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ISBN 978-0-626-24036-3
SANS 11166:2010
Edition 3

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Textiles — Colour fastness to domestic

washing procedures

Published by SABS Standards Division

1 Dr Lategan Road Groenkloof Private Bag X191 Pretoria 0001
Tel: +27 12 428 7911 Fax: +27 12 344 1568
www.sabs.co.za
© SABS

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SANS 11166:2010
Edition 3

Table of changes
Change No. Date Scope

Foreword

This South African standard was approved by National Committee SABS SC 38A, Textile test
methods – Coloured textiles & colorants, in accordance with procedures of the SABS Standards
Division, in compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement.

This document was published in July 2010.

This document supersedes SANS 11166:2006 (edition 2.4).

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SANS 11166:2010
Edition 3

Contents
Page

Foreword

1 Scope ................................................................................................................................... 3

2 Normative references ........................................................................................................... 3

3 Principle ................................................................................................................................ 4

4 Apparatus ............................................................................................................................. 4

5 Reagents and materials ....................................................................................................... 4

6 Preparation of test specimen ............................................................................................... 6

7 Procedure ............................................................................................................................. 7

8 Evaluation ............................................................................................................................. 7

9 Test report ............................................................................................................................ 8

Annex A (informative) Nominal percentage composition for IEC non-phosphate reference

detergent A with optical brightener ............................................................................................ 9

Annex B (informative) Nominal percentage composition for IEC phosphate reference

detergent B with optical brightener ............................................................................................ 10

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SANS 11166:2010
Edition 3

This page is intentionally left blank

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SANS 11166:2010
Edition 3

Textiles — Colour fastness to domestic washing procedures

1 Scope
This standard specifies a method of determining the resistance of the colour of textiles of all kinds
and in all forms to domestic washing procedures. Six domestic washing procedures are described.

The method described is intended to determine the effect of washing only on the colour fastness of
a textile. It is not intended to reflect the result of a comprehensive laundering procedure.

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies. Information on currently valid national
and international standards can be obtained from the SABS Standards Division.

ISO 105-A04, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part A04: Method for the instrumental
assessment of the degree of staining of adjacent fabrics.

ISO 105-A05, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part A05: Instrumental assessment of change in
colour for determination of grey scale rating.

SANS 105-A01/ISO 105-A01, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part A01: General principles of
testing.

SANS 105-A02/ISO 105-A02, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part A02: Grey scale for
assessing change in colour.

SANS 105-A03/ISO 105-A03, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part A03: Grey scale for
assessing staining.

SANS 105-C10/ISO 105-C10, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part C10: Colour fastness to
washing with soap or soap and soda.

SANS 105-F01/ISO 105-F01, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part F01: Specification for wool
adjacent fabric.

SANS 105-F02/ISO 105-F02, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part F02: Specification for
cotton and viscose adjacent fabrics.

SANS 105-F03/ISO 105-F03, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part F03: Specification for
polyamide adjacent fabric.

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SANS 11166:2010
Edition 3

SANS 105-F04/ISO 105-F04, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part F04: Specification for
polyester adjacent fabric.

SANS 105-F05/ISO 105-F05, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part F05: Specification for
acrylic adjacent fabric.

SANS 105-F06/ISO 105-F06, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part F06: Specification for silk
adjacent fabric.

SANS 105-F07/ISO 105-F07, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part F07: Specification for
secondary acetate adjacent fabric.

SANS 105-F10/ISO 105-F10, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part F10: Specification for
adjacent fabric: Multifibre.

SANS 105-J01/ISO 105-J01, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part J01: General principles for
measurement of surface colour.

SANS 105-J03/ISO 105-J03, Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part J03: Calculation of colour
differences.

SANS 651, Low-foam laundry detergent (for use in automatic and non-automatic domestic washing
machines).

SANS 3696/ISO 3696, Water for analytical laboratory use - Specification and test methods.

