Interesting to see answers, Victor,
we use Mitotuyo's std microhardness tester with Vicker diamond. We found that it's necessary to perform two measurements,
one with just 25 gram force, and one with say 300 gram force. That way we can get an image of the very surface (for wire bonding, for instance)and next, bulk hardness down to barrier, or whatelse is under the gold. Soft and pure gold for wire bonding seems to be some 80-100 HV. Cobalt gold and other doped golds can show from 150 and up to 300 HV. Best combination is said to be a measurement with both Vickers and Knoop.

A good page is this: http://www.gold.org/discover/sci_indu/GTech/1998_24/Brazing.pdf
and standards may be found on this one: http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/230/232/COMMON/VIEW_NEWSRM.CFM

Ingemar Hernefjord
Ericsson Microwave Systems


-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Victor G. Hernandez
Sent: den 16 augusti 2004 19:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [TN] Hard Gold Plating Hardness


Steven,

   Do you have any experience measuring gold hardness.
If so what equipment is used beside mechanical hardness stylus.
Can gold hardness be measured with the used of XRF system.
Are standards available for gold hardness?

Victor,

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