Patent ID: 8133952

Claim:
A curable aqueous composition prepared by a process comprising combining the following components: (a) a hydroxy-containing polymer which is a combination of polyvinyl alcohol and at least one member selected from the group consisting of starch, modified starch and a sugar; (b) a multi-functional crosslinking agent which includes citric acid as a first nonpolymeric polyacid and optionally at least one selected from the group consisting of a second nonpolymeric polyacid, salts thereof, an anhydride, and a nonpolymeric polyaldehyde, and optionally (c) a catalyst; wherein the weight ratio of (a):(b) is from 95:5 to about 35:65, wherein the pH of the curable composition is increased in a positive direction to at least 1.25 upon addition of a nitrogenous base, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol has a viscosity up to 10 centipoise when in a 4% aqueous solution at 20° C.