AAFES Quality Assurance

Colorfastness is the property of a dye or print that enables it to retain its depth and shade through the wear life of a product. The purpose of this test method is to evaluate the degreeof color loss after repeated home launderings and staining of other items in a washload. Color loss by one item of a coordinated set, or by an item selected for its specific shade will generally cause customer returns. Significant loss of color in home laundering often leads to staining of other items in the same wash, and can lead to costly customer complaints.

PRINCIPLE:

A specimen is subjected to standard home laundering practices. Colorfastness is rated in comparison with appropriate reference standards or the original specimen.

REFERENCE:

AATCC Test Method 61-2003, Colorfastness to Laundering, Home and Commercial: Accelerated.

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

4.1 Automatic Washing Machine - See 8.1.
4.2 Automatic Tumble Dryer - See 8.1.
4.3 Drip dry and line dry facilities.
4.4 AATCC Standard Reference Detergent 124 - See 8.2.
4.5 Ballast of 92 x 92 cm (36 x 36 in.) hemmed pieces of bleached 100% cotton sheeting or 50% cotton bleached and mercerized poplin - See 8.3
4.6 Gray scale for color change - See 8.4
4.7 Gray scale for staining - See 8.4

PROCEDURE:

5.1    Determine laundry method to be used, by either following the care label instructions on garment or any other method as requested.

5.2   Cut a portion of the specimen, such as bottom of a sleeve, or appropriate area of garment. Keep this unwashed piece for comparison with washed specimen, unless more than one specimen of the same color or shade is available for testing. In that case, save one specimen as an "original."

5.3   Add 66 +/- 1g of 1993 AATCC Standard Reference Detergent to the wash.

5.4   Add specimen and enough ballast to make a 1.8 kg (4 lb.) load. Set washer for selected cycle and time.

5.5    Allow washing to proceed through final spin cycle. Remove the specimen immediately after final spin cycle and dry according to care instructions.

5.6    Place washed load (specimen and ballast) in tumble dryer at the setting recommended on the care label, or as selected. Operate the dryer until total load is dry. Remove immediately after the dryer stops. Avoid over drying.

5.7    To line or drip dry, hang each specimen by two corners with fabric length in vertical direction and allow specimen to hang in still air at room temperature until dry.

5.8    To screen dry, spread specimen on a horizontal screen or perforated surface. Remove wrinkles, but do not distort or stretch the specimen. Allow to dry in still air at room temperature.

5.9    Complete 5 wash/dry cycles by repeating Steps 5.3 through 5.8. Prior to evaluation, Condition specimen for a minimum of 4 hours in the standard atmosphere for Textile testing, i.e., 21°+/- 1C (70° +/- 2F) and 65+/- 2% RH).

EVALUATION

6.1 Compare color loss by placing washed and unwashed specimen side by side.

6.2 Evaluate color loss of the test specimen using the Gray Scale for Color Change.

COLORFASTNESS RATING		GRAY SCALE
Grade 5	Equivalent to	Step 5
Grade 4.5	Equivalent to	Step 4-5
Grade 4	Equivalent to	Step 4
Grade 3.5	Equivalent to	Step 3-4
Grade 3	Equivalent to	Step 3
Grade 2.5	Equivalent to	Step 2.3
Grade 2	Equivalent to	Step 2
Grade 1.5	Equivalent to	Step 1-2
Grade 1	Equivalent to	Step 1

6.3 Evaluate any staining in the washload using the Gray Scale for Staining as follows:

STAINING RATING		GRAY SCALE
Grade 5	Equivalent to	Step 5
Grade 4.5	Equivalent to	Step 4-5
Grade 4	Equivalent to	Step 4
Grade 3.5	Equivalent to	Step 3-4
Grade 3	Equivalent to	Step 3
Grade 2.5	Equivalent to	Step 2.3
Grade 2	Equivalent to	Step 2
Grade 1.5	Equivalent to	Step 1-2
Grade 1	Equivalent to	Step 1

7. REPORT:

7.1 Report the color loss in terms of the grade as listed in 6.2. Grade 5 means no color loss, class 4.5 means negligible color loss and grade 1 means noticeable or heavy color loss.

7.2 Report the staining in terms of the grade as listed in 6.3. Grade 5 means no staining at all, grade 4.5 means negligible staining, and grade 1 means noticeable or heavy staining.

7.3 State washing and drying procedures, as well as type of dummy load. Explain any deviations from the stated procedure.

8. NOTES:

8.1 Contact AATCC, P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 for model numbers and sources of currently approved washers and dryers.

8.2 Detergent is available from AATCC, P.O. Box 12115, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, tel: 919-549-8141; fax: 919-549-8933; e-mail: orders@aatcc.org.

8.3 Ballast available from Testfabrics, Inc., P.O. Box 26, 415 Delaware St., W. Pittston, PA 19643, tel: 570-603-0432, fax: 570-603-0433.

8.4 The 5-step and 9-step AATCC Chromatic Transference Scale, Gray Scale for Staining, Gray Scale for Color Change are available from AATCC, P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; tel: 919-549-8141; fax: 919-549-8933; e-mail; orders@aatcc.org.

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