3 Principle
A specimen of the textile in contact with one or two specified adjacent fabrics is mechanically
agitated under specified conditions of time and temperature in a specified detergent, then rinsed
and dried. The change in colour of the specimen and the staining of the adjacent fabric, or fabrics,
are assessed with reference to the original fabric, either visually or instrumentally.

4 Apparatus

4.1 Balance, accurate to ± 0,01 g.

4.2 Suitable mechanical washing device, as specified in SANS 105-C10.

4.3 Means of heating the soap solution, such as a hot plate.

4.4 Non-corrodible (stainless ) steel balls, approximately 6 mm in diameter.

4.5 Suitable fluorescence suppressor kit, that contains a clear glass filter and a suppressor
glass filter.

5 Reagents and materials

5.1 Grade 3 water, that complies with SANS 3696.

5.2 Detergent solution, that contains, dissolved in each litre of grade 3 water (see 5.1), 5 g of one of
the reference detergents listed in 5.2.1 to 5.2.3 (inclusive), as agreed upon between interested parties
and stated in the test report (see 9(c)).

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SANS 11166:2010
Edition 3

5.2.1 IEC1) Non-phosphate reference detergent A with optical brightener (see annex A).

5.2.2 IEC phosphate reference detergent B with optical brightener (see annex B).

5.2.3 Commercial detergent, that complies with the requirements of SANS 651.

5.3 Adjacent fabrics (see SANS 105-A01), either 5.3.1 or 5.3.2, as agreed upon and stated in the
test report (see 9(d)).

NOTE Where no agreement is reached between the interested parties, a multifibre adjacent fabric should be
used.

Either:

5.3.1 Multifibre adjacent fabric, that complies with SANS 105-F10, type DW or type TV, in
accordance with table 1 and of size approximately 100 mm × 40 mm for fabrics and 100 mm × 50
mm for yarn.
Table 1 — Washing procedures and type of multifibre adjacent fabric

1 2 3 4 5
Number of Type of
Washing procedure Temperature Time
steel balls adjacent fabric
°C min

A1 a
30 ± 2 30 – DW
A 40 ± 2 30 – DW
B 50 ± 2 45 – DW
C 60 ± 2 30 – TV
b

D 95 ± 2 30 10 TV
E 95 ± 2 240 10 TV
a
To simulate a cold wash.
b
If so specified in the relevant product specification or agreed upon between interested parties, use
type DW adjacent fabric.

Or:

5.3.2 Two single-fibre adjacent fabrics, that comply with SANS 105-F01, SANS 105-F02,
SANS 105-F03, SANS 105-F04, SANS 105-F05, SANS 105-F06 or SANS 105-F07, and of size
approximately 100 mm × 40 mm for fabric and 100 mm × 50 mm for yarn or fibres. The first adjacent
fabric shall be of the same fibre as that of the textile to be tested, or as that predominating in the
case of blends. The second adjacent fabric shall be of the fibre indicated in table 2, or, in the case
of blends, of the fibre second in order of predominance, or as otherwise specified.

1) International Electrotechnical Commission www.iec.ch

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SANS 11166:2010
Edition 3

Table 2 — Pairs of single adjacent fabrics

1 2 3

Washing procedure Type of adjacent fabric

(see table 1 for details
of washing procedures) If the first piece is: The second piece to be:

A, A1, B and C cotton wool

wool cotton
silk cotton

linen cotton
viscose wool
acetate viscose

polyamide wool or viscose

polyester wool or cotton
acrylic wool or cotton
D and E cotton viscose
linen cotton or viscose
viscose cotton

polyamide cotton or viscose

polyester cotton or viscose
acrylic cotton or viscose

5.4 Non-staining polypropylene fabric

5.5 International grey scales, for assessing change in colour and staining (see SANS 105-A02
and SANS 105-A03), or a spectrophotometer for assessing change in colour and staining (see
ISO 105-A04, ISO 105-A05, SANS 105-J01 and SANS 105-J03).

