CN1350446A - Absorbent article with improved combination of skin feel and fluid handling - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hygroscopic product which has been comprehensively improved in touch feeling and liquid holding performance, including such as fluid collection and storage performance. Absorbent articles include sanitary napkins, panty liners, diapers, adult incontinence liners and briefs. The combined improvement in tactility and retention is due to the structurally high capillary pressure of the absorbent core, which rapidly captures and retains body fluids deposited on the body side of the absorbent article. The preferred absorbent core component is a low gel blocking gelled material for improved fluid retention due to its permeable fluid retention mechanism. In the present invention the topsheet works in synergy with the absorbent core, the topsheet is liquid permeable and resists rewetting of acquired fluids. The topsheet of the body surface of the absorbent article is made of a variety of fibers configured at a certain density and with certain dimensions and mechanical properties, so the body surface of the topsheet has a soft, velvet-like touch.

Description

Sense of touch and hold fluidity and can obtain comprehensive improved absorbent device

Present patent application is just on the docket the patent application sequence No.60/128 of on April 8th, 1999 with people's such as Walker name application, 267 part continuation application, this patent application is just on the docket the patent application sequence No.08/832 of on April 11st, 1997 with people's such as Ouelette name application, 715 part continuation application, this patent application is the obsolete patent application sequence No.08/442 of 31 applications in May nineteen ninety-five, 935 part continuation application, this patent application is the obsolete patent application sequence No.08/326 of 20 applications October in 1994,571 part continuation application, this patent application is the obsolete patent application sequence No.08/268 of 30 applications June in 1994,404 part continuation application.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of absorbent device, the sense of touch of this absorbent device and hold fluidity and can obtain comprehensive improvement, the described fluidity of holding can comprise such as fluidic collection and retention etc.This absorbent device comprises such as sanitary towel, panty-liners, diaper, adult-incontinence person liner and panties etc.

Background technology

Such as products such as diaper, sanitary towel, panty-liners, adult-incontinence person liner and panties, glands is known absorbent device, and this absorbent device is widely used for absorbing such as bodily exudates such as urine, feces and menstruations.Typical disposable absorbent article generally includes one, and the lining of the bodyside of liquid and one are positioned at the beneath absorbent article core of lining thoroughly.Absorbent article core can be clipped between the lining and liquid-tight egative film of bodyside, and acting as of this egative film prevents that medicated clothing and skin from contacting with the bodily exudate that is absorbed.Typical bodyside lining can comprise one such as the top flat of porose formed film or the top flat layer of nonwoven.The bodyside lining can also comprise a multiple structure a such as top flat and second top flat that communicates with its liquid (this second top flat is also referred to as spread layer, surge key-course, wicking layer or similar title sometimes).

For satisfy the wearer required hold fluidity, this absorbent device must be promptly makes it not get back to (hold facility or rewetting profit prevention ability) on the Body contact face with depositing to that (acquisition capacity) opened in body exudates migration on the absorbent device Body contact face and the fluid that is moved being preserved.The fluid maintenance performance of absorbent device is represented an equilibrium point between acquisition capacity requirement and fluid hold facility (the rewetting profit prevention ability) requirement usually.In general, this equilibrium point depends on the interaction of the character and the top flat character of absorbent article core.

The wearer of absorbent device also has some other requirements, and these requirements also must give to satisfy as much as possible.These require just like, the body contact one side of absorbent device should be affine as much as possible to skin.The skin affinity comprises some character such as flexibility, compression ratio, fluid is not remained near the skin, do not contain the zest component, skin is not blocked and cause sensation sultry, that perspire.For the user of sanpro, also having the very important point is should farthest be naked eyes sightless (opacifying property) by the menses that absorbent article core absorbed.Though some character of this generic request and absorbent article core is relevant, depend on the character of top flat more.

Absorbent article core to above-mentioned typical absorbent device has two basic demands: get rid of on the top flat sedimentary fluid and it is drawn in absorbent article core and store, and the previous fluid that sucks of prevention disengages (that is avoiding fluid " to extrude " and the body surface of getting wet once more) from absorbent article core from absorbent article core when absorbent article core or whole absorbent device are under pressure.For fine absorbent article construction, also has some other Consideration, such as the thickness of the whole volume of absorbent article core, absorbent article core, stiffness etc.

Many fibrous web sheet structures well known in the art all are suitable for being used for making the absorbent article core element, and many structures have wherein attempted having high capillary pressure and other required character, for example authorize the United States Patent (USP) 5 of Bernardin, 009,650 and 4,699, the device described in 619.The Bernardin device is mainly at one and has covered the fibrous layer that one deck is mainly soft wood pulp above the hardwood pulp fibers layer.Yet the high capillary pressure that this Bernardin device does not reach the present invention and confirmed does not have the advantage of high fluid retention of the present invention yet.In addition, the Bernardin device fails to introduce the superabsorbent granule in whole synusia, does not also mention and uses biconstituent fibers to improve the fluid retention.

The top flat of absorbent device preferably can make sedimentary fluid see through its surface (that is top flat should present high swash of wave permeability) rapidly.In addition, in a single day liquid penetrate top flat and just should not be back to (that is top flat should stop the moistening again of liquid) on this one layer surface again.Preferred top flat also should be soft as much as possible, comfortable and wearer's skin is not had zest.

This area is always in the performance of being devoted to improve top flat according to these demands.For example, have a prior art to use a kind of top flat, this top flat comprises the porose thermoplastic film net of a kind of shaping sheet.The public United States Patent (USP) of assigning 4,342,314 of authorizing people such as Radel August 3 nineteen eighty-two discloses the representative formed film of this class.Here introduce this patent with for referencial use.This net sheet utilizes capillary tube transfusion principle to guide fluid to leave from a surface (wearer-contacting surface) of net sheet by the three-dimensional capillary tube that is formed in the net sheet material, enters and pass this net sheet simultaneously, enters down subsequently in one deck moisture absorption construction.It is exactly its outward appearance and feel similar plastics that there is the problem that consumer was concerned about in this net sheet, developed a kind of porose shaping thermoplastic film net sheet, this thin-film network sheet has the aperture (microcosmic hole) of the surface texture (microstructure) of microcosmic and/or microcosmic with further vision and the haptic effect that improves this class net sheet for this reason.Representational thin-film network sheet is disclosed in United States Patent (USP) 4,463,045 and December in 1986 of authorizing people such as Ahr on July 31st, 1984 and authorized in 16th in people's such as Curro the United States Patent (USP) 4,629,643 in this class net sheet, and its disclosed content is being hereby incorporated by reference.Although these formed film top flats have been obtained the wide range of commercial success, many user feel that they resemble plastics and not too soft.

