COLOR FASTNESS TO WASHING (DETERGENT)
Washing is one of the most common cleaning and maintenance methods for clothes. The Color Fastness to washing determines the color firmness of textiles in different detergents and different washing environments. There are many ways to test Color Fastness to washing. The general principle is to imitate the state of household or commercial washing. Under the specified time and temperature conditions, after stirring, rinsing, and drying, use a gray sample card or instrument to compare the original sample to evaluate the color change of the sample and the lining fabric’s staining. Various methods may have certain differences in temperature, test solution, washing procedures, drying procedures and a decision to add steel balls or not.
Test process of Color Fastness to soap and washing:
(1) Sample: Take a 100mm×40mm sample with the front side in contact with a 100mm×40mm multi-fiber lining fabric, stitched along a short side to form a combined sample. Or take a 100mm×40mm sample, sandwich it between two 100mm×40mm single fiber lining fabrics, and stitch along a short side to form a combined sample.
(2) Preparation of test solution:
(3) Test:
(4) Washing and drying:
(5) Grading:
(6) Result report
Features of Washing Fastness Tester:
• It is fabricated out of quality stainless steel.
• Possess electric heater to heat water in water bath.
• The microprocessor-based programmer is provided for temp. control.
• Buzzer to indicate the completion of the process cycle or step.
Factors affecting colour fastness to washing:
• The fabric structure, fiber composition and corresponding dyeing process conditions are the primary factors that affect its Color Fastness to washing.
• Using different test methods, the same test method, and different links of the operating methods also have an important impact on the test results of Color Fastness to washing.
• Sampling on the test results of Color Fastness to washing.
• Selection of multi-fiber standard lining fabrics on the test results of washing fastness.
• Different grading methods on the test results of Color Fastness to washing.
Comparison of common standards of textile Color Fastness to washing:
Detergent washing testing determines the resistance of textile colors to domestic or commercial laundering procedures. The two main standards for detergent washing are ISO 105 C06 and AATCC 61. Aim for a color change rating of 4 and a color staining rating of 3 to 5 for detergent washing.
ISO 105 C06
There are 16 different ISO 105 C06 test procedures, ranging from A1S to E2S.
The “S” in the ISO 105 C06 test number refers to a single commercial or domestic laundering. The “M” refers to multiple washes, or approximately five domestic or commercial launderings. The “2” test procedures include a peroxide-based bleach, sodium perborate (NaH2BO4), in the washing water. The “A” and “B” ISO 105 C06 test methods are most common, as they test fabrics at 40°C and 50°C, respectively. The “C”, “D” and “E” methods test fabrics at higher temperatures with different bleaches and softeners.
AATCC 61
There are five test procedures under AATCC 61, but the most common test procedures are 1A and 2A. 1A applies to hand washing at 40°C, while 2A applies to machine washing at 49°C. The lesser used 3A procedure tests fabrics at 71°C, while 4A and 5A add a chlorine-based bleach, sodium hypochlorite, to the washing water. All AATCC 61 test procedures mimic five domestic or commercial launderings. For both the EU and U.S. standards, the lab washes the fabrics with stainless steel balls to mimic abrasion. The number of balls, the amount of detergent and the washing time vary based on the test method.
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Summary of sampling methods for Color Fastness to washing:
The sampling of Color Fastness to washing must first consider the problem of lining fabric. Taking GB/T 3921-2008 as an example, this standard specifies that the choice of lining fabric can be a multi-fiber lining fabric or two single-fiber lining fabrics.
The multi-fiber lining fabrics include:
(1) Multi-fiber lining fabrics containing wool and cellulose acetate (used for tests at 40°C and 50°C, and in some cases can also be used for tests at 60°C, but needs to be indicated in the test report).
(2) Multi-fiber lining fabrics without wool and acetate (used for some 60°C tests and all 95°C tests). Single-fiber lining fabrics include cotton, wool, viscose, polyamide (nylon), polyester (polyester), polyacrylonitrile (acrylic), ramie, silk, and acetate.
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The laboratory’s daily test samples are roughly divided into-
• Plain samples,
• Yarn-dyed samples,
• Printing samples,
• Dark and light gradient dyeing samples,
• Embroidery and car pattern samples,
• Sequins,
• Hot diamond samples,
• Yarns and loose fibers,
• Hollow fabrics, etc.
When GB/T 3921-2008 requires the sample to be fabric, the sample size is 40mm×100mm.