Rubbing Fastness Test — ISO 105-X12 / AATCC 8

What Is Rubbing?

The rubbing fastness test is rubbing the sample surface back and forth with a standard white cotton cloth under a defined force and measuring the color transferred to the cloth. The experiment is done with both dry and wet cloth; Wet rubbing almost always gives a lower grade.

Purpose of Rubbing

The purpose is to determine whether the color will transfer to other surfaces through contact. This experiment predicts that dark denim will leave color on light colored upholstery or skin.

Which Products Is Rubbing Applied To?

Denim and dark clothing
printed fabrics
Upholstery and curtain fabrics
Leather and synthetic leather
Carpets and floor coverings

In Which Sectors Is Rubbing Used?

TextilesRetailConsumer ProductsFurnitureAutomotiveLeather

Standards Related to Rubbing

TS EN ISO 105-X12 (rubbing fastness)
TS EN ISO 105-X16 (small areas)
AATCC 8 / AATCC 116
TS EN ISO 105-A03 (pollution scale)

Rubbing Conditions

rubbing cloth: White cotton cloth as defined in the standard
Load: Constant load of the device set according to the standard
Cycle: Number of back and forth movements defined in the standard
age experiment: The cloth is wetted with water at a defined rate.

Equipment for Rubbing

Crockmeter (colour fastness to rubbing tester)
Standard rubbing cloths
Scale (for cloth moisture content)
Standard illuminated evaluation cabin and gray scale

Sample Requirements for Rubbing

Separate samples for warp and weft direction
In printed products, each color area should be tested separately
The sample should be fixed flat and taut on the device table.
A separate sample should be used for wet testing.

Duration of Rubbing

The experiment is short and usually results on the same day. In multi-color printing, the time increases because each color area is considered a separate experiment.

Rubbing Procedure

1The sample is conditioned and fixed to the device.
2The dry rubbing cloth is attached to the head.
3Under the defined load, the number of rubbings specified in the standard is made.
4The cloth is removed and contamination is evaluated on a gray scale.
5For the wet test, the cloth is wetted at a defined rate and the process is repeated.
6The wet cloth is evaluated after drying.

Rubbing Acceptance Criteria

The standard defines the measurement method, not the passing score. The acceptance threshold is determined by the customer specification; Most retail chains require higher marks for underwear and light colours. When no specification is given, the report reports only the measured grade.

Evaluation of Results

Dry and wet results are reported separately. The result is given as a gray scale score of 1–5: color change is evaluated according to the ISO 105-A02 scale, contamination is evaluated according to the ISO 105-A03 scale. 5 means no change, 1 means the most severe change. Intermediate notes (such as 4-5, 3-4) are used.

Rubbing Report

Sample description, color and printing area if applicable
Dry rub note
Wet rubbing grade and cloth moisture content
Test direction

Accreditation

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Scope and authorisations

Related Regulations

EU 1007/2011 (textile fibre names and labelling)
EU 1907/2006 REACH Annex XVII (restricted substances in textiles)
Regulation on the Naming of Textile Products

Tekstil Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the Rubbing test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Textile testing answers two questions separately: does the fabric hold up physically over its service life, and does it carry any substance restricted for human health? These two axes require different laboratory infrastructure and different decision mechanisms.

On the physical side, breaking and tear strength, abrasion resistance, pilling, dimensional change, colour fastness and water and oil repellency are measured. Most of these tests depend on the USE SCENARIO: Martindale abrasion cycles are decisive for an upholstery fabric, while dimensional change in washing and colour fastness come to the fore for a shirting fabric. The same fabric goes through a different test set for a different use.

Colour fastness is a body of work of its own in this field and is not a single test. The fastness of the same fabric to light, washing, rubbing, perspiration, saliva, chlorinated water and ironing is measured separately; each represents a different moment of use. Results are rated from 1 to 5 on the grey scale and the specification gives a separate minimum rating for each agent.

On the chemical side, aromatic amines released from azo dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals, phthalates, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, alkylphenols and PFAS compounds are screened. These items come from REACH restrictions, brand restricted substance lists (RSL) and voluntary schemes such as OEKO-TEX. Brand lists are often stricter than legislation; the target customer is decisive.

There is NO CE marking on consumer textiles. The obligation has three legs: fibre composition and care labelling, compliance with chemical restrictions, and general product safety. Textiles claiming a protective function (workwear, flame-resistant clothing, high-visibility clothing) fall under personal protective equipment legislation, where CE is mandatory — this distinction is commercially critical.

Verifying the label declaration is the most routine work in the field. Quantitative fibre analysis confirms the blend ratio stated on the label; tolerance ranges are defined in legislation. An incorrect fibre declaration both misleads the consumer and affects customs classification.

Sustainability claims have added a new body of work to the field in recent years: verification of recycled content (GRS, RCS), organic content (GOTS), restriction of harmful chemicals and water/energy footprint declarations. These claims now require auditable evidence.

Method groups in this field

Strength and durability
Strip and grab breaking strength, tearing by the Elmendorf and tongue methods, seam strength, bursting strength.
Abrasion and surface
Martindale and rotary platform abrasion, pilling and fuzzing, fabric mass and thread density measurements.
Dimensional stability
Dimensional change in washing and drying, wrinkling behaviour, appearance after ironing.
Colour fastness
Fastness to light (xenon), washing, rubbing, perspiration, saliva, water and chlorinated water; rating on the grey scale.
Functional properties
Water repellency (spray test), oil repellency, waterproofness, air permeability, effectiveness of antibacterial finishes, UV protection factor.
Chemical analyses
Aromatic amines from azo dyes, formaldehyde, pH, heavy metals, phthalates, chlorinated phenols, PFAS and alkylphenols.

Commonly confused in this field

A brand restricted substance list (RSL) may be stricter than legislation; REACH compliance does not mean compliance with the customer specification.
Textiles claiming a protective function fall under PPE legislation and require CE; an ordinary textile test report does not satisfy that file.
Colour fastness is not a single number; a rating cannot be interpreted without stating which agent it relates to.
A result obtained for a fabric does not cover the whole garment made from it; lining, sewing thread, print and trims are assessed separately.
Performance claims after washing are valid together with the stated number of wash cycles; the word "permanent" on its own is not verifiable.

Which decisions these results support

Compliance with the brand restricted substance list (RSL)
Verification of label declarations: fibre composition and care instructions
Determining the performance class of upholstery and technical textiles
Pre-import shipment inspection and lot acceptance
Supporting sustainability and recycled content claims

Related Tests

Frequently Asked Questions About Rubbing

Why is the wet friction score always lower?

Water makes it easier for the paint to dissolve from the surface and move to the cloth. This is expected behavior; Specifications also generally accept a lower threshold for wet rubbing.

Is low grade normal in denim?

Indigo dyed denim carries a dye that adheres to the surface and low rubbing fastness is a natural result of the structure. However, a lower limit is determined by product category; The limit is given by the customer specification.