Abstract: Described are absorbent members useful in the containment of body liquids such as urine. These absorbent members comprise at least one osmotic absorbent (preferably a hydrogel-forming absorbent polymer) and a high surface area material, and have a high capillary suction capacity. For purposes of the present disclosure, capillary suction capacity is measured in terms of the member's ability to uptake liquid at high capillary heights, which are generally encountered when the member is positioned in an absorbent article. In particular, capillary suction capacity is measured in terms of a member's capillary sorption absorbent capacity, which is measured in accordance with the Capillary Sorption method described in the Test Methods section.

Abstract: A method of making high internal phase emulsions is described. The method forms high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) using a single pass through the static mixer. In alternative embodiments, the HIPE may be further processed to farther modify the size of dispersed phase droplets, to incorporate additional materials into the HIPE, to alter emulsion temperature, and the like.

Abstract: This application relates to flexible, microporous, open-celled polymeric foam materials with physical characteristics that make them suitable for a variety of uses. This application particularly relates to monomer compositions having short curing times for preparing such foam materials from high internal phase emulsions.

Abstract: This application relates to flexible, microporous, open-celled polymeric foam materials with physical characteristics that make them suitble for a variety of uses. This application particularly relates to degassing the components of the high internal phase emulsions which are subsequently cured to form such foams.

Abstract: Disclosed are fast blooming surfactants that are suitable for inclusion in film compositions that will subsequently treated with a low surface energy material to create a surface energy gradient between the underlying polymeric structure of the film and spaced apart microscopic depositions of the low surface energy material. The surfactants have a permeation rate of less than 240 hours, a surface tension in an aqueous solution at a concentration that is greater than the critical micelle concentration that lies between the critical surface tension of the underlying polymeric structure of the web material and the critical surface tension of the low surface energy depositions; and an HLB between about 6 and about 16. Preferred surfactants also have a weight loss on heating to 250° C. that is less than about 20%. More preferred surfactants have a hydrophobic chain that is substantially saturated.

Abstract: Paper products having high initial wet strengths are disclosed. The paper products comprise cellulosic fibers having free aldehyde groups, which fibers are combined with a water-soluble polymer having functional groups that are reacted with the aldehyde groups to form bonds joining the fibers. In a preferred embodiment, the cellulosic fibers contain a polysaccharide in which the hydroxyl groups of at least a portion of the repeating units of the polysaccharide are cis-hydroxyl groups, preferred repeating units being mannose and/or galactose. Similarly, the water-soluble polymer is preferably a polysaccharide in which the hydroxyl groups of at least a portion of the repeating units of the polysaccharide are cis-hydroxyl groups. Preferred polysaccharides are derived from one or more sugars selected from mannose, galactose, allose, altrose, gulose, talose and lyxose.

Abstract: A cleansing preparation is provided in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion. The oil phase particles have a median particle diameter by volume of not more than 1 &mgr;m, and a preservative is present in at least the aqueous phase. A method is described of making this preparation, in which a coarse emulsion is formed, the coarse emulsion is homogenized, and the homogenized emulsion is diluted by an aqueous dilution liquid containing the preservative. Cleansing articles, for example baby wipes can be made in which a substrate carries the cleansing preparation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the selection of materials which are particularly useful as fluid distribution material for being used in disposable absorbent articles by being characterized in that they have a wicking time of less than 120 seconds and a cumulative flux of more than 0.075 grams/cm2/second for said preferential fluid distribution direction at 12.4 cm height, when applying the Vertical Wicking Test. A further useful selection criteria for such materials is a non-isotropic fluid distribution behavior, expressed in that the wicking time in the preferential distribution direction is less than 80% of the wicking time of perpendicular direction at 8.3 cm height, when applying the same test.

Abstract: Disclosed are protective, flexible mats for absorbing liquids on floors and other surfaces which contain a waterproof component and a polymeric foam sheet formed by polymerizing a high internal phase water-in-oil emulsion. The mats can also contain a non-skid material and/or at least one liquid pervious sheet. The mats are suitable for absorbing hydrophilic and hydrophobic liquids.

Abstract: A method and several exemplary apparatus for capillary dewatering of foam materials. The apparatus may include felt which is applied to an exposed face of the foam material, or a double felt arrangement applied to two opposed surfaces of the foam material. The apparatus may provide a temperature differential between the two exposed surfaces of the foam material. An alternative embodiment utilizes a roll having a capillary dewatering medium. The capillary dewatering medium may be maintained at a vacuum either above or below the breakthrough vacuum of the capillaries. The disclosed apparatus and method is particularly useful for dewatering foams having relatively fine open capillaries.

