Prewettable high softness paper product having temporary wet strength

Abstract

A paper product and a method of making a paper product with a glabrous surface and adapted for use either dry or use in a manually pre-moistened condition. The paper product has temporary wet strength exhibiting an initial normalized CD wet tensile strength of at least about 25 g/1' strip, preferably 35 g/1' strip as measured by the Finch Cup Test 5 seconds after immersion and a subsequent CD wet tensile strength of less than about 2/3 the initial value as measured 30 minutes after immersion. A temporary wet strength agent comprising aldehydic units in the range of from about 2 pounds per ton to about 30 pounds per ton is added to the furnish. A cationic nitrogenous softener/debonder is preferably added to the furnish, in an amount of from about 1 pound per ton to about 6 pounds per ton. The CD dry tensile strength of the paper product is from at least about 133 g/1' up to about 267 g/1', and the tensile modulus is from about 10 to about 32 g/% strain while the GM MMD friction is from about 0.26 to about 0.10. Preferably, the wet strength of the product decays with sufficient speed that the CD wet tensile strength drops to about 15 g/1' strip within 10 hours after immersion. When rubbed against a skin-like surface in a moistened condition, the paper product remains substantially free of pilling.