MEASUREMENT OF FORMALDEHYDE TRANSPORT USING THE DYNAMIC CHAMBER TEST

The amount of formaldehyde transported from durable press treated cott on printcloth to unfinished cotton was studied using the dynamic chamb er test which measures formaldehyde in air. Fabrics finished with two levels of DMDHEU catalyzed with magnesium chloride/citric acid were ex amined. Transport was under static or dynamic conditions. Formaldehyde measurements from the dynamic chamber test were compared to those obt ained from two other formaldehyde tests-the AATCC Sealed Jar test and the steady state test. Results showed that formaldehyde transport had occurred under both static and real-time transport conditions. The cha mber test assayed the low amounts of formaldehyde transported to untre ated cotton fabric and registered a reduction of formaldehyde emission from the treated fabric specimen. Similar transport differences were measurable in the sealed jar and steady state tests.