Alloy fibers of rayon and copolymers of acrylic and methacrylic acids

A staple cellulose fiber having improved absorbency for body fluids and improved carding characteristics and adapted to be used in making non-woven absorbent articles which are to be associated with the body for the absorption of body fluids, said fiber containing in admixture with cellulose from 2 to about 40% of an alkali metal or ammonium salt of a copolymer of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, based on the weight of the cellulose, the ratio of acrylic acid to methacrylic acid in the copolymer being from 90:10 to 10:90 by weight.

An article of manufacture comprising highly absorbent fibers having a matrix of regenerated cellulose and from 2 to about 40% of an alkali metal or ammonium salt of a copolymer of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid in physical mixture with the cellulose, the ratio of acrylic acid to methacrylic acid units in the copolymer being from 90:10 to 10:90 by weight.

A method for improving the absorbency and fluid retention of a regenerated cellulose fiber for body fluids which comprises mixing with a viscose solution from 2 to about 40%, based on the weight of cellulose in the solution, of an alkali metal salt or ammonium salt of a copolymer of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and spinning the mixture under conditions which avoid chemical reaction of the copolymer with the cellulose to form a fiber having an absorbency for body fluids which is greater than that of a fiber made from the same viscose solution without the copolymer.