ISO 105-X12 Textiles Tests for colour fastness to rubbing

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ISO 105-X12: Textiles -- Tests for colour fastness to rubbing

ISO 105-X12 specifies a method for determining the resistance of the colour of textiles of all kinds, including textile floor coverings and other pile fabrics, to rubbing off and staining other materials.

It evaluates a fabric's resistance to "crocking"—the transfer of color from a textile to another surface through rubbing. Whether it's a vibrant printed t-shirt, a woven carpet, or yarn-dyed upholstery, this test ensures that the color remains fast and does not stain other materials during everyday use. The standard accommodates both dry rubbing and wet rubbing tests, providing a complete picture of a textile's durability and color stability.

Test Principle

The core scientific principle of ISO 105-X12:2016 is to mechanically simulate the abrasive friction a textile encounters during normal use (e.g., jeans rubbing against a car seat, or feet shuffling on a carpet).

A specified white cotton rubbing cloth is pressed against the textile specimen with a standardized downward force. The cloth is then moved back and forth along a straight track for a set number of cycles. After the rubbing is complete, the amount of color transferred to the white cotton cloth is assessed visually against a standardized Grey Scale. The degree of staining on the cloth directly indicates the specimen's resistance to rubbing off.

Failure mechanisms detected include:

Color transfer from the specimen to the rubbing cloth (staining);

Color loss/fading from the specimen surface (rubbing off).

ISO 105-X12 Test Methods:

It defines two primary test methods to assess colour fastness to rubbing:

Method A: Dry Rubbing	Determines the color transfer when a dry white cotton cloth rubs against the textile. This simulates dry, everyday friction.
Method B: Wet Rubbing	Determines color transfer when a thoroughly soaked white cotton cloth (with a water uptake of 95% to 100%) rubs against the textile. Note: A common industry variation uses a 65% (±5%) wet pickup.This simulates friction involving moisture, which often accelerates dye transfer.
Two kinds rubbing finger sizes	Crock Block (19 mm × 25.4 mm rectangular surface): Specifically designed for pile fabrics and textile floor coverings to eliminate "haloing" (excessive staining around the edges) and provide a more accurate assessment of the pile's colorfastness.
Two kinds rubbing finger sizes	Cylindrical Finger (16 mm diameter): Used for standard solid-color fabrics and large-print textiles.

Test devie and equipment use for the ISO 105-X12 colour fastness test:

Component	Function	Requirements
Crockmeter (Rubbing Colour Fastness Tester)	Generates controlled reciprocating rubbing motion	Two interchangeable test heads; adjustable speed and cycle count. The rubbing finger must travel along a track of 104 mm (±3 mm).
Rubbing Cloths	White cotton fabric for color transfer assessment	Conforms to ISO 105-F10 (100% cotton, plain weave, 200±20 g/m²)
Clamping Device	Secures test specimen in place	Prevents movement during testing; flat, rigid surface
Weight Application Mechanism	Applies standardized downward force	9±0.2 N for all textile types
Anti-Slip Base	Prevent the fabric from shifting during the test.	Soft-back waterproof abrasive paper or a stainless steel wire grating be placed between the specimen and the baseboard.
Gray Scale for Staining	Evaluates color transfer intensity	ISO 105-A03 scale (Grade 1 = severe staining, Grade 5 = no staining)

Specimen Requirements

Type: Textiles of all kinds (yarns, fabrics, textile floor coverings, pile fabrics), dyed or printed, made from any fiber type.

Dimensions: Minimum 140 mm × 50 mm (14 cm × 5 cm) for each test direction

Quantity:

2 specimens for dry rubbing (1 warp/weft direction each)

2 specimens for wet rubbing (1 warp/weft direction each)

Preparation: Cut without stretching; avoid creases; mark direction of warp/weft; condition in standard atmosphere for 24 hours before testing.

Test Parameters

To maintain strict testing consistency, the following parameters are mandated:

Rubbing Cycles: The rubbing finger must move to and fro exactly 10 cycles (10 times toward, 10 times froward).

Speed: The recommended rate is approximately one cycle per second.

Mounting: The specimen must be clamped securely to the baseboard, ensuring the long direction aligns perfectly with the track of the rubbing finger.

Downward Force: 9±0.2 N, Consistent pressure for all textile types.

Rubbing Track Length: 104±3 mm, Distance of each reciprocating cycle.

