AATC C  Technical Manual/2011
TM 129-2010205
Developed in 1962 by AATCC Commit-tee RA33; editorially revised 1973,1974, 1981, 1989, 1997, 2008; revised 1972, 1975, 1985, 2005; reaffirmed 1990, 2001; editorially revised and re-affirmed 1996, 2010. Partly equivalent to ISO 105-G03.
1. Purpose and Scope
1.1 This test method is used for deter-mining the resistance of the color of tex-tiles to the action of ozone in the atmo-sphere at elevated temperatures with relative humidities above 85%.
2. Principle
2.1 A test specimen and a swatch of control sample are simultaneously ex-posed to ozone in an atmosphere which is maintained at 87.5 ± 2.5% RH and a tem-perature of 40 ± 1°C (104 ± 2°F) until the control sample shows a color change cor-responding to that of a standard of fading.The cycles are repeated until the speci-men shows a definite color change or for a prescribed number of cycles.2.2 On certain fibers, dye fading does not readily take place at humidities below 85%. Testing at high humidities i
s re-quired to produce color change that pre-dicts service fading under warm, humid conditions (see 11.1).
3. Terminology 3.1 colorfastness, n.—the resistance of a material to change in any of its color characteristics, to transfer of its color-ant(s) to adjacent materials or both, as a result of the exposure of the material to any environment that might be encoun-tered during the processing, testing, stor-age or use of the material.
4. Safety Precautions
NOTE: These safety precautions are for information purposes only. The pre-cautions are ancillary to the testing proce-dures and are not intended to be all inclu-sive. It is the user’s responsibility to use safe and proper techniques in handling materials in this test method. Manufac-turers MUST be consulted for specific details such as material safety data sheets and other manufacturer’s recommenda-tions. All OHSA standards and rules must also be consulted and followed.4.1 Good laboratory practices should be followed. Wear safety glasses in all laboratory areas.  4.2 Ozone is a sensory irritant. The test cabinet should be ventilated to the out-side atmosphere in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.4.3 Exposure to chemicals used in this procedure must be controlled at
or below levels set by governmental authorities (e.g., Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s [OSHA] permissible ex-posure limits [PEL] as found in 29 CFR 1910.1000; see web site: v for latest version). In addition, the Ameri-can Conference of Governmental Indus-trial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit V alues (TLVs) comprised of time weighted averages (TLV-TWA), short term exposure limits (TLV-STEL) and ceiling limits (TLV-C) are recommended as a general guide for air contaminant ex-posure which should be met (see 11.2).5. Apparatus and Materials (see 11.3)5.1 Ozone Chamber for elevated tem-peratures and relative humidities above 85% (see 11.4).5.2 Control Sample No. 129 for high humidities (see 11.5, 11.7 and 11.8).5.3 Standard of Fading No. 129 for high humidities (see 11.6, 11.7 and 11.8).5.4 Gray Scale for Color Change (see 11.7).6. Test Specimens
6.1 Cut each test specimen at least 100× 60 mm (4.25 × 2.375 in.). For subse-quent color comparison, the unexposed sample should be kept in an airtight con-tainer away from light to avoid further shade change.6.2 When a laundered or drycleaned specimen is used, base the effects of ozone exposure on comparisons with the color of the laundered or drycleaned swatch. In the preparation of specimens for testing after laundering or dryclean-ing, use AATCC Methods 61, Colorfast-ness to Laundering: Accelerated, and 132, Colorfastness to Drycleaning.
7. Procedure 7.1 Suspend test and control specimens (see 11.5 and 11.7) in the exposure cham-ber (s
ee 11.4) which is maintained at 87.5± 2.5% RH and a temperature of 40 ± 1°C (104 ± 2°F). Ozone concentrations must range from 10-35 pphm which should produce one cycle of fading in 3-28 h of test.7.2 Examine the control specimen peri-odically until the resulting color corre-sponds to that of the standard of fading (see 11.6 and 11.7) when compared in daylight ranging from average to slightly bluish north sky light, or equivalent artifi-cial light. This constitutes one cycle (see 11.9).7.3 Remove those specimens which exhibit a color change at the end of one cycle. One cycle will generally produce a measurable color change in specimens which are ozone sensitive.7.4 Suspend a fresh control specimen and continue exposure of any remaining specimens for a second cycle.7.5 Run additional similar cycles as necessary.
