Abstract: Absorbent paper products, such as towels, absorbent wipes, toilet tissue, facial tissue and the like fibrous webs of relatively high bulk, are produced by a method comprising the steps of treating hydrophilic cellulosie fibers to impart kinks, curls, bends, twists, to the fibers; dispersing the treated fibers in an aqueous forming medium, and wet-forming a stratified single-ply web constituted of at least one stratum of the treated fibers and at least one stratum of conventional paper-making fibers. The treating step may consist of wet or dry mechanical working, chemical treatment or a combination of mechanical and chemical treatments. The web forming step comprises preparing a first aqueous furnish of the treated fibers, preparing a second aqueous furnish of the conventional fibers, and concurrently depositing the two furnishes in contiguous layers on a moving foraminous support.

Abstract: Cellulosic fibers containing latex solids are recovered from latex bonded broke by agitation of the broke in an aqueous alkaline solution having an alkali metal hydroxide concentration of 0.5 to 1.5 mol percent for a period of time in the range of ten minutes to four hours. The resulting fibers containing cured latex solids may be added to conventional papermaking fibers in amounts as high as 10 to 15 percent by weight for the production of facial quality tissue to produce a high quality product web.

Abstract: Fibrous webs of improved bulk and softness are produced by subjecting hydrophilic papermaking fibers to mechanical deformation, e.g. hammermilling, sufficient to deform the fibers without substantial fiber breakage, dispersing the resulting curled or kinked fibers, preferably in admixture with conventional papermaking fibers, in an aqueous foam with minimal agitation and holding time and forming a wet laid web from the resulting fiber furnish.