Shore Hardness Scales
Shore hardness scales are used to measure the hardness of various materials such as rubbers and plastics. They provide a standardized way to assess the stiffness and flexibility of materials. There can be some overlap between the scales – for example, a material with a hardness of 95A also corresponds to 45D.
- Shore 00 measures the hardness of very soft gels and rubbers.
- Shore A covers flexible mold rubbers, ranging from soft and pliable to firm and nearly rigid. Semi-rigid plastics can also be measured at the higher end of this scale.
- Shore D is used for hard rubbers and rigid plastics.
How is hardness measured?
A Shore durometer features a spring-loaded needle that is pressed against the surface of the material. The less the needle penetrates, the harder the material is. The reading is given on a scale (e.g., Shore 30A).
