Shore Hardness Testing

Polymers Lab

Lab Report No. 1

Submitted to: Sir Zeeshan

Submitted by: Group A-3

Date of Experiment: 19-02-20

Due Date: 26-02-20

Group Member Registration No.

Syeda Unaiza Hassan 180301027
Raja Muhammad bilal Zaheer 180301006
Muhammad Ali Raza 180301036
Ebtassam Qamar 180301034
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Contents
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 3
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 4
2 Literature Review.................................................................................................................... 5
3 Importance of durometer......................................................................................................... 5
 Applications ..................................................................................................................... 5
 Limitations of durometer .................................................................................................. 5
4 Objectives ............................................................................................................................... 6
5 Apparatus and Equipment Used.............................................................................................. 6
 Durometer......................................................................................................................... 6
 Bottle cap (Polyethylene Terephthalate) .......................................................................... 7
 Mobile phone cover (Silicone) ......................................................................................... 7
 Keyboards (ABS) ............................................................................................................. 8
6 Procedure ................................................................................................................................ 8
7 Observations & Results........................................................................................................... 9
8 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 10
9 Precautions ............................................................................................................................ 10
10 References ............................................................................................................................. 11

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____________________________________________

Abstract
The Shore hardness test is a quick and convenient way to measure the hardness of polymers. The
test states that the specimen should be at least 6 mm thick; however, published literature suggests
that researchers often use much thinner samples. The test is done using a device called
Durometer. The purpose of this study is to determine the hardness of different polymers and
compare them with each other.

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1 Introduction
 HARDNESS:
Hardness is a material's resistance to localized deformation.The deformation found in met
als, ceramics, and most polymers is a plastic deformation of the surface.Plastic hardness
defines the resistance of a hard body to the penetration of a plastic. The tougher material
wears or scratches the softer material.

Plastic hardness defines the resistance of a hard body to the penetration of a plastic. The
tougher material wears or scratches the softer material.

It is a key engineering parameter for the construction of devices, consumer products or

industrial parts. This can become apparent when considering cosmetic effects such as
scratching or loss of surface gloss due to the rubbing of two materials. Alternatively,
wear from moving parts can be considered[1].

There is a wide array of techniques used to determine a substance's hardness. Below are a
few of the more common methods adopted:

1. Mohs Hardness Test

2. Brinell Hardness Test
3. Rockwell Hardness Test
4. Durometer Hardness Test

 SHORE HARDNESS:
Shore hardness is a measure of a material's resistance to the penetration of a needle-like
indenter charged by a spring. Polymer hardness (rubbers, plastics) is usually measured
with Shore scales.

Shore A scale is used to measure soft Elastomers and other flexible polymers. Strong
elastomer hardness and most other polymer materials (Thermoplastics, Thermosets) are
measured by the scale of Shore D.

Shore hardness is tested using a device called Durometer. Durometer uses an indenter
charged from a calibrated spring.

The calculated hardness is defined by the indenter's penetration depth beneath the load.
For two Shore Scales (A and D), two different indenter shapes and two different spring
loads are applied. [2]

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2 Literature Review
 QUALITATIVE HARDNESS TEST:
A qualitative or arbitrary hardness indexing scheme was devised, which ranges from 1 on
the soft end and 100 for diamond in the Mohs scale.
 QUANTITATIVE HARDNESS TEST :
It is a technique which uses a small indenter with given force into a surface of a material
to be tested. The depth or size of resulting indentation is measured and turn to its related
hardness number. In the polymeric materials hardness test, the most common method is
using a Shore (durometer) hardness test. Shore provides the various shore hardness
scales, i.e., A, B, C, D, DO, etc. These scales are properly referred to as shore hardness
types.
For example, elastomeric materials and soft polymer are usually measured with Shore A,
while Shore D is capable of measuring harder polymer than Shore A.
Currently in ASTM D2240—04, Types A, B, C, D, DO, E, O, OO, OOO and OOO—S,
M, and R are recognized.

3 Importance of durometer
Durometer plays a crucial role in the manufacturing process of many silicone, rubber, and
plastic materials and can help determine the item’s resistance to penetration. Being able
to establish the hardness of the materials used in products is important regarding quality
control and even design approval.

 Applications
The Shore A durometer is suited for softer surfaces. Its applications can include: rubber,
polyester, leather, wax, etc. The maximum hardness it can measure accurately is 100;
anything higher is to be measured by the Shore D.
The Shore D durometer is suited for harder surfaces. Its applications can include: wood,
hard rubber, plastics, flooring, bowling balls, etc.

 Limitations of durometer
 Many rubber components are not flat, and do not have the required minimum thickness
for Shore A testing accuracy
 Hardness measurement accuracy is +/- 5 points due to mechanical limitations of
instrumentation.
 Rubber batches contain inherent minor variations from batch to batch based on slight
differences in raw materials and processing techniques causing variations in durometer
readings.
 If specimen thickness is not sufficient the gauge reading is impacted by the base material
(In the case of ASTM requirements, this is a flat steel surface)

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4 Objectives
 To measure the hardness of polymer based materials.
 To estimate the application of materials based on hardness.
 To choose the suitable material required, by comparing the hardness of different
materials.

