The image life of printed media displayed in both typical office and outdoor environments is dependent on coating scratch resistance. While natural aging is the most reliable method of assessing coating scratch resistance, the length of the time required makes this method impractical for most materials.

Factors in the office and outdoor environments, such as heat, cold, thermal shock, ultraviolet/visible radiation and water vapor can have similar effect on the scratch resistance of coatings and prints as mechanical force.

Good scratch resistance is a prime consideration for coated media and prints. Highly absorptive coatings in digital printing have a tendency to dusting, flaking and cracking when folded.

This practice utilizing mechanical force allows comparative studies of coated and printed media. It is most useful in providing relative ratings for media which exhibit significant differences in performance.

1.1 This practice describes procedures to obtain subjective, but comparative data for scratch hardness and scrape adhesion of coatings and color images produced by printers, copies and other reprographic devices.

1.2 This method simulates conditions where the surface of various substrates such as paper, film, cloth, and so forth may be subject to failure under mechanical force.

1.3 This test method covers the determination of the scratch hardness and scrape adhesion of coatings. Results are expressed in terms of force-to scratch coatings on substrates used in printing.

1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.