Shore & IRHD Hardness Testing for Plastics and Rubber – Explore a Complete Range of Hardness Testers Designed for Accurate and Reliable Measurement of Soft Materials Across Industries.
Hardness Testers for Plastic and Rubber – Shore & IRHD Hardness Testing Solutions
Discover precision hardness testers designed specifically for plastic and rubber materials. Our Shore and IRHD hardness testers deliver accurate, repeatable results for a wide range of applications, ensuring compliance with industry standards for quality control and material testing. From simple to fully automatic and motorized hardness testers, portable or benchtop, analogical or digital, with the complete range of testing loads conforming to ASTM E2240 / ASTM 1415 / ASTM D1414 and ISO 7619 / ISO 48 / ISO 868.
Materials Tested with Shore & IRHD Hardness Testers:
- Plastics: Thermoplastics, thermosetting plastics, polymer composites.
- Rubber: Natural and synthetic rubber, elastomers, silicone, and rubber compounds.
- Soft Materials: Foams, gels, coatings, and flexible polymers.
Parts Suitable for Shore & IRHD Hardness Testing:
- Seals and Gaskets: Automotive, aerospace, and industrial sealing components.
- Tires and Wheels: Rubber tires, polyurethane wheels, and conveyor belts.
- Medical Devices: Catheters, tubing, and flexible polymer-based components.
- Consumer Goods: Footwear soles, rubber grips, and plastic enclosures.
- Industrial Components: O-rings, hoses, rubber pads, and damping elements.
Why Choose Shore & IRHD Hardness Testing?
Shore and IRHD hardness testers are designed to accurately measure the flexibility, elasticity, and indentation resistance of soft materials like rubber, plastics, and elastomers. These methods ensure that materials meet specific performance, durability, and safety requirements in industries such as automotive, medical, construction, and consumer goods.
- Shore Hardness Test: Ideal for plastics and elastomers, using durometers categorized into Shore A, D, and other scales depending on material stiffness.
- IRHD (International Rubber Hardness Degree): Provides highly accurate rubber hardness measurements, especially for small and thin samples.
Principles of Shore & IRHD Hardness Testing:
Shore Hardness Testing:
- A spring-loaded indenter applies force to the material surface.
- The depth of indentation is measured to determine the Shore hardness value.
IRHD Hardness Testing:
- A spherical indenter applies a controlled force for a fixed dwell time.
- The material’s resistance to indentation is recorded to determine hardness.
Both methods conform to ISO and ASTM standards, ensuring reliable and repeatable hardness measurements.
Key Features of Our Shore & IRHD Hardness Testers:
- Precision Measurement: Ensures accurate hardness readings for all types of rubber and plastic materials.
- Automated & Manual Options: Available in digital, analog, and fully automated models.
- Versatility: Suitable for small parts, thin samples, and large components.
- Durability: Built for use in laboratories, R&D, and industrial environments.
- Standard Compliance: Fully conforms to ISO and ASTM rubber and plastic hardness testing standards.
Our Shore and IRHD hardness testers provide the perfect solution for quality control, research, and production testing in industries that rely on flexible and elastic materials.
Contact us today to learn more and find the ideal hardness tester for plastic and rubber that meets your specific application needs!
ELECTRONIC SHORE
Shore and IRHD Hardness Tests – What Are They and How Do They Work?
Understanding Shore and IRHD Hardness Tests – Key Differences and Applications
Hardness testing for rubber, plastics, and elastomers is crucial for determining material durability, flexibility, and resistance to deformation. Among the most widely used methods are the Shore hardness test and the IRHD (International Rubber Hardness Degree) test, both designed to measure indentation resistance in soft materials.
Shore Hardness Testing – Ideal for a Wide Range of Plastics and Elastomers
The Shore hardness test (or durometer test) is commonly used in industries such as automotive, medical, construction, and consumer goods. It measures the penetration depth of an indenter under a defined force. The two most frequently used Shore scales are:
- Shore A: Suitable for soft rubber, flexible plastics, and elastomers (e.g., O-rings, seals, and shoe soles).
- Shore D: Used for harder plastics and rigid polymers (e.g., hard thermoplastics, pipes, and industrial plastic parts).
