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AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Cellulose Company
InventorsWalter L. Dean, Danny R. Moore, James W. Owens, Howard L. Schoggen
Estimating the term…
Absorbent structures containing individualized, crosslinked fibers. The individualized, crosslinked fibers preferably have between about 0.5 mole % and about 3.5 mole % crosslinking agent, calculated on a cellulose anhydroglucose molar basis, reacted with the fibers in the form of intrafiber crosslink bonds, wherein the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialdehydes, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialdehyde acid analogues having at least one aldehyde functionality, and oligomers of such C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialdehydes and dialdehyde acid analogues. More preferably, the crosslinking agent is glutaraldehyde, and between about 0.75 mole % and about 2.5 mole % crosslinking agent react to form the intrafiber crosslink bonds. Also preferably, the absorbent structures have actual dry densities greater than their corresponding equilibrium wet densities, and expand upon wetting. The absorbent structures may also contain hydrogel-forming material.
An absorbent structure comprising individualized, twisted and curled, crosslinked cellulosic fibers having between about 0.5 mole % and about 3.5 mole % crosslinking agent, calculated on a cellulosic anhydroglucose molar basis, reacted with said fibers in an intrafiber crosslink bond form, wherein said crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialdehydes, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialdehyde acid analogues having at least one aldehyde group, and oligomers of said aldehyde and dialdehyde acid analogues, said fibers having been maintained in substantially individual form during drying and crosslinking, said fibers having a WRV of from about 25 to about 60, and said fibers having the property of enabling said absorbent structure to have a wet equilibrium density less than its dry density, said wet equilibrium density being calculated on a dry fiber basis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.