The Exchange Test Method
A-23: Colorfastness to Dry Cleaning
Issue Date: 05 Aug 1999
Revision Date:09/30/2011
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PURPOSE AND SCOPE:
This test method is intended for determining the colorfastness of textiles to all kinds of drycleaning.
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PRINCIPLE:
A specimen in contact with multifiber swatch and noncorrodible steel balls is agitated in perchloroethylene and then air dried. Any change in color is then assessed by using the Gray Scale for Staining or the Chromatic Transference Scale.
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REFERENCE:
AATCC Test Method 132-2009, Colorfastness to Drycleaning.
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APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:
- 4.1 Launder-Ometer - see 8.1.
- 4.2 Standard stainless steel containers, 7.5 cm diam x 12.5 cm (3 in. diam x 5 in.), of approximately 500 mL (1 pt) capacity, which can be closed using solvent-resistant gaskets - see 8.2.
- 4.3 Noncorrodible steel balls.
- 4.4 Multifiber test fabric - see 8.3.
- 4.5 Perchloroethylene, commercial drycleaning grade.
- 4.6 Gray scale for color change - see 8.4
- 4.7 Gray scale for staining or AATCC Chromatic Transference Scale - see 8.4.
- 4.8 Detergent, Perk-Sheen - see 8.5.
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PROCEDURE:
- 5.1 If the textile to be tested is fabric, cut 3 specimens 10 x 5 cm (4 x 2 in.) with the longer dimension parallel to the warp or wale direction of the fabric.
- 5.2 Staple multifiber to test specimen at both ends.
- 5.3 Place 12 steel balls in the steel container.
- 5.4 To 1000 mL volumetric flash filled partially with perchloroethylene, add 10 mL of detergent (Perk-Sheen 324). Shake or stir. Add perchloroethylene until the total volume equals 1000 mL. Add 0.6 ML water. Shake or stir until the solution is no longer cloudy.
- 5.5 In a hood, place the steel balls and the specimen in a standard 500 mL (1 pt) stainless steel container and add 200 mL perchloroethylene detergent solution at 30° +/- 2C (86° +/- 4F). Close the container and agitate in Launder-Ometer for 30 minutes at 30° +/- 2C (86° +/- 4F).
- 5.5 Place the container in an adequately ventilated hood. Remove the specimen and place the specimen between layers of absorbent paper or cloth to remove surplus solvent. Air dry the specimen in the hood at temperature not exceeding 65°C (149°F).
- 5.6 Condition specimens at 65 +/- 2% RH and 20° +/- 2C (68° +/- 2F) for 1 hour before evaluating.
- 5.7 Trim off raveled yarns and brush off loose fiber. Brush pile specimens in required direction to restore them as nearly as possible to the same pile angle as the untreated specimens. Smooth out the wrinkles.
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EVALUATION:
- 6.1 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 3.5 |
Grade 3 |
Equivalent to |
Step 3 |
Grade 2.5 |
Equivalent to |
Step 2.5 |
Grade 2 |
Equivalent to |
Step 2 |
Grade 1.5 |
Equivalent to |
Step 1.5 |
Grade 1 |
Equivalent to |
Step 1 |
- 6.2 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 3.5 |
Grade 3 |
Equivalent to |
Step 3 |
Grade 2.5 |
Equivalent to |
Step 2.5 |
Grade 2 |
Equivalent to |
Step 2 |
Grade 1.5 |
Equivalent to |
Step 1.5 |
Grade 1 |
Equivalent to |
Step 1 |
7. REPORT:
- 7.1 Report the color loss in terms of the grade as listed in 6.1. 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 6.2. Grade 5 means no staining at all, grade 4.5 means negligible staining, and grade 1 means noticeable or heavy staining.
- 7.3 Average the observations made on each sample (3 specimens).
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8. NOTES:
- 8.1 Launder-Ometer is available from Atlas Electric Devices Co., 4114 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60615; tel: 773-327-4520; fax: 773-327-5787.
- 8.2 Stainless steel containers available from Atlas Electric Devices Co., 4114 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60616; tel: 773-327-4520; fax: 773-327-5787.
- 8.3 Multifiber test fabric is available from Testfabrics, Inc., P.O. Box 26, 415 Delaware St., W. Pittston, PA 18643; 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.
- 8.5 Detergent, Perk-Sheen is available from Adco, 900 W. Main St., P.O. Box 999, Sedalia, MO 65301; tel: 660-826-3300 or 800-221-7556.