Dimethylol Dihydroxyethylene Urea
What is it?
Dimethylol dihydroxyetheylene urea is a chemical used in textile finishes for "wash and wear" colored and white fabrics. It is also used as a finish in permanent press fabrics to prevent wrinkling and shrinking.
How do I avoid it?
You should avoid contact with this substance, including the fabric types listed below. Unfortunately, fabrics typically do not have labels indicating the ingredients used to “finish” them. Direct communication with the fabric manufacturer may be helpful in determining if a particular fabric was treated with this chemical. At work, request a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to help identify potential sources of exposure.
Uses:
- Formaldehyde type of textile resin
- Permanent press clothing
- “Wash and wear” colored and white fabrics
- Draperies and sheeting
- Fabrics - rayon, blended cotton, corduroy, synthetic blended polymer, and wrinkle-resistant 100% cotton
- Fix reactive dyes to polyester blended fabrics
Other names for Dimethylol dihydroxyethylene urea:
- DMDHELL
- N,N-Dimethylol Dihydroxy Ethylene Urea
- Dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea
- Dimethylol dihydroxyethylene urea (modified)
- 2-imidazolidinone, 4,5-dihydroxy-1 ,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)-
- 4,5-Dihydroxy-1,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2¬imidazolidinone
- 5-25-02-00369 (Beilstein Handbook Reference)
- Dimethylolglyoxalurea
- DMDHEU
- N,N’-Dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea
- N,N’-Dimethylolglyoxal monoureine
- Fixapret CPN
- Monoureine
Potential cross-reacting/co-reacting substances:
- Other formaldehyde releasers
- Formaldehyde
- Quaternium-15
- Imidazolidinyl
- Diazolidinyl
- 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 3-diol (bronopol)
