4
44.4
7.5
0.908
0.441
The frame stiffness can be obtained from another test using a pin. Install a 6.3 mm pin with a pin-holder on to the rigid adaptor, in
place of the indenter. Take out the test specimen from the drive or table. Move down the pin by moving the carriage down to the
top surface of the linear drive. Now run a script (similar to the one for indentation; in Step 2, set initial load = 1.0 N, Final load =
40 N, and duration = 15 s). Record Fz and Z1. Plot Fz vs. Z1 and find out the slope, which is the frame stiffness (S2). Usually the
frame stiffness will not change too much, and it is usually not required to measure very often.
Reporting Test Results: Report the hardness test results mean and standard deviation along with the specimen dimension and
identification details, and ambient conditions such as relative humidity and temperature.
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Email: productinfo@bruker-nano.com
Web: www.bruker-axs.com