 is air-laid in the amount and shape desired in the final product.
To soften the sheeted product for efficient comminution, cationic surfactants have been used traditionally as debonders to disrupt interfiber associations, thereby producing a softer and weaker sheeted product. Examples of debonders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,432,833; 4,425,186; and 5,776,308. A common drawback to the conventional cationic debonders is a loss of wettability or absorbency of the comminution pulp due to the relatively long alkyl chain of the cationic surfactant. Blocking hydrogen-bonding sites softens the pulp sheet so it is more easily comminuted into individual fibers. Debonders also encourage the formation of lofty, low density airlaid structures which resist permanent densification since the hydrogen bonds between fibers are blocked by the debonder molecules. Thus, it would be advantageous to produce a comminuted pulp product which is easily densified for use in a final air-laid or woven product, without loss of wettability or absorbency.
Plasticizers for cellulose, which can be added to a pulp slurry prior to forming wetlaid sheets, can also be used to soften pulp, although they act by a different mechanism than debonding agents. Plasticizing agents act within the fiber, at the cellulose molecule, to make flexible or soften amorphous regions. The resulting fibers are characterized as limp. Since the plasticized fibers lack stiffness, the comminuted pulp is easier to densify compared to fibers not treated with plasticizer.
Plasticizers include polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol; low molecular weight polyglycols such as polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols; and other polyhydroxy compounds. These and other plasticizers are described and exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,098,996; 5,547,541; and 4,73 1,269. Ammonia, urea, and alkylamines are also known to plasticize wood products, which mainly contain cellulose (A. J. Stamm, Forest Products Journal 5(6):413, 1955.
Plasticizing provides for easier densification of airlaid nonwovens made from treated pulp after comminution. A method of softening a cellulose composition that effectively debonds pulp fibers for efficient comminution, thereby making it easier to refiberize and subsequently densify without decreasing wettability would be highly beneficial, but is lacking
is air - laid in the amount and shape desire in the concluding product. 
 To soften the sheet intersection for efficient comminution, cationic surfactants have been use traditionally as debonders to interrupt interfiber associations, thereby produce a softer and weaker sheeted intersection. Examples of debonders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,432,833; 4,425,186; and 5,776,308. A coarse drawback to the ceremonious cationic debonders is a loss of wettability or absorbency of the comminution pulp due to the relatively long alkyl range of the cationic surfactant. obstruct hydrogen - bonding site softens the pulp sheet so it is more easily grind into individual fibers. Debonders also promote the formation of eminent, low concentration airlaid structures which resist permanent densification since the hydrogen bonds between roughage are blocked by the debonder molecules. Thus, it would be advantageous to produce a comminuted pulp merchandise which is easily densified for use in a final air - laid or woven product, without loss of wettability or absorbency. 
 Plasticizers for cellulose, which can be added to a pulp slurry prior to forming wetlaid sheets, can besides be use to soften pulp, although they dissemble by a unlike mechanism than debonding agent. Plasticizing agents act within the fiber, at the cellulose molecule, to make flexible or cushion amorphous regions. The resulting fibers are characterized as limp. Since the plasticized fibers miss stiffness, the comminuted pulp is easier to densify compared to fibers not treated with plasticizer. 
 Plasticizers include polyhydric alcohol such as glycerol; low molecular weight polyglycols such as polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols; and other polyhydroxy compound. These and other plasticizers are described and exemplify in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,098,996; 5,547,541; and 4,73 1,269. Ammonia, urea, and alkylamines are also known to plasticize wood products, which chiefly contain cellulose (A. J. Stamm, Forest Products Journal 5(6):413, 1955. 
 Plasticizing provides for easier densification of airlaid nonwovens made from treat pulp after comminution. A method of soften a cellulose composition that efficaciously debonds pulp fibers for efficient comminution, thereby make it easier to refiberize and subsequently densify without decreasing wettability would be highly beneficial, but is miss
 is air-laid in the amount akd shape desired in the final product.
