| abstract |
Individualized, chemically crosslinked high-bulk cellulosic fibersncomprising cellulosic fibers chemically intra-fiber crosslinked with anpolycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent selected from the group consistingnof tartaric acid and malic acid and mixtures thereof optionally furtherncomprising the addition of one or more crosslinking agents selected fromnpoly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(maleic acid), polyn(methylvinylether-co-maleate) copolymer, poly(methylvinylether-co-itaconate)ncopolymer, citric acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, citraconicnacid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, tartrate monosuccinic acid and mixturesnthereof. A method of making individualized chemically intra-fiberncrosslinked high-bulk fibers comprises applying a polycarboxylic acidncrosslinking agent to a mat of cellulosic fibers and curing the crosslinkingnagent to form intra-fiber crosslinks. |