Abstract: An elastomeric nonwoven absorbent web is provided. The web comprises a nonwoven fibrous matrix of elastomeric melt-blown small diameter fibers and absorbent staple fibers or absorbent particulate material, wicking staple fibers, and bulking staple fibers dispersed throughout the matrix. This web is particularly useful in an absorbent elastomeric wound dressing. The wound dressing has a fluid permeable, compliant, low adherency wound contacting layer, an intermediate conformable, fluid-absorbent element, i.e., the elastomeric nonwoven absorbent web, and a soft, compliant cover layer.

Abstract: A web or structure is formed by feeding separate supplies of fibrous material into contact with two separate lickerins that are parallel to each other and rotated toward each other. The fibers from the two lickerins pass through a mixing zone and are accumulated on a moving conveying screen that is moved parallel to the axes of the lickerins. Segmented baffle plates may be inserted into the mixing zone to control the lateral or cross-sectional composition of a web formed by the fibers accumulated on the screen. A segmented feed may be used to advantageously deliver different fiber materials at different rates to each lickerin. Radially layered composite web structures having circular cross-sections may be formed with the same apparatus by forming the conveying screen into a U-shape and selectively controlling the air flow through the screen.

Abstract: A nonwoven web is formed by feeding separate supplies of fibrous material into contact with two separate lickerins that are parallel to each other and rotated toward each other. The fibers from the two lickerins pass through a mixing zone and are accumulated on a moving conveying screen that is moved parallel to the axes of the lickerins. A baffle plate may be inserted into the mixing zone and acts to control the lateral or cross-sectional composition of a web formed by the fibers accumulated on the screen. When different fibrous materials are fed to the lickerin along their length, the vertical composition of the web is altered.

Abstract: Adsorbent retentive pulp is described which is capable of retaining good adsorbency even after having been highly compressed. The pulp is produced by subjecting a microfibrillated pulp slurry to pore generation with pore generating particles and to cross-linking with a cross-linking agent.

Abstract: Airlaid fibrous webs having a primary layer having discrete particles of absorbent gelling material dispersed through at least a portion of the web airlaid over a dusting layer of essentially hydrophilic fiber material. The dusting layer acts to block the passage of particles injected in the stream of fibers forming the primary layer so as to minimize equipment plugging problems and the loss of particles or fibers through the foraminous forming element and to provide a more efficient absorbent core.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydroexpansible composite material, the method of preparing same and a composition for implementing this method, as well as to the uses thereof. The composite material includes a solid flat support having, on at least one of its faces, a coating with a high proportion of a hydroexpansible polymer powder fixed to the support by means of a hydrosoluble binder, the coating being essentially formed of:95 to 55% by weight of hydroexpansible polymer powder;5 to 23% by weight of hydrosoluble binder; and0 to 22% by weight of surfactant.This hydroexpansible material may advantageously be used in medicine, surgery agriculture and especially as sealing agent in cables, particularly electric cables.FIG. 2 shows how, in a cable, this material (11, 13) forms a sealing ring (13) about the point of infiltration of the water, thus preventing its longitudinal propagation.

Abstract: A copolymer of recurring units of at least one .alpha..beta.-unsaturated monomer and recurring units of at least one copolymerizable comonomer comprising, in its preferred embodiment from about 20 to about 80 percent pendant carboxylic acid units and from about 80 to about 20 percent pendant carboxylate salt units, is blended with a heterocyclic carbonate to produce a water-absorbing composition upon curing. The composition is particularly suitable for fiber formation.

Abstract: Rapidly shrinking fibers hardly soluble in water and capable of shrinking in water at 20.degree. C. by not less than 30% in not longer than 10 seconds are obtained, for example, by spinning, drawing and heat-treating a carboxy-modified polyvinyl alcohol under specific conditions. Yarns made from a fiber of this kind in conjunction with a fiber slowing shrinking in water as well as nonwoven fabrics made by incorporating yarns containing said rapidly shrinking fibers in nonwoven fabric shrinkable upon absorption of water are suited as means of tightly fitting edge portions of disposable diapers to the thigh.

Abstract: Non-woven material useful for example for disposable wipers and the like which comprises a layer of meltblown polymeric microfibers inter-mixed with fibres of absorbent material and/or absorbent or super-absorbent particles, the absorbent fibres and/or particles being inter-connected by and held captive within the polymeric microfibres matrix of fibres by mechanical entanglement and interconnection of the microfibres/absorbent fibres, (when present), and at least one layer of meltblown polymeric microfibres, the layers being bonded together ultrasonically or by the application of heat or heat and pressure to cause the microfibres in one layer to bond to the microfibres in an adjacent layer so as to produce fuse bonds extending through the material.Such material can readily absorb fluids including oil, and can subsequently be squeezed out readily. The material also has an integral strength and a substantially lint free wiping surface.

