Do you want to boost the confidence of your customers in your services and products? You can achieve this by following the guidelines and standards set by local and federal governments and industries to promote quality and safety. The packaging labels and fabric industries subject their products to scuff testing.
Scuff testing.
Scuff is when the product rubs itself continuously against another object. Scuff testing is the best way to be assured that painted, printed, and polished products can resist abrasion. This procedure is inexpensive and easy. Scuff resistance tests are essential to ensure the product’s packaging is efficient and safe. The instrument used to test for scuff resistance of packaging materials is known as a scuff tester. The printing quality of packaging materials is affected by various external factors.
Fabric.
Scuff testing is done in the textile industry to determine the colorfastness of the dye or fabric. The determination of the fabric’s ability to resist stain depends on color fastness to rubbing. This test is performed either on wet or dry fabric. You will require a white test cloth and a small piece of fabric for the test. Use a stainless steel wire to push the test cloth on the stage and grating. Rub the cloth and fabric together, to determine the amount of color rubbed off from the test cloth. Compare the color change to greyscale.
Colorfastness.
When washed, a fabric with good colorfastness will resist fading. It also indicates the fabric’s durability. The scale is rated from grade 1 to grade 5.
Grade 1 – the degree of color transfer is high.
Grade 5 – no color transfer.
The outcome of this test is affected by color, fabric quality, darkness, and intended use.
Printed labels.
Scuff testing is done on printed labels to determine the amount of abrasion that occurs during handling, shipping, and storage. This test is commonly done on printed labels, medical devices, keypad characters, and pharmaceuticals products. The coatings and ink are used to print magazines and promotional material. The packaging material provides essential information about the product. It includes:
- Product name.
- Bar code.
- Brand name.
- Pictorial markings.
- Handling conditions.
The label is attached to the machine then another printed label is rubbed against it for a specific period and speed. It shows how well the label can resist damage. A good package should be well-labeled with information about the product. The packaging materials may rub against each other during transportation leading to abrasion.
Factors affecting scuff resistance.
- Material used.
- Ink type and formulation.
- The sternness of rubbing during transportation and handling.
Conclusion.
When two surfaces rub against each other, friction occurs hence scuffing. The quality of the product is greatly affected by the packaging condition. The packaging materials show information about the product. This information includes product name, brand name, barcode, weight, pictorial markings, and guidelines. Scuff testing is essential in knowing how a label can resist damage. In the textile industry, scuff testing determines the colorfastness of the fabric. The instrument used to test the scuff resistance for packaging materials is known as a scuff tester.