Particle binders for high bulk fibers

A method of producing individualized high bulk fibers with adhered particles comprising:

• providing individualized cellulose fibers that have hydrogen bonding functional sites, wherein the individualized fibers are cured in the presence of a crosslinking material at an elevated temperature to produce cured high bulk fibers with intrafiber covalent crosslinks while leaving hydrogen bonding functional sites available on the cured fibers for hydrogen bonding, and the fibers are fiberized to reduce intrafiber bonding between the cured fibers;
• adding particles to the fibers after the fibers are cured, wherein the particles have a hydrogen bonding or a coordinate covalent bonding functionality;
• applying a binder to the fibers after the fibers are cured or fiberized, the binder having a volatility less than water, the binder also having a functional group that forms a hydrogen bond or coordinate covalent bond with the particles, and a functional group that forms a hydrogen bond with the fibers;
• and
• activating the binder by applying an activating liquid to the fibers in a pattern that corresponds to a desired distribution of particles in the fibers, wherein the particles are then bound to the binder by hydrogen bonds or coordinate covalent bonds, with the binder that binds the particle in turn being bound to the fibers by a hydrogen bond.