Hardness Shore D
Last update on Jul 11, 2025
Shore D hardness is important in plastics because it provides a standardized measurement of a material's resistance to indentation. It helps you select materials with appropriate hardness for specific applications and wear conditions.
This property directly correlates with durability and abrasion resistance, making it crucial for predicting how plastic components will withstand physical contact, impacts, and surface damage during their service life. Shore D values (typically ranging from 0-100) are particularly relevant for semi-rigid to rigid plastics used in demanding applications like gears, wheels, and protective housings.
Additionally, hardness testing serves as a quality control metric to ensure consistency across production batches and verify that materials meet the specifications required for their intended use.
Let us evaluate how Shore D testing works, its significance in determining the hardness of the material and hardness values of commonly used polymers.
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 for 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?
- Type D: The foot penetrates the surface of the material.
- Type A: The foot indents the surface of the material.
Depth of Indenter: Shore A (L) and Shore D (R)
(Source: Wikipedia)
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.
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 |