Abstract: A thermoplastic composition that comprises a unreacted mixture of an aliphatic polyester polymer selected from the group consisting of a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polybutylene succinate-co-adipate polymer, a polycaprolactone polymer, a mixture of such polymers, or a copolymer of such polymers; a multicarboxylic acid; and a wetting agent. The thermoplastic composition is capable of being extruded into fibers that may be formed into nonwoven structures that may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing an absorbent foam. The process generally comprises forming a solution of a polymer in a solvent, freezing the solution at a relatively slow cooling rate to a temperature below the freezing point of the solvent, removing the solvent from the frozen solution, and recovering the polymer to form a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymeric foam. The process has been found to enable one to prepare an absorbent foam that exhibits desirable softness and flexibility properties yet is highly absorbent. Such an absorbent foam may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for treating cellulosic fibers using an alkali metal hydroxide. The process first prepares the cellulosic fibers as a high consistency mixture with water and then adds an alkali metal hydroxide. The high consistency process is quite efficient and has been found to produce cellulosic fibers that are essentially uniformly treated. Also disclosed is a handsheet prepared from the treated cellulosic fibers for use is disposable absorbent products.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent structure containing hydrogel-forming polymeric material, wettable staple fiber, and wettable binder fiber. The absorbent structure exhibits improved z-direction permeability of a liquid as compared to an otherwise essentially identical absorbent structure which does not comprise a wettable binder fiber. Also disclosed is an disposable absorbent product containing such an absorbent structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent structure comprising fibers, wherein the absorbent structure exhibits desired liquid transport properties. In one embodiment of the present invention, an absorbent structure comprises wettable cellulosic fibers, wherein the absorbent structure exhibits a Vertical Liquid Flux rate value at a height of about 15 centimeters of at least about 0.002 grams of liquid per minute per gram per square meter of absorbent structure per inch of cross-sectional width of the absorbent structure (g/(min*gsm*inch). The absorbent structure is suitable for use in disposable absorbent products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for treating cellulosic fibers using high temperatures that is effective to result in modified cellulosic fibers that exhibit desired properties such as water retention values and wet curl values. The high temperature process is quite efficient and has been found to produce cellulosic fibers that are essentially uniformly treated. Also disclosed is a handsheet prepared from the treated cellulosic fibers for use in disposable absorbent products.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent composition comprising a hydrogel-forming polymeric material and fiber bundles, wherein the absorbent composition exhibits desired absorbent properties. The absorbent composition is suitable for use in absorbent structures and disposable absorbent products. The absorbent composition comprises a hydrogel-forming polymeric material in an amount of from about 5 to about 95 weight percent, and fiber bundles in an amount of from about 5 to about 95 weight percent; wherein all weight percents are based upon the total weight of the hydrogel-forming polymeric material and the fiber bundles in the absorbent composition; and wherein the absorbent composition exhibits an Absorbency Under Load value that is at least about 10 percent greater than the Absorbency Under Load value exhibited by an otherwise substantially identical absorbent composition that does not comprise the fiber bundles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a water-swellable, water-insoluble sulfonated cellulose having improved absorption properties. One embodiment of the present invention concerns a water-swellable, water-insoluble sulfonated cellulose having an average degree of sulfonic group substitution from about 0.2 to about 0.5 that exhibits an initial Absorbency Under Load value of at least about 8 grams per gram. The sulfonated cellulose may be used in disposable absorbent products.