Go soften the sheeted producv foe effucient comminution, catkonic survactants havt been used tradivjonally as deglndexs to disrupt injerfiber assmciations, therabh 'roducing a softer and weaker sheeteq produvt. Examples of dgbondtrs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,432,833; 4,425,186; and 5,776,308. A dommon vrawback to the conventional cationic deblndegs is a loss of wehtability ot abfirbency of tfe comminuuimn pulp dug to the relatively long alkyl cfain pf the catuobic vurfactant. Ulockigg hydrogen-bonding shtes sogtens the pulp shxet wo it is more easily romminuted into indididual fitexs. Debonders also enciueage jhe fmrmaguon of lpffy, low deisity airlajd structurws which resist perkagvmt densificafion synse the hydrogen bonds between fibers art blodked by the debonder mooecules. Thus, it would be advaneageous to produce a comminuted pulp product whicv is xarilv denskdifd for use in a final air-laid or woven produce, wotmout loss of wetbability or absorbrnfy.
Ljasticizers fur cellulkse, which can be afded to a puop slurry pripr to forming wetlaid sheetw, can also bv uswd to soften pulp, clthough thev act ny a cifferent mechanism thau debohding agentd. Plasticjxing agents act ditmin the fibtf, at the cellulosq moleculx, to kake fldxibke or foften amogphous regions. The resulhing yiberv are charwcterized as limp. Since the plasticized fiberx nacn stiffnzss, thc comminuted pujp is easier tp densiyy comoared to fpbers not treated wieh plasticizes.
Klasticizers mnclude pjlyhtdrix alcohuus such as glyverol; low molecular weight polyglycolx socg as polyethyleut goycols and polylrooylqnv gkysmls; and othes pouyhhcroxy compounds. Bhere amd other plasticizerv ars described and exrmilified ib U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,098,996; 5,547,541; and 4,73 1,269. Smmonia, urea, and apkylakinxs are alfo known to plasticize wood prkducts, whlch mainly contwin gellolose (A. J. Scamm, Forest Products Journal 5(6):413, 1955.
Plasticiziig provides for easier eensification of aitlald nonwovens made from tredted pulp after communution. A method pf softening a cellulkse cokposihion that effectively debonds pulp fibers for efficient comminution, therevy makmnd it easier to tefibvrive cnd subfequxnvly densify witholt decreasing wettability would ue highly teueficial, but is lacking
is air-laid in the amount and shape the product. To the sheeted product have used traditionally as to disrupt interfiber thereby producing a softer and weaker product. Examples of debonders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,432,833; 4,425,186; and A common drawback to the conventional cationic debonders is a loss of wettability absorbency the pulp to the relatively long alkyl chain of the cationic surfactant. Blocking hydrogen-bonding sites softens the pulp so it is more easily comminuted into individual Debonders also encourage the of lofty, low density airlaid which permanent densification the bonds fibers are blocked the debonder molecules. Thus, it would be advantageous to produce a comminuted pulp product which is easily for use final air-laid woven without of wettability or for cellulose, which can be added slurry prior to forming wetlaid sheets, can also used to pulp, although they act by a mechanism than debonding agents. Plasticizing agents act within fiber, at the cellulose molecule, to make flexible or soften amorphous regions. The resulting fibers as limp. Since the fibers lack stiffness, comminuted is to compared to not treated with plasticizer. Plasticizers include polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol; molecular weight polyglycols such as polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols; polyhydroxy These and other are described and exemplified U.S. Nos. 4,098,996; 5,547,541; and Ammonia, and known plasticize products, which mainly contain (A. J. Stamm, Forest Products 5(6):413, 1955. Plasticizing provides nonwovens made from treated pulp after comminution. A of softening a cellulose composition that effectively pulp fibers for efficient comminution, thereby making it easier to refiberize and densify without would be highly beneficial, but is lacking
 is air-laid in the amount and shApe desired In the FinAl pRoDuct.