In another prior art, used the nonwoven web sheet to make top sheet materials.For example, described a kind of non-woven material in the disclosed Japanese patent application 7-119012 that delivers with the name of Kao company May 9 nineteen ninety-five, this non-woven material it is said to have better satisfactory haptic effect than above-mentioned formed film top sheet materials.Although the fibre property of this nonwoven top sheet materials may have the advantage of some sense of touch aspect, non-woven material is the imperfect material aspect prevention rewetting profit of generally acknowledging.

Also have a method for the advantages of formed film material and non-woven material is got up, coat or be layered in above the formed film with a kind of fibrous material.The exemplary topsheets of this structure structure is disclosed among the Statutory Invention RegistrativeH1670 that delivered with people's such as Aziz name on May 9th, 1997 (wherein narrating the non-woven material that is coated on above the formed film material), and on November 8th, 1996 is with the nominal U.S. Patent application sequence No.08/744 that applies for and announce with WO 93/09744 on May 27th, 1993 of Sugahara, in 892 (wherein narrated a kind of structure with central area and both sides epi region, wherein the central area comprises that a kind of formed film both sides epi region then is the non-woven material that covers on the formed film).Here introduce these two disclosed contents with for referencial use.Except passing through the formed film transmitting fluid, this net sheet also presents the capillary fluid transmission characteristic because of the formed three-dimensional capillary tube in its fibrous inside space, and this net sheet can guide fluid to leave and enter next layer moisture absorption construction from wearer's contact surface equally.This net sheet presents aesthetic agreeable property owing to its surface has fibrous attribute, as the outward appearance and the sense of touch of cloth.But, this net sheet because not only extra use the cascade net sheet material also extra increased manufacturing process therefore than the top flat costliness of homogenous material many.In addition, this net sheet since fluid can " stranded " in the tiny fiber inner capillary tube of nonwoven part, therefore still remain near the Body contact face, so hold fluidity can aspect still may be insufficient.

In order to access that above-mentioned three-dimensional capillary tube is held the benefit of liquid and the texture that reduces simultaneously the similar plastics of this formed film, the somebody makes it form a series of protruding peaks that separated by trench with pasting someway porose (non-shaping) thin film on the following nonwoven layers.This structure is disclosed in the United States Patent (USP) 5,536,555 of authorizing people such as Zelazoski on July 1st, 1996 and the PCT that announced with the name of Kimberly-Clark company on January 23rd, 1997 applied among the sequence No.WO 97/02133.Although this structure can reduce the contact area between top sheet materials and the wearer's body, the thin-film material that has similar plastics texture still contacts with the wearer.This material has the expensive shortcoming of above-mentioned stacking material equally.

Authorize people's such as Jackson United States Patent (USP) 5 on July 1st, 1997,643, a kind of lining (top flat) that is used for the absorbent device bodyside has been described in 240, this top flat has a multi-ply construction, this structure is made of stacked being added on the nonwoven web sheet of apertured film, therefore thin layer wherein and nonwoven web sheet have the performance of regulation, it is said to have good penetration speed and good wet performance again when these material layer compositions are got up bodyside lining as absorbent device.Yet, the infiltration rate of the absorbent device that this patent is declared and the performance number of the prior art absorbent device with formed film top flat described in wet performance value and the reference example is closely similar again.In addition, because the body contact of this patent absorbent device simultaneously is a formed film, the bad shortcoming of sense of touch that therefore still has formed film and brought.

Therefore still be necessary to absorbent device hold the liquid characteristic and sense of touch is carried out comprehensive improvement.Pointing out as the front, is to be mutually related to the performance requirement that top flat and absorbent article core proposed.For example, the absorbent article core of a high capillary pressure also will be more prone to and the fluid on the top flat can be exhausted, and therefore can help to prevent the moistening again of top flat.So, in the global design of absorbent device, relate to the problem that several needs are taken all factors into consideration possibly.For example can as narrating, will have the absorbent article core and the sense of touch of high capillary pressure here and hold and obtain better equilibrated top flat between the fluidity energy and combine.In other words, use absorbent article core of the present invention and top flat of the present invention, absorbent device can not only have good sense of touch but also have the good fluidity energy of holding.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a kind of absorbent device, the sense of touch of this absorbent device and hold fluidity and can obtain comprehensive improvement, the described fluidity of holding can comprise that such as fluidic collection and retention etc. this absorbent device comprises such as sanitary towel, panty-liners, diaper, adult-incontinence person liner and panties etc.This improvement on the performance reaches by absorbent article core and top flat are comprehensively improved.The drip acquisition time of special preferred embodiment of the present invention (Drop Acquisition Time) was less than about 35 seconds, the swash of wave sees through the time (Strikethrough Time) less than about 55 seconds, the wet amount of the back of the body (Wetback) is less than 30 milligrams, and dull and stereotyped flexibility is kept the score (panel softness score) between 30 to 60 PSU.These performances are by to the sense of touch of absorbent article core structure and top flat and hold fluidity and can comprehensively improve and reach.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, improved absorbent article core comprises a large amount of hardwood pulp fibers, a large amount of softwood pulp fibers and superabsorbent granule.These two kinds of fibers and superabsorbent granule are evenly distributed in the whole net sheet basically, and this net sheet is a kind of air-laid wadding net sheet structure.This hardwood pulp fibers is preferably by the Eucalyptus wood fiber to be formed, and this Eucalyptus wood fiber is preferably and accounts for about 10% to 50% of net sheet weight.This softwood pulp fibers can be preferably by the southern softwood sulphate pulp fibrous, and softwood pulp fibers is preferably and accounts for about 20% to 60% of net sheet weight.Alternative is that these pulp fibers also can be used with the double elements thermoplastic fibres.

Preferred top flat according to the invention has improved sense of touch and has the excellent fluidity energy of holding simultaneously.This top flat be thoroughly liquid but can barrier liquid moistening again.Top flat according to the invention also is preferably has a large amount of fibers that stand from the basal surface of top sheet materials, and these fibers make these articles for use have softish velvety surface.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the plane graph of preferred embodiment of the absorbent device of sanitary towel's form, and this sanitary towel comprises an absorbent article core according to the invention and top flat;

Fig. 2 is the cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in Figure 1 2-2 along the line;

Fig. 3 is the cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in Figure 1 3-3 along the line.

