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.