5 Apparatus and Equipment Used

 Durometer
In this experiment we use Durometer to measure hardness of different materials .It is a
digital measuring machine which lessens the chances of reading errors. It is used by
pressing its indenter on the surface of the material whose hardness is to be measured.
Higher numbers on the scale indicate a greater resistance to indentation and thus harder
materials. Lower numbers indicate less resistance and softer materials. The scale was
defined by Albert Ferdinand Shore, who developed a suitable device to measure hardness
in the 1920s. It was neither the first hardness tester nor the first to be called a durometer,
but today that name usually refers to Shore hardness. Other devices use other measures,
which return corresponding results, such as for Rockwell hardness.[3]

Figure 1: Durometer [7]

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 Bottle cap (Polyethylene Terephthalate)

In bottle caps basically Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) is used, a strong, stiff
synthetic fiber and resin, and a member of the polyester family of polymers. PET is spun
into fibers for permanent-press fabrics, blow-molded into disposable beverage bottles,
and extruded into photographic film and magnetic recording tape. [4]

Figure 2: Plastic bottles (cap) [8]

 Mobile phone cover (Silicone)

Silicones, also known as polysiloxanes, are polymers that include any synthetic
compound made up of repeating units of siloxane, which is a chain of alternating silicon
atoms and oxygen atoms, combined with carbon, hydrogen, and sometimes other
elements. They are typically heat-resistant and either liquid or rubber-like, and are used
in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medicine, cooking utensils, and thermal and electrical
insulation.[5]

Figure 3: Mobile phone cover [9]

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 Keyboards (ABS)
The Acryl Nitride Buta Diene Styrene was used in the keyboard to be tested. ABS
or Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is a common thermoplastic polymer typically used for
injection molding applications. This engineering plastic is popular due to its low
production cost and the ease with which the material is machined by plastic
manufacturers.[6]

Figure 4: keyboard [10]

6 Procedure
The procedure followed to do the experiment is given below:

 Enter the lab and wear the lab coat.

 First we have observed different materials of different polymers have thickness not less
0.6mm.
 The specimen is than placed on a hard flat surface of that material.
 The indenter for the instrument is then pressed into the specimen making sure that it is
parallel to the surface.
 The hardness is read within one or two seconds (as specified by the instructor).

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7 Observations & Results

We have observed different materials of different polymers and performed shore
hardening experiment using shore hardness tester. Following data of different materials is
recorded.

Material Polymer Hardness(D) Average Hardness

2.7

1. Mobile Cover Polyurethane 2.8 2.6

2.4

4.0

2. Keyboard ABS 4.1 4.2

4.5

4.4

3. Bottle Cap PET or PETE 4.6 4.4

4.3

Table 2: Readings taken for shore hardness

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8 Conclusion
After performing the shore hardness experiment for different polymer based materials
mentioned in the above Table 1.We concluded that the hardness of Bottle cap is greater
than the rest of them.

Bottle Cap > Keyboard > Mobile Cover (Transparent)

2 4.2 4.4

2.6
1

0
Mobile Cover Keyboard Bottel Cap

Column1

9 Precautions
 The sample material must be a minimum of 6 mm.
 The surface beneath the sample materials should be hard.
 While taking reading the tester should be perpendicular to the sample material and
reading should be read with in one or two seconds

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10 References
[1] Hardness. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2020, from
https://www.oringsusa.com/html/durometer_of_o-rings.html

[2] Hardness of Plastics - When to Use RockWell& Shore Scales. (n.d.). Retrieved
February 22, 2020, from https://omnexus.specialchem.com/polymer-
properties/properties/hardness-introduction

[3] Hardness Testing with a Durometer | Anderson Materials Evaluation, Inc. (n.d.).
Retrieved February 22, 2020, from http://www.andersonmaterials.com/hardness-testing-
with-a-durometer.html

[4] Polymer Solutions News Team. (2015, October 5). Metal Properties: Hardness,
Toughness, & Strength {Infographic}. Retrieved from
https://www.polymersolutions.com/blog/defining-metal-properties/

[5] Schoemehl, B. (2018, January 14). The Importance of Durometer. Retrieved from
https://rothkopf.com/the-importance-of-durometer/

[6] Shore (Durometer) hardness test [SubsTech]. (2013, July 27). Retrieved from
https://www.substech.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=shore_durometer_hardness_test

[7] https://top-messtechnik.com/Hardness-Tester-HT1

[8] http://jbiom.com/challenges-in-the-use-of-polyethylene-terephthalate-bottles-for-
packaging-drinking-water

[9] https://utranex.com/product/transparent-silicon-back-cover-for-samsung-a10

[10] http://www.sealshield.com/Products/Standard-True-Type/Silver-Seal-Glow-
Waterproof-Keyboard_5.html

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Institute of Space Technology Dept. of Materials Science & Engineering