Shore and Rockwell Durometer measure the resistance of plastics toward indentation. The higher the number, the harder the material will be.
Shore Hardness uses the Shore A or Shore D scale. This scale is typically used for rubbers/elastomers and softer plastics such as polyolefins, fluoropolymers, and vinyl. The hardness value is determined by the penetration of the Durometer indenter foot into the sample. Shore A is usually used for flexible materials, and Shore D is used for semi-flexible materials.
Rockwell hardness is generally chosen for 'harder' plastics such as nylon, polycarbonate, polystyrene, and acetal. The three most common scales used for plastics are Rockwell E, Rockwell M, and Rockwell R.
Title: What is the difference between Rockwell and Shore Durometer?
Description: A brief explanation of the difference between Shore A and Shore D
Published: 5/27/2003
Last Edited: 1/16/2023
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