The Exchange Test Method

A-2: Colorfastness to Crocking (Rubbing)

Issue Date: 30 Apr 1993

Revision Date: 09/30/2011

  1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

    To determine the degree of color transfer from a test specimen to other surfaces by both wet and dry rubbing. Customer dissatisfaction because of poor colorfastness is one of the main causes of return of softline merchandise. As washing, dry cleaning, ironing, etc., may affect the degree of color transfer from a material, the test may be done before, after, or before and after any such treatment.
  2. PRINCIPLE:

    Test specimen is fastened to crockmeter base and rubbed with white test cloth under controlled conditions. This rubbing motion simulates the action of the human finger and forearm. Assessment of color transfer is done using AATCC Chromatic Transference Scale and a rating is assigned.
  3. REFERENCE:

    AATCC Test Method 8-2007, Colorfastness to Crocking: AATCC Crockmeter Method.
  4. APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

  5. PROCEDURE:

  6. EVALUATION:

    Evaluate the degree of color transfer from specimen to test square using Chromatic Transference Scale. Back the test square with three layers of white test cloth while evaluating color transfer.

    Using Chromatic Transference Scale, rate the color transfer as follows:
    Grade Transference Scale
    5 Negligible or no color transfer
    4 Color transfer equivalent to Row 4
    3 Color transfer equivalent to Row 3
    2 Color transfer equivalent to Row 2
    1 Color transfer equivalent to Row 1
  7. REPORT:

    Report color transfer by indicating numerical ratings for dry and wet crocking.
  8. NOTES: