Abstract: Hydrogen bonding between cellulosic fibriles can be improved in an air-laid process by injecting ammonia or organo-amine catalysts and steam into the cellulosic fibrile mass after such fibers have been reduced to fibrile form and prior to their dispersion in air to form a fibrous mat. Prior to and subsequent to the injection of the catalytic bearing steam, the fibers may be combined with other paper forming material, resins, additives and processed in an air-laid paper making process to form a felted fibrous product with a minimal amount of water content and with acceptable strength and density. Suitable catalysts include gaseous ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, or the organo-amines such as triethanol amine, methyl amine, ethyl amine, cyclohexyl amine, or aniline and the homologous series derivatives thereof.