The durability of printed, painted, or polished services to resist abrasion can be simulated by a scuffed test procedure. This procedure can simulate the effects of human use in continuous contact or dual surface abrasion a variety of types.
Label legibility is very important on pharmaceutical and medical devices and is often tested by means of a Southerland Rub test or similar. The durability of printed information on keypads, for example, can also be determined by a similar procedure.
Scuff testing can take a variety of forms but it is almost always a relatively simple and inexpensive procedure to conduct. For abrasive products, it is often common to determine the effect of the abrasive material on intended products or package system components.
Abrasion Testing
When it comes to product lifecycle, abrasion always has undesirable effects on the product or package whether it occurs during the distribution or in-use environments. Scuffing, scratching, wear, marring, and rubbing are common terms to describe the damage. Westpak offers a variety of methods for testing products and materials for abrasion resistance.
Sutherland Rub Test
These tests are the industry standards for evaluating scuff or rub resistance of printed or coated surfaces, paper, paperboard, films, and printed materials.
Abrasion Test
Westpak has developed an abrasion tester that can be used for testing most types of products or materials. The tester can be customized to accommodate any product and is fully adjustable in the areas of cycle speed, stroke length, and load pressure.
Manual Wiping
In the event you need a human provide the rub test input instead of a machine or fixture, Westpak has access to experienced professional rub testers to get the job done. An example would be repetitive wipe downs using swabs dipped in alcohol or liquid soap on the front display of a hand-held electronic device.
Typical Procedures/Protocols
ASTM D5264
WESTPAK Capabilities
(1) Sutherland Rub Test machine