What is a coefficient of friction tester?

A coefficient of friction (COF) tester measures the force required to slide one surface over another, expressed as a dimensionless ratio (friction force ÷ normal force). The MXD-02A uses the horizontal plane (sled) method per ASTM D1894, ISO 8295, and TAPPI T816 to measure both static COF (force to initiate motion) and kinetic COF (force to maintain motion).

What is the difference between static and kinetic COF?

Static COF (μs) is the peak friction force needed to initiate sliding from rest. Kinetic COF (μk) is the average friction force during continuous sliding. Static COF is always equal to or higher than kinetic COF. For packaging films, static COF controls stack stability and bag opening, while kinetic COF controls machine feeding speed.

Which standard should I use — ASTM D1894, ISO 8295, or TAPPI T816?

ASTM D1894 is the most widely specified for plastic films in North America. ISO 8295 is the international equivalent preferred in Europe and Asia-Pacific markets. TAPPI T816 is specific to paper and paperboard. The MXD-02A supports all three with pre-configured test methods — select based on your customer or regulatory requirement.

What materials can the MXD-02A test?

The standard configuration tests plastic films (PE, BOPP, PET, nylon, laminates), paper, paperboard, and coated substrates. With extended load cells (10–100 N), it also tests rubber sheets, textiles, nonwovens, medical device surfaces, and automotive interior materials. Custom sleds are available for non-flat samples.

What is a normal COF range for packaging films?

Most packaging films target static COF 0.20–0.40 and kinetic COF 0.15–0.35 for film-to-film contact. Films below 0.15 kinetic COF may slip during palletized shipping; films above 0.40 static COF may jam on VFFS/HFFS packaging machines. Exact specifications depend on the packaging line and end-use.

How often should I calibrate the COF tester?

KHT recommends annual calibration for production QC labs and semi-annual calibration for laboratories supporting certification or regulatory submissions. Every MXD-02A ships with a factory calibration certificate signed at the unit's serial number. Annual recalibration is available as a paid service through KHT, or through any qualified third-party calibration laboratory in your region.

Can I test both sides of a film sample?

Yes. ASTM D1894 specifies testing both the inside (heat-seal) surface and outside (print/corona) surface of films, as COF often differs significantly between treated and untreated sides. The MXD-02A software stores results for both configurations in the same batch report.

What is the lead time and warranty?

Standard lead time is 3–4 weeks from purchase order to crated shipment (FOB Qingdao). Air freight reaches most destinations in 3–5 business days. Warranty is 24 months parts and labor. Lifetime technical support via email and WhatsApp is included.

ASTM D1894 · ISO 8295 · TAPPI T816 · GB 10006

Coefficient of Friction Tester

Name: KHT MXD-02A Coefficient of Friction Tester
Brand: KHT Instrument
SKU: MXD-02A

Four Models. One Precision Core. Six Industries.

KHT Instrument manufactures four coefficient of friction testers — from the entry-level MXD-01 to the export flagship MXD-02A — covering plastic films, paper, rubber, textiles, medical devices, and automotive materials. 0.5% FS accuracy, cantilever-beam load cell, and ball-screw drive across the entire family. Choose by display, mechanism, and standards coverage.

Compare All Models

Live Demo · MXD-02A

5 N · 0.5% FS · 8" Touch

ASTM D1894Films & Sheeting

ISO 8295Plastics Film

TAPPI T816Paper & Board

0.5% FSForce Accuracy

Four Models, One Metrology Core

MXD-01 (button entry) to MXD-02A (export flagship) — all share cantilever-beam load cell, 0.5% FS accuracy, ball-screw drive, and demagnetized stainless platform

Standards Across the Range

Every model supports GB 10006 + ASTM D1894 as built-in presets; MXD-02 adds ISO 8295 + TAPPI T816 one-touch; MXD-02A adds 8" touch + base-plate-drag mechanism

Base-Plate-Drag Innovation

MXD-02A's proprietary structure isolates the load cell from drive vibration — measurably better accuracy on thin films and small forces vs. traditional sled-drag designs

Factory-Direct Pricing

Direct from Shandong, China — 40–60% cost advantage vs. T1 European brands at equivalent accuracy class. 3–4 weeks FOB Qingdao.

