Fibrous monofilament, products containing same, and methods for producing fibrous monofilament

Abstract

A novel type of fibrous monofilament is provided for replacing the unsustainable use of cotton. The fibrous monofilament comprises at least 50% by weight of non-regenerated microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), an amino-functional polymer component(s), and an epoxy-functional crosslinker. Also provided are products comprising the fibrous monofilament and methods for producing the fibrous monofilament.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION This specification relates to fibrous monofilaments, products containing same, and methods for making fibrous monofilaments. [Background technology]

[0002] Large-scale cotton cultivation requires large amounts of water resources. Cotton cultivation is widespread in areas where both water and food are already scarce. Cotton cultivation reduces the agricultural area available for food production, increases water consumption, and exacerbates food and water supply problems. Cotton use is unsustainable, and alternative fiber sources are needed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] A novel type of fibrous monofilament is provided to replace the unsustainable use of cotton, particularly in the textile industry. The disclosed fibrous monofilament exhibits good mechanical properties, such as wet strength and elasticity / elongation. The use of an amino-functional polymer component serves to improve the dyeability of the fibrous monofilament. The use of a crosslinking reaction between an amino-functional polymer component and an epoxy-functional crosslinker allows for the tuning of monofilament properties in an aqueous reaction medium without the need for organic solvents or strong acids or bases.

[0004] According to one embodiment, a fibrous monofilament is provided, comprising at least 50% by weight of non-regenerated microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), an amino-functional polymer component(s), and an epoxy-functional crosslinker.

[0005] According to another embodiment, there is provided a method for producing a fibrous monofilament, the method comprising: forming an aqueous suspension comprising 80 to 98% by weight of water and 2 to 20% by weight of a dry substance comprising non-regenerated microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), an amino-functional polymer component(s), and an epoxy-functional crosslinker, wherein the dry substance comprises at least 50% by weight of non-regenerated MFC; - extruding the suspension into monofilaments; drying the monofilament.

[0006] According to yet another embodiment, a fibrous material is provided, the fibrous material comprising a fibrous monofilament as described above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The solution is explained in more detail below with reference to some embodiments, which should not be considered as limiting.

[0008] The features recited in the described embodiments and claims are mutually freely combinable unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0009] In this disclosure, percentage values ​​relating to amounts or proportions of raw materials are weight percentages (wt %) of the dry fibrous monofilament, unless otherwise indicated.

[0010] Plant materials are constructed by a matrix formed by cellulose fibers, which also contain lignin and hemicellulose. The cellulose fibers that form such a matrix are fibril bundles, which are composed of microfibrils. Through the fibrillation process, the cellulose fibers are separated into a three-dimensional network of microfibrils with a larger surface area. These entangled fibrils are called microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). The width of the entangled fibrils in MFC can be 50 nanometers to 2 micrometers, and the length or longitudinal dimension can be 100 nanometers to 500 micrometers, for example, 100 nanometers to 200 micrometers.

[0011] In the context of the present disclosure, the method for producing MFC is not limited. MFC can be produced from cellulose fibers using methods known in the art, for example, through high pressure, high temperature, and high-speed impact homogenization. The homogenization process is used to exfoliate or disrupt the cell walls of the fibers and liberate their substructure, fibrils and microfibrils. Enzymatic and / or mechanical pretreatment of wood fibers can also be used.

[0012] In this disclosure, the expressions "non-regenerated cellulose" or "native cellulose" refer to cellulose or cellulose fibrils or fibers that have not undergone chemical or physical modification of their macromolecular structure. Non-regenerated MFC as discussed herein is substantially non-regenerated and is composed primarily of the crystalline structure of cellulose I. Cellulose I has the structure I α and I β For example, man-made cellulose fibers commonly used in textile applications are regenerated and their crystalline structure is primarily other than cellulose I. The conversion of cellulose I to cellulose II (or other forms such as cellulose III or cellulose IV) is irreversible. Thus, these forms are stable and cannot be converted back to cellulose I.

