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Insulation Durometer Hardness

When selecting insulation materials for a variety of applications, durometer hardness plays a crucial role in determining the material's suitability. Durometer hardness measures the material's resistance to indentation and provides valuable insights into its flexibility or rigidity. The durometer scale ranges from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating harder materials and lower numbers representing more flexible ones.

The durometer scale most commonly used for insulations materials is based on ASTM D-2240. In specific, this scale includes the A and D scales, with the A scale being used for softer materials and D scale being used to measure the hardness of harder materials.

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"A" Scale: Soft Material Ratings


Material Rating
Standard PVC A85-A90
Semi-Rigid PVC A90-A96
Irradiated PVC A94-A96
Flexible PVC A72-A76
Silicone Rubber A50-A60
TPR (Shell Elexar Rubber) - #8431Z A67
TPR (Shell Elexar Rubber) - #8712Z A65
TPR (Shell Elexar Rubber) - #8623Z A95

"D" Scale: Hard Material Ratings


Material Rating
Low Density Polyolefins D45
High Density Polyolefins D48
Rulan Polyolefins D55
Cross-Linked Polyolefins D51
Kynar D70-D80
Tefze D75
FEP D59
TFE D52
PFA D60
Halar D75

Choosing the Right Material Based on Durometer Hardness

Selecting the appropriate insulation material depends on the specific application requirements, such as the heat resistance, flexibility, and environmental factors. Softer materials are ideal for dynamic applications requiring flexibility, while harder materials are better suited for environments requiring strong chemical resistance and durability. Understanding the durometer hardness is important when selecting the right insulation material for your needs. When considering the factors during the selection of insulation materials, this guide will help ensure a safe, efficient performance for any electrical or industrial application.

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