COLORFASTNESS : TIPS and TRICKS

A Fabric’s ability to retain its original color is one of the most important properties of a textile product. The colorfastness or color retention is influenced by a number of variables that occur both pre-consumer and post-consumer. Fiber Quality, yarn formation, fabric construction, textile wet processing and consumer practices can all have an influence on the performance characteristics of a fabric. Of these variables, the choices made during textile we processing have the most significant effect on the colorfastness properties. Dye selection is also of the utmost importance. On the other hand consumer practices such as detergent selection and laundering techniques also play a major role in the color retention of a fabric.
The AATCC has over thirty test methods that evaluate colorfastness properties. These include , but are not limited to wash, light , crock, dry cleaning, perspiration, abrasion and heat. The type of product being manufactured determines which types of colorfastness are important and therefore which test methods are relevant. For example, upholstery fabrics must have excellent lightfstness and crock fastness properties, whereas washfastness is important for clothing fabrics.

Our experience at Textile Testing International suggests following as the textile manufacturing process affecting colorfastness;

 Preparation

Preparation is the first stage of textile wet processing. A thorough removal of impurities (waxes, sugers, metals, processing aids, grease, plastic and rubber) always help to achieve optimum dyeing and finishing conditions.

 Dye Selection

Dyeing is the crucial step in determining the colorfastness performance of a fabric. Every dye has a unique colorfastness property. The structure of the dye, the amount of dye, its method of bonding to the fabric and dyeing procedures all contribute to a dye’s performance characteristics. Dye combination in a specific formulation must also be evaluated for their effect on colorfastness.

Finishing

 Generally, resin treated fabrics demonstrate improved color retention to laundering. However, this increase in color retention comes at the expense of reduced physical properties of the fabric. Silicone Softeners incorporated into resin finish bath further improve retention for some fabrics. Also, enzyme treated fabrics show improved ability to maintain their original color and appearance after multiple home launderings.The degree of improvement from any of these finishing techniques is highly dependent on the individual dyes used in a particular formulation to achieve a given shade 

  End User Detergent Selection and Wash Procedures.

The evaluation of the colorfastness properties of a product should reflect the consumer laundry practices. Some fabrics may fade a little when home laundered with standard detergent, but fabrics laundered with detergents containing activated bleach can show significant losses in color strength as determined by the sensitivity of the dye to those detergents. Detergents containing enzymes generally reduce the color change associated with home laundering by decreasing the fuzziness of a fabric’s surface. Consumer practices such as washing cloths inverted, reducing the wash load size, adding softener to the final rinse and reducing the tumble dry time minimize the color loss.