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Hardness Testing of Polymers & Rubber

This lab report summarizes an experiment to determine the hardness of various polymeric materials using hardness testing meters. Specimens of natural rubber, neoprene, NBR, LDPE and HDPE were tested. Their thicknesses were measured first using a thickness gauge. Hardness was then measured using an analog Shore A hardness meter for the more elastic materials and a digital Shore D meter for the stiffer plastics. Results showed that NBR was the hardest material while HDPE was less hard than LDPE due to differences in their molecular structures. The report concludes by discussing hardness testing methods and citing references.

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43 views4 pages

Hardness Testing of Polymers & Rubber

This lab report summarizes an experiment to determine the hardness of various polymeric materials using hardness testing meters. Specimens of natural rubber, neoprene, NBR, LDPE and HDPE were tested. Their thicknesses were measured first using a thickness gauge. Hardness was then measured using an analog Shore A hardness meter for the more elastic materials and a digital Shore D meter for the stiffer plastics. Results showed that NBR was the hardest material while HDPE was less hard than LDPE due to differences in their molecular structures. The report concludes by discussing hardness testing methods and citing references.

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LAB REPORT #01

SUBMITTED TO : MAM FAZILA ASHRAF


SUBMITTED BY : FAIQUA JABEEN
REG. NUMBER : 2019-PE-7
TOPIC : TO DETERMINE THE HARDNESS
OF GIVEN POLYMERIC AND
RUBBER SPECIMENS
USING HARDNESS
METER.
ABSTARCT
In this experiment we have to find the hardness and thickness of the given polymeric materials
(natural rubber, neoprene, NBR, LDPE and HDPE). First of all we find the thickness of
specimens with the help of thickness meter then we find the hardness of specimens (neoprene,
natural rubber and NBR) with the help of analog hardness meter (shore A) and of remaining
materials (LDPE and HDPE) by using digital meter (shore D).Then we find which material is
more suitable to be used for applications where hardness is required.

INTRODUCTION

For polymeric materials hardness is the material resistance to permanent indentation. Hardness
testing for polymeric materials is performed by using shore durometer test according to ASTM
D2240.Durometer was invented in 1915 an American metallurgist name Shore to determine the
hardness of polymers and elastomers. A spring is used to push a material indenter into the
surface of specimen determining that how far it penetrates.

HARDNESS TEST METHODS


Following are the methods to find hardness of materials:

 Rockwell hardness test


 Brinell hardness test
 Vickers hardness test
 Shore durometer hardness test

EQUIPMENT

Figure 1 Hardness meter


SPECIMENS
Molded articles of LDPE, HDPE, Nitrile butadiene rubber, Neoprene rubber and natural rubbe

PROCEDURE
Shore A measurement
 Measure the thickness of Natural Rubber, Nitrile Butadiene Rubber and Neoprene
 Rubber molded specimens using thickness gauge.
 Place the sample to be tested on the plain surface.
 Put the testing unit on the sample in a vertical position. Wait until the dial of the console
is stable.
 Record the reading on the display.
Shore D measurement
 Measure the thickness of LDPE and HDPE molded specimens using thickness gauge.
 Switch on the electronic console. Select the test code, measurement time and type of
hardness.
 Place the sample to be tested on the plain surface. Put the testing unit on the
sample in a vertical position.
 Wait until the sound of the console that the test time has been passed and the hardness
value has been stored.
 Record the reading on the display and calculate standard deviation.

OBSERVATION AND CALCULATIONS

Sr.No Sample Thickness Hardness Standard


deviation
1 Neoprene 5.39 70.24 14.26
2 LDPE 2.84 59.86 7.51
3 HDPE 2.91 47.66 7.7

RESULT AND DISSCUSSION


NBR is the most hard material among all the specimens under consideration. It is because it has complex
structure due to presence double bonds in its structure. While HDPE is less harder than the LDPE due to
the less branching present in the molecular structure.
REFERENCES
1. Alberto Naranjo et. al., Plastic Testing and Characterization: Industrial Applications,
Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich, 2008 (ISBN-13: 978-1569904251)
2. Vishu Shah, Handbook of Plastics Testing and Failure Analysis, Third Edition, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2007 (ISBN-13: 978-0471671893)

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