Shore Hardness Testing Service

Hardness Testing

One of the most vital physical properties that needs to be measured in materials testing is hardness. The sample’s hardness characteristics will determine its uses and limitations, and its deployment in certain applications.

The Shore durometer is a device for measuring the hardness of a material, typically of polymers, elastomers, and rubbers.

Higher numbers on the scale indicate a greater resistance to indentation and thus harder materials. Lower numbers indicate less resistance and softer materials.

Durometer scales

There are several scales of durometer, used for materials with different properties. The two most common scales, using slightly different measurement systems, are the ASTM D2240 type A and type D scales.

Shore A

Shore D

The A scale is for softer ones, while the D scale is for harder ones.

Shore Durometers of common materials:

Material	Durometer	Scale
Bicycle gel seat	15-30	OO
Chewing gum	20	OO
Sorbothane	30-70	OO
Rubber band	25	A
Door seal	55	A
Automotive tyre tread	70	A
Hydraulic O-ring	70-90	A
Hard wheel of roller skate	98	A
Ebonite rubber	100	A
Solid truck tyre	50	D
HDPE Hard Hat	75	D
Cast urethane plastic	80	D