Colorfastness to Crocking: AATCC Crockmeter Method
Developed in 1936 by AATCC Commit- safe and proper techniques in handling with known behavior and conduct three tee RA38; revised 1937, 1952, 1957, materials in this test method. Manufac- dry and wet crock tests. 1961, 1969, 1972, 1985, 1988, 1996, turers MUST be consulted for specific 6.2.1 A poor circular image with un- 2004, 2005, 2007; reaffirmed 1945; details such as material safety data sheets even dye pick-up may indicate the crock- 1989; editorially revised and reaffirmed and other manufacturer’s recommenda- ing finger needs resurfacing (see 13.6). 1968, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1995, 2001; tions. All OSHA standards and rules 6.2.2 A double, elongated image may editorially revised 1986, 2002. Partly must also be consulted and followed. indicate a loose clip (see 13.6). equivalent to ISO 105-X12. 4.1 Good laboratory practices should 6.2.3 A stretched and streaked crock be followed. Wear safety glasses in all image may be due to mounting the crock laboratory areas. square diagonally. 1. Purpose and Scope 6.2.4 Scuff marks to the sides of the 5. Apparatus and Materials specimen indicate the loops to the wire 1.1 This test method is designed to de- termine the amount of color transferred 5.1 AATCC Crockmeter or comparable clips are positioned downwards and are from the surface of colored textile materi- alternate apparatus (see 13.2, 13.3 and not high enough to prevent rubbing the als to other surfaces by rubbing. It is ap- Fig. 1). specimen surface. plicable to textiles made from all fibers in 5.2 Test Cloth, cut in 50 mm squares 6.2.5 A streak in the center of the crock the form of yarn or fabric whether dyed, (see 13.4). cloth image and in the direction of rub- printed or otherwise colored. It is not rec- 5.3 AATCC Chromatic Transference bing may mean the top of the metal base ommended for use for carpets or for Scale (see 13.5). is warped and not flat. This will require a prints where the singling out of areas may 5.4 Gray Scale for Staining (see 13.5). brace insert to square up the tester base. be too small using this method. 5.5 White AATCC Textile Blotting 6.2.6 If specimen holders are used, 1.2 Test procedures employing white Paper (see 13.5). place the holder over the specimen on the test cloth squares, both dry and wet with 5.6 Specimen Holder for Crockmeter tester base. Move the crocking finger on water, are given. (see 13.3). the crocking arm to the most forward po- 1.3 As washing, drycleaning, shrink- 5.7 In-house poor crocking cloth. sition and observe whether it hits the in- age, ironing, finishing, etc., may affect 5.8 Crockmeter Verification Cloth. side edge of the holder. If this occurs, the degree of color transfer from a mate- This item may be used in lieu of an in- move the holder slightly forward for all rial, the test may be made before, after, or house poor crocking cloth when such tests. Without correction, this problem before and after any such treatment. poor in-house crocking cloth is not avail- will cause a dark area on one side of the able (see 13.15). crocking image. 2. Principle 6.2.7 Confirm the wet pick-up tech- 2.1 A colored test specimen is rubbed 6. Verification niques (see 9.2). with white crock test cloth under con- 6.1 Verification checks on the opera- 6.2.8 Replace the abrasive paper on the trolled conditions. tion of the test and the apparatus should tester base if it is smooth to the touch in 2.2 Color transferred to the white test be made routinely and the results kept in the crocking area compared to the adja- cloth is assessed by a comparison with a log. The following observations and cent area, or if slippage of the specimen the Gray Scale for Staining or the Chro- corrective actions are extremely impor- is noticed (see 13.7). matic Transference Scale and a grade is tant to avoid incorrect test results where 6.2.9 In routine testing, observe if mul- assigned. abnormal crock images can result and in- tiple streaks are on the crocking image. fluence the rating process. Position specimen normally with the long 3. Terminology 6.2 Use the Crockmeter Verification dimension oblique to the warp and fill- Cloth or in-house poor crocking fabric ing. If the direction of rubbing falls along 3.1 colorfastness, n.—the resistance of a twill line or surface pattern, etc., then a material to change in any of its color streaks may occur. If they do occur, characteristics, to transfer of its color- slightly adjust the angle for testing. ant(s) to adjacent materials, or both, as a result of the exposure of the material to any environment that might be encoun- 7. Test Specimens tered during the processing, testing, stor- 7.1 Two specimens are used, one each age or use of the material. for the dry and the wet tests. 3.2 crocking, n.—a transfer of color- 7.1.1 Additional specimens may be ant from the surface of a colored yarn or used to increase the precision of the aver- fabric to another surface or to an adjacent age (see 12.1). area of the same fabric principally by 7.2 Cut specimens at least 50 × 130 mm rubbing. (2.0 × 5.1 in.) and position for testing pref- erably with the long dimension oblique to 4. Safety Precautions warp and filling or wales and courses. NOTE: These safety precautions are 7.2.1 Larger or full width lab samples for information purposes only. The pre- may be used without cutting individual cautions are ancillary to the testing proce- specimens, when multiple tests are dures and are not intended to be all inclu- needed and when using for production sive. It is the user’s responsibility to use Fig. 1—Crockmeter. testing.