Colourfastness properties and affecting factors
Colourfastness is used to indicate the resistance of dyed or printed fabrics towards colour change under certain kinds of conditions.
Generally, if fabric tends to hold the dyed or printed colour for a long time, then fabric has a higher colourfastness. If fabric easily releases colour from its surface within some starting washes then fabric has a lower colourfastness value.
Dyes can also behave differently when in contact with different agents, for instance, dyes that may be fast to dry-cleaning may not be fast to washing in water.
Therefore, it is important to test any dyed or printed product for the fastness of the colours that have been used in its manufacturing process.
Sunlight, pollution, certain gases, abrasion, perspiration, washing, and cleaning are the main reasons for the colourfastness of fabric or garments.
 |
| Fabric lustre and colourfastness |
Measurement of Colorfastness
Colourfastness is generally evaluated on a scale
One scale is ranging from 1 to 5 according to colourfastness value.
In this scale, Class 1 indicates easy colour shade change, while class 5 indicates holding the colour side for a long time.
Another scale is ranging from L9 to L1 scale.
On this scale, Class L1 is the worst mark for colourfastness and L9 is the best rating for fabric.
1 Colorfastness towards natural sunlight
2 Colorfastness towards washing
3 Colorfastness towards crocking
4 Colorfastness towards frosting
5 Colorfastness towards perspiration
6 Colorfastness towards dry cleaning
7 Colorfastness towards burnt gas fumes or gas fading
- What are the colourfastness properties?
- Which factors affect the colourfastness of fabric?
- How colorfastness is measured?
- By which aspects the colorfastness is measured?
References
Booth, J. E. :. (n.d.). Principles of textile testing an introduction to physical methods of testing textile fibres, yarns, and fabrics. London: National Trade Press Ltd,1961. from https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Principles-Textile-Testing-Introduction-Physical-Methods/19989810376/bd
Cenote, M. (2015). Google Books. In The SAGE Guide to Key Issues in Mass Media Ethics and Law (pp. 847–858). SAGE Publications, Inc.
Ferreiro López-Riobóo, J. I. (2015). Long-term (2001–2012) study of a proficiency testing scheme for textiles. Accreditation and Quality Assurance, 20(4), 239–245. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-015-1128-1
Burkhart, M. (n.d.). 5 colour fastness tests to prevent textile fading and staining. Intouch-quality.com. from https://www.intouch-quality.com/blog/5-color-fastness-tests-to-prevent-textile-fading-and-staining
Trivedi, Y. (2020, April 14). Colour fastness in Textile testing. Textilesphere.com. https://www.textilesphere.com/2020/04/colour-fastness-in-textile-testing.html
(N.d.). Textilelearner.net. from https://textilelearner.net/different-types-of-colour-fastness-test/
- Part-1 Fabric colourfastness introduction
- Part-2 Fabric Colorfastness properties and affecting factors
- Part-3 Fabric colourfastness towards various factors
- Part-4 Measurement of fabric colourfastness by sunlight, washing, and perspiration
- Part-5 Measurement of fabric Colorfastness by crocking or frosting and gas fumes
Writer - DSPAT Team
