Overview
EN ISO 105‑E02:2013 - Textiles - Tests for colour fastness - Part E02: Colour fastness to sea water (ISO 105‑E02:2013) specifies a laboratory method to determine how resistant textile colours are to immersion in sea water. The standard describes specimen preparation, a controlled immersion in a sodium chloride solution, pressure‑contact testing between plates, drying, and visual or instrumental assessment of colour change and staining.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and principle: Applies to textiles of all kinds and in all forms; evaluates colour change and staining after sea‑water exposure.
- Test liquid: Sodium chloride solution (30 g/L) prepared using grade 3 water (ISO 3696).
- Specimen preparation:
- Composite specimens using either a multifibre adjacent fabric (ISO 105‑F10) or two single‑fibre adjacent fabrics (ISO 105‑F01–F06).
- Standard specimen size: (40 ± 2) mm × (100 ± 2) mm.
- Test device and conditions:
- Stainless steel frame with weight piece to apply nominal pressure (12.5 ± 0.9 kPa) between glass or acrylic plates.
- Oven drying at (37 ± 2) °C for 4 hours while under pressure.
- Assessment methods:
- Visual assessment with grey scales for change in colour (ISO 105‑A02) and staining (ISO 105‑A03).
- Instrumental assessment using spectrophotometer or colorimeter (ISO 105‑A04, ISO 105‑A05).
- Reporting: Requires reference to ISO 105‑E02:2013, sample identification, numerical grey scale and/or instrumental results, details of adjacent fabrics used, and any deviations from the procedure.
Practical applications
- Assessing performance of textiles intended for marine and coastal use, such as:
- Swimwear, wetsuits and beachwear
- Marine upholstery, boat covers and sails
- Outdoor technical textiles exposed to spray or immersion
- Textile products where salt‑water exposure may affect appearance or safety
- Useful in product development, quality control, supplier qualification and claims substantiation (e.g., “sea‑water resistant colour”).
Who uses this standard
- Textile and apparel manufacturers
- Independent testing laboratories and quality assurance teams
- Material specifiers, product designers and R&D departments
- Procurement and compliance officers evaluating suppliers for marine or outdoor applications
Related standards
- ISO 105‑A01, A02, A03, A04, A05 (general principles, grey scales, instrumental methods)
- ISO 105‑F01–F06, F10 (adjacent fabric specifications)
- ISO 3696 (water for analytical use)
- ISO 105‑J01, J03 (colour measurement references)
Keywords: colour fastness to sea water, ISO 105‑E02, textiles, colour fastness tests, multifibre adjacent fabric, sodium chloride solution, grey scale, spectrophotometer.