Abstract: The present invention pertains, in a preferred embodiment, to a fluid-pervious web comprising a first or wearer-contacting surface and a second or garment-facing surface. The web is particularly well suited for use as a topsheet on a disposable absorbent article. The first and second surfaces are separated from one another by an intermediate portion. The first surface of the web provides a structure which exhibits a surface energy less than the surface energy of the intermediate portion. In a preferred embodiment, the web exhibits a plurality of regions of comparatively low surface energy which define surface energy gradients where they interface with higher surface energy web surfaces. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a fluid-pervious web having a plurality of small-scale surface energy gradients which are oriented and located so as to effectively transport fluid away from the first or wearer-contacting surface.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present application are absorbent polymer compositions useful in the absorption of body fluids such as urine, menses and the like. In particular, the invention relates to mixed-bed ion-exchange absorbent polymer compositions having excellent absorbency performance properties in terms of absorbent capacity under a confining pressure of 0.7 psi and/or 1.4 psi. Certain mixed-bed ion-exchange absorbent polymer compositions of the present invention have excellent absorbency properties not only for a synthetic urine with a composition and ionic strength that is typical of young infants but also for a high ionic strength synthetic urine that has a composition and ionic strength that is typical of the urine of older infants and toddlers. The invention also relates to absorbent members comprising the mixed-bed ion-exchange absorbent polymer compositions, and absorbent articles comprising the absorbent members.

Abstract: Porous, absorbent macrostructures having improved fluid handling capabilities that include inter-particle bonded aggregates, and are useful in absorbent articles, such as diapers, adult incontinence pads and sanitary napkins, are disclosed. The inter-particle bonded aggregates of these macrostructures are made from mixtures of particulate absorbent polymers having different fluid handling properties, different shapes, or both. These macrostructures can be made from a wider variety of hydrogel-forming absorbent polymers without sacrificing desired fluid handling properties, and without being prone to gel blocking.

Abstract: This application relates to microporous, open-celled polymeric foam materials with physical characteristics that make them suitable for a variety of uses produced from high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). This application particularly relates to oxidatively stable emulsifiers used to stabilize the HIPE and the foams produced from such HIPEs.

Abstract: This application relates to flexible, microporous, open-celled polymeric foam materials with physical characteristics that make them suitable for a variety of uses. This application particularly relates to high temperature processes having short curing times for preparing such foam materials from high internal phase emulsions.

Abstract: The present invention pertains, in a preferred embodiment, to a fluid-pervious web comprising a first or wearer-contacting surface and a second or garment-facing surface. The web is particularly well suited for use as a topsheet on a disposable absorbent article. The first and second surfaces are separated from one another by an intermediate portion. The first surface of the web provides a structure which exhibits a surface energy less than the surface energy of the intermediate portion. In a preferred embodiment, the web exhibits a plurality of regions of comparatively low surface energy which define surface energy gradients where they interface with higher surface energy web surfaces. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a fluid-pervious web having a plurality of small-scale surface energy gradients which are oriented and located so as to effectively transport fluid away from the first or wearer-contacting surface.

Abstract: Strong, soft, and low dusting tissue paper webs useful in the manufacture of soft, absorbent sanitary products such as bath tissue, facial tissue, and absorbent towels are disclosed. At least one surface of the tissue papers has uniform discrete surface deposits of a substantively affixed chemical softening mixture comprising a mixture of a quartenary ammonium compound, an emollient, and a sorbitan ester.

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a pantiliner, has incorporated therein an unactivated bentonite clay as an odor control material for decreasing odors associated with bodily fluids.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition for softening an absorbent tissue and tissue structures softened using the composition. The composition includes an effective amount of a softening active ingredient; a vehicle in which the softening active ingredient is dispersed; and an electrolyte dissolved in the vehicle. The electrolyte causes the viscosity of the composition to be less than the viscosity of a dispersion of the softening active ingredient in the vehicle alone. Preferably, the softening active ingredient is a quaternary ammonium compound with the formula:(R.sub.1).sub.4-m --N.sup.+ --[(CH.sub.2).sub.n --Y--R.sub.3 ].sub.m X.sup. -the vehicle is water, and the electrolyte is calcium chloride.

Abstract: Disclosed are microporous, open-celled polymeric foams formed by polymerizing a high internal phase water-in-oil emulsion comprising a continuous oil phase and discontinuous water phase where the foam has a Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) value of at least about 18% Such foams are commonly known in the art as "HIPEs". The foams have a variety of flame retardant applications, including use in insulation.