Hardness Shore D

1. What is Shore D hardness?
2. Which tool measures Shore D hardness?
3. What does the depth of penetration depend on?
4. What factors affect the hardness of the material?
5. What are the test methods to measure Shore D Hardness?
6. What is the difference between Shore D and Shore A hardness?
7. What are the test methods to measure Shore D hardness?
8. What are the Shore D hardness values of several plastics?

What is Shore D hardness?

The Shore D Hardness test is also called Durometer Hardness Test. The letter "D" symbolizes the type of durometer used to measure the hardness of a material. It is a dimensionless quantity. It goes between 0 and 100. The higher number of hardness represents the harder material.

Which tool measures Shore D hardness?

Durometer is the tool used to measure Shore D hardness. The hardness is determined by the penetration of the Durometer indenter foot into the sample under a defined spring force. The hardness value is read directly from the durometer scale.


Basic Scheme of Shore Durometer (Source: Springer)

What does the depth of penetration depend on?

The resulting depth of a specific indenter is dependent on:

• Hardness of the material
• Viscoelasticity of the material
• Shape of the indenter
• Duration of the test

The indentation reading may change over time. This is due to the viscoelastic behavior of rubbers and plastics.

What factors affect the hardness of the material?

There are several factors impacting the hardness of a material. They are:

• Vulcanization of the material – Keep the material away from harsh conditions before conducting a hardness test. They may give a false negative result of the material to be tested.


• Curing of the material – The complete curing of the material should take place. Uncured materials will show low hardness.


• Size of the material – Testing the hardness of thin materials can be difficult. Hence it is important to check the size specifications of the material.

What are the test methods to measure Shore D Hardness?

The test methods used to measure Shore D Hardness are:

• ASTM D2240 and
• ISO 868

What is the difference between Shore D and Shore A hardness?

1. Type D: The foot penetrates the surface of the material.
2. Type A: The foot indents the surface of the material.

What is the difference between Shore and Rockwell hardness?

Shore hardness	Rockwell hardness
For rubbers, elastomers & softer plastics, Shore Hardness is often preferred. Very soft materials can be measured using Shore A hardness.	It is generally used for hard materials, like PA, PC, POM, or PS, where the resilience or creep of the polymer is less likely to affect results.

One can clearly see the conceptual parallels between the Rockwell method and the Shore method. Today, off-the-shelf equipment, at least some of which is automated, can be purchased for immediate use and testing according to standardized ASTM/ISO procedures.

Shore A, D and Rockwell Values of Different Plastics Materials (Source: ScienceDirect)

What are the Shore D hardness values of several plastics?

The typical Hardness Shore D values of several plastics are:

