Light Fastness Standards - TNG1039

The TNG1039 is designed to evaluate the light fastness of textiles by simulating exposure to sunlight using a xenon lamp. The instrument exposes specimens along with a set of AATCC blue wool standards (L2-L9) in a prescribed arrangement. A portion of the specimen and standards is covered with an opaque material in a specified proportion, and the samples are exposed under controlled conditions. Exposure continues until the color difference between the exposed and unexposed parts matches a specific level on the AATCC color gray card or the blue wool standards reach a defined discoloration level. After exposure, the samples are placed in the dark for 4 hours before evaluation. The TNG1039 supports ISO 105-B02:2014 Methods 3 & 4 and GB/T 8427 Method 3 and 4. It features a specimen holder with a 200 x 280 mm exposure area, a microprocessor controller with an LCD display for data and irradiance wavelength curve, and dimensions of 800 mm (length) x 500 mm (width) x 470 mm (height). The instrument is suitable for testing a range of textile materials, including cotton, woven, and knitted fabrics.

Testing Principle

Colorfastness to light is the firmness degree to which the color of textiles is under the exposition of sunlight or simulated sunlight. The test of color fastness to light: arrange the sample with a set of blue wool standards samples (8 pieces) in a prescribed manner at first. Then cover a part of the specimen and the blue standard sample with an opaque covering in the prescribed proportion.

Expose the samples under specified conditions such as not being exposed to rain, etc. When the color difference between the exposed and unexposed parts of the sample is equal to a certain level of the discoloration gray card, or the color change of the specified blue standard sample is equivalent to a certain level of the discoloration gray card, stop the sun exposure. Finally, remove the cover, and place the sample and the blue standard sample in the dark for 4H. Then we can evaluate the colorfastness level of the textile with the specified light source.

• Record the use time of the xenon lamp.
• Specimen table with 200 x 280 mm exposure area.
• Setting and displaying the cumulate light energy and exposure time.
• Microprocessor control with large LCD displays data and irradiance wave-length curve.
• Air-cooled xenon lamp with 1.5 KW measure, irradiance (420 nm): 1.1 W/m²/nm.
• Measure and control the temperature relative humidity of the test chamber, and display it on a large LCD.
• Length: 800 mm
• Width: 500 mm
• Height: 470 mm
• ISO 105-B02: 2014 Methods 3 & 4
• GB/T 8427 Method 3 and 4

Colorfastness to light is the firmness degree to which the color of textiles is under the exposition of sunlight or simulated sunlight. The test of color fastness to light: arrange the sample with a set of blue wool standards samples (8 pieces) in a prescribed manner at first. Then cover a part of the specimen and the blue standard sample with an opaque covering in the prescribed proportion. Expose the samples under specified conditions such as not being exposed to rain, etc.

The factors affecting the sunlight fastness of the material 1 the structure of dyes Generally speaking, anthraquinone dyes and phthalocyanine dyes have relatively strong sunlight fastness. Besides, most insoluble azo dyes also have higher sun fastness while aniline-typed azo has weak sun fastness. And triarylmethane is not sun resistant. 2 the type of fiber There is also a great difference between the same dye but made of diverse fibers. For example, indigo in wool can be resistant to sunlight while the sunlight fastness on cellulose is very low. 3 the dye concentration The sun fastness of the same dye in the same variety of fibers will change with changes in dye concentration. Generally speaking, the dye with low concentration has a higher fastness than that with low concentration, especially for the azo dyes.