Dynamic ball hardness tests on polymers

The present work demonstrates the possibility of determining and differentiating the elastic and plastic material properties (like the Young's modulus, the ball hardness under load, and the plastic hardness) by applying the dynamic ball hardness indentation test. In Ref. 1, the elastic properties are neglected. Nevertheless, the obtained hardness number includes both elastic and plastic parts. Now, the continuous data acquisition allows the determination of the elastic modulus of the polymer and also its dynamic and thermal dependence. Furthermore, a way of specifying a plastic hardness number is shown. Using the approach of Oliver and Pharr 2] enables the separation of the real material property of plastic hardness. Topographic measurements allowed taking the wall formation during a hardness test into account while analyzing the impression. It turned out that the elastic modulus determined in the manner described is independent of the penetration rate, but decreases with increasing temperature or caoutchouc mass content. Also, the dynamic and thermal dependence of the hardness are discussed.