Texanlab Laboratories Pvt. Ltd.

Colourfastness Testing Series

COLOURFASTNESSTOOZONE


This
test
is
intended
for
determining
the
resistance
of
colour
on
textile
material
to
the
action
of

ozone
contamination
present
in
atmosphere.

This
test
is
primarily
applied
on
the
textile
materials

which
has
been
dyed
with
indigo
dyes
and
bleached
materials
which
are
treated
with
optical

brightener.
Such
materials
prone
to
turn
yellow
after
prolonged
exposure
in
the
atmosphere

which
is
contaminated
with
ozone.
Even
the
radiations
emitted
by
light
source
used
in
stores
for

the
display
of
garments
contain
fairly
good
amount
of
ozone
and
because
of
which
bleached
or

indigo
dyed
garments
tend
to
turn
yellow
after
prolonged
exposure.




Ozone
contamination
in
the
atmosphere
is
also
greatly
influenced
by
temperature
and
moisture

content.
This
is
very
reason
that
this
test
is
performed
in
two
different
atmospheric
conditions

namely
low
humidity
/
temperature
and
high
humidity
/
temperature.



This
test
is
primarily
performed
for
US
retailers.
Very
few
European
customers
opt
for
this
test.

Most
tests
are
performed
at
low
humidity.



Principle

Principle



The
sample
under
test
along
with
control
fabric
is
exposed
in
a
chamber
generating
ozone
at
a

specified
concentration
(ppm)
of
ozone
level
with
specified
atmospheric
conditions
so
as
to

obtain
definite
colour
change.
This
will
constitute
one
cycle.
The
sample
is
exposed
to
one
or
two

cycles
as
the
case
may
be
and
compared
with
original
specimen
for
colour
change
(yellowness).

Generally
denim
samples
are
exposed
for
two
cycles
and
white
is
exposed
for
one.

STANDARD
TEST
METHODS
APPLIED
STANDARD
TEST
METHODS
APPLIED

S
APPLIED



• AATCC
109:2005
-
Colour
fastness
to
Ozone
in
the
atmosphere
under
Low
humidity

• AATCC
129:2005
-
Colour
fastness
to
Ozone
in
the
atmosphere
under
High
humidity

• ISO
105
G03
–
:
Colour
fastness
to
ozone
in
the
atmosphere




AATCC
109
:
2005

AATCC
109
:
2005
AATCC
129:
2005

AATCC
129:
2005
ISO
105
G03:1993

ISO
105
G03:1993

Typical
Apparatus
Typical
Apparatus
/

Apparatus
/

Ozone
generating
chamber
which
can
control
emission
of
ozone
in
ppm

Equipment
needed

Equipment
needed

10
cm
X
6
cm
10
cm
X
6
cm

10
cm
X
6
cm

Test
specimen
size
Original
/
Washed
/
Dry
Original
/
Washed
/
Dry



cleaned
cleaned



Both
conditions
–
not

Test
conditions

Test
conditions


0
0 0 0
0
exceeding
65%
(18
–
28
C)

Temperature
21
C
+
1
C
/
40 C
+
1
C
/

0 0

and
above
80%
(40
+
5 C

Relative
Humidity
(RH)

65
+
2
%
(should
not
87.5
+
2.5
%

–
RH
85
+
5%)

exceed
67%)

Colour
fastness
to
Ozone




































1

 Texanlab Laboratories Pvt. Ltd.
Colourfastness Testing Series

AATCC
109
:
2005

AATCC
109
:
2005
AATCC
129:
2005

AATCC
129:
2005
ISO
105
G03:1993

ISO
105
G03:1993

1. Specimen
shows
a
1. Specimen
shows
a
1. Specimen
shows
a

definite
colour
change
definite
colour
change
definite
colour
change

No
of
cycles
exposure

2. Prescribed
number
of
2. Prescribed
number
of
2. Prescribed
number
of

cycles
cycles
cycles

1.5 –
6.0
h
for
Low

Low



humidity

humidity




Approximate
ppm
level
to

Conditions
required
for
Ozone
concentration
range


get
std.
fading.

