Sutherland Rub Tester

Weighted Contact

Operations involve securing the printed specimen to the flat base of the tester and attaching a specified receptor material to the weighted heating block. The block is then placed on the specimen and moved back and forth through a preset number of cycles. Standard weights of two pounds and four pounds are used to apply a consistent force to the rub area.

This action transfers loose ink or coating to the receptor, allowing for a visual or densitometric evaluation of the rub damage.

Test Standard

Evaluation of the rubbed specimen is typically performed by comparing the ink transfer on the receptor to a set of reference standards. This test is highly dependent on consistent moisture and temperature, as environmental changes can affect the rub resistance of the ink. The method does not apply to highly textured or corrugated materials where the contact area is not uniform.

Regular calibration of the stroke count and speed ensures consistent and repeatable results across different laboratories.