Abstract: An absorbent article including a breathable outer cover, a topsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the breathable outer cover, and a porous separation layer disposed between the absorbent core and the breathable outer cover is disclosed. The porous separation layer includes a plurality of wettable pores originating on a first surface of the porous separation layer adjacent the absorbent core and a plurality of larger wettable pores originating on a second surface adjacent the breathable outer cover.

Abstract: An absorbent article including a liquid-permeable top layer, an absorbent core layer, a breathable outer cover, and a creped inner nonwoven fibrous layer between the absorbent core and breathable outer cover. The creped inner nonwoven fibrous layer has a level of creping of about 5-75%, and is preferably permanently creped. The creped inner nonwoven fibrous layer serves as a dampness inhibitor which reduces or prevents perceived dampness on the external surface of the outer cover by lowering thermal conductivity between the absorbent core and the outer cover surface.

Abstract: An absorbent article including a liquid-permeable top layer, an absorbent core layer, and a breathable outer cover is provided with a breathable inner laminate between the absorbent core and the outer cover. The breathable inner laminate includes a breathable film and a nonwoven filament web, and is less breathable than the outer cover. The low to moderately breathable inner laminate substantially reduces perceived dampness occurring on the external surface of the highly breathable outer cover, following a liquid insult, when the article is being worn, without seriously hampering moisture flux out of the diaper. Direct pathways for moisture near the wearer's skin to exit the article are maintained, and a concentration gradient is enhanced.

Abstract: An absorbent article including a liquid-permeable top layer, an absorbent core layer, and a breathable outer cover is provided with a breathable inner laminate between the absorbent core and the outer cover. The breathable inner laminate includes a breathable film and a nonwoven filament web, and is less breathable than the outer cover. The low to moderately breathable inner laminate substantially reduces perceived dampness occurring on the external surface of the highly breathable outer cover, following a liquid insult, when the article is being worn, without seriously hampering moisture flux out of the diaper. Direct pathways for moisture near the wearer's skin to exit the article are maintained, and a concentration gradient is enhanced.

Abstract: An absorbent article including a liquid-permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent core layer and a breathable outer cover is provided with a hydrophobic foam dampness-inhibiting layer between the absorbent core and the outer cover. The hydrophobic foam dampness-inhibiting layer maintains an air space within the foam. The air space acts as a thermal insulator, dampness-perception inhibitor and moisture passageway. The resulting product is an absorbent garment having a breathable outer cover material with reduced perception of dampness on the outer surface of the outer cover.

Abstract: An absorbent article including a liquid-permeable top layer, an absorbent core layer, and a breathable outer cover is provided with a breathable inner laminate between the absorbent core and the outer cover. The breathable inner laminate includes a breathable film and a nonwoven filament web, and is at least as breathable as the outer cover. The breathable inner laminate substantially reduces perceived dampness occurring on the external surface of the outer cover, following a liquid insult, when the article is being worn, without substantially reducing moisture flux in use via thermal insulation.

Abstract: There is provided a BM containment system for personal care products having an expandable material which expands upon contact with fluids to form a compartment in which BM may be contained. The system may optionally have a dewatering layer on the side away from a wearer of the personal care product. The system may also be in liquid isolation from other personal care product components which are located on the side away from a wearer in order to keep the BM containment system from expanding from exposure to urine. Liquid isolation may be provided by a film between the other system components and the traditional personal care product components.

Abstract: Breathable microporous films are provided having controlled regional breathability with thick high WVTR regions and thinner low WVTR regions. The zoned breathable microporous films can be made by selectively applying heat and/or pressure to specific regions the microporous film such as by feeding a microporous film through a pair of heated nip rollers with one of the rolls having a raised surface area or by applying a focused stream of hot air. Monolayer microporous films and multilayer films having at least one microporous layer can be treated to impart zoned breathability to the film.