The specific embodiment

Absorbent device

The present invention relates to surface touch and hold fluidity to have obtained comprehensive improved absorbent device.Absorbent device such as sanitary towel, diaper, adult-incontinence person liner and panties, panty-liners as described herein generally comprises three basic structure elements.A structural detail is liquid-tight basically egative film.Laid a absorbent article core above the egative film such as any structure of the present invention described here.Be provided with a top flat of liquid thoroughly on absorbent article core, this top flat combines with described egative film along the periphery of absorbent device at least.At least one deck acquisition elements (being also referred to as the liquid distribution layer sometimes) can also be set between top flat and absorbent article core.

The present invention adopt top flat and absorbent article core novel combination so that absorbent device hold the fluidity energy and surface touch obtains above-mentioned comprehensive improvement.Prior art can only be improved and can not all be improved both ways in any aspect in the performance aspect above-mentioned two on the same absorbent device.Specifically, absorbent device of the present invention has fluid acquisition ability fast (the low swash of wave sees through time and drip acquisition time) and low wettability again (the wet amount of the low back of the body) and has the flexibility of excellence simultaneously.Below 1 pair of several embodiments of the present invention of example and the typical absorbent device of prior art hold fluidity can and flexibility compare.These examples have clearly confirmed the improvement on the absorbent device performance of the present invention.

As mentioned above, absorbent device of the present invention can be gathered usually apace to the body fluid that deposits on it.Though fluidic collection can be assessed by several different methods with many test(ing) liquids, the given drip acquisition time and the swash of wave believed the useful information that can provide about the ability of the quick collection of body fluids of absorbent device through the time test method in following analytical method one joint.In these two kinds of tests, deposit on the body contact one side of sample for the fluid of determined number apace, and the required time of these fluids of sample collection is measured.The drip acquisition time that suitable absorbent device according to the invention is according to said method measured is preferably less than about 30 seconds for less than about 35 seconds, more preferably less than about 25 seconds, more more preferably less than about 20 seconds, most preferably is less than about 15 seconds.Similarly, it is less than about 60 seconds that the middle stream of suitable absorbent device according to the invention sees through the time, is preferably less than about 55 seconds, more preferably less than about 50 seconds.

When absorbent device was under pressure owing to wearer's motion, absorbent device according to the invention can also stop on absorbed body fluid moves to the interior the body contact one side of getting back to absorbent device from absorbent device, thereby makes rewetting profit phenomenon reduce to minimum.Below analytical method one joint described in back of the body wet test be a method that the humidification chamber of experimentizing is again measured.Sample loads with given pressure after the test fluid that absorbs specified rate in the test, then the amount that turns back to the test fluid on the specimen surface is measured.The wet amount of the back of the body that suitable absorbent device according to the invention is according to said method measured is preferably less than 30 milligrams, more preferably less than 20 milligrams for less than about 40 milligrams.

Absorbent device of the present invention also has satisfactory sense of touch.Though do not pass through theoretical proof, believe absorbent device sense of touch of the present invention why preferably main cause be interaction between the body contact one side of wearers skin and absorbent device.As following also to go through, why the body contact of absorbent device one side has that softish velutinous structure is believed owing to stood a large amount of fibers and had compressible, low-density body contacting surface on the polycrystalline substance of top flat.

Though the present invention is applicable to various types of absorbent devices, comprise baby diaper and adult-incontinence person articles for use, a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1 is a menopad, that is sanitary towel 20.Here used " sanitary towel " speech is meant a kind of absorbent device, and these articles for use are to be worn in to be generally local outside the nephrodinic district near women's the pudendum and to be pass through fluid and other vaginal discharge that are used for absorbing and preserve the wearer's body discharge (for example blood, through liquid and urine).Scope of the present invention also comprises device between lip, and this device portions is stayed in wearer's the vestibule, part is positioned at outside the vestibule.Here used " pudendum " speech is meant the outward appearance visible part of female sex organs.Yet should be appreciated that the present invention also is applicable to other women sanitary articles or such as menopad or other absorbent devices such as incontinent person's liner, gland such as panties liners.

Figure 1 shows that the plane graph of sanitary towel 20 of the present invention, sanitary towel 20 is in the state of shakeouing and part-structure is cut away more clearly to show its internal structure among the figure.Among the figure sanitary towel 20 towards wearer 20A or with the contacted part of wearer 20A towards the observer.Sanitary towel 20 among Fig. 1 is preferably and comprises top flat 21, a liquid-tight egative film 23 that combines with top flat 21 and the absorbent article core according to the invention 25 between top flat 21 and egative film 23 of liquid thoroughly.Fig. 1 described sanitary towel 20 is absorbent devices of having simplified, and it has represented the state of sanitary towel before being put on wearer's underwear.Yet should be appreciated that the particular form or the configuration that the invention is not restricted to this sanitary towel shown in Figure 1.

Sanitary towel 20 has two surfaces, and one is surface or abbreviation " health face " 20A of body contact, and one is " medicated clothing face ".Sanitary towel 20 shown in Figure 1 is the situations of looking from its health face.The health medicated clothing face that its health face will be pressed close to the wearer when sanitary towel 20 is worn then is positioned at an opposite side and presses close to wearer's underwear.

Sanitary towel 20 has two centrages, and one is longitudinal centre line " L ", and one is cross central line " T ".Here used " vertically " speech is meant the straight line in sanitary towel 20 planes, an axle or a direction, it roughly aligns (promptly with a vertical plane, almost parallel), when user wears diaper 20, this vertical plane is divided axial wearer's health equally and is left and right two halves.Here two speech of used " laterally " and " side direction " can exchange, and refer to the straight line in sanitary towel 20 planes, an axle or a direction, it and longitudinal direction approximate vertical.

It is determined peripheral 30 that sanitary towel 20 shown in Figure 1 also has outer rim by it, and longitudinal edge wherein (or claim " lateral margin ") is with 26 marks, and ora terminalis (or claim " two ends ") is with 28 marks.In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, sanitary towel 20 is preferably and is symmetrical in longitudinal centre line and cross central line, and the sanitary towel of a centrage is also included within the scope of the present invention but only be symmetrical in wherein.Sanitary towel 20 is preferably and comprises the side flap or " wing " 34, and this side flap folding is around the crotch portion of wearer's underwear.The side flap 34 can play a plurality of effects, includes but not limited to: prevent that wearer's underwear is contaminated and sanitary towel is fixed on wearer's the underwear.Although top flat, egative film and absorbent article core can be assembled into various known configurations (comprising what is called " tubular " product or side flap formula product), authorize the U.S. Patent No. 4 of Osbom August 21 nineteen ninety, 950,264, the U.S. Patent No. 4 of authorizing Des Marais on January 10th, 1984,425,130, the U.S. Patent No. 4 of authorizing Ahr May 30 nineteen eighty-two, 321, authorized the U.S. Patent No. 4 of Van Tilburg on August 18th, 924 and 1987,589,876 have usually described the various configurations of preferred sanitary towel.