[0013] In the context of the present disclosure, cellulose can be derived from any plant-based material. Plant-based raw materials can be woody or non-woody. Woody materials can be based on conifers such as spruce, pine, fir, larch, Douglas fir, or hemlock, or hardwoods such as birch, aspen, poplar, alder, eucalyptus, or acacia, or any mixture of the above. Non-woody materials can be cotton, hemp, flax, sisal, jute, kenaf, bamboo, peat, or coconut. Non-woody natural cellulose fibers can be derived from agricultural residues, grasses, or other plant materials such as straw, leaves, bark, seeds, shells, flowers, vegetables, or fruits. Woody plants have good availability, a small environmental impact, and good fiber quality. The above applies to both non-regenerated cellulose and also to regenerated and processed forms of cellulose.

[0014] The objective of the present disclosure is to provide a novel type of fibrous monofilament to replace the unsustainable use of cotton, particularly in the textile industry. The fibrous monofilament disclosed herein allows for its use in fibrous materials such as woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, or composite materials. Furthermore, improved dyeing properties of the fibrous monofilament can be achieved.

[0015] As used herein, the term "fibrous monofilament" refers to a continuous length of individual fibrils grouped and extending generally along the longitudinal dimension of a cellulose monofilament. The fibrils are entangled together to form a permanent monofilament structure. A monofilament cannot be opened or decomposed. Disintegration of a fibrous monofilament results in individual fibrils. A fibrous monofilament can comprise a continuous length of several meters or kilometers. The individual fibrils of a fibrous monofilament are primarily oriented along the length of the fibrous monofilament. The term "monofilament" refers to a single-strand filament produced by extruding a polymer suspension. A fibrous monofilament may also be referred to as a monofilament fiber.

[0016] The fibrous monofilament according to the present disclosure comprises or consists of at least 50% by weight of non-regenerated microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), an amino-functional polymer component(s), and an epoxy-functional crosslinker.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the fibrous monofilament comprises 50-95 wt. % non-regenerated MFC, 0.5-20 wt. % amino-functional polymer component(s), and / or 0.1-5.0 wt. % epoxy-functional crosslinker (percentages relative to the weight of the dry fibrous monofilament).

[0018] For example, the amount of non-regenerated MFC in the fibrous monofilament can be 60-95 wt%, 70-95 wt%, 80-95 wt%, or 80-90 wt%, the amount of amino-functional polymer component can be 0.5-15 wt%, 0.5-10 wt%, 5-15 wt%, or 5-10 wt%, and the amount of epoxy-functional crosslinker can be 0.1-2.5 wt%, 0.1-1.0 wt%, 0.1-0.5 wt%, or 0.1-0.4 wt%.

[0019] The addition of the amino-functional polymer component(s) and the epoxy-functional crosslinker allows for improvements in mechanical properties, such as wet strength properties and elasticity / elongation of fibrous monofilaments containing MFC. Furthermore, the use of the amino-functional polymer component serves to improve the dyeability of the fibrous monofilaments. Monofilament properties, such as wet strength properties, elasticity / elongation, and / or dyeability, can be adjusted by adjusting the ratio of the non-regenerated MFC, the amino-functional polymer component, and the epoxy-functional crosslinker. The use of a crosslinking reaction between the amino-functional polymer component and the epoxy-functional crosslinker allows for adjustment of monofilament properties in an aqueous reaction medium without the need for organic solvents or strong acids or bases.

[0020] The amino-functional polymer component is uniformly spread throughout the 3D network formed by the fibrils.

[0021] The use of a crosslinking agent significantly improves the mechanical properties of the fibrous monofilaments. Tenacity is improved without a decrease in elongation when compared to monofilaments prepared without a crosslinking agent. The results also show that the monofilament properties are quite similar to those prepared according to typical recipes used previously, including MFC, CMC, polyamidoamine-epichlorohydrin resin (PAE), and anionic polyacrylamide (aPAM).

[0022] Tenacity is the conventional measure of the strength of a fiber or yarn. It is usually defined as the ultimate (breaking) force (in grams-force) of the fiber / yarn divided by its linear density. Tenacity is often expressed in cN / (d)tex. Linear density is a value that expresses the weight of the fiber / yarn in grams per 1000 meters of fiber / yarn (tex) or grams per 10,000 meters of fiber / yarn (dtex).

