Understanding Wet and Dry Crocking Results
Wet or Dry Crocking is defined as the transfer of dye from the material surface onto another surface due to rubbing. Wet crocking is when dyes bleed due to exposure to moisture and dry crocking is when dyes bleed due to rubbing or exposure to another material.
The ACT guidlines define crocking as; Transfer of dye from the surface of a dyed or printed fabric onto another surface by rubbing.
When selecting a fabric the crocking results impact the fabrics suitability. If a fabric fails the wet or dry crocking test it will also fail in the field. Designers can utilize the wet and dry crocking test to ensure the fabric selections they make will not have dye transfer issues after installation.
Below are the ACT Crocking criteria, which is the industry standard for crocking.
ACT Crocking Guidelines
Application |
Acceptance Criteria |
| Upholstery – Woven Fabrics AATCC 8 | • Dry Crocking, Grade 4 minimum • Wet Crocking, Grade 3 minimum |
| Upholstery – Coated Fabrics AATCC 8 | • Dry Crocking, Grade 4 minimum • Wet Crocking, Grade 4 minimum |
| Direct Glue Wallcoverings AATCC 8 | • Dry Crocking, Grade 3 minimum • Wet Crocking, Grade 3 minimum |
| Wrapped Panels and Upholstered Walls AATCC 8 | • Dry Crocking, Grade 3 minimum • Wet Crocking, Grade 3 minimum |
| Drapery AATCC 8 (Solids) | • Dry Crocking, Grade 3 minimum • Wet Crocking, Grade 3 minimum |
| Drapery AATCC 116 (Prints) | • Dry Crocking, Grade 3 minimum • Wet Crocking, Grade 3 minimum |
Test Method Descriptions
AATCC 8*
The AATCC 8 is a test method of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC). This method uses a standard white cotton fabric that is rubbed against the surface of the test fabric. To test for wet crocking, the standard fabric is wet before rubbing against the test fabric. After rubbing under controlled pressure for a specific number of times, the amount of color transferred to the white test squares is compared to an AATCC color chart and a rating is established.
Grade 5 = no color transfer Grade 1 = high degree of color transfer
* For complete technical details about AATCC 8: http://www.aatcc.org
AATCC 116*
The AATCC 116 is a test method of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC). This test is specifically used for printed fabrics that do not lend themselves to the AATCC 8 method. The test fabric is held at the base of a Rotary Vertical Crockmeter and rubbed with a standard cotton white fabric either dry or wet. After rubbing under controlled pressure for a specific number of times, the amount of color transferred to the white test squares is compared to an AATCC color chart and a rating is established.
* For complete technical details about AATCC 116: http://www.aatcc.org