Figure 1 shows that a preferred embodiment of sanitary towel 20, wherein the length of top flat 21 and egative film 23 and width dimensions are usually greater than absorbent article core 25.Top flat 21 and egative film 23 arrive such place beyond extending to the edge of absorbent article core 25, with the marginal portion that not only forms sanitary towel 20 but also form its side flap part.As shown in Figure 1, egative film 23 and top flat 21 are separately positioned on the place of the medicated clothing face and the health face of sanitary towel 20, and they are preferably and are together with each other to form periphery 30.As an example, top flat 21 can interconnect by following means with egative film 23: by an even and successive adhesive layer, by an adhesive pattern layer or the array that separates lines, point or helix by one group of binding agent.The binding agent that is suitable for comprises H.B.Fuller Company of St.Paul, and the trade mark that MN produces is HL-1258 or H-2031 binding agent.Alternative is that top flat 21 and egative film 23 can mutually combine with following method: heat bonding, pressure bonding, ultrasonic bonding, dynamic power machine is bonding or any suitable method that is used in conjunction with egative film and top flat well known in the art.

Fig. 1-3 shows each separate part of sanitary towel of the present invention 20 main parts 22.The main part 22 of sanitary towel is made up of at least three critical pieces.This comprises the top flat 38 of a saturating liquid, a liquid-tight egative film 40 and the absorbent article core 42 between top flat 38 and egative film 40.Preferably, the main part 22 of sanitary towel 20 also comprises the optional acquisition component 44 of one deck at least.Acquisition component 44 can be an individual components between top flat 38 and absorbent article core 42, also can be an ingredient of compound top flat or absorbent article core 42.

Top flat

Top flat 38 is saturating liquid parts, and it allows liquid (for example, through liquid and/or urine) to see through its whole thickness at an easy rate.Top flat 38 is preferably submissive, soft-touch and wearer's skin is not had irritating.As mentioned above, preferred top flat according to the invention had both had excellent sense of touch and had also had the excellent fluidity energy of holding.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the part of the face of health at least of top flat 38 is hydrophilic, so liquid can more easily see through top flat.This reduces from the probability that top flat overflows with regard to making body fluid and do not flow into absorbent article core 42 and being absorbed.The health face of top flat 38 can be treated as hydrophilic with surfactant.The United States Patent (USP) of authorizing Osbon was authorized in people's such as Wnuk the United States Patent (USP) 5,520,875 and has been narrated the usability methods of top flat being handled with surfactant on May 28th, 4,950,254 and 1996.On April 8th, 1999 is with the public U.S. Patent application sequence No.09/287 that the assigns name application of Stone and the common trial of present patent application, narrated particularly preferred surfactant material in 986.

Preferred top flat 38 according to the invention is in sense of touch and hold and reached satisfactory equilibrium between the fluidity energy, this be since it have that some means make that body fluid on the health face 20A that is deposited on sanitary towel 20 can be very fast see through top flat 38 and absorbed by absorbent article core 42.This preferred top flat also provides a barrier, and this barrier stops that just the body fluid that has been absorbed by absorbent article core moves in the opposite direction when exposing owing to the power of wearer's motion generation in sanitary towel 20, has therefore reduced rewetting profit phenomenon.This top flat also has satisfactory sense of touch, and this is owing to stood a large amount of fibers on its polycrystalline substance of top sheet materials, and these fibers provide one basic evenly and softishly to resemble silky sense of touch.

Many kinds of materials are suitable for being used for making top flat 38, such as weaving or non-woven material; Such as polymeric materials such as porose shaping thermoplastic film, apertured plastic films, hydroforming thermoplastic films; Porous foam; Reticulated polymer foam; Netted thermoplastic film; And thermoplastic scrim.Weaving and the non-woven material that is suitable for can be made of (such as, polymer fibers such as polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene fibre) synthetic fibers.This suitable top flat can also be a kind of composite construction, and this composite construction can be formed or be made up of with postforming two-layer thermoplastic film by be shaped thermoplastic film and one deck fibrous layer of one deck.

As mentioned above, this preferred top flat 38 is that the sedimentary body fluid of therefore institute of liquid can see through and be absorbed by absorbent article core 42 fast.In order to reach the purpose that fluid sees through fast, one of them measure is to form a large amount of through holes on top flat.Following two U.S. Patent applications have carried out more detailed description to this porose top flat: a U.S. Patent application sequence No.08/832 who mentioned above being, 715, have the deposit of spaced low-surface-energy material on the microcosmic on the wherein described formed film; Another is December in 1998 U.S. Patent application sequence No.09/217 with people's such as Curro name application on the 21st, 736, a kind of laminar structure of being made up of porose non-woven material and porose shaping thermoplastic film has wherein been described.Preferably, have the discontinuous spaced zone of a plurality of microcosmic on the body contacting surface, comprise the deposit of low-surface-energy material on these zones.This sedimental surface energy is lower than the surface energy of following polymer-matrix bottom material, therefore deposit and below base material between produced a surface energy gradient.This surface energy gradient makes with the contacted fluid of top flat health face and is subjected to a power, and the Body contact face that makes this fluid leave top flat also sees through top flat and absorbed by absorbent article core 42.Authorize 6,025,049 pair of this surface deposits of United States Patent (USP) of people such as Ouelette on February 15th, 2000 and made more detailed description.

Although top flat 38 may have very fast permeability (that is fluid can be moved to the absorbent article core 42 from the health face 20A of sanitary towel 20 soon), but also have the very important point to be with regard to aim of the present invention, the top flat 38 that is suitable for also should be able to stop gathered fluidic moistening again.As everyone knows, wearer's athletic meeting makes absorbent device stressed, and this can make fluid in the absorbent article core moving and again it is got wet towards the health surface current of articles for use.Can stop that fluidic this reverse flow towards the health face is to suppress rewetting profit phenomenon with a kind of barrier.This barrier has many forms.For example, above-mentioned United States Patent (USP) 4,342, the sort of structure described in 314 utilizes capillary size to come the partly reverse flow of suppression fluid.In addition, the disclosed formed film net of this patent sheet can be resisted slightly because the caused shearing force of motion of health and some space of formation between the end face of health face and absorbent article core.The moistening again means of another kind of inhibition are that a kind of surface chemistry barrier at reverse flow is set.Above-mentioned United States Patent (USP) 6,052,049 and U.S. Patent application sequence No.08/832, disclosed surface energy gradient is believed in 715 can provide this to moistening again surface chemistry barrier.

