Color Fastness Testing

Color fastness is the resistance of a material to change in any of its color characteristics, including the transfer of its colorants to adjacent materials. Color fastness refers to the resistance of color to fade or bleed of a dyed or printed textile material to various types of influences such as water, light, rubbing, washing, and perspiration. to which they are normally exposed in textile manufacturing and in daily use. The fastness of a dyed material to various agencies may be caused either by a chemical breakdown of the dye or by removal of the dye from the fabric, or by both. In general terms, fastness properties depend on factors such as the chemical structure of the dye, the state of the dye in the fiber, the depth of shade and the presence of chemicals in the fiber.

STEMart provides comprehensive color fastness testing services to provide inspection reports that meet relevant regulations and international standards, thus proving the quality and safety of textile products.

Test Items

• Color fastness to detergent washing

Color fastness during washing is one of textile importers’ main concerns. A textile item must withstand repeated washing throughout its lifecycle without losing its color properties or staining other articles its washed with.

• Color fastness test to water

Color fastness to water determines the resistance of textile colors to immersion in water. It is specifically used to measure the migration of color to another fabric when wet and in close contact.

• Color fastness to rubbing/crocking

“Crocking” is an industry term referring to a transfer of a colorant through rubbing. The crocking test determines the resistance of textile colors to rubbing off and staining other materials. A fabric with poor color fastness could rub colorants off on consumers, furniture, other textiles or miscellaneous items.

• Color fastness to perspiration

The color fastness to perspiration test determines the resistance of textile colors to human perspiration. Fabric dyes and human perspiration can often react and cause color fading in clothing items. A color fastness test for perspiration are particularly relevant for sports apparel and swimwear, which will most likely be exposed to heavy perspiration during use.

• Color fastness to light

The color fastness to light test determines the effect of natural sunlight on textile colors. All textile colorants are susceptible to some fading in sunlight, as colorants by nature absorb certain wavelengths. Color fastness to light testing might be particularly important to manufacture of clothing worn predominately outdoors.

• Other color fastness test
  • Color fastness test to sea water
  • Color fastness to chlorinated water
  • Color fastness to hot pressing
  • Color fastness to dry cleaning
  • Color fastness to heat treatments
  • Color fastness to bleaching agents
  • Color fastness to atmospheric contaminants
  • Color fastness to potting
  • Color fastness to steaming
  • Color fastness to milling

For more information about our color fastness testing services, please contact us.