Aminoplast resin crosslinking agents and nitroalkanol used to treat cellulose

A composition adapted to treating textiles and non-woven cellulosic products comprising a mixture of a curable urea-aldehyde resin and from 0.25 to 3.0 moles of a nitroalkanol per mole of urea, said nitroalkanol being represented by the formula ##STR4## where R and R.sup.1 are hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or hydroxymethyl and can be the same or different.

A composition comprising a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of ethylene urea, carbamate, and triazone, and from 0.18 to 1.42 parts per part of agent of a nitroalkanol of the formula ##STR5## where R and R.sup.1 are hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or hydroxymethyl, and can be the same or different, or a mixture thereof.

Improved particle board comprising cellulose particles and fibers and a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of ethylene urea, carbamate, triazone, and curable urea-formaldehyde resin, wherein the cellulose particles and fibers are impregnated with a composition comprising the crosslinking agent and from 0.18 to 1.42 parts per part of the agent of a nitroalkanol of the formula ##STR6## where R and R.sup.1 are hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or hydroxymethyl and can be the same or different.