Colour Fastness to Rubbing (Crocking) Explained: How It Works in Performance Sportswear
Colour Fastness to Rubbing (Crocking) is best understood as colour transfer under friction. This entry explains how it behaves inside a finished garment rather than only in the laboratory.
What the term means
colour transfer under friction, which is why the value appears on almost every technical data sheet. Working figures for Colour Fastness to Rubbing (Crocking) normally sit around grade 4 dry, 3-4 wet in mainstream production. Note ISO 105-X12 rubbing on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Why it matters in practice
white panels and prints fail first, so it influences buying decisions more than most buyers expect. Record elastane content alongside Colour Fastness to Rubbing (Crocking), because blends shift the measured value. A result outside grade 4 dry, 3-4 wet usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
Typical values seen in activewear
grade 4 dry, 3-4 wet. Ranges vary by construction, so compare like with like. Keeping reference values for Colour Fastness to Rubbing (Crocking) lets suppliers quote without extra sampling rounds. Ask for conditioning details together with ISO 105-X12 rubbing, since both affect the reading.
How it is measured
ISO 105-X12 rubbing is the reference normally quoted on a test report. Working figures for Colour Fastness to Rubbing (Crocking) normally sit around grade 4 dry, 3-4 wet in mainstream production. Note ISO 105-X12 rubbing on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Frequent mistakes
Comparing results from different standards, testing unwashed fabric, and writing the target without tolerance are the common errors. Record elastane content alongside Colour Fastness to Rubbing (Crocking), because blends shift the measured value. A result outside grade 4 dry, 3-4 wet usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
