Through the addition of N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide as a potential crosslinker, water-absorptive blend fibers of copoly(acrylic acid-acrylamide) and poly(vinyl alcohol) with three-dimensional network structures were prepared with heat-crosslinking technology after fiber formation. Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, and thermogravimetry were used to analyze the structures and properties of the fibers. The tensile behavior and absorbent capacities of the fibers were also studied. The results showed that there were lots of chemical crosslinking points in the fibers, the compatibility of copoly(acrylic acid-acrylamide) and poly(vinyl alcohol) was perfect, and the tensile properties of the fibers Could be improved effectively through stretching in a vapor bath. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.