Patent ID: 6994770

Claim:
A paper product having improved strength properties comprising: a fibrous web containing cellulosic fibers, the fibrous web being treated with a strength agent comprising a derivatized polyethylene oxide, the strength agent being present in an amount sufficient to increase the tensile strength of the fibrous web, said derivatized polyethylene oxide comprising: wherein R 1 , R 1′ , R 1″ are independently H or a C 1-4 alkyl; Z is any bridging radical whose purpose is to incorporate the R 0 moiety into the ethylenically unsaturated monomer; R 0 is any group capable of or containing a constituent capable of forming covalent, ionic and/or hydrogen bonds with cellulose or with the polymer itself; R 2′ and R 2″ are any suitable polyoxyethylene endgroups selected from the group of H, alkyl, aryl, alkyl esters, alkyl amides, sulfonates, substituted derivatives and mixtures thereof; p is an integer greater than or equal to about 350; and m and n are integers such that m+n=p.