Abstract: A water absorbent fibrous product comprising a fibrous cellulosic material impregnated with a water absorbent acrylic polymer and a fibrous material, which is produced by a method in which an aqueous solution of a monomeric component comprising acrylic acid and a radical initiator is diffused in a fibrous cellulosic material and heated, followed by blending with a fibrous material. The fibrous product exhibits a high water absorbency, and finds applications as high-quality disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, surgical pads, surgical sheets, paper towels or the like.

Abstract: A polymer composition which is water-absorbent upon curing comprising: (a) a copolymer containing from about 25 to about 75 mole percent recurring units of at least one .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated monomer bearing at least one pendant unit selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid unit, a carboxylic acid salt unit, a carboxylic acid anhydride unit, a carboxylic acid imide unit, a carboxylic acid amide unit and a carboxylic acid ester unit and from about 75 to about 25 mole percent recurring units of a copolymerizable monomer; and, (b) a polyether derived from C.sub.2 to C.sub.10 alkylene oxides, wherein from about 20 to about 65 percent of the total pendant units introduced through the .alpha.,.beta.

Abstract: Nonwoven web and method of making including interbonded thermoplastic fibers in an array of hollow projections extending outwardly from at least one surface of said web. The projections are separated by land areas of interbonded fibers, and the fiber orientation is greater in the projections than in the land areas. Either the projections or the land areas may be perforated as desired for controlled porosity and fluid flow properties. The nonwoven webs of the invention may be made by a number of processes but, preferably, are made by forming directly on a surface with corresponding projections with or without apertures and a vacuum assist or by forming on an apertured surface with a pressure differential sufficient to draw the fibers through the apertures forming the projections.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel sodium salts of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) which are substantially nonfibrous, have a degree of substitution (D.S.) of 0.2 to 0.9 and an absorbency of at least 25 g. liquid/g. the novel CMC material, and are prepared from a cellulose furnish having a degree of polymerization (D.P.) of greater than 1,000; and to processes for preparing same. Owing to their high absorbency properties, they are particularly useful in the manufacture of disposable nonwoven products, such as adult incontinence pads, feminine hygiene products, disposable diapers and surgical dressings.

Abstract: A dehydrating and water-retaining sheet comprising a water-absorbing agent, a wetting agent having a water-absorbing property, and a water-permeable membrane, in which the water-absorbing agent and the wetting agent are at least partially wrapped together in the water-permeable membrane.

Abstract: A cellulose fiber which is carboxyalkylated in free acid form, a fiber mass formed therefrom, and a method for producing such fiber.

Abstract: Hygienic products of various types, all comprising as their operative body contact portion a fiber mass of acidic, modified, pH-regulating, cellulose.

Abstract: An air laid fibrous web product of enhanced absorbency and method of making same having a basis weight of between about 8 to about 50 pounds per ream, and a bulk of at least 0.40 mils per pound per ream, the web product comprising a multiplicity of papermaking fibers distributed randomly in the form of a web, an adhesive material, preferably a latex, essentially permeating said web of randomly distributed fibers and upon curing bonding adjacent fibers, the adhesive material representing between about 15 to about 30% of the basis weight of the web product and between about 0.1 to about 5.0 by weight of a hydrophile, said hydrophile substantially coating the bonded fibers. The hydrophile is applied to the web as an aqueous solution downstream of the bonding station, either in an immersion or spray treating step.

Abstract: A dry, solid, water-swellable absorbent composition of matter is prepared by blending together (a) a water-insoluble absorbent polymer and (b) from 1 to 75%, by weight of the blend, of an extender material selected from uncrosslinked cellulose derivatives, starch, certain clays and minerals, or mixtures thereof. The composition is characterized by having an absorbency exceeding the sum of the absorbencies, calculated proportionately, of the individual components. In one preferred embodiment, the absorbent polymer is a water-swellable ionic complex of a water-soluble anionic polyelectrolyte and a polyvalent metal cation having a valence of at least three.

Abstract: Non-woven fibrous products, such as diapers, in which the fibres are bound together by an emulsion copolymer of C.sub.4 C.sub.8 ester of acrylic and/or methacrylic acid: at least one of methyl methacrylate, styrene or .alpha.-methyl styrene and acid comprising mono-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid optionally in combination with mono-unsaturated monocarboxylic acid. The fibres comprise at least 50% hydrophilic fibres such as cellulosic fibres.

Abstract: Absorbent, coherent, flexible structures in the form of fibrous webs and porous sponges comprising cellulose derivatives having a DS of between about 0.05 and about 0.35 whereby upon application to the body and wet with aqueous body liquids, the protruding fibers and fibrils or hairs become highly swollen or may dissolve thereby eliminating irritation. The derivative may be such as to impart hemostatic properties and the structure may include uniformly dispersed therein chitin and/or starch derivatives to enhance the hemostatic efficacy. The structures may include water-soluble agents which function as dry binders but when the structure is wet with aqueous body liquids, the agents dissolve and become leached from the structures.