Method of binding binder treated particles to fibers

A method of binding particles to wood pulp fibers with a binder, comprising the steps of:

• providing fibrous material comprising a wood pulp fiber having a hydrogen bonding functionality;
• providing particles different in composition from the fiber and having a hydrogen bonding or a coordinate covalent bond forming functionality;
• selecting a non-polymeric organic binder, or non-reactive combinations thereof, the binder comprising binder molecules, the binder molecules having at least one functional group capable of forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles, and at least one functional group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the fiber,
• wherein the non-polymeric organic binder has a volatility less than water;
• spraying the binder on the particles as the particles are being combined with the fiber, the binder being sprayed in sufficient amounts to bind the particles to the fiber by forming hydrogen or coordinate covalent bonds between the binder and the particles and hydrogen bonds between the binder and the fiber;
• and
• binding the particles to the fiber at a temperature less than 100° C. by forming hydrogen or coordinate covalent bonds between the binder and the particles and forming hydrogen bonds between the binder and the fiber.

A method of binding particles to wood pulp fibers with a binder, comprising the steps of:

• providing fibrous material comprising a wood pulp fiber having a hydrogen bonding functionality;
• providing particles different in composition from the fiber and having a hydrogen bonding or a coordinate covalent bond forming functionality;
• selecting a non-polymeric organic binder, or non-reactive combinations thereof, the binder comprising binder molecules, the binder molecules having at least one functional group capable of forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles, and at least one functional group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the fiber,
• wherein the non-polymeric organic binder is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, a glycerin monoester, a glycerin diester, glyoxal, ascorbic acid, lactic acid, urea, glycine, pentaerythritol, a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, taurine, dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, a urea derivative, and combinations thereof;
• combining the particles with sufficient amounts of the binder to at least partially coat the particles with the binder in an amount ranging from 0.03 to 5 percent by weight based on the particles and introducing the combined particles and binder to the fiber to bind the particles to the fiber at a temperature below 100° C. by forming hydrogen or coordinate covalent bonds between the binder and the particles and hydrogen bonds between the binder and the fiber.

A method of binding superabsorbent particles to wood pulp fibers with a binder comprising the steps of:

• providing superabsorbent particles;
• exposing the superabsorbent particles, in the substantial absence of wood pulp fibers, to a sufficient amount of a binder comprising propylene glycol to at least partially coat the superabsorbent particles with propylene glycol in an amount ranging from 0.03 to 5 percent by weight based on the superabsorbent particles;
• and
• after said exposing step, providing wood pulp fibers and contacting the at least partially coated superabsorbent particles with the fibers and binding the at least partially coated superabsorbent particles to the fibers.

A method of binding superabsorbent particles to wood pulp fibers with a hinder comprising the step of:

• providing superabsorbent particles,
• exposing the superabsorbent particles, in the substantial absence of wood pulp fibers, to a sufficient amount of a binder comprising trimethylene glycol to at least partially coat the superabsorbent particles with trimethylene glycol in an amount ranging from 0.03 to 5 percent by weight based on the superabsorbent particles;
• and
• after said exposing step, providing wood pulp fibers and contacting the at least partially coated superabsorbent particles with the fibers and binding the at least partially coated superabsorbent particles to the fibers.

A method of binding superabsorbent particles to wood pulp fibers with a binder comprising the steps of:

• providing superabsorbent particles;
• exposing the superabsorbent particles, in the substantial absence of wood pulp fibers, to a sufficient amount of a binder comprising ethylene glycol to at least partially coat the superabsorbent particles with ethylene glycol in an amount ranging from 0.03 to 5 percent by weight based on the superabsorbent particles;
• and
• after said exposing step, providing wood pulp fibers and contacting the at least partially coated superabsorbent particles with the fibers and binding the at least partially coated superabsorbent particles to the fibers.

A method of binding superabsorbent particles to wood pulp fibers with a binder comprising the steps of:

• providing superabsorbent particles;
• exposing the superabsorbent particles, in the substantial absence of wood pulp fibers, to sufficient amount of a binder comprising dipropylene glycol to at least partially coat the superabsorbent particles with dipropylene glycol in an amount ranging from 0.03 to 5 percent by weight based on the superabsorbent particles;
• and
• after said exposing step, providing wood pulp fibers and contacting the at least partially coated superabsorbent particles with the fibers and binding the at least partially coated superabsorbent particles to the fibers.

A method of binding superabsorbent particles to wood pulp fibers with a binder comprising the steps of:

• providing superabsorbent particles;
• exposing the superabsorbent particles, in the substantial absence of wood pulp fibers, to a sufficient amount of a binder comprising butylene glycol to at least partially coat the superabsorbent particles with butylene glycol in an amount ranging from 0.03 to 5 percent by weight based on the superabsorbent particles;
• and
• after said exposing step, providing wood pulp fibers and contacting the at least partially coated superabsorbent particles with the fibers and binding the at least partially coated superabsorbent particles to the fibers.