One
cycle
One
cycle


cycle

from
10-35
pphm
(Parts

Approximate
ppm
level
to
Ozone
concentration
range

Ozone
level
/
Time

Per
Hundred
Million)

get
std.
fading.
from
10-35
pphm
which


which
should
produce
one

1.5
–
6.0
h
should
produce
one
cycle

cycle
of
fading
in
3-28
h
of

of
fading
in
3-28
h
of
test.

test.

for
High
humidity
High
humidity

High
humidity
Numerical
grade
for
colour
Numerical
grade
for
colour
Numerical
grade
for
colour

change
with
the
help
of
grey
change
with
the
help
of
change
with
the
help
of
grey

Reporting

scale
immediately
after
the
grey
scale
immediately
scale
immediately
after
the

test
after
the
test
test



Typical
equipment:

Typical
equipment:

Technical
explanation:

Technical
explanation:



Ozone-induced
yellowing
is
a
major
problem
in
denims.
The
Ozone
layer,
found
in
the
upper

atmosphere
of
earth,
absorbs
the
sun's
UV
radiation.
Due
to
the
increased
pollution
levels
from

industry
as
well
as
vehicles,
the
concentration
of
NOX
and
SOx
gases
have
increased
in
the

atmosphere.
These
gases
can
potentially
react
with
Ozone
and
reduce
its
concentration

tremendously
in
the
Ozone
layer.
As
a
result,
a
portion
of
the
sun's
UV
radiation
penetrates

through
the
atmospheric
layer
and
reaches
the
earth's
surface.
This
UV
light
can
generate
Ozone

gas
from
the
atmospheric
oxygen.

The
deteriorating
effect
O3
has
on
denim
is
irreversible.
Based
on
molecular
weight
calculation,
1

g
of
ozone
could
destroy
10.9
g
of
indigo
dye.
Since
the
O3
induced
oxidation
of
indigo
produces
a

compound
(isatin),
which
is
yellow
in
colour,
denim
garments
turn
yellow
due
to
Ozone
fading.

Colour
fastness
to
Ozone




































2

 Texanlab Laboratories Pvt. Ltd.
Colourfastness Testing Series

Causes:

Causes:



It
is
essential
to
control
pH
in
the
processes
of
indigo
dyeing
/
enzyme
treatments
on
denims
and

optical
brighterner
treatment
on
bleached
material.



It
is
advisable
to
neutralise
/
hot
rince
the
material
after
treatments
as
any
residual
chemicals

present
on
the
fabric
can
contribute
greatly
towards
yellowing
and
hence
poor
colour
fastness
to

ozone.



Case
study
1
Case
study
1

1



A
denim
garment
was
observed
to
turn
yellow
excessively
at
fold
portions
which
was
exposed
to

store
light
directly.
The
same
sample
when
tested
in
the
laboratory
for
colour
fastness
to
ozone

also
revealed
that
fabric
was
having
poor
colour
fastness.
One
of
the
main
cause
for
this
can
be

back
staining
occured
in
denim
during
enzyme
treatment
and
no
subsequent
neutralising
/
hot

rinsing
could
have
been
done.
The
residual
colour
present
in
the
garment
after
enzyme
treatment

will
tend
to
yellow
after
exposure.







Original

Original



Tested

Tested

Colour
fastness
to
Ozone




































3

 Texanlab Laboratories Pvt. Ltd.
Colourfastness Testing Series

Representative
picture
of
denim
garment.





Case
study
2

Case
study
2



A
white
garment
which
was
treated
with
optical
brightener
agent
was
observed
to
turn
yellow

when
displayed
in
store
at
portions.
This
can
take
place
if
pH
is
not
controlled
during
OBA

treatment
and
no
subsequent
rinsing
is
done.



ution:


Caution:
Caution:



It
is
advisable
to
wear
safety
glasses
in
laboratory
as
ozone
is
sensory
irritant
and
test
chamber

should
be
ventilated
to
the
outside
atmosphere.

Colour
fastness
to
Ozone




































4