MXD-02A FLAGSHIP

Meet the MXD-02A — KHT's Export Flagship

The MXD-02A is KHT's flagship export model — featuring our proprietary base-plate-drag mechanism, 8-inch industrial touchscreen, and 0–10 mm sample thickness capacity. Engineered for QC labs that need precision COF data at factory-direct pricing.

Export Flagship · Live Demo

5 N · 0.5% FS · 8" Touch

MXD-02A

Static & Kinetic Coefficient of Friction Tester

5 N (3/10/30 N opt.)
0.5% FS Accuracy
Base-Plate Drag

Most Specified for Export Markets

Films, Paper, Rubber, Textiles, Medical, Automotive — One Platform

Unlike the traditional sled-drag mechanism most competitors use, the MXD-02A's base-plate-drag structure isolates the sensor from drive vibration — delivering measurably better accuracy on thin films and small forces. Cantilever-beam load cell with 0.5% FS accuracy, 0.1–500 mm/min infinitely variable speed, 8-inch HD color touchscreen with bilingual UI, and built-in test modes for GB 10006, ISO 8295, ASTM D1894, plus a custom mode for TAPPI T816 and lab-defined methods.

Force Range

5 N std (3/10/30 N opt.)

Force Accuracy

0.5% FS

Test Speed

0.1–500 mm/min variable

Sample Thickness

0–10 mm

Display

8" color touchscreen

Mechanism

Base-plate drag

View Full Specs

KHT COF Tester Family

Four Models for Every Lab Budget

From the entry-level MXD-01 to the export flagship MXD-02A — four pre-configured models built around the same precision metrology core. Choose by display, mechanism, and standards coverage.

MXD-02A

Export Flagship

Most Specified

MXD-02A

Export Flagship

Our flagship export model. Proprietary base-plate-drag mechanism for vibration-free measurement, 8" HD touchscreen, sample thickness up to 10 mm, infinitely variable 0.1–500 mm/min speed.

Force

5 N (3/10/30 N opt.)

Display

8" Touch

Mechanism

Base-plate drag

Thickness

0–10 mm

View MXD-02A

MXD-02

Multi-Standard Pro

4 Standards Built-In

MXD-02

Multi-Standard Pro

All four standards (GB 10006 + ISO 8295 + ASTM D1894 + TAPPI T816) built in as one-touch presets, plus a custom mode. High-speed mode up to 1200 mm/min for paper industry GB/T 22895 testing.

Force

5 N (10/30 N opt.)

Standards

4 + custom

Max Speed

1200 mm/min

Display

5" LCD

View MXD-02

MXD-01A

Touchscreen Entry

Best Value

MXD-01A

Touchscreen Entry

The value pick — 5" color touchscreen UI, bilingual interface, wide-voltage power (90–240 V universal). GB 10006 and ASTM D1894 compliance for everyday packaging film QC.

Force

5 N (expandable)

Standards

GB + ASTM D1894

Display

5" Touch

Power

90–240 V universal

View MXD-01A

MXD-01

Button Entry

Lowest Cost

MXD-01

Button Entry

Lowest-cost entry-level model. 5" LCD with film-keypad controls, GB 10006 and ASTM D1894 compliance. Ideal for high-volume QC labs running a single standard with the lowest CapEx.

Force

5 N (expandable)

Standards

GB + ASTM D1894

Display

5" LCD

Weight

15 kg

View MXD-01

Six Measurable Advantages

Why KHT Coefficient of Friction Tester

Backed by ASTM/ISO/TAPPI standards, six material categories, and a precision integrated platform. KHT delivers traceable COF measurement at factory-direct pricing.

Force Accuracy 0.5% FS

Cantilever-beam load cell delivers 0.5% full-scale accuracy across the entire working range. Each unit ships with a factory calibration certificate; annual recalibration is offered as a paid service via KHT or any qualified third-party calibration lab.

