AATCC TM163-2013(2020)e4

Test Method for Colorfastness to Storage: Dye Transfer

1. Purpose and Scope chemical, dye or pigment between fibers 7. Procedure
within a substrate or between substrates.
1.1 The storage of garments made with 7.1 Option I.
component parts of more than one shade 7.1.1 Immerse in distilled or deionized
4. Safety Precautions
sometimes results in the transfer of dye water at 24 ± 3°C (75 ± 5°F) both the mul-
from one area to another, normally from NOTE: These safety precautions are tifiber fabric and the fabric selected for the
the darker to the lighter shade. This phe- for information purposes and are not in- opposite side of the sandwich (see 5.4).
nomenon is distinct from sublimation be- tended to be all inclusive. It is the user’s The wet pickup of these fabrics should be
cause it occurs below the sublimation responsibility to use safe and proper tech- 100-110% (see 11.3). Do not wet out the
temperature of dyes as well as with non- niques in handling materials and equip- specimen to be tested to prevent removal
subliming dyes. ment in this test method. Manufacturers of dye or finish before testing begins.
1.2 Dye transfer occurs when garments MUST be consulted for specific details 7.1.2 Prepare a sandwich with the dyed
are folded with different shades in inti- such as material safety data sheets and test specimen between pre-wet multifiber
mate contact with each other. Normally other manufacturer’s recommendations. cloth and the pre-wet white swatch (see 5.4).
the amount of dye transferred is intensi- All OSHA standards and rules must also 7.1.3 Clamp the sandwich (prepared as
fied when moisture is present, and thus be consulted and followed. directed in 7.1.2) between two clean
the problem is more severe during warm, 4.1 Good laboratory practices should plates of the Perspiration Tester. Set the
humid weather or when garments are be followed. Wear safety glasses in all Perspiration Tester as instructed in 9.4.1
steamed immediately before storage. laboratory areas. of AATCC TM15, Colorfastness to Per-
Storage in plastic bags tends to maintain 4.2 Manufacturer’s safety recommen- spiration, except that the unit is not
the initial relative humidity of the gar- dations should be followed when operat- placed in an oven.
ment environment and can aggravate or ing laboratory testing equipment. 7.1.4 Enclose the Perspiration Tester in
reduce transfer depending on the condi- 4.3 Observe padder safety. Ensure ade- a polyethylene bag along with a dish (see
tion of the fabric when it enters the bag. quate guard at the nip point. Normal safe- 5.6) containing at least 50 mL of distilled
1.3 This test method is intended to esti- guards on pad should not be removed. A or deionized water to maintain high rela-
mate if color transfer might be expected foot-operated kickoff is recommended. tive humidity in the polyethylene bag.
to occur during prolonged periods of stor- Seal the opening in the bag with a twist
age. In general, no problems will be ex- 5. Apparatus and Materials (see 11.1) tie or rubberband if zipping bag is not
pected under normal conditions of stor- used (see 5.2). Allow to remain 48 h at
age or time-delay, if color transfer does 5.1 Perspiration tester. room temperature (24 ± 3°C [75 ± 5°F]).
not occur under the conditions specified 5.2 Plastic bag, polyethylene, large Take care that the Perspiration Tester does
in Section 7 (Procedure). enough to contain perspiration tester. not fall into the water dish (see 11.4).
1.4 This test method may be used also 5.3 Multifiber Test Fabric (8 mm [0.33 7.1.5 Remove the cover from the Per-
to assess potential color transfer prob- in.] bands) containing acetate, cotton, ny- spiration Tester, remove the sandwiched
lems that relate to finishing. Some dyes lon, silk, viscose rayon, and wool shall be specimens from the tester and separate
are inherently more prone to transfer than used for specimens containing silk. Multi- the swatches. Allow the swatches to dry
others, and some chemical finishes and fiber Test Fabric containing acetate, cotton, at room temperature.
finishing conditions accelerate transfer. nylon, polyester, acrylic, and wool shall be 7.2 Option II.
used with specimens with no silk present. 7.2.1 An accelerated test procedure has
2. Principle 5.4 White fabric of same fiber compo- been used showing approximately the
sition as test specimens. If not available, same results on some dyed or finished
2.1 Dyed and finished test specimens cotton cloth as defined in AATCC TM8, fabrics by placing the test apparatus (see
are sandwiched between pre-wet multifi- Test Method for Colorfastness to Crock- 7.1.4) in a force draft oven at 38 ± 1°C
ber fabric and a selected second fabric, ing: Crockmeter. (100 ± 2°F) for 4 h (see 11.4).
placed in a Perspiration Tester for 48 h at 5.5 Distilled or deionized water.
room temperature, dried and rated. 5.6 Evaporating dish or glass beaker 8. Evaluation (see 11.8)
having the capacity to hold 50 mL of wa-
3. Terminology ter. Wet sponge may also be used. 8.1 After the swatches are dried, exam-
5.7 AATCC 9-Step Chromatic Trans- ine the multifiber and the white cloth for
3.1 colorfastness, n.—the resistance of ference Scale (AATCC EP8) (see 11.2) color transfer. Rate each of the fiber types
a material to change in any of its color 5.8 Gray Scale for Staining (AATCC in the multifiber fabric and the swatch on
characteristics, to transfer of its color- EP2) (see 11.2) the opposite side of the sandwich sepa-
ant(s) to adjacent materials or both, as a 5.9 Gray Scale for Color Change rately, by comparison with the Gray
result of the exposure of the material to (AATCC EP1) (see 11.2). Scale for Staining (AATCC EP2), the
any environment that might be encoun- AATCC 9-Step Chromatic Transference
tered during the processing, testing, stor- 6. Test Specimens Scale (AATCC EP8 or AATCC EP12),
age or use of the material. and record the numerical rating that cor-
3.2 dye, n.—a colorant applied to or 6.1 Prepare 5.7 × 5.7 cm (2.25 × 2.25 responds to the appropriate one on either
formed in a substrate, via the molecularly in.) test specimens from each sample of of them. Record which scale was used.
dispersed state, which exhibits some de- the dyed fabric to be tested. 8.2 If a change in color is noted in any
gree of permanence. 6.2 Prepare 5.7 × 5.7 cm (2.25 × 2.25 of the test specimens, rate such change
3.3 transfer, n.—in textile processing, in.) multifiber and 5.7 × 5.7 cm (2.25 × with AATCC EP1 or AATCC EP7, and
testing, storage and use, movement of a 2.25 in.) white fabric swatches. record the numerical rating that corre-

AATCC TM163-2013(2020)e4 1