Hydrophilic cellulose product and method of its manufacture

Abstract

The present invention is a method of making a resilient hydrophilic cellulosic pulp particularly suitable for conversion into an absorbent fluff for products such as disposable diapers. The process involves treating a wet or partially dried cellulosic fiber web with an aqueous solution of a glycol and dialdehyde. Glyoxal and propylene glycol are preferred materials. These are desirable sprayed on a wet or only partially dried sheet at some convenient location on a conventional paper machine. This location is not critical, but a point about midway through the press section has given excellent results. The treated sheet is then dried conventionally. There is no need for the use of any catalysts or for a prolonged curing step at elevated temperatures. The products of the invention are characterized by a much increased absorbency rate and by a somewhat higher water holding capacity. The sheets also require less power for milling into a fibrous fluff. Knots or fiber clumps are reduced and there is no significant increase in fiber fines due to embrittlement of the treated pulp product. The invention further includes the products made using the present method.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.