Patent ID: 8148277

Claim:
A process for binding a fibrous material comprising: (a) forming a water-soluble curable intermediate reaction product having hydroxyl and carboxylic acid end groups by the reaction of (i) a polyanhydride having an average molecular weight in the range of from greater than 1,000 to approximately 100,000, and (ii) a crosslinker selected from the group consisting of glycols, glycol ethers, polyester polyols, polyether polyols, epoxy polyols, urethane polyols, polysaccharides, polyvinyl alcohol, polypeptides, and mixtures thereof, (b) applying a composition comprising said intermediate reaction product as a coating to a fibrous material, and (c) heating said coated fibrous material to achieve crosslinking of said hydroxyl and carboxylic acid end groups via an esterification reaction while in association with the fibrous material to form a cured binder on said fibrous material.