The invention relates to a printable swelling paste containing the following mixture constituents: 1) polymers having carboxyl and amide group units and 2) an aldehyde or aldehyde-separating compound, as a cross-linking agent. The mixture can optionally contain other additives such as thickeners. The polymer component having carboxyl and amide groups is obtained by radical copolymerisation of monomers containing amide groups and of monomers containing carboxyl groups. Other comonomers can also be integrated by polymerization. The invention also relates to the use of the swelling paste for producing absorbent fibers, tissues and sheet material such as film by applying the swelling paste onto the supporting material and by subsequently treating thermally.
