The invention relates to fibrous structures having desirable physical properties, such as good tensile strength, low stiffness and high bulk, manufactured using a fiber furnish comprising cellulosic fibers having a pH of 5.0 or less and at least one strength resin. Not only do structures prepared with acidic fibers have desirable physical properties, they may also be manufactured in an energy efficient manner. To achieve the greatest energy savings it is generally desirable that acidic fibers not be subjected to mechanical treatment, such as by refining, prior to forming the fiber into a fibrous structure. Further, it may be desirable to subject the remainder of the fiber furnish to a minimal degree of mechanical treatment, such as by refining, so as to produce a furnish having a freeness greater than about 550 mL.

A process comprising treating a lignocellulosic material preferably pulp in the presence of a transition metal catalyst with a oxidizing agent selected from a group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid and any combination thereof to form a treated lignocellulosic material having a viscosity equal to or less than about 17 cp and having reducing functional groups selected from the group consisting of aldehyde and aldehyde type functional groups at the C6 and C1 positions but predominating at the C1 position.

A process comprising treating a lignocellulosic material preferably pulp in the presence of a transition metal catalyst with a oxidizing agent selected from a group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid and any combination thereof to form a treated lignocellulosic material having a viscosity equal to or less than about 17 cp and having reducing functional groups selected from the group consisting of aldehyde and aldehyde type functional groups at the C6 and C1 positions but predominating at the C1 position.

The invention relates to an agent, in particular a flame retarding agent and/or a fire retarding agent, for reducing the combustibility and flammability of various materials or matters, e.g. like wood and wood products, textiles, paper, cardboard, fibers and fabrics, paints, including composites and/or composite materials therewith, the manufacture of the composition and methods of using the agent and/or the corresponding combination of its constituents to reduce combustibility and flammability. An exemplary composition in dry form (powder) for 1 l of aqueous solvent, in particular for 1 l of water, contains borax in an amount of 30 to 70 wt.-%, boric acid of 30 to 70 wt.-%, sodium chloride (NaCl) in a maximum amount of less than 5 wt.-%, and, if desired, urea in an amount up to 5 g; based in each case on the composition as 100 wt.-%. However, the compositions are preferably free from urea.

The invention relates to an agent, in particular a flame retarding agent and/or a fire retarding agent, for reducing the combustibility and flammability of various materials or matters, e.g. like wood and wood products, textiles, paper, cardboard, fibers and fabrics, paints, including composites and/or composite materials therewith, the manufacture of the composition and methods of using the agent and/or the corresponding combination of its constituents to reduce combustibility and flammability. An exemplary composition in dry form (powder) for 1 l of aqueous solvent, in particular for 1 l of water, contains borax in an amount of 30 to 70 wt.-%, boric acid of 30 to 70 wt.-%, sodium chloride (NaCl) in a maximum amount of less than 5 wt.-%, and, if desired, urea in an amount up to 5 g; based in each case on the composition as 100 wt.-%. However, the compositions are preferably free from urea.

A method of forming an aqueous solution comprising mircrofibrillated cellulose, the method comprising the steps of providing a substantially dry composite material, comprising microfibrillated cellulose and a filler material, wherein said filler material is precipitated onto fibers or fibrils of said microfibrillated cellulose; providing an aqueous media, wherein the method further comprises the step of lowering the pH value of said aqueous media and then mixing said aqueous media with said substantially dry composite material, such that the filler material is released from said microfibrillated cellulose, thus dissolving said microfibrillated cellulose; or the step of mixing said aqueous media with said substantially dry composite material, and then lowering the pH of said mixture, such that the filler material is released from said microfibrillated cellulose, thus releasing said microfibrillated cellulose.

A method of forming an aqueous solution comprising mircrofibrillated cellulose, the method comprising the steps of providing a substantially dry composite material, comprising microfibrillated cellulose and a filler material, wherein said filler material is precipitated onto fibers or fibrils of said microfibrillated cellulose; providing an aqueous media, wherein the method further comprises the step of lowering the pH value of said aqueous media and then mixing said aqueous media with said substantially dry composite material, such that the filler material is released from said microfibrillated cellulose, thus dissolving said microfibrillated cellulose; or the step of mixing said aqueous media with said substantially dry composite material, and then lowering the pH of said mixture, such that the filler material is released from said microfibrillated cellulose, thus releasing said microfibrillated cellulose.

A process comprising treating a lignocellulosic material preferably pulp in the presence of a transition metal catalyst with a oxidizing agent selected from a group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid and any combination thereof to form a treated lignocellulosic material having a viscosity equal to or less than about 17 cp and having reducing functional groups selected from the group consisting of aldehyde and aldehyde type functional groups at the C6 and C1 positions but predominating at the C1 position.

A process comprising treating a lignocellulosic material preferably pulp in the presence of a transition metal catalyst with a oxidizing agent selected from a group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid and any combination thereof to form a treated lignocellulosic material having a viscosity equal to or less than about 17 cp and having reducing functional groups selected from the group consisting of aldehyde and aldehyde type functional groups at the C6 and C1 positions but predominating at the C1 position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrafine cellulose fiber-containing sheet that is excellent in terms of weather resistance. The present invention relates to a sheet comprising cellulose fibers having a fiber width of 1000 nm or less, wherein the cellulose fibers have anionic functional groups, and the YI increase percentage calculated according to the following equation is 1500% or less.

YI increase percentage (%)=(yellowness of the sheet after heatingyellowness of the sheet before heating)/yellowness of the sheet before heating100, wherein

the yellowness of the sheet after heating is a yellowness measured in accordance with JIS K 7373, after the sheet is subjected to hot pressing at 180 C. at 0.5 MPa for 1 minute, whereas the yellowness of the sheet before heating is a yellowness measured in accordance with JIS K 7373, before the sheet is subjected to the hot pressing.