[0023] The fibrous monofilaments according to the present disclosure may have a linear density of 2 to 10 dtex when measured according to standard ASTM 3822 / D3822M-14 at RH 65% (+ / -2%) and a temperature of 20°C (+ / -2°C).

[0024] Fibrous monofilaments according to the present disclosure may have a tenacity of at least 1 cN / dtex, preferably at least 1.5 cN / dtex, or more preferably at least 2 cN / dtex, when measured according to standard ASTM 3822 / D3822M-14 at a relative humidity of 65% (+ / - 2%) and a temperature of 20°C (+ / - 2°C).

[0025] Fibrous monofilament: 500-2000kg / m 3 , e.g., 1000 to 1700 kg / m 3 The density may be

[0026] The amino-functional polymer component can be bio-based. When the amino-functional polymer component and optional polymer additives are bio-based, the biodegradability of the fibrous monofilament can be improved. Biodegradability of a material means that more than 90% of the original material is converted into CO2, water, and minerals by biological processes within six months.

[0027] The biobased amino-functional polymer component can be a polysaccharide, such as a cellulose derivative, chitosan, or a combination thereof. The amino-functional polymer component refers to a polymer structure having free amino groups. In particular, the amino-functional component has free amino groups available for reaction with an epoxy-functional crosslinker.

[0028] The amino-functional polymer component, which is a cellulose derivative, can be amino-functionalized hydroxyethyl cellulose or amino-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose. Hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl cellulose are ethers of cellulose in which at least a portion of the hydroxyl groups in the repeating glucose units are hydroxyethylated or hydroxypropylated, respectively. The average number of substituted hydroxyl groups per glucose unit is referred to as the degree of substitution (DS). Hydroxyethylated or hydroxypropylated (DS HE / HP The degree of substitution from the viewpoint of (a) can be from 0.5 to 3.0.

[0029] Amino-functionalized hydroxyethyl cellulose or amino-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose is a cellulose ether in which some of the hydroxyl groups in the repeating glucose units are replaced by providing free amino groups to the cellulose backbone. The free amino groups can be attached directly or via a linker to the C6 position of the anhydroglucose units in the cellulose backbone. The linker can be, for example, an alkyl group or an alkyl ether group. Alternatively or additionally, the hydroxyl groups of the hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl substituents can be modified to contain free amino groups. The free amino groups (DS NH2The degree of substitution with respect to ) can be from 0.01 to 1.0, for example, from 0.01 to 0.4.

[0030] Formula I, shown later in the Examples section, represents an exemplary structure of amino-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose. As already mentioned, amino-functionalized hydroxyethyl cellulose can also be used. In principle, amino-functionalized hydroxypropyl / hydroxyethyl cellulose can have any type of structure as long as it has a free amino group (-NH).

[0031] Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed β-(1→4)-linked D-glucosamine (deacetylated unit) and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (acetylated unit). Chitosan is commercially available from the deacetylation of chitin, a structural element in the exoskeleton of crustaceans and the cell walls of fungi. The degree of deacetylation (%DD) in commercially available chitosan ranges from 60 to 100%. Chitosan, by its very nature, possesses free amino groups for reaction with epoxy-functional crosslinkers.

[0032] Alternatively or additionally, the amino-functional polymer component may be of synthetic origin. Examples of amino-functional polymer components of synthetic origin include amine-terminated polyethylene oxide derivatives and amine-terminated polypropylene glycol derivatives.

[0033] Epoxy-functional crosslinkers contain at least two epoxy groups. The epoxy groups can react with free amino groups on amino-functional polymer components. Crosslinks are formed when at least two epoxy groups on a single crosslinker molecule react with free amino groups. In addition to the amino groups on the amino-functional polymer components, the epoxy groups can also react with, for example, carboxylic acid and hydroxyl groups on cellulose molecules. However, free amino groups are more likely to react with epoxy functional groups than hydroxyl or carboxyl groups. Therefore, the introduction of amino functional groups into cellulose suspensions makes the modification of cellulose fibrils through crosslinking more efficient.