6 Preparation of test specimen

6.1 General

6.1.1 Use sewing thread that is not dyed and free from fluorescent brightening agents.

6.1.2 Prepare a composite test specimen in accordance with 6.2 or 6.3, as applicable.

6.2 Composite specimen using a multifibre adjacent fabric

6.2.1 If the test specimen is fabric, place it with its face in contact with the multifibre adjacent fabric
(see 5.3.1) and sew along one short side.

6.2.2 When testing unions in which one fibre predominates on one side of the test specimen and
another fibre predominates on the other side, prepare two composite specimens so that each side is in
contact with the multifibre adjacent fabric.

6.2.3 In the case of multicoloured or printed fabrics, prepare sufficient composite test specimens to
ensure that the face side of all the different colours are in contact with the multifibre adjacent fabric.

6.2.4 If the test specimen is yarn, weigh an amount approximately equal to that of the mass of the
multifibre adjacent fabric, spread it evenly over the multifibre adjacent fabric and lay it at right angles to
the individual strips.

Cover with a non-staining polypropylene fabric (see 5.4) and stitch along all four sides.

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SANS 11166:2010
Edition 3

6.3 Composite specimen using two single-fibre adjacent fabrics

6.3.1 If the test specimen is fabric, place it between the two single-fibre adjacent fabrics (see 5.3.2)
and sew along one short side.

6.3.2 When testing unions in which one fibre predominates on one side of the test specimen and
another fibre predominates on the other side, prepare two composite specimens so that the face side is
in contact with each adjacent fabric.

6.3.3 In the case of multicoloured or printed fabrics, prepare sufficient composite test specimens to
ensure that the face side of all the different colours are in contact with each adjacent fabric.

6.3.4 If the test specimen is yarn, weigh an amount approximately equal to one-half of that of the
combined mass of the adjacent fabrics, spread it evenly over one adjacent fabric, cover it with the other
adjacent fabric and stitch along all four sides.

7 Procedure
7.1 Use the appropriate washing procedure given in table 1, as specified in the relevant product
specification or as agreed upon, and stated in the test report (see 9(e)).

7.2 Weigh (see 4.1) the composite test specimen. Place the composite test specimen in a container of
the washing device (see 4.2), together with enough detergent solution (see 5.2), preheated (see 4.3) to
the required temperature (see table 1), to give a liquor ratio of 50:1 (50 mL detergent solution per 1 g of
composite test specimen).

In the case of procedure D or procedure E, add the required number of steel balls (see 4.4 and table 1).

7.3 Operate the washing device at the required temperature for the required time (see table 1).

7.4 Remove the composite test specimen, rinse it well in cold grade 3 water (see 5.1) and then in cold,
running tap water for 10 min and squeeze out the excess water.

Separate the test piece from the adjacent fabric(s) and allow them to dry, separately, at a temperature
not exceeding 60 ºC.

8 Evaluation
8.1 Using the principles of colour fastness assessment described in SANS 105-A01, assess the
change in colour of the tested specimen and the staining of the adjacent fabrics, with reference to
the original, either visually or instrumentally (see 5.5). Use the suppressor glass filter of the
fluorescence suppressor kit (see 4.5) in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

8.2 Unless the assessment of the staining of each fibre type in the multifibre adjacent fabric is
required in terms of the relevant product specification or is agreed upon between the interested
parties, assess the staining of those fibre types in the multifibre adjacent fabric that are appropriate
to the fibre composition of the test specimen, as given in table 3.

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SANS 11166:2010
Edition 3

Table 3 — Assessment of staining of multifibre adjacent fabric

1 2 3 4 5
Fibre Multifibre strip to be assessed
composition of Type DW Type TV
test specimen
First Second First Second
Cotton Cotton Wool Cotton Viscose
Wool Wool Cotton Cotton Viscose
Silk Wool Cotton Cotton Viscose

Linen Cotton Wool Cotton Viscose

Viscose Wool Cotton Viscose Cotton
Acetate Diacetate Cotton Triacetate Cotton or viscose

