Shore Hardness Meter

The hardness of plastics is most commonly measured by the Shore (Durometer) test or Rockwell hardness test. Both methods measure the resistance of plastics toward indentation and provide an empirical hardness value that does not necessarily correlate well to other properties or fundamental characteristics. Shore Hardness, using either the Shore A or Shore D scale, is the preferred method for rubbers/elastomers and is also commonly used for softer plastics such as polyolefins, fluoropolymers, and vinyls. The Shore A scale is used for softer rubbers while the Shore D scale is used for harder ones. Many other Shore hardness scales, such as Shore O and Shore H hardness, exist but are only rarely encountered by most people in the plastics industry.

The Shore hardness is measured with an apparatus known as a Durometer and consequently is also known as Durometer hardness. The hardness value is determined by the penetration of the Durometer indenter foot into the sample. Because of the resilience of rubbers and plastics, the indentation reading my change over time - so the indentation time is sometimes reported along with the hardness number. The ASTM test method designation is ASTM D2240 00 and is generally used in North America. Related methods include ISO 7619 and ISO 868; DIN 53505; and JIS K 6301, which was discontinued and superceeded by JIS K 6253.

The results obtained from this test are a useful measure of relative resistance to indentation of various grades of polymers. However, the Shore Durometer hardness test does not serve well as a predictor of other properties such as strength or resistance to scratches, abrasion, or wear, and should not be used alone for product design specifications. Shore hardness is often used as a proxy for flexibility (flexural modulus) for the specification of elastomers. The correlation between Shore hardness and flexibility holds for similar materials, especially within a series of grades from the same product line, but this is an empirical and not a fundamental relationship.

TI Sauter Manual Shore Hardness Test Stand

Sauter Shore Hardness Manual Test Stand
Easy to Use Lever operated test stand

Used with the HB Mechanical Shore Hardness Durometer, lever operated for quick and easy measurement . The stand has flexible height adjustment up to 63mm for the test object and a adjustable base plate for the correction in inhomogeneous test objects, base plate has a diameter of 75mm.

Using a manual test stand with the Shore Hardness Gauge will increase the accuracy of the measurement by 25%

The TI has a Glass plate providing a higher base hardness and a superior accuracy. Mechanically designed high stability and comfortable handling.

TI Sauter Manual Shore Hardness Test Stand

Suitable for:HB Models

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TH Sauter Manual Shore Hardness Test Stand

Sauter Shore Hardness Manual Test Stand
Easy to Use Lever operated test stand

Using a manual test stand with the Shore Hardness Gauge will increase the accuracy of the measurement by 25%

TH Sauter Manual Shore Hardness Test Stand

Suitable for:HB Models

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HD Digital Shore Hardness Durometer

Sauter HD Digital Shore Hardness Durometer
Compact handheld Durometer

Designed to measure the hardness on various products, comes in 3 hardness types Shore A, C & D each unit is supplied in a plastic carrying case for protection of the product whilst not being used. Optional software for use with the RS232C output on this device.

Shore A is for use on products like rubber, elastomers, neoprene, silicone, vinyl, soft plastics, felt, leather and similar materials.

Shore C is for use on products such as foam, sponge or similar materials

Shore D is for use on products such as plastics, formica, epoxies, plexiglass and similar materials

Measuring Range0 - 100 H

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HB Mechanical Shore Hardness Durometer

Sauter HB Mechanical Shore Hardness Durometer
Compact handheld Durometer

Designed to measure the hardness on various products, comes in 3 hardness types Shore A, C & D each unit is supplied in a wooden carrying case for protection of the product whilst not being used.

Shore A is for use on products like rubber, elastomers, neoprene, silicone, vinyl, soft plastics, felt, leather and similar materials.

Shore C is for use on products such as foam, sponge or similar materials

Shore D is for use on products such as plastics, formica, epoxies, plexiglass and similar materials

Measuring Range: 0 - 100H

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