EN ISO 105-X12:2016 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 105-X12:2016 / ISO 105-X12:2016 defines a standardized laboratory method to determine the resistance of textile colour to rubbing (crocking). The method applies to textiles of all kinds - yarns, fabrics, printed materials and textile floor coverings - and covers both dry and wet rubbing conditions. The test quantifies staining of a cotton rubbing cloth to produce reproducible ratings for quality control and specification compliance.

Key Topics

• Scope and applicability: Suitable for dyed or printed textiles, pile fabrics and carpet specimens. Two alternative rubbing finger geometries accommodate pile and non-pile materials.
• Apparatus and fixtures: Two rubbing fingers are specified: a rectangular "crock block" finger for pile fabrics and a 16 mm diameter cylindrical finger for other textiles. The downward force is (9 ± 0.2) N and the reciprocating track is (104 ± 3) mm.
• Rubbing cloth and conditioning: Cotton rubbing cloths (desized, bleached) are cut to specified sizes. Test specimens and rubbing cloths are conditioned in the standard atmosphere of ISO 139 (minimum 4 h) prior to testing.
• Procedure: Typical dry test runs 20 cycles (10 forward and 10 back) at ~1 cycle/s. Wet rubbing uses a pre-soaked cloth (examples in the standard include 95–100% uptake; commonly used soak levels such as 65 ± 5% are noted).
• Evaluation and reporting: Staining on the rubbing cloth is assessed using the ISO grey scale (ISO 105-A03). The test report shall reference ISO 105-X12:2016 and record apparatus, finger used, force, specimen orientation and results.

Applications

• Quality control: Routine monitoring of crocking performance during production of apparel, upholstery and carpets.
• Material selection: Compare dyes, prints and finishing processes to minimise staining of other materials and skin contact issues.
• Supplier and compliance testing: Verify that textile shipments meet contractual colour fastness requirements and regulatory expectations for durability.
• Product development: Evaluate effects of fibre type, dye system and printing methods on rubbing fastness for new collections.

Related Standards

• ISO 105-A01 - General principles of colour fastness testing
• ISO 105-A03 - Grey scale for assessing staining
• ISO 105-F09 - Specification for cotton rubbing cloth
• ISO 139 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
• ISO 105-X16 is referenced for rotary devices when testing small or complex colour areas. The standard also notes AATCC Test Methods as comparable apparatus references.

Keywords: colour fastness, rubbing, crocking, staining, textiles, ISO 105-X12:2016, dry rubbing, wet rubbing, pile fabrics, textile floor coverings.