Hold the fluidity energy except discussed above, top flat of the present invention also has satisfactory sense of touch.As top pointed out, we believe, this satisfactory sense of touch is owing to stand a large amount of fibers from the basal surface of top sheet materials.These fibers form a kind of softness and like the velvet Body contact face thereby the sense of touch of having promoted top flat.According to the structure situation difference of top flat 38, this fiber can comprise as the microcosmic hole of being discussed in the above-mentioned United States Patent (USP) 6,025,049 or the part fiber in the non-woven constructions and can extend on the structural matrix part.

The flexibility on surface is easy to assess perception by sense of touch.Can clearly be seen that from example 1 and 2 when with the dull and stereotyped flexibility scoring system in following analytical method one joint top flat 38 of the present invention being carried out flexibility, the appraiser gives the evaluation of top flat 38 of the present invention very high.Use the flexibility scoring of the absorbent device that is suitable for of top flat 38 of the present invention to arrive between about 60 PSU for about 30 dull and stereotyped score units (PSU).Preferably, the flexibility scoring is arrived between about 60 PSU at about 35 PSU.More preferably, the flexibility scoring is arrived between about 60 PSU at about 40 PSU.

Because this fiber is to stand on the basal surface of top flat, therefore make the body surface 20A of sanitary towel 20 have compression ratio.This compression ratio depends on the size of single fiber and the mechanical property of fiber.Loaded state thickness testing method described in following analytical method one joint can provide the surperficial Whole Response relevant with sense of touch and come above-mentioned two factors that work are made assessment.Can see that compression ratio is a compression stress measured roughly along the direction of fibre length compression sample the time.The surface that the value of compression stress is lower has " comfortable " sense, therefore believes that this surface is particularly preferred.The exemplary compression ratio data that provided top flat according to the invention and multiple existing top flat in the example 2 are to make comparisons.The compression ratio that is suitable for that meets top flat of the present invention is less than about 400 gram per centimeters ³Preferably, compression ratio is less than about 375 gram per centimeters ³More preferably, less than about 350 gram per centimeters ³

Why the health face of top flat has compression ratio is believed it is owing to exist in the top flat by the determined zone of volume between the far-end of the basal surface of top sheet materials and fiber.Because to capture this regional material only is some fibre, density that therefore should the zone is very low.Loaded state thickness testing method described in following analytical method one joint can be used for measuring this area density.This regional compression ratio why very low reason material that is to resist compression stress only is those fibrous materials.If proceed to compress until fiber being pressed onto the stage that is in contact with one another, just this moment the density in should the zone near the density of top flat basal surface, compression stress will inevitably increase.If the area density that has been found that material is less than about 0.035 gram per centimeter ³Just can have enough flexibilities.Preferred area density is less than about 0.03 gram per centimeter ³

Provide the fiber of required surface touch to obtain to top flat of the present invention with means of different.The means that are suitable for comprise: aforesaid U.S. Patent 4,629, hydroforming described in 643; Comprise a kind of aforesaid U.S. Patent application sequence No.08/832 in the health face, disclosed non-woven material in 715; As the PCT application sequence No.WO that announced with the name of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing company on February 11st, 1,999 99/06623 is disclosed, makes the soft polymer material fluffing and separate from a template; Authorize as on June 9th, 1998 people's such as Ahr public United States Patent (USP) of assigning 5,763,044 described like that on the health face a kind of heat of printing melt material; Brushing; And well known to a person skilled in the art other means.

Hold fluidity can and sense of touch on obtain particularly preferred combination property top flat 38 comprise a kind of shaping thermoplastic film, this thin film has a plurality of macroscopic pores and a large amount of microcosmic holes, on the engaging zones between the macroscopic pores that is situated between and the microcosmic hole the discontinuous interval region of a plurality of microcosmic is arranged also, comprise the deposit of low-surface-energy material on this interval region.This structure makes and has formed United States Patent (USP) 6,025,049 described surface energy gradient as described above between the basal layer polymer architecture of deposit and formed film.Hold fluidity can and sense of touch on obtain particularly preferred combination property top flat 38 can also comprise a kind of non-woven material, the deposit that has a kind of low-surface-energy material on this non-woven material, this makes and has formed the surface energy gradient between the basal layer polymer architecture of deposit and non-woven material, as the U.S. Patent application sequence No.08/832 of on April 11st, 1997 with people's such as Ouelette name application, authorized people's such as Cree United States Patent (USP) 5 on August 11st, 715 and 1998,792,404 is described.Here the content of introducing two patent disclosures is with for referencial use.

Other material that is suitable for making top flat 38 comprises: the porose non-woven material that meets the United States Patent (USP) 5,628,097 of authorizing people such as Benson on May 13rd, 1997; The laminate of the non-woven material and the porose thermoplastic film that is shaped, the deposit that has low-surface-energy material in this non-woven material, this makes and has formed the surface energy gradient between the basal layer polymer architecture of deposit and non-woven material, as December in 1996 U.S. Patent application sequence No.08/761 with the name application of Bien on the 5th, 736 and aforementioned U.S. Patent application sequence No.09/217,736 is described; As the U.S. Patent application sequence No.09/344 of on June 24th, 1999 with people's such as Lee name application, the formed film material of 161 described permanent hydrophilics; As the described distortion microcosmic of U.S. Patent application sequence No.___________ pore polymer film net sheet; And as the described porose polymeric web sheet of U.S. Patent application sequence No.___________, this net sheet has a large amount of three-dimensional surface textures.More than two patent applications all be (the P﹠amp of on April 7th, 2000 with people's such as Lee name application; The G case number is respectively 8011 and 8012; The patent application serial number of vacancy is mended after knowing and is filled out).Here introduce the disclosed content of above all kinds of patents with for referencial use.

