Patent ID: 7985321

Claim:
A method of making absorbent cellulosic sheet comprising: (a) preparing an aqueous furnish with a fiber mixture including from about 99 percent to about 70 percent of a pulp-derived papermaking fiber, the fiber mixture also including from about 1 to 30 percent by weight of fibrillated regenerated cellulose microfibers having a CSF value of less than 175 ml wherein the regenerated cellulose is prepared from a cellulosic dope of dissolved cellulose comprising a solvent selected from ionic liquids and tertiary amine N-oxides; (b) pretreating at least a portion of the fiber mixture with a debonder composition; (c) depositing the debonder-treated aqueous furnish on a foraminous support to form a nascent web and at least partially dewatering the nascent web; and (d) drying the web to provide absorbent sheet; wherein formation of the sheet and pretreatment of the fiber are controlled and the furnish and debonder is selected such that the sheet has a wet/dry CD tensile ratio in the range of greater than 30%.