How do microhardness testers reflect the elastic and plastic deformation characteristics of materials?

The microhardness tester is an important mechanical property indicator that reflects the elastic and plastic deformation characteristics of materials.
During the testing process of our microhardness tester, a relatively hard square pyramid of standard shape and size is used to contact the material surface under a specific load force to determine the resistance of the material during the deformation process.
In this way, the ability of the material to resist plastic deformation, which is the elasticity of the material, can be understood; at the same time, the ability of the material to resist elastic deformation, namely the plasticity of the material, can also be understood.