Hardness Testing Samples
Polymer
Reference values from McMaster-Carr.
Material
Size Reference
HardnessReference Tensile
Strength (ksi)Opacity Cost Identification
ColorBuna-N Square O-Ring Cord Stock 3/4"x3/4"x6" Shore A: 70-75 --- black $3.27/ft yellow Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE ) 1"x1"x6" Rockwell R: 60
Shore D: 421.6 white $1.46/ft red High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) 1"x1"x6" Rockwell R: 65
Shore D: 684.4 white $1.69/ft black UHMW, reprocessed 1/4"x3"x3" Rockwell R: 64 4.8 green Polypropylene
(3x3 plate is stress relieved)1"x1"x6"
1/4"x3"x3"Rockwell R: 92
Shore D: 774.8 translucent
with white tint$1.24/ft green PVC Type I 1"x1"x6" Rockwell R: 110
Shore D:807.3 gray $3.04/ft orange-silver PVC Type I 1"x1"x6" Rockwell R: 114
Shore D: 897.5 gray $3.22/ft orange-gold Acetal (Delrin) 1/4"x3"x3" Shore D: 85 9.5 natural (white) Polycarbonate 1/4"x3"x3" Rockwell M: 70
Rockwell R: 1189.5 clear Cast Acrylic (Acrylite FF) 1" cube
1/4"x3"x3"Barcol: 49
Rockwell M: 9310 clear $1.26/cube blue Cast Nylon 1/4"x3"x3" Shore D: 80 12 natural,
off whiteMetal
Reference values from MatWeb.
Material
Available
SizesReference
HardnessReference Tensile
Strength (ksi)Identification
Color or
Stamped CodeC11000-H2 Copper f 5/8"x6" Rockwell B: 40
Rockwell F: 8441.2 blue 6061-T651 Aluminum 1/2"x3"x3"
f 5/8"x6"Brinell: 95
Rockwell B: 6045 blue-green,
AL 6061C36000-H1 Brass 1/2"x3"x3"
f 5/8"x6"Rockwell B: 62 55.8 orange,
BRS 36000A36 Hot-Rolled Steel 2 1/2"x3"x3"
f 5/8"x6"Brinell: 119-159
Rockwell B: 67-8371
(58-80 is common)green-white,
ST A36C1018 1 Cold-Drawn Steel 1/2"x3"x3" Brinell: 126
Rockwell B: 7163.8 red-white,
ST 10182024-T4 Aluminum 1/4"x1"x6"
f 5/8"x6"Brinell: 120
Rockwell B: 7568.2 blue-red,
AL 20247075-T651 Aluminum 1/2"x2"x3"
f 5/8"x6"Brinell: 150
Rockwell B: 8782.7 blue-yellow 1035 Cold-Drawn Steel 1 f 5/8"x6" Brinell: 170
Rockwell B: 8684.8 red-orange 1045 Cold-Drawn Steel 1 1"x1"x3"
f 5/8"x6"Brinell: 187
Rockwell B: 90
Rockwell C: 1095 red-yellow,
ST 1045C95400 Aluminum Bronze 1/2"x3"x3" Brinell: 195
Rockwell B: 9489.9 BRZ 95400 4140 Annealed Steel 1/2"x3"x3" Brinell: 197
Rockwell B: 92
Rockwell C: 1395 ST 4140 4130 (Chromoly) Normalized
Alloy Steel1/4"x5/8"x6" Brinell: 197
Rockwell B: 92
Rockwell C: 1397.2 ST 4130 Gray Cast Iron f 3/4"x6" Brinell: 183-234
Rockwell B: 97
Rockwell C: 2040
(minimum)green 304 Annealed & Pickled Stainless Steel 1/2"x3"x6" Brinell: 123
Rockwell B: 7073.2
- Note on carbon content: In the AISI (SAE) designation, the 10 indicates an ordinary plain carbon steel, and the last two digits give the nominal carbon content, e.g. a 1035 contains approximately 0.35% carbon.
- The A36 (ASTM designation) contains approximately 0.26% carbon and would be roughly equivalent to a 1026. The A36 may also contain alloying ingredients including Cu and Mn.