[0034] The epoxy-functional crosslinker may be based on diglycidyl ether chemistry. For example, the epoxy-functional crosslinker may be polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE).

[0035] Naturally, after crosslinking, the free amino groups of the amino-functional polymer and the epoxy groups of the crosslinker no longer exist, but secondary amines are formed as a result of the amino-epoxy reaction. The structure containing the secondary amine thus formed is more stable under alkaline conditions than the ester bond formed between the epoxy group and the carboxylic acid group of cellulose. This is an important feature because many dyeing methods are carried out under alkaline conditions. Therefore, improved stability under alkaline dyeing conditions is introduced through the amino-epoxy reaction, thereby improving the dyeing properties of the fibrous monofilament.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the fibrous monofilament further comprises at least one polymeric additive. The polymeric additive(s) may comprise, for example, a dispersant, a strength additive(s), a rheology modifier, a plasticizer, and / or an emulsifier. The amount of polymeric additive(s) is 0 to 25 wt. %, for example, 0.5 to 25 wt. % (based on the weight of the dry fibrous monofilament).

[0037] According to one embodiment, the fibrous monofilament includes a dispersant. The dispersant may be the only polymeric additive used, or alternatively, the fibrous monofilament may also include other polymeric additives besides the dispersant. The dispersant may improve the separation of the MFC fibrils and prevent their settling or agglomeration during the manufacturing process of the fibrous monofilament.

[0038] The polymeric additive can be polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (EHEC), methyl cellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC), methyl ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (MEHEC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), ethyl cellulose (EC), starch, polyglycerol polyglycidyl ether, sorbitol polyglycidyl ether, or any combination thereof.

[0039] The polymeric additive(s) can, for example, adjust the rheology of the suspension used to form the fibrous monofilament and / or the elastic properties of the fibrous monofilament. Dispersants such as CMC, HEC, EHEC, MC, HPMC, HEMC, MEHEC, HPC, EC, and starch can have an effect on the shear strength of the fibrous monofilament. Strength additives such as CMC, PVA, and PEO can improve the dry and / or wet strength of the fibrous monofilament. PEO can also be used to increase the elasticity of the fibrous monofilament. Furthermore, PEO is non-reactive with the epoxy groups of the crosslinker.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the fibrous monofilament further comprises at least one monoepoxy reagent. Examples of suitable monoepoxy reagents include allyl glycidyl ether, butyl glycidyl ether, isopropyl glycidyl ether, 1,2-epoxyhexane, and benzyl glycidyl ether. The at least one monoepoxy reagent may be added to adjust the hydrophobicity of the fibrous monofilament, improve the anti-pilling performance of the monofilament, or produce a more breathable and flexible fibrous monofilament and products therefrom. The monoepoxy reagent can react with amino groups, hydroxyl groups, and carboxylic acid groups of the components forming the fibrous monofilament. However, because the monoepoxy reagent has only one epoxy group, the reagent does not participate in crosslinking.

[0041] According to an exemplary embodiment, the fibrous monofilament comprises or consists of at least 50 wt. % non-regenerated microfibrillar cellulose (MFC), an amino-functional cellulose ether as the amino-functional polymer component, PEG-DGE as the epoxy-functional crosslinker, and PEO or MHEC as the polymer additive.

[0042] According to another exemplary embodiment, the fibrous monofilament comprises or consists of at least 50 wt. % non-regenerated microfibrillar cellulose (MFC), an amino-functional cellulose ether as the amino-functional polymer component, PEG-DGE as the epoxy-functional crosslinker, and CMC as the dispersing agent.

[0043] According to yet another exemplary embodiment, the fibrous monofilament comprises or consists of at least 50 wt. % non-regenerated microfibrillar cellulose (MFC), an amino-functional cellulose ether as the amino-functional polymer component, PEG-DGE as the epoxy-functional crosslinker, PEO or MHEC as the polymer additive, and CMC as the dispersant.

[0044] For the production of fibrous monofilaments, an aqueous suspension is formed containing water, non-regenerated microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), amino-functional polymer component(s), and an epoxy-functional crosslinker. The aqueous suspension contains 80-98 wt. % water and 2-20 wt. % dry matter. At least 50 wt. % of the dry matter content is non-regenerated MFC.

