scope:

Purpose and Scope

This test method is designed to measure the degree of color migration that occurs when a fabric is spotted with a drycleaning solvent.

Previous versions of this test method were based on perchloroethylene (often referred to as tetrachloroethene). However, due to environmental, health and safety issues related to perchloroethylene, drycleaner associations and test method organizations have been reviewing, evaluating, and approving alternatives.

The present recognized alternatives for cleaning of textile fabrics and garments by organizations include hydrocarbon solvents, dibutoxymethane, decamethylpentacyclosiloxane, and simulated wetcleaning. These solvent alternatives will be referred to as "solvent of choice." (see 11.2)

For users of this test method with perchloroethylene to evaluate the degree of color migration of disperse dyes, these proposed alternatives (see 1.3 and 5.5) are noticeably less effective. At this time, only acetone was found to be comparable to perchloroethylene for disperse dye migration.

During this period of transition away from perchloroethylene, brands, wet processors of dyed and finished fabrics, and testing laboratories should mutually agree on the "Solvent of Choice" to use when evaluating for solvent spotting of textile products using this test method.