0.5% FSCalibratedAnnual service

Automatic Static & Kinetic Calculation

Software automatically identifies the static COF peak and calculates kinetic COF as the average friction force over the sliding distance — no manual data reduction required. Real-time force-displacement curves display throughout the test.

Auto μs/μkReal-time curveNo manual calc

Three Standards on One Platform

ASTM D1894 (plastic film and sheeting), ISO 8295 (plastics film friction), TAPPI T816 (paper and paperboard COF) — all supported with correct sled weights, test speeds, and sample preparation protocols built into the software.

ASTM D1894ISO 8295TAPPI T816

Six-Industry Application Coverage

Validated sled configurations and test methods for plastic films/packaging, paper/paperboard, rubber sheets, textiles/nonwovens, medical device surfaces, and automotive interior materials. One tester handles your entire COF QC portfolio.

FilmsPaperRubberTextilesMedicalAutomotive

Professional COF Testing Software

Real-time force-displacement curves, automatic static/kinetic COF calculation, batch statistics (mean, SD, CV%), customizable report templates, CSV/PDF export, and optional LIMS integration via USB or Ethernet.

StatisticsPDF/CSV exportLIMS ready

Global Service and Support

24-hour quote response, lifetime technical support via email and WhatsApp, annual calibration service, and stocked inventory of sleds and accessories for next-business-day shipment to 40+ countries.

24h response40+ countriesLifetime support

Applications

Coefficient of Friction Testing Across Six Industries

One platform, six material categories. The MXD-02A is validated for plastic films, paper, rubber, textiles, medical devices, and automotive materials.

Plastic Films & Packaging

BOPP, PE, PET, nylon, and laminate film COF testing for packaging line speed optimization. ASTM D1894 static and kinetic friction measurement.

ASTM D1894ISO 8295

Recommended: MXD-02A Standard

Paper & Paperboard

Coated paper, corrugated board, label stock, and paperboard COF testing for printing, stacking, and converting operations.

TAPPI T816ISO 15359

Recommended: MXD-02A Standard

Rubber & Elastomers

Rubber sheets, seals, gaskets, and elastomer compounds. Static and kinetic COF for grip performance and seal insertion force characterization.

ASTM D1894

Textiles & Nonwovens

Woven fabrics, knitted textiles, spunbond nonwovens, and technical textiles. ISO 8295 friction testing for fabric-on-fabric and fabric-on-surface contact.

ISO 8295

Recommended: MXD-02A Standard

Medical Devices

Catheters, guidewires, syringes, and medical tubing surface friction. COF measurement for device insertion force and patient comfort optimization.

ASTM D1894

Automotive Materials

Interior trim, dashboard surfaces, seals, weatherstrips, and glazing interlayers. Friction testing for squeak/rattle prevention and assembly force specification.

ASTM D1894

Compare All 4 Models

Side-by-Side Model Specifications

Every KHT COF tester ships with the same metrology core (cantilever-beam load cell, 0.5% FS accuracy, ball-screw drive). Differences sit in mechanism, display, standards coverage, and physical envelope.

