Overview
The ink abrasion resistance tester is a special equipment for evaluating the scratch resistance of the ink layer on the surface of printed products. It quantifies the adhesion fastness and durability of the ink layer by simulating mechanical effects such as friction and scratching that may be encountered during actual use or transportation. This equipment is widely used in quality control and R&D links in various industrial fields such as packaging printing, label manufacturing, plastic film printing, metal printing and ceramic printing.
How it works:
The core principle of the testing machine is to make the ink layer on the surface of the specimen and a specific friction medium (such as standard friction paper, rubber, wool felt, etc.) reciprocating or unidirectional plane friction under controlled conditions. Key test parameters include applied load, friction velocity, friction stroke, and number of cycles. The scratch resistance was evaluated by comparing the degree of peeling, scratching or gloss change on the surface of the specimen before and after the test. Common standard testing methods include reciprocating friction and rotary friction.
The results of the assessment are usually quantified by visual comparison, grayscale grade, or color difference (ΔE). The calculation of chromatic aberration ΔE can be calculated using the CIELAB color space formula:
ΔE = √[(ΔL*)² + (Δa*)² + (Δb*)²]
Among them, ΔL*, Δa* and Δb* represent the differences in the coordinates of brightness, red-green and yellow-blue degrees before and after the test, respectively.
Influencing factors
The performance stability of the equipment and the reliability of the test results depend on the precise definition and control of several key parameters. At the same time, the formula of the ink itself, the material of the substrate and the printing process also have a decisive impact on the final scratch resistance.
| Device parameters | Impact Description |
| Load Load | Determines the frictional contact pressure, which directly affects the wear strength. |
| Friction speed | Affects the friction frequency and heat accumulation per unit time. |
| Friction stroke | Determine the length of frictional contact in each cycle. |
| friction medium | Different materials and roughness simulate different friction scenarios. |
| Number of cycles | A direct control variable for the amount of cumulative wear. |
| Ambient temperature and humidity | It may affect the physical state and friction coefficient of the ink layer. |
| Material and process factors | Impact Description |
| Ink resin type | Determines the flexibility, hardness and adhesion of the film layer. |
| Pigments and additives | It affects wear resistance, slippery degree and cross-linking density. |
| The surface of the substrate can be | It directly affects the adhesion base of the ink. |
| Degree of drying and curing | Inadequate curing can significantly reduce wear resistance. |
| Printing film thickness | Too thin is easy to wear, and too thick may affect adhesion. |
Testing process
The standard testing process usually includes five steps: sample preparation, equipment calibration, parameter setting, test execution, and result analysis. Specimens should be taken from representative parts of the batch product and conditioned under standard temperature and humidity conditions. After testing, the specimen is compared with the untested original sample or standard sample, and evaluated according to the grade specified by relevant standards (such as ASTM D5264, TAPPI T830, GB/T 7706, etc.). Quantitative analysis can be done with the help of a density meter or colorimeter to measure optical density loss or color aberration value ΔE.
Application outlook
With the improvement of product durability requirements and the emergence of new printing materials, ink abrasion resistance tester technology is also continuing to develop. High-precision servo motor control, multi-station simultaneous testing, integrated online optical monitoring and automatic data acquisition and analysis system have become the direction of improving testing efficiency and consistency. In the future, the equipment will focus more on simulating real, complex frictional environments (such as media containing specific liquids or particles), and strive to establish a more reliable correlation model between test results and end-use performance.
References
ASTM D5264 - Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Printed Materials by the Sutherland Rub Tester.
TAPPI T830 - Abrasion resistance of printing inks (Prüfbau or Sutherland type testers).
GB/T 7706-2008 Letterpress decoration prints.
Research on Printing Technology-Ink Abrasion Resistance and Test Methods, China Printing and Packaging Research.