Printing material test

Printing Material Test – Quality Assurance for Inks, Substrates and Printed Products in Australian Printing Industries

In Australia’s commercial printing, packaging, and publishing sectors, printing material test is essential to verify that inks, papers, films, and other consumables meet the required optical, mechanical and chemical properties for consistent, high‑quality output. From offset lithography to digital and flexographic printing, material defects can cause colour shifts, poor adhesion, ink smearing, and reduced print durability. Our ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory provides comprehensive testing – including colour strength, rub resistance, lightfastness, adhesion (cross‑cut, tape pull), surface energy (dyne level), viscosity, and substrate roughness – to ensure compliance with Australian standards (AS 1301, AS 1580) and international print specifications (ISO 12647, Fogra, G7).

Types of Printing Material Samples We Test

Our laboratory handles a wide range of printing materials used across Australian printers and converters:

• Offset, flexographic and gravure inks (solvent‑based, water‑based, UV‑curable)
• Digital toners and liquid electrophotographic (LEP) inks
• Printing substrates: coated/uncoated paper, cardboard, synthetic papers, films (PET, PP, PE), foils
• Printed samples (test sheets, production runs) for quality validation
• Overprint varnishes and aqueous coatings
• Laminating adhesives and primers
• Proofing materials and contract proof media
• New material batches (incoming quality assurance)
• Aged or exposed printed samples (lightfastness and durability assessment)
• Competitor material benchmarking

Key Testing Parameters and Methods for Printing Materials

We evaluate multiple critical aspects to guarantee the reliability of printing materials in Australian conditions – from tropical humidity (Queensland) to dry interior (Western Australia).

1. Colour Strength and Shade – ISO 2066 / ASTM D5386

For ink testing, we prepare a drawdown (2 µm wet film) on a standard substrate and measure colour coordinates (L*, a*, b*) using a spectrophotometer. Colour strength is expressed as relative % compared to a reference standard. Acceptance: ±5% for most commercial inks. Deviation beyond ±10% causes batch‑to‑batch colour variation.

2. Rub Resistance (Sutherland or Crockmeter) – ASTM D5264 / ISO 11998

We rub a printed sample against a standard cloth or another printed surface under controlled pressure (4 lb, 200 cycles). Ink transfer is measured by colour difference (ΔE) or visual inspection. For packaging inks, ΔE < 2 is required. High rub‑off leads to smudged labels during handling.

3. Lightfastness (Xenon Arc) – ISO 12040 / ASTM D3424

We expose printed samples to xenon arc radiation (0.35 W/m² at 340 nm, 60°C black panel) for 100 hours (or specified). Colour change (ΔE) and fading are measured. For outdoor signage, ΔE < 4 is required; for indoor posters, ΔE < 8 is acceptable. Poor lightfastness causes rapid colour loss in sunlight.

4. Adhesion (Cross‑cut and Tape Pull) – ASTM D3359 / ISO 2409

We cut a grid (6×6 lines, 1‑2 mm spacing) through the dried ink film, apply adhesive tape, and remove. Adhesion is rated 0 (no removal) to 5 (complete removal). For flexible packaging inks, rating 0‑1 is required. Poor adhesion leads to flaking when creased.

5. Surface Energy (Dyne Level) – ASTM D2578 / ISO 8296

For plastic films and foils, we apply dyne test pens of increasing surface tension (mN/m) to determine the substrate’s wetting tension. For reliable ink adhesion, the substrate’s surface energy must exceed the ink’s surface tension by 10 mN/m. Minimum dyne level: 38 mN/m for water‑based inks, 36 mN/m for solvent‑based. Low dyne causes ink reticulation and poor coverage.

6. Viscosity (Rotational or Flow Cup) – ASTM D2196 / ISO 2555

For liquid inks, we measure viscosity at a defined shear rate (e.g., 100 s⁻¹) using a Brookfield viscometer or flow cup (e.g., Zahn #4). Acceptable range: ±10% of target. High viscosity causes poor transfer and dot gain; low viscosity leads to ink misting and bleed.

7. Substrate Roughness (Ra, Rz, Rmr) – ISO 4287 / AS 1301.435

Using a contact profilometer, we measure the surface roughness of paper or board. For high‑quality halftone printing, Ra should be ≤ 1.0 µm; for newsprint, Ra ≤ 3.0 µm. Rough substrates cause mottled solids and poor dot reproduction.

8. Gloss (60° or 75°) – ISO 2813 / AS 1301.435

We measure gloss on the printed ink film at 60° (for general) or 75° (for paper). For coated papers, gloss > 50 GU is typical for gloss grades; < 20 GU for matte. Variation > 10 GU across a sheet indicates uneven coating.

9. Blocking Resistance (Anti‑stick) – ASTM D2092 / ISO 5978

We place two printed samples face‑to‑face under a 2 kg weight at 50°C for 24 hours. The force to separate them is measured or rated visually (no sticking, light, heavy). For packaging inks, no blocking is allowed. High blocking leads to stuck labels or sheets.

10. Water and Solvent Resistance – ASTM D2247 / ISO 2812

We immerse printed samples in deionised water (or isopropanol, diesel) for 2 hours, then inspect for ink dissolution, blistering, or colour bleed. For beverage labels, water resistance > 24 hours is required. Poor resistance causes label degradation in wet environments.

Quality Grading and Acceptance Criteria

Based on our printing material test, we classify printing materials into three grades (clients provide specific acceptance criteria for their printing process):

• Grade A (Premium – High‑Speed Commercial Print) – Colour strength ±3%, rub ΔE < 1, lightfastness ΔE < 2 after 100 h, adhesion rating 0, dyne ≥ 42 mN/m, gloss variation < 5 GU, no blocking.
• Grade B (Standard – General Print) – Colour strength ±5%, rub ΔE 1–3, lightfastness ΔE 2–5, adhesion rating 1, dyne 38–42 mN/m, gloss variation < 10 GU, minor blocking allowed.
• Grade C (Reject – Not Suitable) – Colour strength > ±10%, rub ΔE > 8, lightfastness ΔE > 10, adhesion rating > 2, dyne < 36 mN/m – immediate batch rejection.

In summary, systematic printing material test ensures that Australian printers, packaging converters, and sign makers achieve consistent colour, durable prints, and reliable press performance. Contact our laboratory to schedule batch testing for your next ink delivery or substrate supply.

Applications in the Australian Printing Industry

• Commercial printers (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth): Incoming ink and paper quality verification.
• Packaging converters (flexible packaging, cartons): Adhesion and rub resistance for food labels.
• Signage and wide‑format printing: Lightfastness and water resistance for outdoor banners.
• Publishing houses (books, magazines): Substrate roughness and gloss testing.
• Ink and coating manufacturers: Product development and batch release testing.