Polymer Name	Min Value	Max Value
ABS - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene	100.000	100.000
ABS Flame Retardant	80.000	90.000
Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Styrene High Heat	80.000	85.000
Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Styrene High Impact	75.000	85.000
ABS/PC Blend - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene/Polycarbonate Blend	85.000	90.000
Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Styrene/Polycarbonate 20% glass fiber	85.000	93.000
ABS/PC Flame Retardant	85.000	93.000
ASA - Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate	75.000	80.000
ASA/PC Blend - Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate/Polycarbonate Blend	80.000	85.000
Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate/Polycarbonate flame retardant	80.000	90.000
Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate/Polyvinyl Chloride	75.000	90.000
CA - Cellulose Acetate	50.000	95.000
CAB - Cellulose Acetate Butyrate	60.000	90.000
Cellulose Proprionate	40.000	95.000
CPVC - Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride	83.000	90.000
Ethylene Chlorotrifluoroethylene	75.000	75.000
ETFE - Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene	70.000	75.000
EVA - Ethylene Vinyl Acetate	15.000	45.000
FEP - Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene	60.000	65.000
HDPE - High Density Polyethylene	60.000	70.000
HIPS - High Impact Polystyrene	60.000	75.000
High Impact Polystyrene flame retardant V0	60.000	70.000
Ionomer (Ethylene-Methyl Acrylate Copolymer)	30.000	66.000
LCP - Liquid Crystal Polymer	82.000	95.000
Liquid Crystal Polymer carbon fiber	95.000	95.000
Liquid Crystal Polymer glass fiber	90.000	95.000
Liquid Crystal Polymer mineral	90.000	95.000
LDPE - Low Density Polyethylene	40.000	50.000
LLDPE - Linear Low Density Polyethylene	55.000	56.000
PA 11 - (Polyamide 11) 30% Glass fiber reinforced	73.000	78.000
Polyamide 11 conductive	64.000	64.000
Polyamide 11 flexible	59.000	63.000
Polyamide 11 rigid	64.000	72.000
PA 12 (Polyamide 12) conductive	71.000
Polyamide 12 fiber reinforced	70.000	80.000
Polyamide 12 flexible	63.000	63.000
Polyamide 12 glass filled	58.000	75.000
Polyamide 12 rigid	68.000	72.000
PA 6 - Polyamide 6	80.000	95.000
PA 6-10 - Polyamide 6-10	60.000	85.000
PA 66 - Polyamide 6-6	80.000	95.000
Polyamide 6-6 30% glass fiber	80.000	95.000
Polyamide 6-6 30% mineral filled	80.000	95.000
Polyamide 6-6 impact modified 15-30% glass fiber	70.000	90.000
PA 66, Impact Modified	70.000	85.000
Polyamide semi-aromatic	81.000	83.000
PAI - Polyamide-Imide	90.000	99.000
Polyamide-Imide 30% glass fiber	95.000	99.000
Polyamide-Imide low friction	95.000	99.000
Polyacrylonitrile	85.000	93.000
Polyarylamide 30-60% glass fiber	90.000	90.000
PBT - Polybutylene Terephthalate	90.000	95.000
Polybutylene Terephthalate 30% glass fiber	95.000	99.000
Polycarbonate 20-40% glass fiber	90.000	95.000
Polycarbonate 20-40% glass fiber flame retardant	90.000	95.000
PC - Polycarbonate, high heat	90.000	95.000
PCL - Polycaprolactone	55.000	55.000
PCTFE - Polymonochlorotrifluoroethylene	75.000	85.000
PE - Polyethylene 30% Glass Fiber	70.000	80.000
PEEK - Polyetheretherketone	85.000	95.000
Polyetheretherketone 30% carbon fiber	90.000	99.000
Polyetheretherketone 30% glass fiber	90.000	99.000
PEI - Polyetherimide	95.000	99.000
Polyetherimide 30% glass fiber	95.000	99.000
PEI, Mineral Filled	95.000	99.000
PESU - Polyethersulfone	95.000	95.000
Polyethersulfone 10-30% glass fiber	95.000	95.000
PET - Polyethylene Terephthalate	85.000	95.000
Polyethylene Terephtalate 30% glass fiber	95.000	99.000
Polyethylene Terephtalate 30/35% glass fiber impact modified	90.000	90.000
Polyethylene -Ultra High Molecular Weight	60.000	70.000
PFA - Perfluoroalkoxy	60.000	65.000
PMMA - Polymethylmethacrylate/Acrylic	90.000	99.000
Polymethylmethacrylate (Acrylic) high heat	99.000	99.000
PMMA (Acrylic) Impact Modified	83.000	95.000
PMP - Polymethylpentene	60.000	70.000
Polymethylpentene 30% glass fiber	75.000	80.000
Polymethylpentene mineral filled	75.000	80.000
POM - Polyoxymethylene (Acetal)	80.000	95.000
POM (Acetal) Impact Modified	80.000	92.000
Polyoxymethylene (acetal) low friction	80.000	95.000
POM (Acetal) Mineral Filled	92.000	95.000
PP - Polypropylene 10-20% Glass Fiber	80.000	85.000
Polypropylene 10-40% mineral filled	70.000	80.000
Polypropylene 10-40% talc	75.000	85.000
Polypropylene 30-40% glass fiber	85.000	88.000
PP (Polypropylene) Copolymer	70.000	80.000
PP (Polypropylene) Homopolymer	70.000	83.000
PP, Impact Modified	45.000	55.000
PPE - Polyphenylene Ether	85.000	90.000
Polyphenylene Ether 30% glass fiber	85.000	90.000
Polyphenylene Ether flame retardant	85.000	90.000
Polyphenylene Ether impact modified	85.000	90.000
Polyphenylene Ether mineral filled	85.000	90.000
PPS - Polyphenylene Sulfide	90.000	95.000
Polyphenylene Sulfide 20-30% glass fiber	90.000	99.000
Polyphenylene Sulfide 40% glass fiber	95.000	99.000
Polyphenylene Sulfide conductive	90.000	95.000
Polyphenylene Sulfide glass fiber & mineral	88.000	95.000
PPSU - Polyphenylene Sulfone	80.000	80.000
Polystyrene crystal	85.000	90.000
Polystyrene high heat	90.000	95.000
PSU - Polysulfone	80.000	80.000
Polysulfone 30% glass fiber	95.000	95.000
Polysulfone mineral filled	90.000	90.000
PTFE - Polytetrafluoroethylene	50.000	65.000
Polytetrafluoroethylene 25% glass fiber	60.000	70.000
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), 20% Glass Fiber-reinforced	85.000	90.000
PVC, Plasticized	15.000	70.000
Polyvinyl Chloride plasticized filled	15.000	70.000
PVC Rigid	65.000	90.000
PVDC - Polyvinylidene Chloride	88.000	90.000
PVDF - Polyvinylidene Fluoride	65.000	82.000
SAN - Styrene Acrylonitrile	75.000	95.000
Styrene Acrylonitrile 20% glass fiber	90.000	99.000
SMA - Styrene Maleic Anhydride	83.000	85.000
Styrene Maleic Anhydride 20% glass fiber	83.000	85.000
Styrene Maleic Anhydride flame retardant V0	83.000	85.000
TPS, Injection General Purpose	45.000	62.000
Thermoplastic Starch WR	52.400	53.600
XLPE - Crosslinked Polyethylene	30.000	80.000