| abstract |
Tampon gauze includes crosslinked cellulose fibers having microstructures that have been treated to provide improved absorbency and higher wet strength. The fibers are treated with a crosslinker to provide at least one of a molecular weight between the crosslinks of about 10 to 200 and a degree of crystallinity of about 25% to 75%. The crosslinker comprises 1% by weight citric acid. The crosslinker may further comprise 1% by weight sodium hypophosphite. In another embodiment, the crosslinker can be a bifunctional agent comprising glyoxal or glyoxal-derived resin. In yet another embodiment, the crosslinker is a multifunctional agent comprising cyclic urea, glyoxal, polyol condensates. The crosslinker is added in an amount of about 0.001 to 20% by weight, preferably in an amount of about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the cellulose fibers to be treated. |