The results are expressed in terms of force-to-mar films of specimens by applying a specific loading pressure and reciprocating speed. The tester frequently assesses how well organic coatings like paint, varnish, lacquer, and other finishes resist scratches.
When a material yields to an indentation force, a sliding or lateral force, and ductile and/or brittle failure, a scratch is produced. Uneven surface in a scrape causes "scratch whitening" and non-uniform light dispersion. At Maeon Laboratories, the Scratch testing laboratory is a crucial quality assurance procedure that simulates the stress that a coating experiences in regular use in a lab setting.
Application of Scratch Testing:
- Industrial polymers
- For use in the automotive sector, paint and varnish
- multilayer structures
- performance specific to an application
In a scratch testing laboratory, a stylus with a specific shape is moved swiftly and forcefully across a specimen surface. The test variables can influence the degree of scratch damage on a material surface, so it is necessary to use an appropriate approach to guarantee that these influences are kept to a minimum. The fact that distinct scratch trails can be formed depending on the unique composition and shape of the scratching instrument should be obvious to most people.
Additionally, plastics could exhibit an elastic recovery once applied pressures are removed, which means that with time, groove depth, displaced material, scratch width, and damage severity may change.
It is helpful to gather data that shows a specific correlation between laboratory testing and real performance in the intended end-usage to support whichever model is chosen.
