Overview
ISO/TR 12116:2008 - Textiles: Methods of simulating colour change during actual wear by means of laboratory colour‑fastness tests - is an informative Technical Report that describes four laboratory methods to reproduce the colour changes textiles undergo in real use. The report targets different wearing models and provides practical test sequences combining rubbing, perspiration, light/weathering, washing and wet‑scrubbing to simulate fading and staining observed during wear.
Key topics and requirements
- Four wear models / methods
- Method 1: sports clothing (rubbing/perspiration + light/perspiration + washing)
- Method 2: smocks and outdoor shirt‑like garments (light/perspiration + washing)
- Method 3: indoor clothing and underwear (rubbing/perspiration + modified perspiration + washing)
- Method 4: military uniforms (artificial weathering + washing + wet‑scrubbing)
- Test principle: specimens are exposed to one or more cycles that combine relevant laboratory colour‑fastness tests to simulate in‑use influences (washing, light, weathering, perspiration, rubbing).
- Specimen preparation: orientation relative to warp/weft is specified; example specimen sizes are given (e.g., 40 mm × 200 mm for methods 1 and 3; size matched to xenon lamp holder for method 2).
- Assessment: colour change and staining are evaluated by comparison with grey scales and blue wool references (xenon arc exposure continued until reference reaches a target contrast).
- Practical test elements: use of xenon‑arc exposure (ISO 105-B02/B04), composite specimens for washing (ISO 105‑C10), perspiration solutions (ISO 105‑E04), rubbing procedure (ISO 105‑X12), and wet‑scrubbing (ISO 105‑C07).
- Scope and limitations: ISO/TR 12116 is an informative Technical Report (not a normative standard). It documents relationships between laboratory simulation and actual wear but notes that many factors influence in‑use colour change and that lab tests approximate, not exactly reproduce, performance.
Applications and users
- Textile and apparel manufacturers aiming to predict in‑use colour behaviour for:
- sportswear, outdoor shirts, indoor garments, underwear, and military uniforms
- Independent textile test laboratories and quality assurance teams performing colour‑fastness evaluations
- Product developers and R&D teams optimizing dyes, prints and fabric constructions for improved colour retention
- Procurement and compliance personnel specifying acceptance criteria for colour change in contracts and product specifications
Related standards
Normative references cited in ISO/TR 12116 include:
- ISO 105‑B02 / B04 - xenon arc light/artificial weathering tests
- ISO 105‑C07 - wet scrubbing of pigment‑printed textiles
- ISO 105‑C10 - washing with soap or soap and soda
- ISO 105‑E04 - perspiration tests
- ISO 105‑X12 - rubbing (crocking) tests
ISO/TR 12116 is useful when you need a practical, end‑use oriented approach to simulating colour change and integrating multiple colour‑fastness tests for realistic wear simulation.