Abstract: A tampon pledget is made by assembling one or more pads in a pad compression configuration, radially compressing the pad compression configuration in a traverse direction into a cylindrical form, and axially compressing the cylindrical form in a direction along a vertical axis to form the tampon pledget. In one embodiment, the axial compression is performed as a pressure is applied to at least one of a first and a second end of the cylindrical form. In one aspect of the present invention, the formed tampon pledget has an absorbent capacity as measured by the syngyna test of between about 6.0 grams to 9.0 grams and a density of about 0.4603 grams/cubic centimeter. In another aspect of the invention, the formed tampon pledget has an absorbent capacity as measured by the syngyna test of between about 9.0 grams to 12.0 grams and a density of about 0.4755 grams/cubic centimeter.

Abstract: An improved light duty tampon is defined by a quantity of an absorbent material arranged in substantially cylindrical form and having a lower dry bulk density, lower expansion values, and lower fluid absorption rates, as compared to similar absorbent capacity tampon pledgets. A method of testing a light duty tampon includes determining absorbent capacity, density, radial expansion width, and expansion rate of the tampon.

Abstract: An increased absorbency tampon pledget with an absorbent capacity of 15-18 grams and an increased dry bulk density has a density of at least 0.20 g/cc and can be housed in a smaller applicator than typically provided with commercially available increased absorbency applicator tampons. The increased dry bulk density provides better leakage protection, placement control, and user comfort.