Shore Durometer Test – testing of elastomers and plastics

Durometer Hardness is used to determine the relative hardness of soft materials, usually plastics or rubber, is performed by the Shore Durometer Test according to the standard being referenced. Similar to the hardness tests for metal, this method determines a material’s resistance to indentation by penetration of an indenter into the test sample thus giving a hardness value.

Because the flexibility of polymers varies, LMATS is equipped with various indenters for use in testing different types of soft materials from elastomers and natural rubber products, neoprene, polyesters, soft P.V.C., leather, nitril rubbers, waxes and felt to rigid plastics and more.

The Shore durometer A scale indenter "soft samples" is a Hardened steel rod 1.1 mm - 1.4 mm diameter, with a truncated 35° cone (frustum), 0.79 mm diameter.

The Shore durometer D scale indenter "harder samples" is a Hardened steel rod 1.1 mm - 1.4 mm diameter, with a 30° conical point, 0.1 mm radius tip.

LMATS regularly undertake Durometer Hardness Testing to ASTM D2240 and ISO 868
Using the Shore hardness (using the Shore A and D scale) on the following items:

  • Hard and soft plastics (seals, gaskets, tyre treads, rubber wheels, o-rings, polyolefins, fluoropolymers, vinyl's, HDPE, LDPE)
  • Rubbers
  • Sealants
  • Elastomers

Durometers of various common materials

MaterialDurometerScale
Rubber bands 25 A
Door seals 55 A
Automotive tire treads 70 A
Soft wheels of roller skates and skateboards 78 A
Hydraulic O-rings 70-90 A
Hard wheels of roller skates and skateboard 98 A
Solid truck tires ie., Forklifts 50 D
Hard hat (typically HDPE Plastic) 75 D

 

LMATS performs Shore Durometer Test in the Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney testing laboratories.

For all of your Shore Durometer Testing requirements, please contact LMATS