This selection guide is designed as a general overview of the many durometer styles, types, spring force ranges, and indentor configurations.
It may assist in choosing the proper durometer for a particular application, however, it is not to be considered a definitive technical document.
Questions regarding specific testing requirements requiring detailed technical information, are freely answered as a service to our customers.
The text link in the ‘Model’ column of the table below will display the current information for the respective durometer.
It is also highly recommended that, whenever possible, an operating stand be employed in performing durometer hardness tests. Please visit the PTC® Operating Stand WebPage to select a suitable Operating Stand for your application.
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| Type | Application | Model | Description | Main Spring (gf) | Indentor Geometry |
| A | Rubber: Soft vulcanized, natural, nitrile | Elastomeric Materials: neoprene, thiokol, flexible polyacrylic esters | Other: Wax, felt, leather, etc. | 201 211 306L 408 501A 511A | Analog Pencil | Digital Pencil | Classic Style | Ergo Style | Analog e2000 | Digital e2000 | 821 821 821 821 821 821 |  35º Cut Cone |
| JIS A | Rubber: Soft vulcanized, natural, nitrile | Elastomeric Materials: neoprene, thiokol, flexible polyacrylic esters | Other: Wax, felt, leather, etc. | JIS A | Classic Style | 855 | 35º Cut Cone |
| B | Rubber: Moderately Hard (typewriter rollers, platens) | 201B 211B 306BL 408B 501B 511B | Analog Pencil | Digital Pencil | Classic Style | Ergo Style | Analog e2000 | Digital e2000 | 821 821 821 821 821 821 |  30º Cone |
| C | Rubber: Medium Hard | Plastics: Medium Hard | 202C 212C 307CL 409 502C 512C | Analog Pencil | Digital Pencil | Classic Style | Ergo Style | Analog e2000 | Digital e2000 | 4536 4536 4536 4536 4536 4536 | 35º Cut Cone |
| JIS C | Rubber: Medium Hard | Plastics: Medium Hard | JIS C | Classic Style | 4500 | 35º Cut Cone |
| D | Rubber: Hard | Plastics: Harder grades; Rigid Thermoplastics | 202 212 307L 409 502D 512D | Analog Pencil | Digital Pencil | Classic Style | Ergo Style | Analog e2000 | Digital e2000 | 4536 4536 4536 4536 4536 4536 | 30º Cone |
| DO | Textile Windings: Very Dense (slasher beams, etc.) | 202DO 212DO 413 502DO 512DO | Analog Pencil | Digital Pencil | Ergo Style | Analog e2000 | Digital e2000 | 4536 4536 4536 4536 4536 4536 |  3/32” Sphere |
| O | Rubber: Soft | Textile Windings: Medium Density | 201O 211O 410 501O 511O | Analog Pencil | Digital Pencil | Ergo Style | Analog e2000 | Digital e2000 | 821 821 821 821 821 | 3/32” Sphere |
| OO | Rubber: Sponge | Textile Windings: Low Density | 203 411 | Analog Pencil | Ergo Style | 113 113 | 3/32” Sphere |
| OOO | Plastic: Foams | Rubber: Sponge | 412 | Classic Style | 113 |  1/4” Sphere |
| SL | Plastic: Foams | Rubber: Sponge | 302SL | Classic Style | 142 |  11.3 mm Ø |
| CF | Plastic: Foams | Rubber: Sponge | 414CF | Classic Style | 9072 | 1/4” Sphere |
| Asker C | Plastic: Foams | Rubber: Sponge | Asker C | Classic Style | 855 | 5.08 mm Sphere |
PTC Durometer, PTC Durometers, Shore hardness, pocket durometer, Shore scale, hardness, rubber hardness, plastic, plastic hardness, indentation hardness, ebonite, ebonite hardness, rubber hardness testing, rubber testing, hardness testing, durometer hardness, testing, ASTM D2240, D2240, ASTM D1957, ISO 868, ISO 7619, ISO 8517, ISO 7267, ISO 21509, ISO 18517, JIS K6253, JIS K6251, JIS K6252, JIS K 6253, JIS K6254, JIS K6255, JIS K6256, JIS K6257, JIS K6258, JIS K6259, JIS K6260, JIS K7215, DIN 53505, DIN 53 505, CNS, K6898, BS 903, BS 2782, BS ISO 21509, BS EN ISO 868, GB/T 10807, Asker, Asker C, SRIS 0101, MIL-STD-45622A, MIL-I-45208A, MIL-STD-120, 83.060, 83.080, hysteresis, creep, Young’s Modulus.