DIN ISO 27588:2010-05

This standard stipulates a method for hardness testing of very soft elastomers, like silicones, with the designation VLRH scale. The elaboration of this standard has become necessary because in several branches of industry, like in the car industry, but also in medicine, silicones are used at an increasing rate, but the hardness testing methods used so far could not sufficiently discriminate the hardness differences of silicones. Compared with previously used methods, the VLRH method excels by test forces and an indentation depth measurement with high resolution, which fit with the properties of very soft silicones. The standardization of the VLRH scale in ISO 27588 can give the user of this method a sense of security, and supplier and costumer can refer to this standard in contracts which are intended to be concluded. At DIN the Committee responsible for this standard is NA 062-04-34 AA "Prüfung der physikalischen Eigenschaften von Kautschuk und Elastomeren" ("Test procedures for physical properties of rubber").