Egative film

Acting as of egative film 40 prevents to be got wet and sanitary towel's 20 contacted article such as underwear, nightwear and underwear etc. by the transudate of absorbent article core 42 absorptions, preservation.Egative film 40 is preferably can keep out flowing of liquid, more preferably liquid (for example, through liquid and/or urine) impermeable.Egative film 40 is preferably made with flexible material.Here used " flexibility " speech is meant that material is submissive and is easy to fit with the general shape and the profile phase of human body.Egative film 40 can comprise weaving or non-woven material, coat the such composite of non-woven material such as the such thin polymer film of polyethylene or polypropylene thermoplastic thin film or such as thin film.Preferred egative film 40 is a kind of thickness polyethylene films from about 0.012 millimeter (0.5 Mill) to about 0.051 millimeter (2.0 Mill).Egative film 40 can be through embossing and/or matt finishing to have more outward appearance as cloth.In addition, egative film 40 can allow to overflow (that is, breathable) and can prevent that transudate from seeing through egative film 40 simultaneously from the water vapour of absorbent article core 42.The No.18-1401 that Clopay Corporation ofCincinnati.OH produces is a kind of suitable stock footage.A kind of suitable ventilative lamination material is arranged, this material be by as authorize the United States Patent (USP) 3 of Thompson, 929,135 described apertured films and as authorize the United States Patent (USP) 4 of Exxon, 777,073 described microcosmic hole film laminating is bonded, and wherein a kind of material in front is inverted, so the one side of its taper smaller opening capillaceous is towards absorbent article core 42.

Absorbent article core

Absorbent article core 42 can be any moisture absorption apparatus that can absorb and preserve liquid (for example, through liquid and/or urine).The absorbent article core that is suitable for that meets the object of the invention has very high affinity to this class I liquid I.Because it has very high affinity, absorbent article core 42 just can be especially effectively come these liquid towing from the top flat 38 and is preserved.The structure that is suitable for of absorbent article core 42 has high capillary pressure, and the liquid that this capillary pressure allows absorbent article core 42 to be able to will be deposited on effectively on the 20 health face 20A of sanitary towel is pulled away from this surface and sees through top flat 38 and preservation.Suitable absorbent article core structure can also be preserved fluid well, and this is that this material can store the fluid of having been gathered by means of the infiltration means because it has high capillary absorption pressure also is also to comprise a kind of superabsorbent material in constructing because of absorbent article core.

As mentioned above, the absorbent article core than low capillary absorption pressure can blot top flat 38 to absorbent article core 42 of the present invention more fully owing to have high capillary absorption pressure.Provided the method that absorbs pressure of measuring in analytical method one joint below.Because absorbent article core 42 has extra high absorption pressure, so it can gather the fluid that is deposited on the top flat 38 very effectively.The average absorption pressure values that is suitable for is at least about 7 centimetres; Preferred average absorption pressure is at least about 10 centimetres; More preferably at least about 12 centimetres.Typical average absorption pressure is between about 7 centimetres to about 25 centimetres.More typical average absorption pressure is between about 10 centimetres to about 25 centimetres.

Absorbent article core 42 can be made various sizes and shape (for example, rectangle, ellipse, hourglass shape, Os Canitis shape, asymmetric shape etc.).The configuration of absorbent article core 42 and structure also can be different, and (for example, can to have the zone (for example, its section is for middle thicker) of several different-thickness maybe can be the structure that comprises one or more layers to absorbent article core.But total moisture absorption capacity of absorbent article core should be consistent with the desired use of design load and sanitary towel.In addition, the size of absorbent article core can be different with the moisture absorption capacity, to adapt to its different purposes such as being used as incontinent person's liner, panty-liners, conventional sanitary towel or overnight hygienic band etc.

Usually the various liquid absorption materials that are used in sanitary towel and other absorbent device all are suitable for being used for making absorbent article core 42, the blend such as the pulverizing wood pulp that generally is called the air felt.Other example of the hygroscopic material that is suitable for comprises: comprise the meltblown polymer that becomes altogether; Chemical enhanced, modification or cross-linked cellulosic; Synthetic fibers such as texturized polyester; The peat natural pond; Comprise tissue encapsulation thing and the tissue of organizing lamination; The moisture absorption foam; The moisture absorption sponge; The superabsorbent polymer; Sucting wet gel material; Or the combination of the material of any equivalence or material or these mixtures of material.The configuration of absorbent article core and the structure also can be different (for example, the zone that absorbent article core can have several different-thickness (for example, its section is middle thicker), different hydrophilic gradient, superabsorbent gradient region, different low-density and harmonic(-)mean quantitative collection zone; Maybe can be the structure that comprises one or more layers).

A particularly preferred absorbent article core 42 according to the invention has added the complex of a kind of hardwood pulp fiber and softwood pulp fiber in air-laid wadding fiber mat.Compare with the moisture absorption net sheet that does not contain hardwood pulp, adding hardwood fiber in above-mentioned complex can increase the capillary pressure of net sheet and improve the fluid distribution situation.In addition, compare, adopt air-laid flocculation structure just might in the whole volume of absorbent article core 42, add the superabsorbent granular materials and also can realize better stiffness control made absorbent article core with existing absorbent article core.Therefore, absorbent article core of the present invention 42 is owing to have high capillary pressure, owing to used the superabsorbent material to have high moisture absorption capacity, owing to stiffness and other physical property are well controlled, so be particularly suitable for and the supporting use of above-mentioned top sheet materials.

Particularly preferred absorbent article core 42 according to the invention is air-laid wadding fiber mats that comprise hardwood pulp fiber and the basic evenly filler of softwood pulp fiber.Preferably, also in the whole volume of this fiber moisture absorption net sheet, added the superabsorbent granule.In addition, this fiber mat can also add such as the such synthetic fibers of double elements binder fibre in the even filler of above-mentioned fiber.

What except as otherwise noted, degree given below referred to all is percentage by weight.Preferably, in the fiber moisture absorption net sheet 40 of the present invention the ratio of contained softwood pulp fiber and hardwood pulp fiber between about 4: 1 to about 2: 1, more preferably between about 3: 1 to 1: 1, most preferably about 2: 1.Particularly preferred hardwood pulp fiber is an eucalyptus fibers.Comprise a kind of eucalyptus grandis material in the eucalyptus fibers of particularly suitable.The hardwood pulp fiber is eucalyptus fibers particularly, has very high surface area, therefore makes moisture absorption net sheet have very high capillary pressure.Yet, add too much hardwood pulp fiber in the net sheet and can reduce its total moisture absorption capacity.In addition, excessive hardwood pulp fiber can make the liquid speed of holding of net sheet be reduced to unacceptable level.Other pulp fibers that is suitable for using in the absorbent article core 42 of the present invention as the hardwood pulp fiber comprises thorn Sophora japonica L., oak, maple wood or the cherry wood fiber.

Hardwood pulp fiber and many softwood pulp fibers mix in the absorbent article core 42 together.The softwood pulp fiber preferably mixes in the moisture absorption construction with aforementioned proportion.Particularly preferred softwood pulp fiber is a southern softwood sulphate pulp fiber.Other softwood pulp fiber that is suitable for comprises the cork sulphate pulp fiber west and the north.

