Colour Fastness to rubbing test |Purpose| Equipment| Test Specimen| Method.

PURPOSE

To determine a coloured material’s resistance to rubbing.

EQUIPMENT

• Crockmeter (automatically or manually operated; complying to ISO 105-X12) or extra rubbing finger (accessories only)

• Cotton rubbing cloth (5cm x 5cm)

• Light box with light source D65

• Grey scale for assessing staining (ISO 105-A03)

• Distilled water, grade 3

• Pipette

TEST SPECIMEN

One specimen for each colour and material.

Test should be performed both before and after 1 time wash. If the product is unlined the reverse side should also be tested.

METHOD

DRY RUBBING

1. Place the test specimen lengthwise into the testing device and make sure that the surface is not creased. If testing a multi-coloured sample, make sure that the test specimen is positioned in a way that all colours are rubbed during the test.

2. Place the rubbing cloth in the testing device. The warp or weft of the rubbing cloth should be perpendicular to the test direction.

3. Rub 10 times in an even pace, approx. 1 cycle per second.

4. Remove the rubbing cloth and the specimen.

Wet Rubbing

Follow the procedure for dry rubbing but add one drop of water with the pipette to the rubbing cloth before placing it in the crockmeter.

Dry the rubbing cloth before evaluation.

Rubbing Procedure for Accessory

A. Test according to normal procedure if: a. the accessory fit in the machine (see examples below)

b. you have access to cuttings from bulk material and no extra treatments are done to the finished product

B. Accessory that due to shape and size cannot fit in the crockmeter should be tested as follows. Change point 1 and 2 in the normal procedure for rubbing;

1. Hold the sample firmly in place by hand.

2. Place the rubbing cloth on an unfastened crocking finger.

RESULTS

• Place the rubbing cloth in the light box (D65 light) at an incline plane with an angle of approx. 45°.

• Evaluate the staining using the grey scale. Three unstained rubbing cloths should be placed under the rubbing cloth that is evaluated.

• Carefully remove loose fibres on the rubbing cloth’s surface before evaluation.

• The result is the grey scale rating closest to the staining of the rubbing cloth.

• Any dark circle formed around the test area should be discarded.

NOTE

Note 1. Do not remove the rubbing finger from the crockmeter since this can affect the calibration of the machine.

Examples, how to perform dry rubbing on different accessories:

Mesh Qualities

Stretch the fabric using double layers. Perform a normal rubbing test

Decoration Bands for Bows etc.

Normal rubbing test using a board: Fasten a band minimum length 50 cm lengthwise on a board with tape or stapler according to below picture. Perform a normal rubbing test.