ISO 105-X12 colour fastness of textiles Test Procedure:

Setup	Secure the conditioned specimen to the baseboard using clamps, placing the anti-slip paper/wire mesh underneath.
Dry Test	Place a dry, conditioned cotton rubbing cloth flat over the end of the rubbing finger. Engage the machine to rub 20 cycles at the specified force and speed. Remove the cloth and condition it again.
Wet Test	Thoroughly soak a cotton rubbing cloth in distilled water until it reaches the target water uptake percentage (95–100%). Place it on the finger and repeat the 10-cycle rubbing process.
Drying	Air dry the tested wet rubbing cloth completely before evaluation.
Evaluation	Back each tested rubbing cloth with three layers of fresh white rubbing cloth. Under suitable lighting (as per ISO 105-A01), compare the staining on the cloth to the Grey Scale for Staining and assign a numerical rating (where 5 indicates no staining and 1 indicates severe staining).

Test Application (Industry Field)

ISO 105-X12 is widely used across the global textile industry:

Textile Manufacturers: Quality control for dyed/printed fabrics; optimization of dyeing/finishing processes

Apparel Industry: Evaluate color fastness of clothing, especially dark-colored fabrics (e.g., denim) and prints

Home Textiles: Assess durability of upholstery, curtains, bed linens, and carpetsISO

Automotive Industry: Test color fastness of interior textiles (seats, door panels)

Footwear & Accessories: Evaluate color retention of textile components

Regulatory & Testing Bodies: International benchmark for color fastness testing; ensures product compliance with global standards

Retailers & Brands: Quality assurance for consumer products; reduction of returns and complaints due to color transfer.

Related standard:

AATCC 8	Colorfastness to Crocking (Wet & Dry)
AATCC 165	Colorfastness to Crocking: Textile Floor Coverings-Crockmeter
ISO 105-X01	Colour Fastness to Flat Abrasion, Related test for flat surface abrasion resistance
ISO 105-D02	Textiles – Tests for colour fastness Part D02 : Colour fastness to rubbing : Organic solvents
GB/T 3920	Textiles - Tests for colour fastness - Colour fastness to rubbing

Test Requirements & Stipulations:

Multi-Coloured Textiles: If testing a fabric with multiple colors, the specimen must be positioned so that the rubbing finger contacts all colors. If the colors are large enough, separate specimens can be tested for each color individually.

Equipment Calibration: Laboratories must routinely verify the operation of the test apparatus using an in-house standard specimen (performing at least 3 dry tests) and keep a detailed log of the results.

Reporting: The final test report must meticulously document the standard reference (ISO 105-X12:2016), the specific finger/force used, whether the test was dry or wet (including the exact soak percentage), the conditioning time and atmosphere, the grain direction of the specimen, and the final numerical staining rating for each test.

Colour fastness friction tester is suitable for textiles, knitwear, leather, electrochemical metal plate, printing and other industries. Conforms to ISO105x12 and GB3920-2008 standards, and is tested for color fastness friction performance.

Q1: What is the main purpose of ISO 105-X12?

A1: It specifies a uniform in vitro test method to evaluate the colour transfer and colour loss of dyed, printed or pigmented textiles under dry and wet frictional rubbing, simulating daily wear contact conditions.

Q2: Why is this test so critically important for clothing and furniture?

A: Because nobody wants their favorite pair of jeans to bleed onto their expensive white sneakers, or their vibrant red couch to leave a stain on a guest's clothes. From a manufacturer's perspective, failing this test means a product is essentially unusable—it guarantees customer complaints, costly returns, and severe damage to a brand's reputation. It’s the ultimate quality check for color durability.

Q3: Why does the standard require both a "Dry" and a "Wet" rubbing test?

A: They simulate completely different real-life scenarios. The Dry test checks for basic colorfastness during normal daily friction—like a shirt rubbing against a chair or pants rubbing against a car seat. The Wet test, however, is much more aggressive. Moisture (even something as simple as sweat or a splash of rain) breaks down the bonds holding the dye to the fabric fibers, making the color much more likely to transfer. A fabric might pass the dry test easily but fail miserably when wet.

Q4: What are the fixed key test parameters?

A: Standard applied load = 9±0.2 N; total rubbing cycles = 10; rubbing stroke length = 104±3 mm; test environment: 20±2∘C/65±4% RH or 23±2∘C/65±4% RH.

Q5: How are ISO 105-X12 test results graded?

A: Staining on the white rubbing cloth is rated with the ISO 105-A03 grey scale, ranging from Grade 1 (severe staining, poorest) to Grade 5 (no staining, excellent). Separate grades are recorded for dry and wet rubbing.

Q6: Why test both warp and weft directions?

A: Textile surface structure, yarn arrangement and dye distribution differ in warp and weft directions. Testing two directions ensures comprehensive and accurate fastness assessment and avoids one-sided results.

Q7: Can rubbing cloth be reused for multiple tests?

A: No. A new standard rubbing cloth must be used for every single specimen and each test condition (dry/wet) to prevent residual colour contamination and ensure result accuracy.

Q8: What are the common failure forms in ISO 105-X12 testing?

A: Obvious colour staining on white rubbing cloth, surface fading, peeling of printed layers, and local colour shedding of the textile specimen after repeated friction.

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