Hydrophilic open-celled resilient foams containing melamine-formaldehyde
resins, characterized by a droplet absorption rate of less than 5 seconds
and an EU standard EN ISO 14184-1 formaldehyde emission of less than 100
mg of formaldehyde/kg of foam, and obtainable by
(a) heating an aqueous solution or dispersion each containing at least a
melamine-formaldehyde precondensate, an emulsifier, a blowing agent and a
curing agent to form a foam and crosslink the precondensate,
(b) then conditioning the foam at from 120 to 300.degree. C. for from 1 to
180 minutes to remove volatiles, and
(c) treating the foam during the conditioning or thereafter with at least
one hydrophilicizer and/or with ozone, a corona discharge or a plasma,
are useful in hygiene articles to acquire, distribute and immobilize body
fluids.