Specification	MXD-01	MXD-01A	MXD-02	MXD-02A
Force Measurement
Force Range (Standard)	5 N	5 N	5 N	5 N
Optional Force Range	Expandable	Expandable	10 / 30 N	3 / 10 / 30 N
Force Accuracy	0.5% FS	0.5% FS	0.5% FS	0.5% FS
Resolution	0.001 N	0.001 N	0.001 N	0.001 N
Test Parameters
Test Speed (Preset)	100 / 150 mm/min	100 / 150 mm/min	100 / 150 mm/min	100 / 150 mm/min
Variable Speed Range	—	—	1–1200 mm/min	0.1–500 mm/min variable
Stroke Length	70 / 150 mm	70 / 150 mm	70 / 150 mm (1–320 mm custom)	70 / 150 mm (1–300 mm custom)
Sample Thickness	0–6 mm	0–6 mm	0–6 mm	0–10 mm
Mechanism & UI
Drive Mechanism	Sled drag	Sled drag	Sled drag	Base-plate drag
Display	5" LCD + button keypad	5" color touchscreen	5" LCD + film keypad	8" color touchscreen
Power Supply	AC 220 V 50 Hz	90–240 V universal	AC 220 V 50 Hz	AC 220 V 50 Hz
Bilingual (CN/EN)	Single language	Switchable	Single language	Switchable
Sled Configuration
Standard Sled	200 g (63 × 63 mm)	200 g (63 × 63 mm)	200 g + 500 g	200 g (500 g opt.)
Standards Compliance
GB 10006 (CN)	✓	✓	✓	✓
ASTM D1894 (US)	✓	✓	✓	✓
ISO 8295 (intl.)	—	—	✓ (preset)	✓ (preset)
TAPPI T816 (paper)	—	—	✓ (preset)	✓ (custom mode)
Custom / Non-Standard Mode	—	—	✓	✓
Physical
Dimensions (L × W × H)	400 × 300 × 180 mm	400 × 300 × 180 mm	630 × 300 × 180 mm	660 × 480 × 300 mm
Net Weight	~15 kg	~15 kg	~20 kg	35 kg

Important Notes

•All four models use the same cantilever-beam load cell with 0.5% FS accuracy class.
•MXD-02A's base-plate-drag mechanism keeps the load cell stationary while the sample table moves — eliminating drive-induced vibration on the sensor (the leading source of error on entry-level COF testers).
•MXD-02 supports the highest test speed (up to 1200 mm/min) for paper-industry GB/T 22895 testing where 20 mm/s is required.
•Sled weight, sled geometry, and load-cell range can all be customized — talk to us about non-standard requirements.
•All specifications verified against the latest ASTM, ISO, TAPPI, and GB standard revisions current as of unit ship date.

Need help selecting the right configuration? Our technical team is ready to assist.

Six Production Stages

Inside the KHT Manufacturing Process

Six stages from R&D scoping to crated shipment. Every unit traceable, calibrated, verified, and audited before it leaves our Shandong facility.

1. R&D and Configuration

Sales engineer maps your material type, target standard, sled requirements, and software needs to a configuration sheet. Custom fixtures and load cell ranges are scoped here.

CAD reviewCustom sledsLoad cell selection

2. Precision Assembly

Frame, drive motor, load cell, and test table are assembled and aligned in a temperature-controlled clean area. Table flatness verified to ±0.02 mm for consistent sled contact.

±0.02 mmClean assemblyFlat table

3. Load Cell Calibration

Each load cell is calibrated at five force points across the working range using certified reference weights. A signed calibration certificate documenting the measured deviation at each point is generated and retained for the unit's serial number.

5-point calCertified weightsPer-serial cert

4. Functional Verification

Unit runs a complete test cycle with reference friction samples (known-COF calibration tiles). Measured values compared against certified reference to verify system accuracy end-to-end.

Reference tilesEnd-to-end checkDocumented

5. Final QC and Software

Software walks through every test method, report template, and export format. Sled weight verified on analytical balance. CE marking and serial number applied.

CE markingSoftware verifiedSled weighed

6. Crating and Global Shipping

Wooden export crate, foam inserts, sled set, calibration weights, USB drive with software, and documentation pack. FOB Qingdao or CIF customer port per Incoterms 2020.

FOB QingdaoIPPC fumigation3–5 day air

PROVEN AT SCALE

KHT Instrument by the Numbers

40+

Countries Shipped

500+

QC Labs Worldwide

1,200+

Annual Production Capacity

0.5%

FS Force Accuracy

Anonymized Case Studies

Customer Success Stories

Three industry case studies — anonymized but technically specific. Real MXD-02A deployments across packaging, paper, and medical device QC labs.