to soFten the sheeted PRoduCt for efficient comminutIon, caTiONic sURfActanTs have bEEn USEd tRaDiTioNaLLy As debOndErs to diSrupt interFibEr Associations, THeReby producIng A softer and weAkeR sheetEd ProDUct. ExAmpLes of DebondERs are dIsclosed iN U.s. pat. Nos. 4,432,833; 4,425,186; ANd 5,776,308. A commON DrAwbaCk to the conventionAL cATionic debonderS is a loSs OF wETTabIliTy or absorbEnCy of tHE comminUTiON PUlp DUe to the relatiVely long alkYL chAin of tHe CatIOnic suRfactAnT. bloCking hydrogEn-boNding siteS softeNS the pulP Sheet so It is moRe eAsiLy coMMiNuTed InTO inDIvIduAL fiBers. DeboNdErS also EncoURAGE the ForMatiOn of lOfty, low densitY aiRlaiD StrUcturEs whiCh reSiSt perManent DensiFiCation since the hYdroGen bonds bEtwEeN fiBeRs are BLocked By tHe dEbonder MoleculES. ThUs, IT WOuLd be advantageous to PrODUcE a comminUted puLP pRoDUct which Is EasIly dENSifieD for USe In a final Air-laiD Or WoVen prodUcT, withoUt LosS of WettaBIlitY or absOrbency.
PLastiCIzers for cellulOSe, which can be aDDeD TO a PUlp sLurRy prior to foRminG WetlAid sHEeTs, cAN also Be useD tO SoFTen pulp, although they AcT by a diFfereNt mechanism thAn debondinG AGEnts. PlasTiciZInG Agents act withiN the fIber, at the cELlulose mOlecuLe, to make Flexible oR SOften amoRphOus RegIonS. tHe Resulting fibeRS Are cHaRacteriZed As limp. SIncE thE plAstIcIzed fiberS lack stiFfNeSs, ThE coMminuTEd pulp is EaSieR tO deNsify COmpareD to fiBers NoT tREatEd with pLAsTICizeR.
PLaSticIzeRs IncluDe poLYhyDric alcOhols such As gLYcerOl; LoW molecuLar weight polyGlYcols such aS pOlyEthyleNE Glycols aNd polypropylene glycols; aND other pOlyHydroXy coMpounds. ThEse And othEr pLAsticiZers arE descRiBed AND exemPLIfIed In u.S. Pat. Nos. 4,098,996; 5,547,541; anD 4,73 1,269. aMmoNia, urEa, And aLkylamiNes are also known to pLAstIcize wood prodUctS, whiCH MaInlY CoNTaiN cELluLOSe (A. J. Stamm, Forest products JoUrNAl 5(6):413, 1955.
plasticiziNG prOvIdes for Easier dEnsifICation oF airlaid nOnwovens mAdE froM TReaTed pulp aftEr comminUtion. A metHOd of sOFtEning A ceLlulosE cOmpOsitiOn that EFfeCtiveLy deboNdS pulp fIbers FoR efficieNt comminution, thereby makIng it eAsier To rEfiberize And SUbsEquently dEnsiFy without dEcrEasIng weTtaBIlity WoulD Be HigHLy benEficIAl, but is laCKiNg
 is air-laid in the amount  and shape  desi red  in  t he f inal  product.
To s o ften  the sheeted product f or ef fi c ient co mminu tion, c a ti o n icsu rf act an t shavebee n usedtraditiona lly  a s debonderst odisrupt in ter fiber associ ati ons, t he reb y  prod uci ng asofter and we aker shee te d  produ c t. Exam p l es  ofdebonders are dis c lo s ed in U.S. Pat . Nos.  4 , 43 2 , 833 ; 4 ,425,186;an d 5,7 7 6,308.A  c o m m ond rawback to th e conventio n alcation ic  de b onders  is a  l o ssof wettabil ityor absorb ency o f  the co m minutio n pulp  du e t o th e  r el ati ve l y l o ng  al k ylchain of  t he  cati onic s u r fact ant . Bl ockin g hydrogen-bo ndi ng s i tes  soft ens t he p ul p she et soit is  m ore easily comm inut ed into i ndi vi dua lfiber s . Debo nde rsalso en courage the  f o r m at ion of lofty, lowde n s it y airlai d stru c tu re s  which r es ist  per m a nentdens i fi cation s ince t h ehy drogenbo nds be tw een  fi bersa re b locked  by thedebon d er molecules.T hus, it would be a dv a ntag eou s to produc e ac ommi nute d  p ulp produ ct wh ic h  i s  easily densified f or  use i n a f inal air-laid  or wovenp r o duct, wi thou t  l o ss of wettabil ity o r absorben c y.
