EN ISO 11643:2009 PDF

Overview - EN ISO 11643:2009 (Leather colour fastness to solvents)

EN ISO 11643:2009 specifies a laboratory method to determine the colour fastness of small leather samples to solvents. It is intended for unused, uncleaned leather samples only - not for composite materials or complete garments - and evaluates how leather dyes and finishes respond to common dry‑cleaning solvents. The method can reveal colour change, staining of adjacent fabrics and damage to surface finishes. Absorbed water in leather, fabric or solvent is not considered critical to the assessment.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Test principle: Agitation of a composite specimen (leather + adjacent multifibre fabric) with PTFE rods in a solvent solution, squeezing, drying and visual/instrumental assessment of colour change and staining.
• Solvents allowed:
  • Perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene - “per”)
  • Petroleum hydrocarbon (boiling point 182–200 °C)
  • Other country‑specific dry‑cleaning solvents (must be reported)
• Optional additives: Triolein (glycerol trioleate) at 30 g/l for re‑oiling simulation; detergent addition is optional for some applications (Annex A).
• Apparatus & conditions:
  • Agitator rotation: 40 r/min ± 5 r/min at 30 °C ± 2 °C
  • Container: ~500 ml glass or stainless steel, closed with solvent‑resistant gasket
  • PTFE rods: 20 pieces, ~7–9 mm diameter, 20 mm ± 2 mm length
  • Solvent volume per test: 100 ml ± 5 ml; agitation time: 30 min
  • Post‑treatment compression: 4.5 kg for 1 min; air‑dry at ambient temperature
• Assessment: Visual grey scales ISO 105‑A02 (change in colour) and ISO 105‑A03 (staining) or instrumental methods ISO 105‑A05 and ISO 105‑A04. Adjacent multifibre fabric conforming to ISO 105‑F10 is used.
• Safety note: Many solvents are toxic - use adequate ventilation and skin protection.

Applications - who uses EN ISO 11643:2009

• Leather technologists and quality control laboratories assessing solvent resistance of leather dyes and finishes.
• Footwear, upholstery and leather goods manufacturers validating material behaviour under dry‑cleaning or spot‑cleaning scenarios.
• Chemical suppliers and formulators evaluating the impact of solvents, re‑oiling agents (triolein) or detergents on leather colour and finish.
• Test houses issuing compliance reports for procurement, product specifications and supplier qualification.

Related standards

• ISO 105‑A02 - Grey scale for change in colour
• ISO 105‑A03 - Grey scale for staining
• ISO 105‑A04 / A05 - Instrumental assessments of staining and colour change
• ISO 105‑F10 - Multifibre adjacent fabric specification

EN ISO 11643:2009 is essential for accurate, repeatable testing of leather colour fastness to solvents and for making informed decisions about cleaning, formulation and material selection.