Abstract: An absorbent article including a liquid-permeable top layer, an absorbent core layer, a breathable outer cover, and an inner nonwoven filament layer between the absorbent core and breathable outer cover. The outer cover includes a breathable film and an outer nonwoven filament layer. The inner nonwoven filament layer has a mean fiber denier which is higher than the mean fiber denier of the outer nonwoven filament layer. The inner nonwoven filament layer serves as a dampness inhibitor which reduces or prevents perceived dampness on the external surface of the outer cover by lowering thermal conductivity between the absorbent core and the outer cover surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a film which includes a microbial adsorbent and which is capable of providing a microbial barrier while still being able to allow passage of water vapor. The film has first and second surfaces and defines least one microporous passageway allowing communication, through the film, between the first and second surfaces. In particular, a portion of the microporous passageway is defined by the microbial adsorbent so that microbes attempting to pass through the film via a passageway must pass in close proximity to the microbial adsorbent. This arrangement allows the microbial adsorbent to interdict the microbe by adsorbing it and prohibiting its passage through the film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fabric which includes a microbial adsorbent and which is capable of providing a microbial barrier while still being able to allow passage of water vapor. The fabric is formed from a plurality of fibers which define at least one microporous passageway which allows communication, through the fabric, between its respective first and second surfaces. In particular, a portion of the microporous passageway is defined by the microbial adsorbent so that microbes attempting to pass through the fabric via such a passageway must pass in close proximity to the microbial adsorbent. This arrangement allows the microbial adsorbent to interdict the microbe by adsorbing it. Passage of the microbe through the fabric is thereby prohibited. Laminates of the fabric with other materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: Reactor for containing high pressure, high temperature, corrosive reactions, especially supercritical water reactions. The reactor comprises an inner reactor vessel which houses the corrosive reaction, an outer containment vessel which contains a substantial level of the pressure, and insulating means to contain the high temperature of the inner reactor, which prevents the outer containment vessel from rising above a specified maximum temperature. Using this reactor, the lifetime and reliability of the materials of construction are increased because the outer pressure-containing vessel does not experience the high temperatures which tend to cause metals and alloys to lose ductility, and the inner reactor vessel does not experience a high pressure drop across its walls and, therefore, can be made of temperature and corrosive-resistant materials which are not required to sustain high stress without failure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fabric which includes a microbial adsorbent and which is capable of providing a microbial barrier while still being able to allow passage of water vapor. The fabric is formed from a plurality of fibers which define at least one microporous passageway which allows communication, through the fabric, between its respective first and second surfaces. In particular, a portion of the microporous passageway is defined by the microbial adsorbent so that microbes attempting to pass through the fabric via such a passageway must pass in close proximity to the microbial adsorbent. This arrangement allows the microbial adsorbent to interdict the microbe by adsorbing it. Passage of the microbe through the fabric is thereby prohibited. Laminates of the fabric with other materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: An absorbent article for use in cleaning oil spills comprises a first exposed outer layer of hydrophobic, liquid-permeable, fibrous polymeric nonwoven web and an absorbent body, adjacent the outer layer, comprising oil absorbent, cellulose-based material. Desirably, the article further comprises a second exposed outer layer of hydrophobic polymeric material with the absorbent body disposed between the first and second exposed outer layers. The absorbent article is placed on a layer of oil resting on the surface of a body of water for oil spill clean up. The absorbent article selectively absorbs oil over water because the outer hydrophobic layer repels water but attracts oil and transfers the oil to the oil absorbent body encased between the exposed outer layers. This invention results in considerable savings in cost and in non-renewable resources because the bulk of the product is a cellulose-based material, which is renewable, while only a small portion is polymeric nonwoven, which is non-renewable.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent structure comprising a microbial polysaccharide having improved porosity and a process of making the same. The absorbent structure may be adapted for use in an absorbent product such as a diaper or incontinence product. The process involves the supercritical drying of a microbial polysaccharide to remove at least a portion of the aqueous medium in which the microbial polysaccharide is produced without unacceptably reducing the porosity of the microbial polysaccharide.

Abstract: A coextruded block composite which includes a porous first block. The block is permeable to fluids and includes a granular component and a binder component. The block has interconnected pores therethrough having a first average diameter. The composite also includes a second block. In addition, at least one of the first block and the second block is continuous and at least a portion of the second block is contiguous with at least a portion of the first block. The second block also may be permeable to fluids. Additional blocks may be present, if desired. One or more of the blocks other than the first block may be a porous block having a granular component and a thermoplastic binder component. The coextruded block composite may be employed as a filter medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for disinfecting water which provides a visual indication after the disinfection is complete. First, the water to be disinfected is generally simultaneously intermixed with at least three items. The items are: (1) a disinfectant which is adapted to render harmless substantially all pathogens present in the water upon the disinfectant being intermixed with the water for a time period T.sub.k ; (2) a colorant; and (3) a material which can remove substantially all of the disinfectant and colorant from the water over a time period T.sub.r, where T.sub.r is greater than T.sub.k. Secondly, the water, disinfectant, colorant and the removing material are allowed to remain intermixed for a time period of T.sub.r or greater. At the end of the time period T.sub.r, substantially all pathogens in the water will be rendered harmless, substantially all of the disinfectant will be removed from the water and substantially all of the colorant will be removed from the water.

Abstract: A nursing pad is disclosed having a liquid permeable body facing layer of a polyethylene/polypropylene bicomponent fiber web, an absorbent core comprising a composite fabric of thermoplastic fibers and an absorbent material, and a barrier laminate, such as a spunbond/meltblown/spunbond laminate or a spunbond/film laminate. The nursing pad can have a substantially concave shape, a thermally sealed edge and autogenous bonding to impart additional integrity to the three-dimensional shape.