Flexible Packaging

Film Converter

Southeast Asia

−44%

Line Jams

$180K/year

Scrap Reduction

3 replaced

Supplier Compliance

Instrument: MXD-02A Standard

Film Converter Reduces VFFS Line Jams by 44% After Implementing Incoming COF QC Protocol

Challenge

VFFS packaging line experienced frequent film jams and mis-feeds traced to incoming film batches with inconsistent COF. Converter had no quantitative friction data on incoming rolls — relying on subjective feel tests and supplier COAs that were often outdated.

Solution

Deployed MXD-02A with standard 200 g sled for ASTM D1894 testing on every incoming PE and BOPP film roll. Established pass/fail specs: static COF 0.25–0.40 (film-to-film), kinetic COF 0.20–0.35. Out-of-spec rolls quarantined before reaching the packaging line.

Result

Film jam incidents dropped 44% in the first quarter. Three suppliers whose COAs consistently diverged from in-house measurements were replaced. Annual scrap from mis-feeds reduced by an estimated $180K.

“We used to accept supplier COAs at face value. Once we started measuring COF in-house, we discovered two of our five film suppliers were routinely 15–20% above our spec. The MXD-02A paid for itself in avoided scrap within the first month.”

QC Manager, Flexible Packaging Converter, Southeast Asia

Paper & Packaging

Corrugated Board Manufacturer

Western Europe

−31%

Pallet Collapses

−8%

Coating Cost

+2 preferred

Customer Approvals

Instrument: MXD-02A Standard

Corrugated Manufacturer Cuts Pallet Collapse Claims by 31% After Adding TAPPI T816 COF Control

Challenge

Corrugated boxes were collapsing during palletized shipping when box-to-box friction was insufficient to maintain stack integrity. The manufacturer had no quantitative COF data and relied on visual coatings specifications only.

Solution

Installed MXD-02A for TAPPI T816 COF testing on corrugated liner and fluting samples. Established minimum kinetic COF spec of 0.35 (board-to-board) for palletized shipping grades. Process team adjusted coating weight and starch application to meet the friction target.

Result

Pallet collapse claims reduced 31% year-over-year. Two key retail customers approved the manufacturer as a preferred supplier after seeing the quantitative QC protocol. Board coating costs actually decreased 8% because over-application was eliminated.

“Adding the COF test to our QC protocol cost less than a single pallet-collapse insurance claim. The retail customers were impressed we could provide quantitative friction data on every shipment.”

Quality Director, Corrugated Board Manufacturer, Western Europe

Medical Devices

Catheter Manufacturer

North America

18% → <5%

Insertion Force CV

−12%

Coating Waste

510(k) data accepted

Regulatory

Instrument: MXD-02A Extended (custom fixture)

Catheter OEM Achieves <5% CV on Insertion Force After Standardizing Surface COF Testing

Challenge

Hydrophilic-coated catheter surfaces showed batch-to-batch variability in insertion force that was failing clinical trial consistency requirements. No quantitative COF measurement existed in the manufacturing QC flow.

Solution

Integrated MXD-02A with custom low-friction sled fixture for catheter surface testing. Established COF specification (kinetic COF ≤ 0.08 wet, ≤ 0.20 dry) with 10-sample batch protocol. Results tied directly to coating process parameters for real-time feedback.

Result

Insertion force CV dropped from 18% to under 5% within three production batches. Clinical trial consistency requirements met. Coating process parameters optimized using COF data — reducing coating solution waste by 12%.

“Our regulatory team required quantitative friction data for the 510(k) submission. The MXD-02A gave us the precision and repeatability to demonstrate coating consistency across 50+ production batches.”

R&D Director, Catheter Manufacturer, North America

Customer Voices

What Lab Engineers Say

Five testimonials from QC, R&D, and procurement leads across our six application areas.

We tested five incoming film batches on the first day. Two failed our static COF spec immediately — those same films had been causing our VFFS line jams for months. The instrument paid for itself before the end of week one.

