next Accreditation Scheme

NEXT TEST METHOD 6

COLOURFASTNESS TO RUBBING
Scope and Principle
This method is intended to determine the degree of colour transfer from the surface of coloured textile materials to other surfaces by rubbing.
It is applicable to all textiles made from all fibres in the form of yarn or fabric.
Textile specimens are rubbed with a dry rubbing cloth and wet rubbing cloth. The staining of the rubbing cloths are assessed with the
grey scales for staining.
Apparatus
Crockmeter, consisting of: A circular rubbing surface finger measuring 16mm in diameter, exerting a downward force of 9N when moving
to and fro along a straight line track of 104mm (+/-3mm) onto the specimen.
Next approved cotton lawn fabric (Note: The fabric must not contain fluorescent brightening agents, sizing material or any finish)
Colour Assessment Cabinet (See Testing Guidelines, Part 2)
Grey Scales Stain (See Testing Guidelines, Part 2)
Wet and Dry Emery Paper - Grade 180
Balance, accurate to 0.01grams
Blotting Paper
Adhesive Tape

January 2008

next Accreditation Scheme

Reagents
For Wet Rubbing only:
Distilled/De-ionised, grade 3 water (see Testing Guidelines, Part 1).
Specimen Preparation
Fabrics:
Cut two test specimens measuring no less than 50mm x 200mm for dry rubbing and two for wet rubbing. One specimen of each pair
shall have its longest direction parallel to the lengthwise direction, the other parallel to the width wise direction of the fabric.
For multi-coloured fabrics, prints or stripes, all colours of the design should be tested. If there are sufficient areas of colour in
the design these should be tested individually.
Yarns:
Wind lengthwise on to a template of suitable size (at least 140mm x 50mm), or knit into fabric to provide specimens measuring at least
the same size of 140mm x 50mm.

January 2008

next Accreditation Scheme

Test Procedure
For Dry Rubbing:
Two tests are performed, one along the direction of the warp/length and the other along the direction of the
weft/width.
a) Using the holding clamp, mount the specimen on the baseboard of the Crockmeter, ensuring that the specimen is completely flat and
free from creases. The long direction of the specimen is parallel to the track of the rubbing.
b) Mount a dry rubbing cloth over the end of the peg on the Crockmeter and hold taut with the spring clip provided.
c) Rub the specimen to and fro over the straight track for 10 complete cycles at a rate of 1 second for each cycle (1 cycle = 1 complete
to and fro movement).
d) Remove the rubbing cloth from the peg and mount onto off-white card.
For Wet Rubbing:
Two tests are performed, one along the direction of the warp/length and the other along the direction of the
weft/width.
a) Wet out a rubbing cloth with distilled/de-ionised water to give 100% pick up. This can be achieved as follows:Weigh the rubbing cloth then thoroughly wet out with distilled/de-ionised water. Re-weigh and make adjustments as necessary by
either blotting off or re-wetting to achieve 100% pick up.
b) Mount the wet rubbing cloth over the end of the peg on the Crockmeter and hold taut with the spring clip provided.
c) Rub the specimen to and fro over the straight track for 10 complete cycles at a rate of 1 second for each cycle (1 cycle = 1 complete
to and fro movement).
d) Remove the rubbing cloth from the peg and mount onto off-white card and allow to dry at room temperature.
January 2008

next Accreditation Scheme

Evaluation of Results
Eliminate any loose fibres from the surface of the cotton rubbing fabric by dabbing lightly with a piece of adhesive tape.
Assess the specimens in a colour assessment cabinet under D65 Artificial Daylight (see Testing Guidelines, Part 2).
Assess colour staining of the cotton, across the whole area of stain, using the grey scales for assessing staining (see Testing Guidelines,
Part 2).
In the case of multi-coloured fabrics assess the staining for each individual colour.
Test Report
Report the test method number and title.
Report the numerical rating for dry staining and wet staining for each direction of the fabric.

January 2008