ISO 11641:2025 – Required Testing Instruments

ISO 11641:2025, “Leather – Tests for colour fastness – Colour fastness to perspiration”, specifies a laboratory method to evaluate how leather colours resist exposure to human perspiration. The method simulates alkaline and optionally acid perspiration conditions, measuring both colour change of leather and staining of adjacent fabrics. It applies to all leather types at all stages of processing, particularly gloving, clothing, lining leathers, and unlined shoe uppers.

Test Principle

Leather specimens are wetted with artificial perspiration, pressed against adjacent fabrics under controlled pressure and temperature, and dried. Colour change and staining are then assessed visually (grey scales) or instrumentally (spectrophotometer/colorimeter).

Specimen Preparation

(1) Leather specimens can be tested with finish intact or with finish broken.

(2) Cut to appropriate dimensions per ISO 2418.

(3) Use adjacent fabrics: multifibre (ISO 105-F10) or specified single-fibre fabrics (ISO 105-F01–F07).

(4) Condition all specimens under standard laboratory conditions (ISO 2419).

Required Instruments

(1) Perspiration Solution Preparation Equipment – Balance (0.001 g accuracy), volumetric flasks, and stirring apparatus for preparing alkaline (pH 8.0 ± 0.1) or acid (pH 5.5 ± 0.1) perspiration solutions.

(2) Test Assembly Frame – Stainless steel frame to hold leather and adjacent fabric in uniform contact.

(3) Weight-Piece / Pressure Device – Approx. 5 kg weight to apply uniform pressure of 12.5 ± 1.0 kPa.

(4) Oven / Temperature-Controlled Chamber – Maintains 37 °C ± 2 °C for drying after immersion.

(5) Press Knife – For specimen preparation in a single cut.

(6) Spectrophotometer or Colorimeter – Optional, for instrumental evaluation of colour change (ISO 105-A04/A05).

(7) Grey Scales – ISO 105-A02/A03, for visual assessment of colour change and staining.

(8) Glassware & Consumables – Beakers, trays, pipettes, and gloves for safe handling of perspiration solutions.

Test Procedure

(1) Immerse or wet leather specimens with artificial perspiration.

(2) Place specimens against adjacent fabrics in the test frame.

(3) Apply uniform pressure using the weight-piece for the required duration.

(4) Dry specimens at 37 °C ± 2 °C.

(5) Evaluate colour change and staining using grey scales or instruments.

(6) Record all relevant data including specimen ID, conditioning, and deviations from the standard.

Applications & Users

(1) Leather Manufacturers – Validate colour stability under realistic wear conditions.

(2) Footwear & Glove Producers – Ensure performance of leather in direct contact with skin.

(3) Textile/Leather Testing Laboratories – Perform standardized, repeatable testing.

(4) R&D Teams – Evaluate new tanning, finishing, or coating methods.

(5) Quality Assurance & Compliance Officers – Verify supplier materials, batch consistency, and product safety.

Related Standards

(1) ISO 7906 – General principles of colour fastness testing for leather.

(2) ISO 2418 – Specimen preparation.

(3) ISO 105 Series – Grey scales, staining, and adjacent fabric specifications (A02, A03, A04, A05, E04, F01–F10).

(4) ISO 3696 – Laboratory water quality for solution preparation.

Qinsun Instruments is a professional instrument equipment manufacturer, offering a one-stop solution for all your leather testing needs. Contact us today to explore complete testing setups for ISO 11641:2025 and ensure accurate, reproducible assessment of leather colour fastness to perspiration.

2026-01-06 17:21