[0045] The usual order of adding the components (added to the aqueous solution) to form the aqueous suspension is MFC, amino-functional polymer component, and epoxy-functional crosslinker. The optional polymeric additive(s) can be added immediately after the MFC or after the addition of the amino-functional polymer component. In either case, the epoxy-functional crosslinker is added to the suspension after the addition of the amino-functional polymer component.

[0046] The aqueous suspension is directed (extruded) through a small nozzle where the fibrils are well aligned (oriented) with the flow. The nozzle delivers the aqueous suspension to a solid surface, which is subsequently dried to obtain fibrous monofilaments.

[0047] Initial fibril orientation of the fibrous monofilament can be achieved during the extrusion stage. A nozzle having an outer diameter equal to or less than the maximum fibril length of the fibrils causes the fibrils to be substantially oriented in the longitudinal direction of the suspension exiting the nozzle. Fibril orientation along the longitudinal direction of the fibrous monofilament provides strength to the filament.

[0048] The fibrous monofilaments can be produced via a single-step process. Thus, the produced fibrous monofilaments are continuous, but can be post-processed into shorter lengths by any suitable method known in the art. The thickness of the fibrous monofilaments can be influenced, at least in part, by adapting the production rate, aqueous suspension concentration, and nozzle geometry.

[0049] Because the suspension contains one or more amino-functional polymer components, maintaining an optimal pH in the suspension can play a role in the manufacturing process. A pH value of at least 7.5 favors the reaction between the epoxide groups of the crosslinker and the amino groups of the amino-functional polymer component. Under acidic conditions (pH 6 or less), the reaction between the epoxide groups of the cellulose and the carboxylic acid groups may be more favorable. The pH of the suspension can be optimally adjusted using any suitable pH adjusting / maintaining agent, such as a buffer solution and / or a base (catalyst). The pH adjusting / maintaining agent is preferably added to the suspension before adding the epoxy-functional crosslinker. Alternatively, the pH adjusting / maintaining agent can be added just before extruding the suspension. A pH adjusting / maintaining agent, such as a base, can function as a catalyst for the crosslinking reaction. For example, the pH adjusting / maintaining agent can be NaOH.

[0050] The fibrous monofilaments according to the present disclosure are utilized in fibrous materials such as woven, knitted, or nonwoven materials, or composite materials. For woven, knitted, and / or composite materials, yarns made from the fibrous monofilaments can be used. [Example]

[0051] An exemplary laboratory-scale fibrous monofilament, which may also be referred to as a spun fiber, comprising an amino-functional cellulose ether as the amino-functional polymer component was prepared as follows.

[0052] The monofilaments contained 83-85 wt% non-regenerated MFC as the major component. The amino-functional cellulose ether was represented by the general structural formula (Formula I) as shown below. In Formula I shown below, R represents a hydroxypropyl group and RNH2 represents an alkyl ether linker containing a free amino group. [ka]

[0053] The amount of amino-functional cellulose ether was 2-10 wt %. The amino-functional cellulose ether had the following degrees of substitution: DS HP 1.0~1.7 and DS NH2 0.01-0.10. The monofilaments also contained 4-6 wt% PEO (MW = 4 million Da) or 4-6 wt% MHEC. The monofilaments further contained 0.1-0.4 wt% PEGDGE (Mn 500) as an epoxy-functional crosslinker.

[0054] An exemplary aqueous suspension was prepared by weighing 58 g of non-regenerated MFC and mixing it with 63 g of tap water. A previously prepared solution containing 2 g of the amino-functional cellulose ether of Formula I and 18 g of tap water was then mixed into the MFC suspension. Then, 25.5 g of PEO, previously prepared as a 2.11 wt. % solution, was added. Finally, a 2 wt. % PEG-EGE solution (0.2 g in 9.8 g of tap water) was added. After each addition of the reagents, the suspension was mixed manually for 1-2 minutes.

[0055] Once all reagents were added and mixed by hand, the suspension was mixed at 500 rpm for 10 minutes. The pH and dry matter content of the suspension were then measured. Typically, the dry matter content was 5.0-5.5% by weight, and the pH was 7.0-8.0.

