| abstract |
A process for preparation of crosslinked cellulosic products containing at least 30 wt. % cellulosic fibers and the polyanhydride crosslinked cellulosic products resulting therefrom wherein a cellulosic material is treated with an aqueous solution of a polycarboxylic acid formed by hydrolysis of a polyanhydride of the structurewhich comprises the reaction product of trimellitic anhydride and a diol in the mole ratio of from about 2.0:0.9 to about 2.0:1.1, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylene and cycloalkylene moieties of up to 12 carbon atoms and ethylene oxide and propylene oxide moieties of molecular weight up to about 6000, wherein said cellulosic material is impregnated with an aqueous solution of said polyanhydride, dried, and heated to a temperature of from about 120° C. to about 200° C. at ambient pressure to obtain crosslinking of the cellulose fibers with the said polyanhydride by an ester bond between the hydroxyl groups of the cellulosic fibers and the anhydride groups of the anhydride. Fibrous cellulosic products are readily repulped paper with improved wet strength, pulp fluff with improved wet resilience, wood oriented strand board with improved moisture resistance, and textile products with improved durable press and reduced shrink characteristics. |