The blend of hardwood pulp fiber and softwood pulp fiber makes the fiber that has the different size that is added in the whole net sheet everywhere.This just makes the net sheet have good fiber surface area distribution, and makes the preferred embodiments of the present invention have very high whole surface area.As mentioned above, the use of hardwood pulp fiber makes us and/or to hold between the liquid speed and to trade off at capillary pressure and moisture absorption capacity.Because absorbent article core 42 of the present invention is air-laid waddings, therefore is easy to mix the superabsorbent material.This superabsorbent material can improve the whole volume of absorbent article core 42, therefore helps the capacity that obtains and the two all very high absorbent article core of capillary pressure.

Preferably also be added with double elements binder fibre and/or superabsorbent granule in the preferred absorbent article core 42 of the present invention.In preferred embodiment more, on the whole thickness of net sheet all substantially equably blending have biconstituent fibers and superabsorbent granule the two.

Add biconstituent fibers and make the net sheet can carry out heat bonding processing, bonding such as the air penetration formula, hot-rolling is bonding, ultrasonic bonds and other every jointing material wherein need fused adhesive means.This class adhesion technique also can improve the stiffness of whole synusia.By regulating consumption and the time of heat bonding operation and the stiffness that temperature parameter can be controlled the net sheet of biconstituent fibers.The biconstituent fibers content that is suitable for be account for net sheet weight about 5% to about 30% between.In a particularly preferred embodiment, biconstituent fibers content be account for net sheet weight about 15% to about 25% between.A kind of preferred biconstituent fibers comprises the polyethylene/polypropylene fiber, and wherein poly crust is enclosed in around the polyacrylic absorbent article core.This 50%/50% concentric biconstituent fibers can buy from the Danaklon of Varde of Denmark.

The jointing material that equally also can include other in the net sheet structure.In the net sheet structure can, but be not necessary, add polyethylene powders binding agent and/or latex bonded agent material.The such powder adhesives of use such as polyethylene makes the net sheet become a kind of heat bonding structure, as the above-mentioned situation that contains the double elements binder fibre.If used latex or similar binding agent, just latex has played binding agent, this structure can be called " latex bonded ".

Each constituent element of only having pointed out the pars fibrosa in the particularly preferred absorbent article core structure in the superincumbent discussion is how to interact and obtain high capillary pressure, but other parts of absorbent article core 42 also can be contributed to some extent to its performance.Particularly, as mentioned above, in absorbent article core 42 of the present invention, preferably used the superabsorbent material.Stockhausen Louisiana Limited of Garyville, the SAB 960 that LA. sells is a kind of typical superabsorbent materials.Compare with general superabsorbent material, be used for preferred superabsorbent granular materials of the present invention and have low gel blockage so good permeability.Exemplary preferred material comprises the Palatine such as Chemdal Corp.Of, the surface-crosslinked polyacrylate that ASAP that IL sells 2300 is such, and on March 1st, 1999 with people's such as Hird name application with common trial of this case and the public U.S. Patent application sequence No.09/258 that assigns, 890 described mixed bed materials.The AGM granule preferably accounts for about 10% to about 50% of absorbent article core 42 weight.The content increase of this superabsorbent material can increase the whole volume of absorbent article core 42.Yet because gel blockage or similar factor, too much superabsorbent material can reduce the breathability of absorbent article core 42.

Fiber moisture absorption net sheet of the present invention can be made with any suitable air-laid wadding technology well known in the art.Adopt air-laid wadding technology granular superabsorbent material can be attached in the whole zone of structure.Compare with the net sheet formation technology that other may adopt, air-laid wadding technology has bigger absolute control action to the physical property of net sheet.

When the net sheet was added with biconstituent fibers, it preferably formed with heat bonding air-laid wadding technology as mentioned above like that.In this structure, use to there is no need such as additional binder materials such as powder adhesives or latex.However, can comprise still in the net sheet that this additional binder is to form a multiple adherent air-laid wadding net sheet.In addition, the net sheet can be as mentioned above uses latex and superabsorbent granule and hardwood and softwood pulp fiber to form a kind of latex bonded air-laid wadding structure and needn't add any biconstituent fibers like that together.The usability methods that forms this air-laid wadding structure is known in the field.Another kind of alternative methods comprises with a large amount of hardwood pulp and softwood pulp fiber uses a kind of air-laid wadding net sheet that forms a kind of heat bonding such as the such binding agent of poly powder.

United States Patent (USP) 5,445,777 have described a method of adding particulate superabsorbent wet stock and/or powder-stuck material (such as above-mentioned polyethylene adhesive) in fiber air-laid wadding net sheet.This method is suitable for being used for constructing fiber moisture absorption net sheet 40 of the present invention.

The air-laid wadding structure that is used for absorbent device of the present invention can make have any suitable quantitatively and density.What be suitable for quantitatively can be at about 60 gram/rice ²To about 400 gram/rice ²Between, the density that is suitable for can be at about 0.05 gram per centimeter ³To about 0.2 gram per centimeter ³Between.One what be used in preferable configuration in the sanitary towel always quantitatively can be about 200 gram/rice ², preferred density is about 0.13 gram per centimeter ³, thickness is about 1.5 millimeters.

For thicker product, absorbent article core 42 of the present invention can comprise the bulk hair of a kind of hardwood pulp fiber and softwood pulp fiber, the thickness of this absorbent article core and the consumer that quantitatively will be adapted to satisfy this product.Optionally, can add a kind of superabsorbent material in heterogeneity in the total.

A kind of preferred material of alternative absorbent article core 42 comprises the foam of polymers that United States Patent (USP) 5,795, the 921 described high inner phase latexes (hipe foam) of authorizing people such as Dyer a kind of as on August 18th, 1998 form.The vesicle size of this foamed materials can be made suitably forr a short time, thereby this material not only has very high above-mentioned capillary and absorb pressure and have sufficient opening simultaneously again, makes as the insoluble composition in blood base flow bodies such as liquid can free-flow.This moisture absorption foam is with polymeric HIPE material manufacture, and the ratio of the envelope-bulk to weight ratio of its water and the envelope-bulk to weight ratio of oil phase is between about 20: 1 to about 125: 1.

Except above-mentioned hygroscopic material, absorbent article core 42 can comprise the hygroscopic material of other type well known in the art, such as the wrinkle cellulose wadding; Comprise the meltblown polymer that becomes altogether; Chemicosolidifying, modification or cross-linked cellulosic; Synthetic fibers such as texturized polyester; The peat natural pond; Comprise tissue encapsulation thing and the tissue of organizing lamination; The moisture absorption foam; The moisture absorption sponge; Or the combination of the material of any equivalence or material or these mixtures of material.These additional materials both can be that the form as the following extra play of being narrated about acquisition elements 44 also can be a kind of alternative preferable configuration of absorbent article core 42.

