Abstract: A densified web of cellulose fibers has a high absorbent capacity and good wet strength. The web is produced by combining cellulose fibers with a bonding agent, activating the bonding agent, allowing it to contact the cellulose fibers, and thereafter deactivating the bonding agent. The web is thereafter compressed in a cooled state to form a densified web. The web exhibits an absorbent capacity superior to that of prior densified and bonded webs.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for preparing a quantity of individual treated fibers from one or more fiber mats. The apparatus comprises a fiber treatment zone, and a conveyor for conveying each mat through the fiber treatment zone. In the treatment zone each mat is impregnated by an applicator with a treatment material, such as a crosslinking substance, and conveyed directly to an attrition device. The attrition device fiberizes the mats to form a fiber output having a low nit level, such as no more than about three, and a dryer both dries the fiber output and cures the crosslinking substance. The fiberizer is configured to minimize the accumulation of fiber at locations therein. Fiber is transported from the attrition device to the dryer at a high velocity under reduced pressure to promote drying. A heated retention bin is provided after drying to increase curing time in the system. A thermobonding agent may be added to the dried and cured fibers to enhance the wet strength of webs made from the fiber.

Abstract: A new and improved, highly absorbent, nonwoven web material that exhibits a cytotoxicity level of zero is provided for use as a disposable medical towel and the like. The web material possesses a unique combination of physical properties, such as absorbent holding capacity equal to or greater than present commercially available products, rapid rewettability, high wet tensile strength, high delamination resistance and superior wet abrasion resistance. This unique material includes a water laid nonwoven base web saturated with an inherently hydrophobic latex binder containing up to 2 percent by weight of a polyol surfactant.

Abstract: Improved infusion web material for tea bags and the like is provided by using synthetic pulp in the heat seal phase and forming therein an array of a large number of small discrete craters. These craters, which exhibit an average planar area of at least about 1.times.10.sup.-3 square centimeters, are formed prior to drying the initially formed multi-phase material by directing a low impact mist-like liquid spray onto the heat seal phase. The droplets from the spray displace the fibers to form the shallow craters and, at times, expose portions of the underlying non-heat seal fiber phase. The small craters are present throughout the heat seal phase at a concentration of at least about 40 per square centimeter and occupy about 10-75 percent of the total exposed surface area of the heat seal fiber phase of the material. The web also is treated with a surfactant.

Abstract: Fibrous casing paper is treated with viscose, a polyamide-epihalohydrin resin and cationic polyethylene imine resin to provide a synergistic improvement in the alkaline wet tensile strength while maintaining satisfactory viscose absorbency.