Abstract: Disclosed are multicomponent fibers wherein at least one component forms an exposed surface on at least a portion of the multicomponent fiber which will permit thermal bonding of the multicomponent fiber to other fibers. The multicomponent fibers comprise two poly(lactic acid) polymers with different L:D ratios which provide biodegradable properties to the multicomponent fiber yet which allow the multicomponent fiber to be easily processed. The multicomponent fiber is useful in making nonwoven structures that may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elastomeric absorbent structure containing wettable staple fiber and thermoplastic elastomeric fiber. The elastomeric absorbent structure exhibits improved elastic properties as compared to an otherwise essentially identical absorbent structure without any thermoplastic elastomeric fiber. Also disclosed is a disposable absorbent product containing such an elastomeric absorbent structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a water-shrinkable film prepared from a composition comprising an elastomeric polymer and a water-dispersible polymer. Also disclosed is a disposable absorbent product, intended for the absorption of body fluids, including the film. The film is useful in imparting improved water-shrinkability properties to the disposable absorbent product.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent composition including a hydrogel-forming polymeric material and a magnetically-responsive material; disposable absorbent products, including the absorbent composition, intended for the absorption of body fluids; and a method for incorporating the absorbent composition into disposable absorbent products.

Abstract: A polysiloxane adhesive composition that is useful in attaching products to human skin. A disposable absorbent product may be prepared that includes the polysiloxane adhesive composition and that may be adhered directly to human skin and peeled off after use with little or no pain to the wearer. In one embodiment, the polysiloxane adhesive composition exhibits a shear storage modulus value, as measured at about 20.degree. C. and at about 10 radians per second, of less than about 1.times.10.sup.5 dynes per square centimeter; a hardness value of less than about 5 durometer units (Shore 00), a tan delta value, as measured at about 20.degree. C. and at a frequency of about 10 radians per second, of between about 0.4 to about 2.0; and a maximum peel strength value of between about 35 to about 900 grams of force per 13 millimeters of width, as measured at a peel rate range of 0 to about 5000 millimeters per minute.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a water-swellable, water-insoluble chitosan salt having improved absorption properties. The method involves forming a mixture of a chitosan, water, an acid, and, optionally, a crosslinking agent, recovering the formed chitosan salt from the mixture and, optionally, treating said recovered chitosan salt with heat or under humid conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process using an electric field for contacting a substantially neutrally charged material, that is responsive to an electric field, with a substrate. Also disclosed is a disposable absorbent product, including the electrically responsive material, that is intended for the absorption of body fluids, prepared by the process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process using an electric field for contacting a substantially neutrally charged material, that is responsive to an electric field, with a substrate. Also disclosed is a disposable absorbent product, including the electrically responsive material, that is intended for the absorption of body fluids, prepared by the process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a water-swellable, generally water-insoluble modified polysaccharide having improved age-stable absorption properties. The method involves forming a mixture of a modified polysaccharide, water, and, optionally, a crosslinking agent, recovering the modified polysaccharide from the mixture and, optionally, heat-treating said recovered modified polysaccharide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonwoven elastomeric material of a thermoplastic, elastomeric composition comprising a block copolymer which comprises an elastomeric midblock portion and a thermoplastic endblock portion, a first tackifying resin substantially compatible with and substantially associated with the midblock portion, and a second tackifying resin substantially compatible with and substantially associated with the endblock portion. The nonwoven elastomeric material exhibits both desired elastic and adhesive properties and is useful in imparting elastic properties to flexible, non-elastic substrates. Also disclosed is a disposable absorbent product, including the nonwoven elastomeric material and intended for the absorption of body fluids.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the surface modification of cellulose fiber and the resulting product, sulfonated cellulose. Cellulose is first oxidized, preferably with sodium metaperiodate (NaIO.sub.4), to form dialdehyde oxycellulose, which is then reacted with sodium bisulfite (NaHSO.sub.3) to produce sulfonated cellulose. Sulfonation of the cellulose fiber significantly increases the dry and wet tensile strength as well as the wet strength:dry strength ratio, making this modified cellulose fiber extremely useful in a wide variety of paper products requiring a combination of good strength in both wet and dry applications.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modified cellulose fiber having improved curl characteristics. Specifically, the present invention relates to oxidized or sulfonated cellulose fibers being highly curled, wherein such curl is highly stable. The oxidized or sulfonated curled cellulose fiber may be prepared by a process comprising treating the fibers in a high energy refiner effective to provide the desired curl properties to the fiber. The modified cellulose having improved curl characteristics may be used in disposable absorbent products.