Multi-Finger Scratch/Mar Tester

Surface damage caused by finger wear is one of the main causes of poor quality. When we interact with objects around us, our fingers provide biomechanical feedback by sliding against the surface of those objects. When touching a surface, the finger gives a mechanical tap, followed by a sliding motion. In addition to mechanical wear, sweat, body oils, and/or consumers' skin care products can also chemically react with the product surface, further promoting degradation.

Application

Multi-finger scratch/wear testers are widely used in materials science, engineering, automotive manufacturing, optics, and biomaterials. They are used to evaluate the interfacial bonding strength, scratch resistance, wear mechanisms, and failure modes of coatings, films, or bulk materials. These testers provide parameters such as material hardness, elastic modulus, toughness, adhesion, coating strength, and fracture toughness, helping to optimize coating processes and determine film-substrate adhesion.

Standards

Chrysler LP-463DD-18-01 Scratch and Mar Resistance of Automotive Plastics

Chrysler PF-10938 Scratch and Mar - Resistance of Molded-In-Color Plastic Components

Ford BN 108-13 Resistance to Scratching

Ford BO 162-01 Resistance to Scratch and Mar

General Motors GMN 3943 Scratch and Mar Resistance of Plastics, Five Arm Test

General Motors GMW 14698 Scratch Resistance of Organic Coatings and Self- Adhesive Foils

Nissan M0159 Testing Method of the Scratch Resistance of Interior Polypropylene Resin Part

China: GB/T 2918. GB/T 6151. GB/T 8424.3

Europe: PV3952. BMW GS97034-2. BMW GS97034-9

North America: GMN 3943-2003. FLTM BN 108-13. STD1024-3113. GMW 14698-A, GMW 14688

Product Advantages

Universal Applicability: Designed for scratch resistance testing of automotive interior materials including plastics, rubber, leather, fabrics, coatings, and non-composite substrates.

Precision Engineering: Achieves linear motion accuracy via a high-precision servo motor and ball screw drive system, ensuring repeatable test results.

Modular Flexibility: Interchangeable tungsten carbide scraping tools and adjustable weight systems (0–100N load range) adapt to varying test protocols.

Durability: Corrosion-resistant aluminum and stainless steel construction withstands harsh laboratory environments.

User-Centric Design: Intuitive embedded system with bilingual (English/Chinese) touchscreen interface simplifies operation for global teams.

Feature

Integrated Drive System:

Combines a robust drive motor, scraper assembly, and sample fixation unit for stable testing.

Scraper assembly includes a bracket-mounted tungsten carbide tool, precision weight support bar, and load adjustment mechanism.

Versatile Testing Capabilities:

Supports linear motion scratch testing under variable loads (10–200mm/s adjustable speed).

Compatible with smooth/textured materials, hard coatings, liquid metals, and soft substrates like carpets.

Advanced Control System:

Embedded system automates testing sequences via a 7-inch touchscreen.

Precision servo motor ensures ±0.1mm positioning accuracy.

Customizable Test Configurations:

Optional multi-finger scratch heads (1mm, 5mm, 10mm diameters) for standardized or custom testing.

Manual/automatic mode selection with real-time data logging.

Ergonomic Design:

Compact footprint (550mm × 400mm × 300mm) and lightweight build (28kg) for easy lab deployment.

Customizable dimensions and specifications available per client requirements.

Technical Parameters

Accessoriess

The accessories and brief descriptions of a multi-finger scratch/wear tester (taking a five-finger scratch tester as an example) are as follows:

Finger Assembly: Typically includes five independent shaft scratching fingers, which can be equipped with weights to simulate finger scratching motions. The fingertip diameters vary, such as 1.0mm spherical fingertips (for fine scratch testing) and 7.0mm spherical fingertips (for coarser scratch testing), and the material is mostly tungsten carbide, which is high in hardness and wear-resistant.

Weight Set: Offers various weight settings, such as 2N, 3N, 5N, 7N, 8N, 10N, 12N, 15N, 20N, etc., to adjust the scratching force to simulate scratching effects under different pressures. Some sets also include special weights, such as 8N, 13N, 18N, etc., to meet specific testing needs.

Sample Clamp: A robust spring-loaded sample clamp used to secure the test sample, ensuring that the sample does not move or deform during testing. Some clamps are adjustable to accommodate samples of different sizes and shapes.

Testing Platform Protective Plate: A removable design to protect the testing platform from scratches and extend its lifespan.

Electronic Timer: Accurate to 1/100th of a second, used to record test time and ensure accurate results.

Air Conditioning Controller: Equipped with built-in lubricant, used to regulate air pressure and flow rate of the pneumatic platform, ensuring smooth and controllable movement. Some controllers also feature temperature control to adapt to different testing environments.

Optional Accessories: Depending on testing requirements, optional accessories include scratching fingertips of different diameters and materials (such as custom-made tungsten carbide scratching fingertips), custom weights, and special sample clamps.

Test Procedures

The operating procedure for the multi-finger scratch/wear tester is as follows:

Preparation: Check the accessories, flatten and fix the sample on the testing platform, install the corresponding size scratch finger and hang the weights.

Adjustment: Adjust the height of the scratch finger to lightly touch the sample, ensuring the equipment is level; set parameters such as load, speed, test time, or number of cycles through the operation interface.