Abstract: An absorbent article includes an absorbent composite which comprises substantially water-insoluble, water-swellable, non-regenerated, carboxyalkyl cellulose fibers. The fibers have a surface having the appearance of the surface of a cellulose fiber and comprise a plurality of first intra-fiber multi-valent metal ion crosslinks and a plurality of second intra-fiber crosslinks selected from ether crosslinks or ester crosslinks. In addition, the absorbent composite has been subjected to a treatment to create interfiber bonding between the fibers of the composite either throughout the composite or only on the surface of the composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles that include absorbent compositions which exhibit swelling, deswelling, and reswelling behavior. More specifically, absorbent compositions of this invention swell and absorb fluids after exposure to aqueous fluids, deswell and release fluids from the swollen absorbent compositions, and can also reswell and absorb fluids. The swelling-deswelling-reswelling behavior allows enhanced liquid distribution in absorbent composites and absorbent articles.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbent article having longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, a second portion and a first portion. This absorbent article has a topsheet which has a first major surface that forms a body-facing surface. In addition, the absorbent article has a backsheet which has a second major surface disposed distally from the first major surface. The second major surface of the backsheet forms a garment facing surface of the absorbent article. On the second portion of the top sheet on the first major surface, a body adhesive is applied. In the first portion of the absorbent article, a garment attachment device for attaching the absorbent article to an undergarment of a user is present.

Abstract: A personal care product has a container component and an absorbent personal care product component. Generally there are four side walls connected in a manner such that the top panel is connected to the bottom panel by the front side wall, the back side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall; and the front side wall is connected to the back side wall by the first side wall and the second side wall. A chamber is able to hold at least one absorbent personal care article component placed within said chamber of the container component. In addition, the container component is devoid of any indicia on the exterior surface of each of the top panel, the front side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall which tends to indicate that the container has at least one personal care product placed within said chamber.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article has a nanofabricated attachment means having adhesive hairs disposed on a substrate wherein the hairs are effective to adhesively engage an opposing surface having a polymeric film or a fibrous web. In another embodiment, the absorbent article has a gecko-like fastener including a substrate and a plurality of adhesive hairs arising from the substrate having a base section, midsection, and top section, a height of about 0.5 microns to about 8 millimeters, and a diameter greater than about 0.05 microns.

Abstract: A method for forming and stabilizing an absorbent composite web includes conforming a first web onto a forming surface having a plurality of raised nubs having upper surfaces. The first web defines a plurality of bond areas corresponding to those portions of the first web overlying the upper surfaces of the nubs. The method further includes depositing absorbent material onto the first web to form a unitary absorbent core having a plurality of holes therein. The method further includes joining a second web to the first web at the bond areas to form an absorbent composite web. The unitary absorbent core is positioned between the first web and the second web. The first web and the second web are bonded together through the holes in the absorbent core. The method further includes removing the absorbent composite web from the forming surface.

Abstract: An absorbent feminine care article (20) having a longitudinal direction (22), a lateral direction (24), first and second longitudinally opposed end portions (72, 72a), and an intermediate portion (76) located between the end portions. The article (20) comprises an absorbent body structure (30) sandwiched between a cover (26) and a baffle (28). In a particular aspect, the absorbent structure (30) can include one or more distinctively configured embossment regions (34), and the embossment regions can be distributed along the intermediate portion (76) of the article.

Abstract: A disposable garment including a dual fastening system. The dual fastening system includes at least two first fasteners and at least two second fasteners, at least a portion of each second fastener being located in the front waist region and situated inboard from each longitudinal side edge of the front waist region, each second fastener being configured to engage at least a portion of the bodyfacing surface. Additionally, the bodyfacing surface comprises indicia in the rear waist region guiding a user fitting the disposable garment regarding the positioning of the second fasteners.