QC Manager

Flexible Packaging Converter

Thailand

MXD-02A Standard

ASTM D1894 incoming film QC for BOPP and PE packaging films

The automatic static/kinetic calculation eliminates manual data reduction entirely. Our technicians run 20 samples per shift and the software generates the batch report automatically — no Excel post-processing.

Lab Supervisor

Paper Mill

Germany

MXD-02A Standard

TAPPI T816 paper friction testing for coated printing grades

For catheter coatings, we needed sub-0.01 N resolution and a custom sled that mimics the catheter contact geometry. KHT engineered the fixture in two weeks and the results correlate within 3% of our insertion force rig.

R&D Engineer

Medical Device Manufacturer

United States

MXD-02A Extended

Custom catheter surface COF testing with low-friction fixture

We compared three COF tester suppliers. KHT was 45% cheaper than the European brand with identical 0.5% FS accuracy and the same ASTM D1894 compliance. Lead time was 3 weeks — the European brand quoted 14 weeks.

Procurement Manager

Automotive Tier 1 Supplier

Mexico

MXD-02A Extended

Interior trim surface friction testing for squeak/rattle prevention

The dual-speed feature means we run ASTM D1894 at 150 mm/min and ISO 8295 at 100 mm/min without any hardware changes. One instrument covers both our domestic and export market standards.

Quality Director

Textile Manufacturer

India

MXD-02A Standard

Fabric-on-fabric friction testing per ISO 8295 for nonwoven exports

Three Core Standards

International Standards Compliance

The MXD-02A is designed to meet or exceed the instrument requirements of all three major COF testing standards. Each standard is pre-configured as a one-click test method in the software.

ASTM D1894Films & Sheeting

Standard test method for static and kinetic coefficients of friction of plastic film and sheeting — 200 g sled, 150 mm/min.

ISO 8295Plastics Film

Determination of the coefficients of friction of plastics film and sheeting — Method A (200 g) and Method B (100 g), 100 mm/min.

TAPPI T816Paper & Board

Coefficient of static friction of packaging and paperboard — horizontal plane method with paper-specific conditioning (23°C / 50% RH).

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

Latest from the COF Testing Blog

Guide

Ready to Specify Your Coefficient of Friction Tester?

Factory-direct pricing, calibration certificate, and lifetime technical support. Tell us your application and we respond within 24 hours.

Coefficient of Friction Tester

Meet the MXD-02A — KHT's Export Flagship

Films, Paper, Rubber, Textiles, Medical, Automotive — One Platform

Four Models for Every Lab Budget

MXD-02A

MXD-02

MXD-01A

MXD-01

Why KHT Coefficient of Friction Tester

Force Accuracy 0.5% FS

Automatic Static & Kinetic Calculation

Three Standards on One Platform

Six-Industry Application Coverage

Professional COF Testing Software

Global Service and Support

Coefficient of Friction Testing Across Six Industries

Plastic Films & Packaging

Paper & Paperboard

Rubber & Elastomers

Textiles & Nonwovens

Medical Devices

Automotive Materials

Side-by-Side Model Specifications

Important Notes

Inside the KHT Manufacturing Process

1. R&D and Configuration

2. Precision Assembly

3. Load Cell Calibration

4. Functional Verification

5. Final QC and Software

6. Crating and Global Shipping

KHT Instrument by the Numbers

Customer Success Stories

Film Converter Reduces VFFS Line Jams by 44% After Implementing Incoming COF QC Protocol

Corrugated Manufacturer Cuts Pallet Collapse Claims by 31% After Adding TAPPI T816 COF Control

Catheter OEM Achieves <5% CV on Insertion Force After Standardizing Surface COF Testing

What Lab Engineers Say

International Standards Compliance

Frequently Asked Questions

Latest from the COF Testing Blog

The Complete Guide to Coefficient of Friction Testing

Film Packaging COF Testing — Why Friction Matters for VFFS Lines

Paper Friction Quality Control — COF for Printing & Stacking

Rubber COF Testing Guide — Seals, Gaskets & Compounds

Ready to Specify Your Coefficient of Friction Tester?