Absorbent member exhibiting exceptional expansion properties when wetted

An absorbent member having a high absorbent capacity and exhibiting exceptional expansion properties when wetted by an aqueous fluid, said absorbent member consisting of a multitude of randomly oriented chemi-thermo-mechanical cellulosic fibers having an average length of from between about 1 mm to 5 mm, said fibers formed from softwood and containing at least about 20% lignin within said fibers, said absorbent member having a moisture content of from between about 1% to about 20% water by weight of fiber and having a density of from between about 0.5 g/cc to about 1 g/cc, and said fibers being compacted and bonded by hydrogen bonds and retained in an elastically stressed condition, said hydrogen bonds being breakable upon contact with an aqueous fluid thereby allowing rapid expansion of said absorbent member.

An absorbent member having a high absorbent capacity and exhibiting exceptional expansion properties when wetted by an aqueous fluid, said absorbent member consisting of a multitude of randomly oriented stiff chemi-thermo-mechanical cellulosic fibers having an average length of from between about 1 mm to about 5 mm, said fibers formed from softwood and containing at least about 20% lignin within said fibers, said absorbent member having a moisture content of from between about 2% to about 15% water by weight of fiber and having a density of from between about 0.5 g/cc to about 0.8 g/cc, and said fibers being compacted and bonded by hydrogen bonds and retained in an elastically stressed condition, said hydrogen bonds being breakable upon contact with an aqueous fluid thereby allowing rapid expansion of said absorbent member.

An absorbent member having a high absorbent capacity and exhibiting exceptional expansion properties when wetted by an aqueous fluid, said absorbent member consisting of a multitude of randomly oriented chemi-thermo-mechanical cellulosic fibers having an average length of from between about 1 mm to about 5 mm and containing at least about 20% lignin within said cellulosic fibers, said absorbent member having a moisture content of from between about 5% to about 15% water by weight of fiber and having a density of from between about 0.5 g/cc to about 0.8 g/cc, and said fibers being compacted and bonded by hydrogen bonds and retained in an elastically stressed condition, said hydrogen bonds being breakable upon contact with an aqueous fluid thereby allowing rapid expansion of said absorbent member.