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vickers number

Low
UK/ˈvɪkəz ˈnʌmbə/US/ˈvɪkɚz ˈnʌmbɚ/

Technical/Specialised

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Definition

Meaning

A hardness measurement of metals, particularly steels, determined using the Vickers hardness test where a diamond pyramid indenter is pressed into the material.

A standardised numerical value representing a material's resistance to permanent surface indentation, widely used in metallurgy, manufacturing, and engineering specifications to indicate material strength and suitability for specific applications.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The term is always preceded by a definite article ('the Vickers number') or possessive form ('its Vickers number') when referring to a specific measurement. It denotes a quantified result from a specific test procedure rather than a general property.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical differences; both variants use identical terminology. Minor orthographic preferences may appear in surrounding documentation (e.g., 'metallisation' vs 'metallization').

Connotations

Equally technical in both dialects; associated with engineering precision and material science.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in both UK and US contexts, confined to engineering, metallurgy, and manufacturing sectors.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
determine the Vickers numbermeasure the Vickers numberachieve a Vickers number of
medium
high Vickers numberspecified Vickers numberreport the Vickers number
weak
compare Vickers numbersconsistent Vickers numberrequired Vickers number

Grammar

Valency Patterns

The [material] has/possesses a Vickers number of [value].To test/obtain/verify the Vickers number.

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

Vickers hardness number

Neutral

Vickers hardnessHV value

Weak

hardness ratinghardness index

Vocabulary

Antonyms

softness measurementductility index

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “As hard as a high Vickers number.”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Used in procurement and quality assurance discussions regarding material specifications.

Academic

Featured in materials science, engineering, and metallurgy research papers and textbooks.

Everyday

Extremely rare; potentially encountered in technical DIY or machining hobbies.

Technical

Central to material testing reports, engineering standards, and manufacturing process controls.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • They will Vickers-test the sample tomorrow.
  • The lab Vickersed the alloy series.

American English

  • We need to Vickers-test the prototype.
  • The technician Vickersed the hardened steel.

adverb

British English

  • The sample was tested Vickers-style.
  • The indentation was measured Vickers-accurately.

American English

  • Measure the hardness Vickers-hard.
  • The method was applied Vickers-correctly.

adjective

British English

  • The Vickers-hardened surface showed excellent wear resistance.
  • It is a Vickers-based standard.

American English

  • The Vickers-tested material passed specification.
  • Follow the Vickers-test procedure.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • This metal is very hard.
B1
  • The hardness of the steel is measured by a special test.
B2
  • Engineers often refer to the Vickers number when specifying material hardness for components.
C1
  • The alloy's Vickers number of 580 HV10 indicates its superior resistance to abrasion compared to the annealed version, which measures only 220 HV10.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a VICKER who checks hardness: Vickers Indenter Checks Kinetic Endurance Reliably, giving a NUMBER.

Conceptual Metaphor

HARDNESS IS A SCORE (e.g., 'The steel scored 600 on the Vickers test').

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Avoid translating 'number' as 'номер' (which implies an ordinal identifier); use 'число' or 'значение' instead.
  • Do not confuse with 'виккерс' as a brand name alone; it is specifically the test method.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'Vickers' number' with an apostrophe.
  • Saying 'Vicker number' without the 's'.
  • Treating it as a countable plural without context (e.g., 'vickers numbers' is acceptable only when comparing multiple values).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
A higher indicates a more wear-resistant material.
Multiple Choice

What does a Vickers number quantify?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Vickers uses a diamond pyramid indenter and is suitable for all materials, while Rockwell uses different indenters and loads, often being quicker but less universal for thin or very hard materials.

No, it is typically reported with units such as HV (Hardness Vickers) followed by the test load, e.g., 600 HV30.

Yes, approximate conversion tables exist between Vickers, Brinell, and Rockwell scales, but conversions are not mathematically exact due to different test methods.

It is prevalent in metallurgy, aerospace, automotive manufacturing, toolmaking, and quality control laboratories for metals and ceramics.