Abstract:
There is provided a personal care absorbent article having an absorbent core that has been treated in a manner, or is made from materials, that inhibit the transfer of liquid through the structure in the target area. The distribution layer above the core could likewise be treated in a manner that discourages Z-directional fluid movement. A separate transfer delay layer is avoided, thereby simplifying manufacture and reducing costs. A number of transfer delay treatments are possible. These include increasing the density of the upper layer of the absorbent core or lower layer of the distribution layer below the target area, making the absorbent core below the target area of rich in superabsorbent, making all or part of the core below the target area from very slow absorbing superabsorbents, including a soluble binder in the core below the target area, treating the core or distribution layer below the target area with a hydrophobic treatment, or combinations of these methods.
Abstract:
A coform nonwoven web from multicomponent meltblown filaments and an absorbent, wherein the absorbent material is substantially uniformly dispersed in the z-direction is disclosed. A process of preparing the coform nonwoven web by perturbing the meltblown filaments as they are being produced is also disclosed. The coform material can be used in a variety of absorbent articles such as diapers as the primary liquid retention layer. In addition, the coform nonwoven web can be used in a variety of other articles such as wipes.
Abstract:
A web of thermoplastic multicomponent substantially continuous fibers is mixed with absorbent materials. The multicomponent fibers have a low melting point sheath which is fully activated to melt and wet the absorbent particles. The web is then densified and cooled, securing the absorbents to the web with hardened flow joints and enabling the web to carry high loadings of absorbent while maintaining good web integrity. Special entrainment methods in the fiber distribution unit will result in a very uniform distribution of absorbent materials and continuous fibers.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an elastic composite material having an elastic layer having a first side and a second side; at least one gatherable layer bonded to at least one of the first side and second side of the elastic layer; and a fibrous material entangled and intertwined with both the elastic layer and the gatherable layer. The resulting elastic composite provides a stretchable material which can conform to surfaces and has desirable properties of the fibrous material entangle and intertwined with both the elastic layer and the gatherable layer and does not suffer from the loss of the fibrous material from the stretchable substrate. The composite is usable in as bandages, durable wipes, durable mops and personal care products, such as diapers and feminine napkins. Also disclosed is a method for making the composite.
Abstract:
An elastic blend is made from at least two incompatible polymers and a compatibilizer selected to improve miscibility of the incompatible polymers. For example, a blend of olefinic plastomers and elastomeric styrenic block copolymers, and a compatibilizer having components of the olefinic plastomer and sytrenic block copolymer elastomer yields an inexpensive elastic blend material with adequate elastic properties for use in personal care products.
Abstract:
An extensible laminate having improved set and hysteresis is disclosed. The extensible laminate includes an extensible nonwoven web laminated to an elastomeric sheet that have been mechanically stretched in the cross direction after lamination. A method for making the extensible laminate includes laminating an extensible nonwoven web to an elastomeric sheet to form a laminate and mechanically stretching the laminate in a cross direction by at least about 50 percent.
Abstract:
Stretchable film laminates including a layer of elastomeric openwork, such as a plurality of elastic strands or an elastomeric mesh structure. The stretchable film laminates may include a film layer bonded to the layer of elastomeric openwork, with the film layer having cross-directional stretch and the laminate having a multi-phase stretchability profile. The stretchable film laminates may be made by extruding a film from a die, stretching the film, forming and stretching a layer of elastomeric openwork, conveying the stretched elastomeric openwork onto the film while the film is stretched, and passing the film and the elastomeric openwork through a nip. The invention also includes a machine capable of producing machine-direction, cross-direction, and biaxial stretch materials. The machine includes at least one extruder, at least one filament die and at least one film die both attached to the extruder(s), and at least one nip downstream of the extruder(s).
Abstract:
An extensible laminate includes a sheet of an extensible nonwoven material that has a fabric side and a film side, a sheet of an elastomeric film, and an adhesive. The adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the film side of the extensible nonwoven material. The extensible nonwoven material is selectively attached to the elastomeric film by a plurality of intermittent adhesive bonds. The extensible nonwoven material is further selectively attached to the elastomeric film by a plurality of thermal point bonds. The intermittent adhesive bonds cover a greater percentage of an interfacial plane between the extensible nonwoven material and the elastomeric film material than the thermal point bonds. A process for making the extensible laminate is also disclosed.
Abstract:
An elastomeric film includes a first layer co-extruded with a second layer. The first layer includes a single-site catalyzed ethylene-alpha olefin copolymer having a density of about 0.860 to about 0.900 grams per centimeter. The second layer includes a styrene copolymer selected from styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, or styrene-(ethylene/propylene)-styrene-(ethylene/propylene). The first layer may optionally include filler particles. An extensible laminate including the elastomeric film is also disclosed.