Individualized, polycarboxylic acid crosslinked fibers
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Cellulose Company
InventorsCarlisle M. Herron, David J. Cooper
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Abstract
Disclosed are individualized, crosslinked fibers, and process for making such fibers. The individualized, crosslinked fibers have a C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent reacted with the fibers in the form of intrafiber crosslink bonds. Preferably, the crosslinking agent is citric acid, and preferably, between about 0.5 mole % and about 10.0 mole % of the crosslinking agent reacts to form the intrafiber crosslink bonds. The individualized, crosslinked fibers are useful in a variety of absorbent structure applications.
Claims13
Individualized, crosslinked wood pulp cellulosic fibers, said fibers comprising cellulosic fibers in substantially individual form having an effective amount of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent reacted with said fibers in intrafiber ester crosslink bond form, wherein said crosslinked fibers have a water retention value of from about 28 to about 60, and wherein said C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of:
- (a) aliphatic and alicyclic C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acids either olefinically saturated or unsaturated and having at least three carboxyl groups per molecule;
- and
- (b) aliphatic and alicyclic C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acids having two carboxyl groups per molecule and having a carbon-carbon double bond located alpha, beta to one or both of the carboxyl groups,
- wherein one carboxyl group in said C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent is separated from a second carboxyl group by either two or three carbon atoms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.