ASTM_F_1486_-_96_2013.pdf

Designation:F148696(Reapproved 2013)Standard Practice forDetermination of Abrasion and Smudge Resistance ofImages Produced from Office Products(GA-CAT Method)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1486;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This practice covers the procedure for determining theabrasion and smudge resistance of images produced from officeproducts using a GA-CAT comprehensive abrasion tester.1.2 This practice is applicable to images produced frombusiness imaging products such as typewriters,copiers,impactprinters,and nonimpact printers.1.3 Other test methods using the Crockmeter,Sutherlandrub tester,and Taber Abrader can be employed to evaluatesmudge and abrasion characteristics.The results obtained bythese units are not necessarily equivalent to those obtained withthe GA-CAT.1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard.The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D685 Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Productsfor Testing3.Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 abrasion resistancethe ability of an image to with-stand the frictional forces attempting to remove the surfacematerial.3.1.2 receptorfilm or paper of standard abrasiveness ontowhich material removed from the specimen is deposited duringthe abrasion testing process.3.1.3 smudgethe tendency of an image to smear or streakonto an adjacent area when rubbed.Smudge involves theredeposition of abraded material.3.1.4 smudge resistancethe ability of an image to with-stand smudging.4.Summary of Practice4.1 The test print and a receptor are sandwiched in the panelholder of the GA-CAT comprehensive abrasion tester,clampedtogether with a known force,and made to slide over each otherat a known frequency and over a known distance for apredetermined time period.4.2 The test specimen is examined for the degree of printdegradation and the receptor for the amount of image materialtransferred from the specimen surface.The results may be ratedrelative to a comparative control run in the identical manner,orthey may be quantified by comparison to a ranking scalenumbered from zero to ten(with zero being the most abrasion/smudge resistant and ten being the least abrasion/smudgeresistant).5.Significance and Use5.1 Abrasion and smudge resistance during handling,transport,and storage is essential to prevent the marring orsmudging of images produced from business imaging products.Recognizing that the actual amount of abrasion/smudge occur-ring depends on relative humidity,temperature,and a host ofother variables,this practice provides a means for comparingthe abrasion and smudge resistance of images produced frombusiness imaging products under laboratory conditions.5.2 This practice may be used to determine the abrasion andsmudge resistance of images produced from business imagingproducts such as typewriters,copiers,impact printers,andnonimpact printers.5.3 This practice may also be used to evaluate the relativeabrasion and smudge resistance of various ribbons,inks,andtoners.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F05 on BusinessImaging Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F05.04 onElectrostatic Imaging Products.Current edition approved April 1,2013.Published April 2013.Originallyapproved in 1996.Last previous edition approved in 2008 as F1486 96(2008).DOI:10.1520/F1486-96R13.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 5.4 This practice may be used for control of product quality,comparative analysis of machines,or as a research anddevelopment tool.6.Interferences6.1 Anumber of factors may affect specimen image creationand contribute to inconclusive results.It is recommended thatthe following factors be taken into consideration:6.1.1 Resistance to abrasion and smudge of images mayvary as a result of the sequential position of a given print orcopy in a series of prints or copies.For example,the abrasionand smudge resistance of the third copy or print of a run of 20copies or prints m