Grease Color Properties - HunterLab ColorFlex Testing

摘要

Color contributes to the first impression upon viewing a grease product or sample. Although grease color does not provide specific technical benefits, it is an important indicator of grease quality from the perspective of many customers. Off-colored products typically lead to customer complaints and loss of confidence in the manufacturer/supplier. Currently, grease color is evaluated in a subjective manner by a simple visual appearance test. Due to the subjective nature of human vision and various light sources, grease color is perceived differently by each observer. This subjectivity leads to inconsistent approval or rejection of products during manufacturing. This study evaluated the Hunter ColorFlex instrument as a means to quantitatively measure grease color and replace subjective visual appearance tests for quality control of product color. This instrument measures color based on 3 parameters: light vs dark (L), red vs green (a), and blue vs yellow (b). These color data points are utilized to set up quality control standard parameters that allow for simple pass/fail testing of grease color. Implementation of quantitative grease color testing removes subjectivity, increases efficiency in matching product color, and eliminates product color concerns.