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Fastness properties:

 The dyed materials have diversified use.  The fastness grading may be intermediate between two full
 Consequently, they are subjected to treatment with several external numbers and may be expressed as 2-3, 4-5 or 2.5, 4.5, etc.
Contd…
agents under diversified conditions.
 In most of the tests, the grading is decided by the difference
 The resistance to such external agents is known as fastness properties.
in colour of the material before and after the test.
 Frequently a compromise must be reached between the cost of attaining a particular
colour of goods and the fastness properties of such goods.  The contrast is compared visually with the contrast
 The most important fastness properties are represented by Grey Scale for assessing change in colour (ISO
1.Washing fastness 105−A02: 1993 or BS EN 20105−A02, 1995).
2. Light fastness
3. Rubbing fastness – wet and dry
4. Fastness to perspiration
5. Fastness to bleaching
6. Fastness to dry heat
 The degrees of fastness are expressed numerically – 1being the lowest
and 5 the highest (1to 8 for light fastness). Grey Scale for Assessing Change of Colour

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Light fastness of a dye on a particular fibre is expressed in terms of

Grades 1-8:

 Grade 1 Very poor

 Grade 2 Poor
 Grade 3 Fair
 Grade 4 Very Fair
•The fastness of a dye is related to the depth of the shade.  Grade 5 Good
•On exposure to light, the number of dye molecules modified will Very Good
 Grade 6
depend largely on the quality and intensity of exposure and is
independent of the depth of shade.  Grade 7 Excellent
•Therefore, the proportion of decomposed molecules is much  Grade 8 Outstanding
greater in pale shade. The colour strength of dyes varies widely.
•Hence, no standardisation is possible based on % shade or depth
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of dye.
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 The dye must possess good washing fastness if the cloth on which it is  Some of the dyes, especially disperse dyes dyed on
dyed or printed is to be used for making garments polyester, nylon, cellulose acetate rayon, etc. are susceptible to
chemical damage by certain gases like nitrogen dioxide and sulphur
 These dyes should also possess good perspiration fastness. Perspiration of dioxide present in the air in places, where large amounts of coal are
some people is acidic in nature and of others, alkaline. burnt or where dyestuff factories are located.
 This type of dye degradation is known as gas fading.
 When the dye does not have good perspiration fastness and when people
wearing clothes dyed with the dye, perspire, a part of the dye coming in Disperse dyes should have good fastness to gas fading.
contact with the perspiration is stripped from the cloth and stains the  Dyed polyester and nylon fabrics are subjected to high temperatures
undergarments or the skin of the wearer. (180°-210°C) during their processing in textile mills and are ironed
during their use by the consumer, at high temperatures some of
 The dyes intended for colouring dress materials should have good the disperse dyes sublime off.
rubbing fastness also. For example the cuffs and collars of shirts are
constantly rubbed against the wrists and the neck of the wearer. If the  Therefore, disperse dyes should have good sublimation fastness.
dyeing process is not done properly some of the dye particles may be
mechanically held loosely on the fabric surface and these particles rub
out easily on the wearer’s skin coming into contact with the cloth.

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 Some of the cotton fabrics (dhotis and saris with coloured

borders and fabrics with coloured checks or stripes)
contain white and coloured yarns and a white and coloured
design is produced during weaving itself.

 When such cloth is bleached, the dye used for

producing the coloured yarns should withstand the
bleaching action. Bleaching powder or sodium
hypochlorite is generally used for bleaching.

 Hence these dyes should have good chlorine fastness.

 A dye need not have very good fastness to all the above
agencies (light, washing, perspiration, rubbing, gas
fading, sublimation, chlorine etc.).
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