# Colour fastness > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Colour_fastness > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Colour_fastness.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_fastness > Source revision: 1353375964 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Colour's resistance to fading or running}} '''Colour fastness''' is a term—used in the [dyeing](/source/dyeing) of [textile](/source/textile) materials—that characterizes a material's [colour](/source/colour)'s resistance to [fading](/source/Color_fade) or [running](/source/Glossary_of_dyeing_terms).{{Cite web |last=Maybury |first=Jessica |date=October 29, 2022 |title=What Are Colour Fast Fabrics? |url=https://fibreguard.com/blog/5-colourfastness-tests-that-secure-fibreguard-fabrics-optimal-fade-protection}} Colour fastness is the property of dyes and it is directly proportional to the binding force between photochromic dye and the fibre. The colour fastness may also be affected by [processing techniques](/source/Wet_processing_engineering) and choice of chemicals and auxiliaries.{{Cite journal|last=Rattee|first=I. D.|date=1964|title=Bonds between dyes and fibres|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43426623|journal=Science Progress|volume=52|issue=208|pages=581–592|jstor=43426623|issn=0036-8504}}{{Cite book|last1=Shore|first1=J.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LtfWAAAACAAJ|title=Colorants and Auxiliaries: Auxiliaries|last2=Colourists|first2=Society of Dyers and|date=2002|publisher=Society of Dyers and Colourists|isbn=978-0-901956-78-1|language=en}} The term is usually used in the context of [clothes](/source/clothing). In general, clothing should be tested for colour fastness before using [bleach](/source/bleach) or other cleaning products.{{cite web | url=http://housekeeping.about.com/od/laundry/g/def_colorfast.htm | title=Colorfastness | accessdate=December 1, 2011 | archive-date=December 20, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220074038/http://housekeeping.about.com/od/laundry/g/def_colorfast.htm | url-status=dead }} It can also apply to [upholstery fabrics](/source/Upholstery). [Lightfastness](/source/Lightfastness), [wash](/source/Washing) fastness, and [rub](/source/Abrasion_(mechanical)) fastness are the main forms of colour fastness that are standardized. The light fastness of textile dye is categorized from one to eight and the wash fastness from one to five, with a higher number indicating better fastness.{{Cite journal | doi = 10.2307/1506527| jstor = 1506527| title = Fastness to Light and Washing of Direct Dyes for Cellulosic Textiles| journal = Studies in Conservation| volume = 41| issue = 3| pages = 129–135| year = 1996| last1 = Oger | first1 = B. }} == Washing fastness == The term ''washing fastness of textiles'' pertains to the capacity of textile materials, such as fabrics or garments, to maintain their original colour and appearance after undergoing multiple washing and laundering processes. It signifies the textile's ability to endure repeated washing without experiencing fading, bleeding, or other undesirable alterations. The washing fastness of the dyed material is determined by factors such as the [solubility](/source/solubility) and rate of dye [desorption](/source/desorption) from the textile material into [soap](/source/soap), [detergent](/source/detergent), or different alkaline conditions.{{Cite book |last=Choudhury |first=A. K. Roy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0TamObsaaPQC&dq=staining+in+textile+dyeing&pg=PA363 |title=Textile Preparation and Dyeing |date=2006-01-09 |publisher=Science Publishers |isbn=978-1-57808-404-3 |pages=363 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=various |url=http://archive.org/details/dictionaryoffibe0000vari |title=Dictionary of Fiber & Textile Technology |date=1978 |publisher=Hoechst Celanese |others=Internet Archive |pages=16}} == Light fastness == {{main|Lightfastness}} Lightfastness is a characteristic of a colourant, such as dye or pigment, which denotes its ability to resist fading when subjected to light exposure.{{Cite web |title=Learn How to Understand the Label on a Tube of Paint |url=https://www.liveabout.com/read-a-paint-tube-label-2578764 |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=LiveAbout |language=en}}alt=Grey Scales for change in Shade and staining.|thumb|Grey scales for assessing the grades of colour fastnessalt=Test report: Color fastness to washing and rubbing.