Abstract: The present invention provides a translucent absorbent composite having a substrate with a light transmittance of at least about 60% and a flexible superabsorbent binder polymer composition applied to the substrate. The polymer composition may be prepared from the reaction product of a monomer solution including at least 15% by mass monoethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid salts, sulphonic acid, sulphonic acid salts, phosphoric acid, or phosphoric acid salts; an acrylate or methacrylate ester that contains an alkoxysilane functionality; a copolymerizable hydrophilic glycol containing an ester monomer; an initiator system; and a neutralizing agent. The unsaturated monomer is neutralized to at least 25 mol % and the flexible superabsorbent binder polymer composition has a residual monoethylenically unsaturated monomer content of less than about 1000 ppm. The absorbent composite has a light transmittance of at least 45%.

Abstract: An adhesive composition comprises at least a binder polymer and a water-soluble plasticizer. The binder polymer may be present in a range of about 10% to about 60% by weight of the adhesive composition, and the plasticizer may be present in the range of about 5% to about 85% by weight of the adhesive composition, such as in the range of about 40% to about 80% by weight. In some aspects, the adhesive also comprises less than 10% by weight highly-volatile component, such as about 0% to about 5% by weight. The adhesive composition can be utilized in a variety of articles, including personal care articles, health/medical articles, and household/industrial articles.

Abstract: An absorbent core comprising fluff pulp fiber treated with polysiloxane, wherein the absorbent core has a density of about 0.15 g/cm3 or greater and a Young's modulus of about 75 psi or less. The polysiloxane may comprise an amino-functional moiety, The absorbent core may comprise superabsorbent, and may be employed in a disposable absorbent product.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent structure comprising an acidic or basic water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer, a basic or acidic second material, and, optionally, a buffering agent, wherein the absorbent structure exhibits desirable absorbent properties. Specifically, the present invention relates to an absorbent structure having the ability to absorb a large quantity of liquid while maintaining a substantially desired and balanced pH profile on or along the upper surface of the absorbent structure. The absorbent structure is useful in disposable absorbent products, such as those disposable absorbent products that are used to absorb body liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to water swellable, water insoluble superabsorbent materials having controlled variable gel-bed friction angles. Controlling the gel-bed friction angle of the superabsorbent materials may allow control of the swelling of the material, the absorbency of the material, and/or the absorbency, resiliency, and porosity of the absorbent composite containing the superabsorbent material. The present invention relates to treatments for superabsorbent materials to manipulate friction angle and new superabsorbent materials having the desired friction angle characteristics. The present invention also relates to absorbent composites employing superabsorbent materials having the desired friction angle characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention comprises compositions and methods of making high internal phase emulsion foam (HIPE) and inverse high internal phase emulsion foam (I-HIPE) using super critical fluids. Such foams may be used in a wide variety of articles such as absorbent articles.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent structure comprising an acidic or basic water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer, a basic or acidic second material, and, optionally, a buffering agent, wherein the absorbent structure exhibits desirable absorbent properties. Specifically, the present invention relates to an absorbent structure having the ability to absorb a large quantity of liquid while maintaining a substantially desired and balanced pH profile on or along the upper surface of the absorbent structure. The absorbent structure is useful in disposable absorbent products, such as those disposable absorbent products that are used to absorb body liquids.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent composition comprising each of an acidic and a basic material, wherein the absorbent composition exhibits desirable absorbent properties. Specifically, the present invention relates to an absorbent composition comprising either an acidic water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer having a pKa between about 2 to about 12 or a basic water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer having a pKb between about 2 to about 12 and either a basic or an acidic second material. The absorbent composition has the ability to slowly absorb a large quantity of liquid, particularly while under an external pressure. The absorbent composition is useful in disposable absorbent products, such as those disposable absorbent products that are used to absorb bodily liquids.

Abstract: A method of preparing a nonwoven web that has substantially continuous synthetic fine fiber includes preparing an aqueous amide crosslinked polymer solution. The solution is extruded through a die having a plurality of orifices to form a plurality of threadlines. The threadlines are then attenuated with a primary gaseous source under conditions sufficient to permit the viscosity of each threadline to increase incrementally with increasing distance from the die, at a rate sufficient to provide fibers having a desired attenuation and mean fiber diameter without significant fiber breakage.