Understanding the Different Types of Color Fastness Test
Color fastness tests are evaluation procedures that measure dye stability to help you assess fabric color durability. They come in different types, testing principles, and standard protocols, giving you different options to choose from. The material properties and application requirements of your fabric determines the type of color fastness test to choose.
What are the Different Types of Color Fastness Test?
Let us consider the different types of color fastness test available and how they function.
Light Fastness Test
This colour fastness test is best when you want to evaluate color fading resistance for fabrics exposed to light. These light exposure tests replicate natural sunlight conditions, which can be called light aging tests. Also, they must have the capability to simulate controlled irradiance to ensure that you get reliable and repeatable test results.
When you perform it appropriately, a light fastness test generates accurate color change data, working with a standardized xenon arc light source to deliver results that match real-world outdoor performance.
Washing Fastness Test
You can find washing fastness tests in different standard protocols that work fine with different fabric types as well as other types of textile materials. Washing colour fastness tests can help you with your in-house quality checks as well as for third-party accreditation to help you complete your product compliance as well as quality verification tasks.
Also, these tests can help you validate garment wash durability, assess color transfer between fabrics, and support product R&D for new detergent formulations, etc.
Rubbing (Crocking) Fastness Test
If you are a garment manufacturer, you check surface color transfer or you’re an expert in textile quality control, then you may use a rubbing fastness test for your quality assurance process. This test follows standardized stroke and pressure settings, which allows easy evaluation of dry and wet color transfer performance.
In addition, you may use them for testing woven and printed fabrics. Also, the test uses standard crocking cloth to capture transferred dye. Therefore, immediately you complete the specified rubbing cycles, you have to remove the test cloth via the specimen holder, compare the staining against the gray scale, then record the grade to help document your fabric colour fastness testing results.
Perspiration Fastness Test
These colour fastness tests work perfectly with apparel fabrics, and at times, work with leather materials. Perspiration fastness tests are known to evaluate color stability under sweat exposure, but the test specimens are prepared under controlled pH conditions. Also, you can identify these tests through their standardized artificial perspirant solutions used for testing. These solutions feature precise acid and alkaline formulas and they are great for sportswear and undergarment quality verification. Their test results are also very reliable compared to other informal test methods.
Water Fastness Test
Water fastness tests feature a standardized immersion procedure that helps you test fabric color stability when exposed to water. This is a very precise process that ensures your test results reflect real-world wet conditions. They are usually used for testing everyday apparel fabrics, while some extended protocols can test through prolonged water immersion.
Moreover, take note that you must conduct the test at controlled room temperature, ensuring that you apply consistent pressure on the stacked specimens. When you use incorrect specimen preparation or pressure settings, it will skew your test results.
Ozone Color Fastness Test
Ozone fastness tests serve a special purpose for testing color resistance to atmospheric ozone exposure. Ozone is simply described as a reactive gaseous pollutant that causes gradual color fading in certain dye types, especially indigo and denim fabrics.
When you expose specimens to controlled ozone concentrations, you can now measure the degree of color change. This allows you to verify if your fabric meets durability requirements for outdoor and industrial use environments.
Scorch and Sublimation Fastness Test
Scorch and sublimation tests are great for testing heat-related color transfer in fabrics. You can use them with standard heat press setups; however, it is advisable that you use them at precise temperature settings. While testing for sublimation fastness, you should make use of adjacent fabrics to ensure that the transferred dye can be clearly graded.
In addition, you may test heat-treated fabrics making use of elevated temperature settings. However, this must be done without exceeding the fabric’s melting point and at a standardized contact duration.
Gakushin Rubbing Fastness Test
The main function of a Gakushin rubbing fastness test is its ability to deliver highly repeatable abrasion and color transfer results. This is possible due to the fixed stroke and standardized weight found on the testing system. This test is appropriate for evaluating leather, printed materials, and industrial fabrics to help you verify surface durability and color performance.
Also, you may find adjustable weight options in several Gakushin testing systems, ensuring that you set the test pressure beforehand.
Core Equipment for Color Fastness Testing
There are different types of color fastness testing machine based on their technical configurations and performance levels. Each of these colour fastness tester models has its own functional properties. Also, you can use each in different testing scenarios. However, it is crucial to understand where to use these testing machines and how they function.
Water-Cooled Light Weather Fastness Tester GT-3000
Testing machines built with water-cooled xenon arc systems deliver the highest level of environmental simulation capability. You can use these testers for full-spectrum weathering and colour fastness test of fabric. This makes them suitable for use in high-end R&D and industrial testing labs. However, they are very cost-intensive, making them a less preferred option for small-scale quality control.
Air-Cooled Light Fastness Tester GT-D02-1
The air-cooled systems used for these testers can be either entry-level or professional-grade. This usually depends on the lamp power and control precision being integrated.
Professional-grade air-cooled testers undergo precision calibration where you match the irradiance to international standards. This process makes them reliable. You can use these testing machines on standard textile light fastness and aging tests.
Electronic Crockmeter GT-D04
Electronic control systems are a popular configuration used for rubbing color fastness testing machines due to their high repeatability. However, they are more efficient than manual crockmeters. Electronic crockmeters are versatile as they can be used on almost all types of fabric rubbing fastness tests.
Automated Washing Fastness Tester GT-D34
This type of color fastness testing machine is built with multiple integrated control systems. Due to the combination of precise temperature, speed, and time control used in their operation, these machines deliver extremely accurate, consistent, and repeatable results. Also, they are resistant to wear and can tolerate long-term continuous operation. These machines can work with high testing throughput. You can use them for high-volume fabric colour fastness testing in accredited labs.
Other Colour Fastness Testers
These testing machines deliver highly precise results due to their dedicated design for specific test scenarios. You can use them for specialized colour fastness tests like ozone, scorch and sublimation. Also, these testers maintain stable test conditions even under extended high-temperature operation.
How to Choose the Right Color Fastness Test
Since there are a wide range of colour fastness tests available, you can find it difficult to choose the right one for your application. It is important you consider some factors before you choose a color fastness test for your next quality control project.
Compliance Standards & Test Purpose
When you are choosing the most suitable colour fastness test for your project, always consider the required compliance standards. The test standard you follow has a significant impact on result validity and market acceptance. Also, each of these standards has its distinct parameters and grading criteria. While ISO 105 series is compatible with most global textile markets, AATCC standards are more suitable for the North American market.
Fabric Material & End-Use Scenario
Before you choose a test method that suits your requirement, you need to consider the material of the fabric and its end-use scenario. The fabric you are testing fabric for colorfastness could be cotton, polyester, blended fabric, leather or even coated textiles. For instance, you can use rubbing and washing fastness tests on everyday apparel fabrics while weathering light fastness tests are ideal for outdoor textiles. You need to be sure of the fabric material and application before opting for a test type.
Equipment Configuration & Testing Efficiency
Equipment configurations can improve the efficiency of your colour fastness test of fabric. A good example is an electronic crockmeter with automated cycle control. Such testing machines usually deliver higher throughput due to the automated operation. Therefore, you can use them for large-volume fabric colour fastness testing tasks.
Conclusion
Color fastness tests play a vital role in the quality control and performance verification of textile products. These procedures deliver standardized, reliable data for different types of durability requirements in fabric production.
They are supported by different testing equipment and follow different international standards.
Also, they have their distinct properties, functions, and applications. When you are choosing types of color fastness test for your projects, ensure that you consider all the necessary factors. To help you make the right choice, contact us at GESTER today and you’ll be glad you did.
português 