[0056] The suspension was extruded onto a surface and allowed to dry. The dried samples were evaluated for linear density, elongation, strength, and monofilament width. Measurements were performed according to standard ASTM 3822 / D3822M-14 at RH 65% (+ / - 2%) and temperature 20°C (+ / - 2°C).

[0057] The fibrous monofilament / spun fiber containing 83.6 wt% MFC, 6.0 wt% PEO, 10.1 wt% amino-functional cellulose ether having formula I, and 0.29 wt% PEG-DGE exhibited a monofilament width of 85 μm and a linear density of about 4.6-4.9 dtex. The strength was about 1.9-2.1 cN / dtex, and the elongation was about 8.9-9.3%.

[0058] The fibrous monofilaments / spun fibers containing 6.0 wt% MHEC instead of PEO exhibited a slightly higher monofilament width (105 μm). The linear density was comparable to that of the fibrous monofilaments / spun fibers containing PEO (approximately 4.9 dtex). However, the strength and elongation were lower (approximately 0.6 cN / dtex and approximately 2.9%, respectively).

Claims

1. A fibrous monofilament, at least 50% by weight of non-regenerated microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), - amino-functional polymer component(s); - an epoxy-functional crosslinker.

2. 10. The fibrous monofilament of claim 1, further comprising polymeric additive(s).

3. 3. The fibrous monofilament according to claim 1, further comprising a dispersant.

4. the amount of said non-regenerated microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) is between 50 and 95% by weight, the amount of said amino-functional polymer component(s) is 0.5 to 20% by weight; the amount of said epoxy-functional crosslinker is between 0.1 and 5.0% by weight, and / or - A fibrous monofilament according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the amount of said polymeric additive(s) is between 0 and 25% by weight.

5. 10. The fibrous monofilament of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the amino-functional polymer component is bio-based.

6. 10. The fibrous monofilament according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the amino-functional polymer component is polysaccharide-based.

7. 7. The fibrous monofilament of claim 6, wherein the polysaccharide-based amino-functional polymer component is a cellulose derivative or chitosan.

8. 8. The fibrous monofilament of claim 7, wherein the cellulose derivative is an amino-functionalized hydroxyethyl cellulose or an amino-functionalized hydroxypropyl cellulose.

9. The fibrous monofilament according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the amino-functional polymer component is an amine-terminated polyethylene oxide derivative or an amine-terminated polypropylene glycol derivative.

10. 10. The fibrous monofilament according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the epoxy-functional crosslinker is based on diglycidyl ether chemistry.

11. 11. The fibrous monofilament of claim 10, wherein the epoxy-functional crosslinker is polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE).

12. 12. The fibrous monofilament according to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the polymeric additive is polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (EHEC), methyl cellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC), methyl ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (MEHEC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), ethyl cellulose (EC), starch, polyglycerol polyglycidyl ether, sorbitol polyglycidyl ether, or any combination thereof.

13. - A fibrous monofilament according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising monoepoxy reagent(s).

14. 1. A method for producing a fibrous monofilament, said method comprising: forming an aqueous suspension comprising 80 to 98 wt. % water and 2 to 20 wt. % dry matter comprising non-regenerated microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), an amino-functional polymer component(s), and an epoxy-functional crosslinker, wherein the dry matter comprises at least 50 wt. % non-regenerated MFC; - extruding said suspension into monofilaments; - drying said monofilaments.

15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the dry substance further comprises polymeric additive(s).

16. 16. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein the dry material further comprises a dispersant.

17. 17. The method of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the dry substance further comprises monoepoxy reagent(s).

18. 18. The method of any one of claims 14 to 17, further comprising adjusting the pH of the suspension to at least 7.

5.

19. A fibrous material comprising the fibrous monofilament according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

20. 20. The fibrous material of claim 19, wherein the fibrous material is a woven or knitted material.

21. 20. The fibrous material of claim 19, wherein the fibrous material is a nonwoven material.

22. 20. The fibrous material of claim 19, wherein the fibrous material is a composite material.

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