Elcometer 3101 Barcol Impressor Hardness Tester

The Elcometer 3101 Barcol Impressor Hardness Tester is a simple-to-use instrument designed to measure the hardness of soft metals, plastics, fibreglass, and leather. It provides immediate results without the need for pre-loading, waiting, or additional equipment—making it ideal for both field and laboratory use.

The tester operates by ensuring that the indenter point is perpendicular to the surface being tested. Once positioned on the sample, light pressure drives the spring-loaded indenter into the material, and the hardness value is instantly displayed on the analog dial.

There are three models available in the Elcometer 3101 range:

Elcometer 3101/1 Model 934-1: Suitable for soft metals such as aluminium, brass, copper, and harder plastics and glass fibre. Approximate range: 25 to 150 Brinell (10mm ball, 500kg load). Complies with ASTM D2583.
Elcometer 3101/2 Model 935: Designed for softer plastics and very soft metals.
Elcometer 3101/3 Model 936: Ideal for extremely soft materials such as lead, linoleum, and leather.

All readings are provided in Barcol Units (BU).

Fast, accurate, and versatile, the Elcometer 3101 Barcol Impressor Hardness Tester is the professional’s choice for soft material hardness testing.

Model	Descrition	Substrate
Elcometer 3101/1	Elcometer 3101 Durimetru Barcol Type 934/1	Soft metals, hard plastics materials, etc. with conversion table in Bricknell, Vickers & Rockwell B, E, F, H
Elcometer 3101/2	Elcometer 3101 Durimetru Barcol Type 935	Plastic materials and very soft materials.
Elcometer 3101/3	Elcometer 3101 Durimetru Barcol Type 936	Extrimley soft materials and textile materials, for example ledher.

the device indicates a numerical value based on the hardness of the needlepenetration into the material;
wide range of accessories will allow tests on several types of material.