Abstract: A formaldehyde-free curable composition useful for binding nonwovens comprises(a) a polyacid comprising at least two carboxylic acid groups, anhydride groups, or salts of the polyacid thereof;(b) an active hydrogen compound containing at least two active hydrogen groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, primary amino, secondary amino, and mixtures thereof; and(c) one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of cyanamide, dicyandiamide, 1,2-mono- or di-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl) substituted-3-cyanoguanidines such as ethyl-3-cyanoguanidine, 1,2-diethyl-3-cyanoguanidine, and 1,2-diisopropyl-3-cyanoguanidine, and 1,2-mono- or di-(C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 aryl) substituted-3-cyanoguanidines, such as phenyl-dicyandiamide; and, optionally(d) an accelerator;wherein the ratio of the number of equivalents of said carboxylic acid groups, anhydride groups, or salts thereof to the number of equivalents of said active hydrogen groups is from 1/0.