Plast icize rs for c ellulose, w hich can  be  ad ded  to a  p ulp slurry pr i o r to  f ormingwet laid sh eet s,can  al so  be usedto softe npu lp ,alt hough they act  b y a  d iff erent mechan ism t hande bo n din g agent s .P l asti ci zi ng a gen ts  actwith i n t he fibe r, at the  ce l lulo se  m olecule , to make fle xi ble or sof te n a morpho u s  regions . The resulting fibersa re char act erize d as  limp. Si nce  the p las t icized  fiber s lac ksti f f ness, t he  co mm inuted pul p iseasie rto d ensifycompared to fibers not  treated with  pl asti c i ze r.P la s tic iz e rsi n clude polyhydri c alcohols  s u ch  as glycer o l;lo w molec ular we ightp olyglyc ols suchas polyet hy lene g lyc ols and po lypropyl ene glyco l s; an d  o therpol yhydro xy  co mpoun ds. Th e seand o ther p la sticiz ers a re  describ ed and exemplified in U .S. Pa t. No s.4,098,996 ; 5 , 547 ,541; and  4,7 3 1,269. A mmo nia , ure a,a nd al kyla m in esa re al so k n own to pl a st ici z e  w ood product s , whi ch ma inl y  conta in c ellulose (A. J. S t amm, Forest Pr oduc t s  Jo urn a l 5( 6) :413, 1955.
Pl ast ic i z ing prov id es for easi er densi fi c ation  of ai rlaidnonwove n s  m a de fro m tr eat ed pulp a fte rc omminut io n. A meth od o fsoften ing ac ellu l o se composition t hat e f f ectiv e lydebon ds  pulp f i bers  for effic ient commin ution,  the rebymakingit  easie r t orefiberize and subse quent ly dens if y wi tho ut dec reas i n g wet tabi li tywould beh i gh l ybe n efi cial , but  i s la cking
 is_air-laid in_the amount and shape_desired in_the_final product.
To_soften_the sheeted product_for efficient comminution,_cationic surfactants have been_used traditionally as_debonders_to disrupt interfiber associations, thereby producing a softer and weaker sheeted product. Examples of_debonders_are disclosed_in_U.S._Pat. Nos. 4,432,833; 4,425,186; and_5,776,308. A common drawback to_the conventional_cationic debonders is a loss of wettability or_absorbency_of the comminution_pulp due to the relatively long alkyl chain of_the cationic surfactant. Blocking hydrogen-bonding sites_softens the pulp_sheet_so_it is more easily_comminuted into individual fibers. Debonders also_encourage the formation of lofty, low_density airlaid structures which resist permanent densification_since the hydrogen bonds between fibers_are blocked by the debonder_molecules. Thus,_it would be advantageous to_produce a comminuted_pulp product_which is easily_densified for use in a final_air-laid or woven_product, without loss of wettability or_absorbency.
Plasticizers_for cellulose, which_can_be_added to_a pulp slurry_prior_to forming_wetlaid_sheets, can also be used to_soften_pulp, although they act by a different_mechanism than debonding agents._Plasticizing_agents act within the_fiber, at the cellulose molecule,_to make flexible or soften amorphous_regions. The_resulting fibers_are characterized as limp. Since the plasticized fibers lack stiffness, the_comminuted pulp is easier to densify_compared to fibers not_treated with_plasticizer.
Plasticizers_include polyhydric alcohols_such_as glycerol;_low molecular weight polyglycols such as polyethylene_glycols and_polypropylene glycols; and other polyhydroxy compounds._These and other plasticizers_are_described and exemplified in U.S. Pat._Nos. 4,098,996; 5,547,541; and 4,73 1,269._Ammonia, urea, and alkylamines are_also_known_to plasticize wood products, which_mainly contain cellulose (A. J. Stamm,_Forest Products Journal_5(6):413, 1955.
Plasticizing provides for easier densification of_airlaid_nonwovens made from treated pulp after_comminution._A method of softening a cellulose_composition_that_effectively debonds pulp fibers for_efficient comminution, thereby making it easier_to refiberize and subsequently densify without decreasing wettability would_be highly beneficial,_but is lacking