8. Evaluation 8.1 At the end of each cycle immedi-ately compare those specimens which are removed from the exposure chamber with the preserved original from which they were drawn.8.2 Rate the effect on color of test specimens after any specified number of cycles by reference to the Gray Scale for Color Change (AATCC Evaluation Pro-cedure 1) or using AATCC Evaluation Procedure 7, Instrumental Assessment of the Change in Color of a Test Specimen,and record the numerical rating that cor-responds to the appropriate one on the Gray Scale. Report the number of cycles run (see 11.10 and 11.11).
9. Report 9.1 Report the numerical rating for the change in color of the test specimen, the number of cycles run and the temperature and relative humidity at which the test was performed.10. Precision and Bias 10.1 Precision for this test method has not been established. Until a precision statement is generated for this test method, use standard statistical tech-niques in making any comparisons of test results for either within-laboratory  or between-laboratory  averages.11. Notes 11.1 At high humidities, the fading of dyes by ozone on small fibers (such as nylon) is al-tered greatly by relatively small variations in relative humidity. Therefore, to achieve repro-ducibility and good interlaboratory correlation in test results, temperature and relative humid-AATCC Test Method 129-2010
Colorfastness to Ozone in the Atmosphere under High Humidities Copyright © 2010 American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
206TM 129-2010
AATC C  Technical Manual/2011ity must be closely controlled.11.2 Available from Publications Office,ACGIH, Kemper Woods Center, 1330Kemper Meadow Dr., Cincinnati OH 45240;tel: 513/742-2020; web site: 11.3 For potential equipment information pertaining to this test method, please visit the online AATCC Buyer’s Guide  at /bg. AATCC provides the pos-sibilixposed
ty of listing equipment and materials sold by its Corporate members, but AATCC does not qualify, or in any way approve, endorse or certify that any of the listed equipment or materials meets the requirements in its test methods.11.4 The ozone exposure chamber for ele-vated temperatures and relative humidities above 85% can be of variable construction as long as it meets the conditions of 87.5 ± 2.5%RH, 40 ± 1°C (104 ± 2°F) temperature and contains an ozone concentration in the range of 10-35 pphm.11.4.1 Blueprints of a suitable apparatus are available from AATCC, P.O. Box 12215,Research Triangle Park NC 27709; tel: 919/549-8141; fax: 919/549-8933; e-mail: ; web site: 11.4.2 For information regarding the mea-surement of ozone concentration, see the following references:Schulze, Fernand, “Versatile Combination Ozone and Sulfur Dioxide Analyzer,” Analyti-cal Chemistry , V ol. 38, 748-752, May 1966.“Selected Methods of the Measurement of Air Pollutants,” Public Health Service Publi-cation No. 999-AP-11, May 1965. Office of Technical Information and Publication (OTIP), Springfield V A, PB167-677.11.5 The control sample for tests made at elevated temperatures and relative humidities above 85% is a tertiary shade, avocado, pre-pared by dyeing a Y-cross-section nylon 6 un-autoclaved knitted sleeve with the following formula: 0.15% C.I. Disperse Red 4, 0.63%C.I. Disperse Yellow 3 and 0.25% C.I. Disperse Blue 3 based on the weight of the fabric.11.6 The standard of fading for tests made at elevated temperatures and relative humidi-ties above 85% is a dyeing of the same Y-cross-section nylon 6 unau
toclaved knitted sleeve with the following formula: 0.557%C.I. Acid Yellow 79, 0.081% C.I. Acid Red 361 and 0.102% C.I. Acid Blue 277.11.7 Available from AATCC, P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park NC 27709;tel:919/549-8141; fax: 919/549-8933; e-mail:; web site: 11.8 Caution: Both the control sample and the standard of fading must be kept in airtight containers to prevent color change encoun-tered in normal atmospheres. The control fab-ric is also sensitive to other atmospheric contaminants such as oxides of nitrogen. Its fading rate will vary considerably at different humidities and temperatures and its use in nat-ural or end-use testing as a measure of expo-sure to ozone is not recommended. The color change produced on the control will reflect the combined effects of the atmospheric contami-nants present, and temperature, humidity vari-ations and not just the effects of exposure to ozone.11.9 An alternative method of determining one cycle of fade is to terminate the exposure cycle when the Control Sleeve 129 exhibits a color change of 22.5 ± 1.4 CIELAB units for Lot No. 10 (see 11.10).11.10 Make colorimetric or spectrophoto-metric measurement of Control Sleeve 129with the specular component included. Calcu-late colorimetric data using the CIE 1964 10°observer data for Illuminant D 65. The color difference shall be expressed in CIELAB units.11.11 An automated electronic grading sys-tem may be used as long as the system has been demonstrated to provide results that are equal to and provide equal or better repeatabil-ity and reproducibility than an experienced grader performing visual evaluation.Copyright © 2010 American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists