Standard Test Method for Determination of Surface Lubrication on Flexible Webs

Abstract

5.1 Many web materials do not convey satisfactorily in manufacture or work, or both, as intended in service unless their surface contains a very thin layer of lubricant in the form of a wax, particulate, thin film coating, or fluid. It is often very expensive and time consuming to use surface chemical analysis techniques to quantify the presence of these films. A simple friction test like this one performs this function. 5.2 This test has been used for over twenty years to detect the presence of lubricants on the surface of photographic films at various stages in manufacture. In this instance the surfaces are lubricated with waxes and this test reliably detects if the wax is present. It is not used to quantify the amount of wax, only if it is present. This test can be used as a quality test to make sure that a lubricant is present. Test samples are normally compared with an unlubricated reference specimen. The coefficient of friction of the test samples is compared with the coefficient of friction of the unlubricated reference specimens to determine if a lubricant is present.