ASTM D5264 Abrasion Resistance of Printed Materials by the Sutherland Rub Tester

The apparatus, or Sutherland Rub Tester should be prepared before each test. This is done by making sure the machine itself is set somewhere sturdy, so it does not fall. The room temperature should ideally be 73.4 +- 2 degrees Fahrenheit. It should be noted that having a high number of strokes when doing this test is not recommended due to the generation of heat which can alter the results. 

The specimen itself should also be prepared for this test. It should preferably be a flat sample with absolutely no ridges or other surface discrepancies. The test administrator should cut the specimen whenever possible. Smaller samples may be evaluated if they are mounted to a 76 by 152-mm template. Be mindful of not contaminating the sample with fingerprints during handling. The specimen temperature should be conditioned at the same as the Rub Tester. The direction of the machine and the way that the sample is placed should be parallel to the 76-mm width. The purpose of this is to make sure that the specimen is being rubbed across the machine.

For the procedure process, the rub tester should have a pad mounted to the top of it, as mentioned earlier. The pad itself will need to be replaced regularly due to the degradation of it. Over time the integrity of the pad becomes compromised due to oxidation that makes the rubber part brittle. Failure to replace pads may result in automatic test failure results. After the pad is replaced, it should be lightly brushed with a hair anti-static brush to remove any potentially abrasive particles from the surface.

For the evaluation part of the entire test method, each sample used for testing purposes will be examined for any degradation or compromised quality. Each receptor will be analyzed for material transferred from the print. It is then paramount to report all test conditions and results for abrasion using predetermined criteria set up by interested parties. Some of the keywords surrounding this test method are Sutherland, printing inks, printing, Sutherland Ink, Rub Tester, Abrasion, Bar Codes, and more!