Polyamide Polyamide Wool Polyamide Cotton or viscose

Polyester Polyester Wool or cotton Polyester Cotton or viscose
Acrylic Acrylic Wool or cotton Acrylic Cotton or viscose

9 Test report
State the following in the test report:

a) that the test was carried out strictly in accordance with this standard or whether any deviation was
introduced;

b) all details necessary for the identification of the specimen tested;

c) the type of detergent used (see 5.2);

d) the type of adjacent fabrics used (see 5.3);

e) the washing procedure used (see 7.1);

f) the numerical rating or instrumental assessment for the change in colour of the test specimen
(see 8.1);

g) in the case of single-fibre adjacent fabrics: the numerical rating or instrumental assessment for the
staining of each adjacent fabric (see 8.1); and

h) in the case of multifibre adjacent fabric: the numerical rating or instrumental assessment for the
staining of each fibre type or the selected fibre types required (see 8.2).

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SANS 11166:2010
Edition 3

Annex A
(informative)

Nominal percentage composition for IEC

non-phosphate reference detergent A with optical brightener

The nominal percentage composition for the IEC non-phosphate reference detergent A with optical
brightener2) is given in table A.1.

Table A.1 — Nominal percentage composition for IEC

non-phosphate reference detergent A with optical brightener

1 2

Mass fraction
Composition
%

Linear sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate (mean alkane chain length C11.5) 9,7 ± 0,02
Ethoxylated fatty alcohol C12-18 (7 EO units) 5,2 ± 0,02
Sodium soap, chain length C12-17 46% : C18-20 54% 3,6 ± 0,02
Foam inhibitor concentrate 8% on inorganic carrier 6,5 ± 0,02
Sodium aluminium silicate (Zeolite 4A) 32,5 ± 0,02
Sodium carbonate 11,8 ± 0,02
Sodium salt of copolymer from acrylic and maleic acid 5,2 ± 0,02
Sodium silicate (SiO2:Na2O = 3.3 : 1) 3,4 ± 0,02
Carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) 1,3 ± 0,02
Diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) 0,8 ± 0,02
Optical brightener (stilbene type) 0,3 ± 0,02
Sodium sulfate 7,5 ± 0,02
Moisture 12,2 ± 0,02
Total 100,00

2) Supplied by James H.Heal & Co. Ltd, Halifax, England, (http://www.james-heal.co.uk) and commercially
available from their South African agent, Dutest Agencies, PO Box 84, Milnerton, 7435 Western Cape.
Tel: +27 12 552 5665 E-Mail: dutest@icon.co.za .

© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
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copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

SANS 11166:2010
Edition 3

Annex B
(informative)

Nominal percentage composition for IEC

phosphate reference detergent B with optical brightener

The nominal percentage composition for IEC phosphate reference detergent B with optical
brightener 3) is given in table B.1.

Table B.1 — Nominal percentage composition for IEC

phosphate reference detergent with optical brightener

1 2

Mass fraction
Composition
%

Linear sodium alkylbenzenesulfonate (mean length of alkane chain C11,5) 8,0 ± 0,02
Ethoxylated tallow alcohol (14 EO) 2,9 ± 0,02
Sodium soap (chain length C12 – 22) 3,5 ± 0,02
Sodium tripolyphosphate 43,7 ± 0,02
Sodium silicate (SiO2/Na2O = 3,3/1) 7,5 ± 0,02
Magnesium silicate 1,9 ± 0,02
Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) 1,2 ± 0,02
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), tetrasodium salt 0,2 ± 0,02
Sodium sulfate (anhydrous) 21,0 ± 0,02
Optical brightener of cotton (dimorpholinostilbene type) 0,2 ± 0,02
Moisture 9,9 ± 0,02
Total 100,00

©SABS

3) Supplied by James H.Heal & Co. Ltd, Halifax, England, (http://www.james-heal.co.uk) and commercially
available from their South African agent, Dutest Agencies, PO Box 84, Milnerton, 7435 Western Cape.
Tel: +27 12 552 5665 E-Mail: dutest@icon.co.za .

10

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