High-wet-bulk cellulosic fibers

• US 6,551,706 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2000
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyerhauser)
• Original Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyerhauser)
• Inventors: Westland, John A., Jewell, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS, NEWTON
• Application Number:
  US09/690,136
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 428/375, 428/393, 428/364, 811/61
• US Class Current: 428/393
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/123 Polyaldehydes; Polyketones
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/207 Substituted carboxylic acids, e.g. by hydroxy or keto groups; Anhydrides, halides or salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/423 Amino-aldehyde resins
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2101/06 cellulosic
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2200/00 Functionality of the treatment composition and/or properties imparted to the textile material
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 11/20 Chemically or biochemically modified fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 17/06 Alcohols; Phenols; Ethers; Aldehydes; Ketones; Acetals; Ketals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249924 Noninterengaged fiber-containing paper-free web or sheet which is not of specified porosity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2915 including textile, cloth or fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2933 Coated or with bond, impregnation or core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2965 Cellulosic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2484 Coating or impregnation is water absorbency-increasing or hydrophilicity-increasing or hydrophilicity-imparting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/277 Coated or impregnated cellulosic fiber fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/696 Including strand or fiber material which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous compositions, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention provides cellulosic fibers having high wet bulk and methods for their preparation. In one embodiment, the invention provides cellulosic fibers catalytically crosslinked with glyoxal and, optionally, a glycol. In another embodiment, cellulosic fibers are crosslinked with a combination of glyoxal and a glyoxal-derived resin selected from the group consisting of a glyoxal/polyol condensate, a cyclic urea/glyoxal/polyol condensate, a cyclic urea/glyoxal condensate, and mixtures thereof.

Claims

1. Individualized, crosslinked fluff pulp cellulosic fibers comprising cellulosic fibers treated with an amount of glyoxal and a crosslinking catalyst effective to provide individual crosslinked fluff pulp cellulosic fibers having a wet bulk greater than about 20 cc/g under a load of 0.6 kPa.

2. The fibers of claim 1, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of an aluminum salt of a strong inorganic acid, a water-soluble α

-hydroxy carboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof.

3. The fibers of claim 2, wherein the aluminum salt of a strong inorganic acid comprises aluminum sulfate.

4. The fibers of claim 2, wherein the water-soluble α

-hydroxy carboxylic acid comprises citric acid.

5. The fibers of claim 1, wherein the amount of glyoxal is from about 3 to about 6 percent by weight based on the total weight of fibers.

6. Individualized, crosslinked fluff pulp cellulosic fibers comprising cellulosic fibers treated with an amount of glyoxal, a glycol, and a crosslinking catalyst effective to provide individual crosslinked fluff pulp cellulosic fibers having a wet bulk greater than about 20 cc/g under a load of 0.6 kPa.

7. The fibers of claim 6, wherein the glycol is propylene glycol.

8. The fibers of claim 6, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of an aluminum salt of a strong inorganic acid, a water-soluble α

-hydroxy carboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof.

9. The fibers of claim 8, wherein the aluminum salt of a strong inorganic acid comprises aluminum sulfate.

10. The fibers of claim 8, wherein the water-soluble α

-hydroxy carboxylic acid comprises citric acid.

11. The fibers of claim 6, wherein the amount of glyoxal is from about 3 to about 6 percent by weight based on the total weight of fibers.