SANTAM computer software was used for storing and processing the data. The hardness was measured using cylindrical samples, 12.5 mm thick and 29.0 mm in diameter. The samples were placed in a Shore A durometer hardness tester (Shore Instrument & Mfg., Co., NY) and the hardness was measured at 23.5C and a reading was taken after 15 s. This was repeated at three different positions on each sample, and the median of the three readings was reported.32 The results are reported in Table