Water-insoluble fibers of cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate and cellulose butyrate with an extremely high absorptive capacity for water and physiological liquids

Fiber insoluble in water and insoluble in 2-methoxyethanol, comprising cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate or cellulose butyrate, having an extremely high absorption capacity for water and physiological liquids, wherein said fiber exhibits:

• a. in the sequence as mentioned above, a degree of esterification of 0.1 to 1.5, 0.1 to 0.95 and 0.15 to 0.8;
• b. an average degree of polymerization of 300 to 700;
• c. a fiber strength in the conditioned state of 6 to 20 cN/tex;
• d. an elongation in the conditioned state of 6 to 20%;
• e. a water retentivity of 200 to 750%;
• and
• f. a wicking capacity for water of 8 to 18 cm/g of fiber.