|thumb|Colour fastness test report with grading for demonstration purpose == Dye and the binding forces == A [dye](/source/dye) is a coloured substance that chemically bonds to the [substrate](/source/wiktionary%3Asubstrate) to which it is being applied. Dyes are classified according to their solubility and chemical properties. Dyes are selected according to affinity; any given dye does not apply to every type of [fiber](/source/fiber). Different binding forces act between the dye and substrate, such as [Van der Waals force](/source/Van_der_Waals_force)s including attraction and repulsions between atoms, molecules, and surfaces, as well as other intermolecular forces. [Direct dye](/source/Direct_dye) application to [cotton](/source/cotton) results in poor fastness properties when washing. The bond differs from [covalent](/source/Covalent_bond) bonding in [reactive dye](/source/reactive_dye)s when applied to cotton, which may result far better fastness than direct dyes. Covalent bond is a stronger bond, caused by correlations in the fluctuating polarizations of nearby particles (a consequence of [quantum dynamics](/source/quantum_dynamics)).{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=et8mC5F3kkEC&dq=A+dye+is+a+colored+substance+that+chemically+bonds+to+the+substrate+to+which+it+is+being+applied&pg=PA66080 |journal=Federal Register|volume=59 |issue=245 |page=66080|quote=Dyes are intensely colored or fluorescent organic substances that impart color to a substrate by selective absorption of ... mechanical retention, or by the formation of ionic or covalent chemical bonds.
Dyes are used to color fabrics|title=Proposed Rules|date=19 December 1994}} The use of [mordant](/source/mordant)s with dyes is the standard procedure to obtain color fastness. [Pigment](/source/Pigment)s as an exception do not bind chemically with textile materials.{{Cite book |last=Gleba |first=Margarita |author-link=Margarita Gleba |title=Textile Production in Pre-Roman Italy |publisher=Oxybow books |year=2008 |isbn=9781842173305 |pages=76}} == Importance of colour fastness == Colour is an influential element of fashion and clothing aesthetics; it has great value for both the user and the brand. Colour is one of the most significant features in attracting customers to buy a product or garment, and retaining of the original colour is one of the important quality parameters of coloured textiles. Colour fastness is rated poor if the item does not comply with tests exposing it to [washing](/source/laundry), [light](/source/Lightfastness), rubbing and other agents such as [perspiration](/source/perspiration).{{Cite journal|last=Rutnagur|first=Sorabji M.|title=The Indian Textile Journal - Volume 114|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QcVOAAAAYAAJ&q=importance+of+colour+fastness|journal=The Indian Textile Journal|year=2004|volume=114|pages=7–12}}{{Cite web |date=2011-10-11 |url=http://fyichina.com.cn/Color_Fastness_PDF_v1.pdf |title=Color Fastness: Colour Fastness to Washing |access-date=2020-10-07 |publisher=i-merino |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011105902/http://fyichina.com.cn/Color_Fastness_PDF_v1.pdf |archive-date=2011-10-11 |via=[Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)}} == Test methods for colour fastness == Standardized testing for colour fastness and other parameters was established in the 20th century by industrialized economies such as the US, the UK, Japan, and Europe. The [American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists](/source/American_Association_of_Textile_Chemists_and_Colorists) (AATCC), [International Organization for Standardization](/source/International_Organization_for_Standardization) (ISO) and [Society of Dyers and Colourists](/source/Society_of_Dyers_and_Colourists) played vital roles in establishing the test methods.{{Cite book|last=John H Xin|first=Menghe Miao|title=Engineering of High-Performance Textiles|year=2017|isbn=9780081018859|location=Elsevier Science|pages=174}} There are various tests and testing methods according to the physical and functional requirements of the product. For example, fastness to saliva may be important for [childrenswear](/source/childrenswear) and perspiration and light are important for a [golf shirt](/source/golf_shirt). European and US retailers use ISO and AATCC standards respectively. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://www.aatcc.org/testing/methods/ AATCC Test Methods - Textile Testing Research and Development] * {{cite web|url=https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:105:-C12:ed-1:v1:en |title=ISO 105-C12:2004(en) Textiles - Tests for colour fastness — Part C12: Colour fastness to industrial laundering}} {{Dyeing}}{{Laundry navbox}}{{Authority control}} Category:Textiles Category:Properties of textiles Category:Dyeing --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Colour fastness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_fastness) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_fastness?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.