Testing of Color Fastness to Rubbing for Textiles

I. Scope of Application

This method is applicable to dyed or printed yarns, fabrics, and textile products made from various types of fibers, including textile carpets and other pile fabrics. Each sample may be tested in two conditions: one using a dry rubbing cloth and the other using a wet rubbing cloth.

II. Principle of the Test

The textile specimen is rubbed separately with a dry rubbing cloth and a wet rubbing cloth, and the degree of staining on the rubbing cloth is evaluated. The crockmeter used in the test provides two selectable friction head sizes, enabling two test combinations: one for pile fabrics and the other for solid-colored or large-area printed fabrics.

III. Test Materials

Representative laboratory samples in quantities sufficient to meet the testing requirements.

IV. Test Instruments

Scissors, ruler, crockmeter (rubbing fastness tester).

V. Test Procedure

1. Sample Preparation

Prepare two specimens for each set. One specimen should have its longitudinal direction parallel to the warp (or lengthwise direction), and the other should be parallel to the weft (or transverse direction).

• For woven fabrics or carpets: Prepare two sets of specimens with dimensions no less than 50 mm X 140 mm—one set for dry rubbing and one for wet rubbing.
• Alternatively, specimens can be cut at an angle to the warp and weft directions.
• For carpets with an identifiable pile direction, the pile should align with the specimen's length.
• For yarns: Knit the yarns into a fabric with dimensions no less than 50 mm × 140 mm, or wind the yarns in parallel along the length of a cardboard piece matching the sample size, forming a uniform single layer.

2. Mounting the Specimen

Use a clamping device to fix the specimen on the crockmeter platform, ensuring that the specimen's length aligns with the direction of the rubbing head's motion. Place a metal mesh or sandpaper between the platform and the specimen to reduce movement during testing.

3. Dry Rubbing Test

Lay the rubbing cloth flat on the rubbing head, with the warp direction of the rubbing cloth aligned with the direction of the head's motion. The rubbing speed should be one complete back-and-forth cycle per second, for a total of 10 cycles.

4. Wet Rubbing Test

Weigh the rubbing cloth, fully immerse it in distilled water, and reweigh to confirm that the water content reaches 95%–100%. Perform the test as described above. After testing, air dry the wet rubbing cloth.

5. Evaluation

Place three layers of rubbing cloth behind each test rubbing cloth. Under appropriate lighting conditions, use a grayscale card for staining to assess the degree of staining on the rubbing cloth.

VI. Test Report

The test report should include:

• Test date
• Sample information
• Type of rubbing head used
• Type of test (dry or wet rubbing; for wet rubbing, note the moisture content)
• Conditioning time for specimen and rubbing cloth
• Direction of the specimen (warp, weft, or diagonal)
• Staining grade for each specimen
• Test data can be recorded in Table 1.

Table 1. Textile Rubbing Fastness Test Record Sheet

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