
Copyright © 2022 American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
308 AATCC TM159-2017e AATCC Manual of International Test Methods and Procedures/2023
Developed in 1979 by AATCC Commit-
tee RA87; editorially revised and reaf-
firmed 1984, 1989 (title change), 1994,
1999; editorially revised 1985, 1987,
1997, 2004, 2010, 2019; reaffirmed
2006; revised 2011, 2017.
1. Purpose and Scope
1.1 This test method evaluates the
transfer of an acid (anionic) or premetal-
ized dye from a dyed to an undyed nylon
substrate under mock dyebath conditions.
A general method of dyeing acid dyes on
nylon is included for uniformity of dye-
ing procedure.
2. Principle
2.1 A test specimen of nylon fabric is
dyed to 1/1 standard depth with the dye to
be evaluated. Part of the dyed fabric to-
gether with an equal weight of undyed
fabric is subjected to transfer in a mock
dyebath.
2.2 Transfer is made at pH 4.5, 6.0 and
7.5, and at a temperature of 95°C.
3. Terminology
3.1 acid dye, n.—an anionic dye hav-
ing substantivity for fibers which contain
cationic groups usually in acidic or neu-
tral aqueous dyebaths.
3.2 premetallized acid dye, n.—an
acid dye manufactured by reacting an
equivalent of a suitable metal ion with
one equivalent of a dye (1:1 premetal-
lized acid dye), or with two equivalents
of the same or different dyes (1:2 premet-
allized acid dyes), capable of chelating
the metal.
3.3 transfer, n.—in textile processing,
testing, storage and use, movement of a
chemical, dye or pigment between fibers
within a substrate or between substrates
(see also migration, leveling).
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 OSHA standards and rules
must also be consulted and followed.
4.1 Good laboratory practices should
be followed. Wear safety glasses in all
laboratory areas and a single-use dust res-
pirator while handling powder dyes.
4.2 All chemicals should be handled
with care. Use chemical goggles or face
shield, impervious gloves and an imper-
vious apron when dispensing concen-
trated acids and sodium hydroxide.
4.3 An eyewash/safety shower should
be located nearby and an organic vapor
respirator with full facepiece should be
readily available for emergency use.
4.4 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: www.osha.gov
for latest version). In addition, the Ameri-
can Conference of Governmental Indus-
trial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold
Limit Values (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 9.1).
5. Apparatus and Materials
5.1 Dyed nylon.
5.2 Undyed nylon (from same piece as
dyed sample).
5.3 Nonionic surfactant.
5.4 Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3).
5.5 Phosphoric acid (usually 85%)
(H3PO4).
5.6 Acetic acid, glacial (CH3COOH).
5.7 Boric acid (H3BO3).
5.8 Sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
5.9 Acetic acid, 56% (CH3COOH).
5.10 EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraace-
tic acid, tetrasodium salt, 100% powder).
5.11 Means of evaluating color change
of specimen.
5.11.1 Gray Scale for Color Change
(AATCC EP1) (see 9.2), or
5.11.2 Spectrophotometer meeting any
one of the geometric definitions de-
scribed in CIE publication 15.2,
subclause 1.4 (see 9.3).
5.12 Means of evaluating color stain-
ing on specimen
5.12.1 Gray Scale for Staining
(AATCC EP2) (see 9.2), or
5.12.2 AATCC 9-Step Chromatic
Transference Scale (AATCC EP8) (see
9.2), or
5.12.3 Spectrophotometer meeting any
one of the geometric definitions de-
scribed in CIE publication 15.2,
subclause 1.4 (see 9.3).
6. Procedure
6.1 Fabric Preparation.
6.1.1 Scour undyed fabric in a bath
containing 1.5 g/L nonionic surfactant
(5.3) and 1.5 g/L sodium carbonate for 30
min at 50-60°C.
6.1.2 Rinse thoroughly in water.
6.1.3 Neutralize with acetic acid, 1
mL/L 56% acetic acid.
6.1.4 Final rinse in water.
6.1.5 Air dry.
6.2 Dyeing Procedure.
6.2.1 Set 30:1 bath at 38°C (100°F);
X.XX% dye; 0.25% EDTA sequestrant
(omit for neutral premetallized dyes; and
2.00% acetic acid [56%]).
6.2.2 Enter nylon substrate (cloth,
yarn, stock) at 38-48°C.
6.2.3 Raise temperature to boil at
1.5°C/min.
6.2.4 Dye at or near boil for 45 min.
6.2.5 If necessary, add an additional
1.0% acetic acid (56%) to exhaust dye.
6.2.6 Run an additional 15 min.
6.2.7 Rinse in hot 80-90°C water, then
in 38°C water.
6.2.8 Air dry.
6.3 Transfer Bath Preparation (see Ap-
pendix I).
6.3.1 Prepare 200 mL mock dyebaths
(one for each dye to be tested) for pH 4.5,
6.0 and 7.5 as described in Appendix I.
6.3.2 Add one 5 g piece of dyed fabric
and one 5 g piece of undyed fabric to
each mock dyebath; B/F = 20/1.
6.3.3 It has been shown that the degree
of agitation is a contributing factor affect-
ing the rate of diffusion of dyes into and
out of a substrate. Agitation should be the
same for all comparative experiments.
6.3.4 Raise temperature at 2°C/min to
95°C/min (5°F/min to 203°F/min) and
run with agitation for 50 min. Save the
bath (see 6.3.6).
6.3.5 Remove both pieces of fabric.
Rinse with water and air dry.
6.3.6 Measure pHs of part of the trans-
fer baths at room temperature and record
in the table attached.
6.3.7 Add a piece of undyed nylon to
the transfer bath and exhaust using the
conditions outlined in 6.3.4. Adjust pH to
4.5 to accomplish. Record pH in table.
7. Evaluation and Reporting
7.1 Comparison of Dyes at pH 4.5.
7.1.1 For best observations, samples
should be butted together on white board
as shown in Fig. 1.
7.1.2 Mount pH 6.0 and 7.5 samples
similarly.
AATCC TM159-2017e
Test Method for Transfer of Acid and Premetallized Acid Dyes on Nylon
Copyright The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
Provided by Accuris under license with AATCC
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