Shore A Hardness is an indication of the “efficiency” of the plasticizer. This test measures the materials ability to resist indentation under specific conditions of force and time.The obtained values lie between 0 and 100. The higher the number, the greater the resistance. If the value is 0, the indenter completely penetrates the sample. If the result is 100, no penetration occurs.

All plastics which are flexible at room temperature become harden when the temperature of the room decrease, finally becoming fragile at lower temperatures. This property is often measured by torsional tests over a wide range of temperatures. The specimen is bent to an angle of 90° and examined for cracks at the bend.

Volatility is the tendency of a substance to evaporation and is directly related to a substances vapor pressure. At a given temperature, a substance with a higher evaporate pressure vaporizes more readily than a substance with a lower vapor pressure. Volatility is expressed as a percentage weight change (wt %) due to plasticizer loss to the atmosphere (value indicates loss of softener). Volatility loss was measured after 7 days at 100°C (concentration = 50 phr).

The values below shows the percentage weight change of the plastic after soapy water immersion.

The values below shows the percentage weight change of the plastic after olive oil immersion.

The values below shows the percentage weight change of the plastic after hexane immersion.