Understanding AATCC Standards 3 and 61 and Washing Color Fastness Testers

Washing color fastness, simply put, is a textile's ability to retain its color during washing processes (including hand washing, machine washing, and commercial laundering) without fading or migrating onto other fabrics. It is one of the core indicators for assessing textile quality, directly impacting the durability, safety, and aesthetics of garments—particularly for infant and children's clothing and intimate apparel. Inadequate colorfastness may cause dye migration to the skin, potentially leading to allergies and other issues.

AATCC is the globally recognized benchmark for colorfastness testing in the textile industry. Among its standards, AATCC 3 and AATCC 61 are core tests specifically for wash fastness, each corresponding to different washing scenarios and levels of rigor.

AATCC 3 is positioned as a chlorine bleach fastness test method, primarily evaluating textile colorfastness under chlorine bleach washing conditions. It is commonly applied in scenarios requiring frequent disinfection and bleaching, such as hospital textiles, hotel linens, and poolside apparel.

Test Principle: Textile samples are sewn to one or two specified standard backing fabrics. They are immersed in a solution of soap or a mixture of soap and anhydrous sodium carbonate, mechanically agitated at specified temperatures and durations, then washed and dried. Evaluation focuses on sample discoloration and staining on the backing fabric.

The testing process consists of three main steps: First, adjust the effective chlorine content and pH of the sodium hypochlorite solution using a buffer agent to meet standard requirements. Next, wet the sample, remove excess moisture, and place it in a sealed container filled with the corresponding concentration of chlorine bleach solution. Finally, place the container in a dedicated washing machine, agitate at the specified temperature, rinse and dry after testing, then compare the color change before and after testing.

Result Evaluation: After testing, visually grade the color change (fading degree) of the sample and the dye transfer to adjacent fabrics using AATCC colorfastness and color transfer gray scales. Grades range from 1 to 5, with 5 being optimal (minimal fading/dye transfer) and 1 being poor (severe fading/dye transfer).

While AATCC 3 addresses specific chlorine bleaching scenarios, AATCC 61 serves as the core standard for everyday wash fastness. Its full title is "AATCC TM 61-2013E(2020) Wash Fastness: Accelerated Method." It primarily simulates the color stability of textiles after multiple household or commercial washes, making it one of the most commonly used colorfastness testing standards for apparel, home textiles, and similar products.

Test Principle: Through accelerated testing, it simulates the effects of five typical hand washes or home machine washes to rapidly evaluate a textile's colorfastness under everyday washing conditions—including detergent exposure, mechanical friction, and temperature changes. This determines whether fading or color transfer occurs, providing a basis for product quality control.

Result Evaluation & Application Scenarios: Consistent with AATCC Standard 3, AATCC 61 employs a 1-5 grading system based on color change observed on the test specimen and color transfer to the background fabric when compared against a gray scale. Notably, premium textiles demand higher AATCC 61 standards—e.g., athletic apparel and automotive interior fabrics typically require colorfastness of Grade 3 or higher, with some high-end categories demanding Grade 4 or above.

This colorFastness Tester is suitable for assessing washing, dry cleaning, and shrinkage colorfastness of various textiles, as well as evaluating dye washing fastness performance.

The instrument primarily consists of a motor drive unit, rotating shaft, test chamber, water inlet/outlet ports, and a color touchscreen. The rotating bearing holds multiple stainless steel containers with a capacity of approximately 550±50 milliliters. The entire shaft/container assembly rotates at 40±2 revolutions per minute.

This laboratory equipment for colorfastness testing is designed to meet standards such as ISO, BS, AATCC, JIS, and SDC. Both the housing and test cups of this automatic washing fastness tester are constructed from stainless steel, offering high-temperature resistance, acid/alkali resistance, and corrosion resistance.

The washing colorfastness tester incorporates a door safety switch to prevent burns or injuries.

It features automatic temperature and time control, with an alarm alerting upon test completion.

Test cup combination patterns can be customized per customer requirements.