Different Shore durometers exist (Shore OO, Shore E, etc.), depending on material flexibility. See SHORE scales table below.
IRHD Hardness Testing – The Standard for Rubber and Thin Samples
The IRHD (International Rubber Hardness Degree) test is widely used in rubber and elastomer industries to measure the indentation resistance of materials, particularly when testing thin samples or O-rings. Unlike Shore testing, which measures indentation depth directly, IRHD determines material stiffness by measuring the force required to create a standardized indentation. IRHD scales include (See IRHD scales table here):
- IRHD Micro: For small rubber parts (e.g., thin films, gaskets, and micro-components).
- IRHD Normal & High Hardness: Used for general-purpose rubber and harder elastomers.
Choosing the Right Hardness Test for Your Material
- Shore hardness testers are best for fast, on-site testing of rubber and plastic products in various industries.
- IRHD testers provide highly accurate results for thin rubber components and precision applications.
Both Shore and IRHD hardness testers conform to ISO and ASTM standards, ensuring repeatable and reliable measurements in R&D, quality control, and production environments.
For more information on choosing the right hardness tester for plastics and rubber, contact us today and explore our advanced Shore and IRHD hardness testing solutions!
SHORE (ISO 7619 / ASTM E2240) | |||
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Shore A | ASTM E2240 ISO 7619 | Frustum 35° | Soft surfaces, flexible rubber, natural rubber, plastic, PVC, polyester, neoprene, leather, nitrile rubbers, tires, etc |
Shore D | ASTM E2240 ISO 7619 | Cone 30° | Hard and rigid surfaces, ceramic and composites, acrylics, plexiglass, print rolls, cellulose, acetates, nylon, etc |
Shore B | ASTM E2240 | Cone 30° | Medium values. As A scale for higher values. |
Shore C | ASTM E2240 | Frustum 35° | Medium-hard values. As D scale for lower values. |
Shore DO | ASTM E2240 | Ball 1.2 mm | From medium-hard to hard values. As B and C. |
Shore O | ASTM E2240 | Ball 1.2 mm | Low values and very flexible materials. As A scale for low values. |
Shore OO | ASTM E2240 | Ball 1.2 mm | Very soft rubbers, sponges, expanded rubber, foam rubber, natural rubber and silicon |
Shore E | ASTM E2240 | Ball 2.5 mm | Very soft rubbers, natural rubber, elastomers, casting resin, soft PVC, leather, etc. |
Shore M | ASTM E2240 | Cone 30° | As A scale, for thin specimens and elastomer materials. |
Shore 000 | ASTM E2240 | Ball 6.35 mm | Ultra-soft rubbers, sponges, expanded rubber, foam rubber, natural rubber and silicon. |
Shore 000-S | ASTM E2240 | Ball 10.7 mm | Ultra-soft rubbers, viscoelastic polymers. |
IRHD - MICRO IRHD (ISO 48 / ASTM 1415) | |||||
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Test Diameter (mm) and Application | Contact Force (N) | Loads Force (N) | Total Force (N) | Force at foot (N) | |
Method N (Standard) | Indenter ball 2.50 ± 0.01 / Clamping 20 ± 0.01 / Hole 6 ± 0.01 | 0.30 ± 0.02 | 5.40 ± 0.01 | 5.70 ± 0.03 | 8.3 ± 1.5 |
Thickness >= 4 mm / Range: 35 - 85 IRHD or 30 - 95 IRHD | |||||
Method H (High hardness) | Indenter ball 1.00 ± 0.01 / Clamping 20 ± 1 / Hole 6 ± 1 | 0.30 ± 0.02 | 5.40 ± 0.01 | 5.70 ± 0.03 | 8.3 ± 1.5 |
Thickness >= 4 mm / Range: 85 - 100 IRHD | |||||
Method L (Low hardness) | Indenter ball 2.50 ± 0.01 / Clamping 22 ± 1 / Hole 10 ± 1 | 0.30 ± 0.02 | 5.40 ± 0.01 | 5.70 ± 0.03 | 8.3 ± 1.5 |
Thickness >= 6 mm / Range: 10 - 35 IRHD |