Abstract: A personal care product that has a liquid impermeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, and an absorbent composite located between the topsheet and backsheet. The absorbent composite has an upper layer made of synthetic fiber with at most 20 weight percent pulp and the upper layer has a density between about 0.03 and 0.15 g/cc and a basis weight between about 20 to 75 gsm. The composite has a lower layer having from 80 to 95 weight percent pulp, at most 20 weight percent binder, and has a density greater than the upper layer and between 0.06 and 0.20 g/cc, and a basis weight between 120 and 200 gsm.

Abstract: There is provided an absorbent system that not only takes in fluid, but then transfers that fluid further beneath the first composite. This is achieved in this invention through paired permeability, capillarity, and void volume of the first and second composites. The invention is an absorbent system composed of at least two absorbent composites that have complementary structural/surface energy characteristics. Such an absorbent system has a first absorbent Composite A which has a first permeability, a first capillarity, and a first void volume and at least one second absorbent Composite B which has a second capillarity and a second porosity multiplied by second thickness. The first absorbent Composite A is in liquid communication or contact with at least one second absorbent Composite B, such that the first absorbent Composite A, and the second absorbent Composite B have a fluid partitioning amount in Composite A, a third triple intake time (IT3) and a rewet value.

Abstract: Absorbent article including an absorbent core having multiple absorbent layers. The absorbent layers interact in a manner which desirably locates absorbed liquid in an appointed, high saturation wicking layer.

Abstract: There is provided a new multi-layered fibrous material for use in personal care products. In this material, a layer having a mixture of pulp, superabsorbent and binder is adjacent a layer having a very high superabsorbent concentration. The structure is then compacted to a density of between about 0.1 to 0.3 g/cc. These layered structures have better intake properties than traditionally made competitive materials. These structures surprisingly also have better distribution properties than competitive materials. Such a fibrous material is useful in personal care products, like diapers, training pants, incontinence garments and feminine hygiene products.

Abstract: A method of incorporating a density modulator into an absorbent composite includes the steps of applying a density modulator solution to a pulp sheet, fiberizing the pulp sheet, and incorporating the fiberized pulp sheet into an absorbent composite. The density modulator can be applied by slot coating or by using a flooded nip. Once the density modulator is incorporated into the absorbent composite, the absorbent composite is highly wettable and, upon contact with blood-containing bodily fluids, undergoes a decrease in density, thereby increasing the absorbent capacity of the absorbent composite.

Abstract: There is provided an intake/retention/transfer material for personal care products like feminine hygiene products, which is a heterogeneous composite containing between 5 and 25 weight percent of a superabsorbent or gelling material and having a density less than 0.17 g/cc. A more particular embodiment contains less than 20 weight percent and a still more particular embodiment contains 15 weight percent or less of a superabsorbent or gelling material. Also provided are absorbent articles which contain the class of intake/transfer materials mentioned above along with additional absorbent layers such that the absorption of a menses simulant provides fluid partitioning of less than 72% of fluid in the intake/transfer/retention composite. Additionally said composite should have retention capacity values greater than 2.7 g/g.

Abstract: A method of incorporating a density modulator into an absorbent composite includes the steps of applying a density modulator solution to a pulp sheet, fiberizing the pulp sheet, and incorporating the fiberized pulp sheet into an absorbent composite. The density modulator can be applied by slot coating or by using a flooded nip. Once the density modulator is incorporated into the absorbent composite, the absorbent composite is highly wettable and, upon contact with blood-containing bodily fluids, undergoes a decrease in density, thereby increasing the absorbent capacity of the absorbent composite.

Abstract: A personal care absorbent article, such as a sanitary pad or napkin, tampon, wound dressing, and the like having one or more layers of absorbent material treated with a density modulator. The treated layer or layers are highly wettable and upon contact with blood-containing bodily fluids undergo a decrease in density, thereby increasing the absorbent capacity of the treated material.

Abstract: There is provided a personal care product that has a liquid impermeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, and an absorbent composite located between the topsheet and backsheet. The absorbent composite has an upper layer made of synthetic fiber with at most 20 weight percent pulp and the upper layer has a density between about 0.03 and 0.15 g/cc and a basis weight between about 20 to 75 gsm. The composite has a lower layer having from 80 to 95 weight percent pulp, at most 20 weight percent binder, and has a density greater than the upper layer and between 0.06 and 0.20 g/cc, and a basis weight between 120 and 200 gsm.

Abstract: There is provided an absorbent system for personal care products which may be transversely divided into about an equally sized center zone, two intermediate zones and two end zones where the ratio of the amount of liquid stored in the center zone to the amount of liquid stored in at least one of the end zones 30 minutes each of three insults of 80 ml according to a MIST Evaluation Test after less than 5:1. Such an absorbent system may be used in personal care products like diapers, training pants, feminine hygiene products, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, and the like.

Abstract: There is provided a new multi-layered fibrous material for use in personal care products. In this material, a layer having a mixture of pulp, superabsorbent and binder is adjacent a layer having a very high superabsorbent concentration. The structure is then compacted to a density of between about 0.1 to 0.3 g/cc. These layered structures have better intake properties than traditionally made competitive materials. These structures surprisingly also have better distribution properties than competitive materials. Such a fibrous material is useful in personal care products, like diapers, training pants, incontinence garments and feminine hygiene products.

Abstract: A distinctive absorbent article includes an absorbent core having multiple absorbent layers, wherein the absorbent layers interact in such a manner which preferentially locates absorbed liquid in an appointed, high saturation wicking layer. The localization of the liquid within this wicking layer increases the potential of this layer to move liquid through capillary action due to the higher saturation level and increased amount of liquid available. The intake capability of the absorbent system is maintained or improved over current systems by keeping a second layer of the absorbent system at low saturation levels through as many insults of the product as possible, while providing optimum intake performance through appropriate control of the composite properties.

Abstract: A distinctive absorbent article includes an absorbent core having multiple absorbent layers, wherein the absorbent layers interact in such a manner which preferentially locates absorbed liquid in an appointed, high saturation wicking layer. The localization of the liquid within this wicking layer increases the potential of this layer to move liquid through capillary action due to the higher saturation level and increased amount of liquid available. The intake capability of the absorbent system is maintained or improved over current systems by keeping a second layer of the absorbent system at low saturation levels through as many insults of the product as possible, while providing optimum intake performance through appropriate control of the composite properties.

Abstract: There is provided an absorbent system for personal care products which may be transversely divided into about an equally sized center zone, two intermediate zones and two end zones where the ratio of the amount of liquid stored in the center zone to the amount of liquid stored in at least one of the end zones 30 minutes after each of three insults of 80 ml according to a MIST Evaluation Test is less than 5:1. Such an absorbent system may be used in personal care products like diapers, training pants, feminine hygiene products, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, and the like.

Abstract: There is provided a surge material for personal care products comprising a layered structure of at least one relatively high permeability layer on a top side toward a wearer and at least one relatively low permeability layer where the structure has a capillary tension range between about 1 and 5 cm with a differential capillary tension of at least about 1 cm from top to bottom. The surge material should have a high permeability layer with a permeability of at least 1000 Darcys and a low permeability layer with a permeability of less than 1000 Darcys. The surge material should also have a said high permeability layer which has a permeability of at least 250 Darcys greater than the low permeability layer. Such a layered structure should have a first insult run-off value of at most 30 ml from a 100 ml insult delivered at 20 ml/second. Such a surge material is useful in personal care products like diapers, training pants, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products and the like.