The Exchange Test Method

A-3: Colorfastness to Perspiration

Issue Date: 30 Apr 1993

Revision Date: 09/30/2011

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

   To determine colorfastness of textile materials to perspiration.

2. PRINCIPLE:

   Test specimens of colored textiles are wet out in simulated perspiration solution, and subjected to fixed mechanical pressure and allowed to dry slowly at a slightly elevated temperature, in contact with multi-fiber fabric, and any color transfer is evaluated.

3. REFERENCE:

   AATCC Test Method 15-2009, Colorfastness to Perspiration. 

4. APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

   • 4.1 AATCC Perspiration Tester - See 8.1
   • 4.2 Convection Oven
   • 4.3 Multifiber Test Fabric, style #10 - See 8.2
   • 4.4 AATCC Chromatic Transference Scale or Gray Scale for Staining - See 8.3
   • 4.5 Gray Scale for Color Change - See 8.3
   • 4.6 Acid Solution - See 8.4
   • 4.6.1. Acid Solution Recipe:
   • 10 +/- 0.01 grams Sodium Chloride (NaC1)
   • 1 +/- 0.01 gram Lactic Acid, USP 85 %
   • 1 +/- 0.01 gram Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate, Anhydrous (Na2HPO4)
   • 0.25 +/- 0.001 gram Histidine Monohydrochloride
   • Make up 1 liter with distilled water; pH should be 4.3 +/- 0.2

5. PROCEDURE:

   • 5.1 Cut a specimen 6 x 6 +/- 2 cm (2.4 x 2.4 in.) of the dyed material.
   • 5.2 Immerse test specimen in freshly prepared solution (no older than three days) for 15 to 30 minutes.
   • 5.3 Immerse multifiber test fabric (about the same size as the test specimen) in freshly prepared solution for 30 +/- 2 minutes.
   • 5.4 Take out a test specimen and a multifiber test fabric from the solution and squeeze them enough so the excess solution is removed and neither of them is dripping.
   • 5.5 Lay a test specimen flat on a plastic plate and lay a piece of multifiber test fabric flat on top of it. Cover these two pieces with another plastic plate, and repeat the Steps 5.4 and 5.5 as many times as there are specimens.
   • 5.6 Place all 21 plates into the unit (perspiration tester or perspirometer) regardless of number of specimens. After final plate is in position, set top of tester in place. Set 8 lb. weight on top. Lock pressure plate in place by turning thumb screws. Remove weight and place the unit lying on its side in oven.
   • 5.7 Place in oven at 38° +/- 1C (100° +/- 2F) for 6 hours +/- 5 minutes.
   • 5.8 Remove tester from oven and separate multifiber fabric and test fabric. Place multifiber and test fabric specimens separately on a wire screen in a conditioned atmosphere (21° +/- 1C, 65+/- 5% RH) overnight.

6. EVALUATION:

   • 6.1 Evaluate for color change.
     • 6.1.1. Any change in color of test specimens can be expressed by reference to Gray Scale for Color Change.

       GRADE	GRAY SCALE
       5	Negligible or no change as shown in Gray Scale, Step 5.
       4.5	A change in color equivalent to Gray Scale, Step 4-5.
       4	A change in color equivalent to Gray Scale, Step 4
       3.5	A change in color equivalent to Gray Scale, Step 3-4.
       3	A change in color equivalent to Gray Scale, Step 3
       2.5	A change in color equivalent to Gray Scale, Step 2.3
       2	A change in color equivalent to Gray Scale, Step 2
       1.5	A change in color equivalent to Gray Scale, 1-2
       1	A change in color equivalent to Gray Scale, Step 1

   • 6.2 Evaluate for Staining
     • 6.2.1. Staining on the multifiber test fabric can be evaluated by means of AATCC Chromatic Transference Scale or Gray Scale for Staining.

       GRADE	GRAY SCALE
       5	Negligible or no color transfer
       4.5	Color transfer equivalent to Step 4-5 on the Gray Scale for Staining.
       4	Color transfer equivalent to Row 4 on the AATCC Chromatic Transference Scale or Step 4 on the Gray Scale for Staining.
       3.5	Color transfer equivalent to Step 3-4 on the Gray Scale for Staining.
       3	Color transfer equivalent to Row 3 on the AATCC Chromatic Transference Scale or Step 3 on the Gray Scale for Staining.
       2.5	Color transfer equivalent to Step 2-3 on the Gray Scale for Staining.
       2	Color transfer equivalent to Row 2 on the AATCC Chromatic Transference Scale or Step 2 on the Gray Scale for Staining.
       1.5	Color transfer equivalent to Step 1-2 on the Gray Scale for Staining.
       1	Color transfer equivalent to Row 1 on the AATCC Chromatic Transference Scale or Step 1 on the Gray Scale for Staining.

7. REPORT:

   Report numerical ratings in terms of color change grade and the staining grades. State whether Gray Scale or AATCC Chromatic Transference Scale was used.

8. NOTES:

   • 8.1 AATCC Perspiration Tester is available from Atlas Electric Devices Co., 4114 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613, tel: 773-327-4520; fax: 773-327-5787.
   • 8.2 The 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
     • Or, Textile Innovators Corp., P.O. Box 8, Windsor, N 27983, tel: 252-794-9703; fax: 252-794-9704.
   • 8.3 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.
   • 8.4 Histidine monohydrochloride can be purchased from Eastman Kodak Co., Laboratory and Research Products Division, Rochester, NY 14650, tel: 716-724-4000.