Although this alternative preferable configuration still must be held the requirement that fluidity can the aspect in the face of absorbent article core 42 above-mentioned, this structure makes the designer of absorbent device have extra design space to satisfy other performance requirement except the general requirement of holding fluidity energy and sense of touch that meets absorbent device of the present invention.This exemplary absorbent article core of the present invention structure that also is applicable to comprises an acquisition elements, this acquisition elements is come with a binding agent figure and top flat is bonding thereby have one without adherent window, this window cover absorbent article core that multiple bonding air-laid wadding non-woven material forms above, this non-woven material comprise that a kind of as on May 8th, 1998 assigns with people's such as Daniels name application public and with the U.S. Patent application sequence No.09/074 of the common trial of the application, 909 and 1996 on Decembers 20, are with the cellulose fibre described in the international patent application sequence No.PCT/US96/20873 of the people's such as Lynard of the U.S. name application, biconstituent fibers, the blend of superabsorbent material and latex adhesive, and as authorized people's such as Horney United States Patent (USP) 5 on August 27th, 1996,549,589 described chemistry are stiffening, twisting, and the texturized fiber that curls, the blend of high surface area fiber and thermoplastic binder fibre.Here introduce the disclosed content of above all kinds of patents with for referencial use.Absorbent article core 42 also can comprise the blend or the complex of fibrous material and hipe foam, wherein this foam both can be flaky also can be granular.

If adopted acquisition elements (or claim " acquisition layer " or " spread layer ") 44, just it be laid on top flat 38 below.Here used " layer " or " net sheet " all speech include but not limited to: open and flat, folded piece, strip material, other complex morphological loose or adherent fiber, multilayer material or laminated material or these materials.Therefore these two speech are not add restriction for open and flat material layer of monolithic or material piece.Acquisition elements 44 can be below top flat 38 space of formation, thereby make sanitary towel that the ability of liquid towing by top flat 38 increased.In the described here preferred embodiment, acquisition elements 44 is preferably for lateral compression power and presents resilience, so sanitary towel 20 has better anti-roping capability.

The body fluid that the acting as apace of acquisition layer collected and temporarily preserved the wearer and discharged, and get in other position that makes fluid be easy to be transferred to from initial contact site acquisition layer and absorbent article core.The transmission that the improves discharge liquor of body important several reasons that exists that why seems, thus one of them reason is can improve the uniformity that discharge liquor distributes can make sanitary towel 20 make more thinnerly relatively in whole absorbent article core.Here used " transmission " this speech is meant the transmission of liquid on one, two or all directions (that is in X-Y plane and/or Z direction).Acquisition layer can be made up of the different materials of nonwoven that comprises synthetic fibers or textile web sheet, these fibers comprise such as synthetic fibers such as polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene, natural fiber such as the wood fiber or cellulose fibre, the complex of the blend of these fibers or the material of any equivalence or different materials.The United States Patent (USP) 4 of authorizing Osbom, 950,264, December in 1991 17 days with people's such as Cree name application and on June 24th, 1993 as PCT application sequence No.WO 93/117, the 725 U.S. Patent application sequence No.07/810 that announce, 774 and above the typical sanitary towel with acquisition layer and top flat has been described more fully among the international patent application sequence No.PCT/US96/20873 that mentioned.Here introduce the disclosed content of above all kinds of patents with for referencial use.In a preferred embodiment, come in conjunction with acquisition layer and top flat with any traditional method that connects the net sheet, it is bonding that most preferred method is drawn the consolidation of being described in detail in the Cree patent application for reference above being.

Acquisition elements 44 is liquid thoroughly.Acquisition elements 44 is preferred or submissive, soft-touch and non-irritating to the skin of user.Acquisition elements 44 have one towards health face (or side) and one towards the medicated clothing face.Acquisition elements 44 can have any suitable size and dimension.In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, be runway shape as the acquisition elements 44 of a part that covers the top flat 38 on sanitary towel's 20 main parts 22, but lateral edge is slightly recessed.Yet the gravel size decision of acquisition elements 44 is the same not big with top flat 38.

Acquisition elements 44 can adapt with the purpose with it and the superincumbent any material of top flat 38 consolidations can be made.Acquisition elements 44 can be made up of for example weaving or non-woven material.Fiber in this material or other component can be synthetic or part is that synthetic part is natural.The synthetic fibers that are suitable for comprise polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, chinlon, viscose rayon yarn or cellulose acetate fibre.The natural fiber that is suitable for comprises cotton fiber, cellulose fibre or other natural fiber.Acquisition elements 44 also can be made up of cross-linked cellulose fibres at least in part.Make if acquisition elements 44 is non-woven materials, then can make by many different technologies.These technologies include but not limited to: air-laid wadding, wet method shop wad a quilt with cotton, melt and spray, spunbond, carded, heat bonding, air penetration formula are bonding, the combination of powder-stuck, latex bonded, solvent bonding, spunlaced and above these technologies.

Acquisition elements 44 can be with above-mentioned United States Patent (USP) 5,549, and the method about dispersion layer described in 589 constitutes.Another preferable configuration of acquisition elements 44 is to be formed by two kinds of non-woven material laminations.The top one deck of this laminate (or claim " second top flat ") 46 is preferably by available from Fiberweb, NorthAmercia of Washougal, the 19 gram/sign indicating numbers of the No.065MLPV60U of WA. (or " P-9 ") ²(about 22.5 gram/rice ²) spunbond polypropylene non-woven material composition.Following one deck of this laminate (or title " the 3rd top flat ") 48 is preferably by a kind of multiple bonding air-laid wadding non-woven material that gets through heat bonding with powder adhesives and latex adhesive to be formed.In a preferred embodiment, this multiple bonding air-laid wadding non-woven material comprises about 77% cellulose fibre, about 20% powder adhesives and about 3% latex adhesive (each side of net sheet sprays 1.5%), and it quantitatively is about 50 gram/sign indicating numbers ²(about 60 gram/rice ²) (except as otherwise noted, all here percentage composition be meant percentage by weight).This multiple bonding air-laid wadding non-woven material is preferably the Products from Merfin Hygienic, Ltd.of Delta, and BritishColumbia, Canada buys, product No.9083X312.To this two-layer nonwoven layer carry out being preferably when laminated together multiple bonding air-laid wadding non-woven material covered on the spunbond polypropylene non-woven material.This spunbonded materials has been the effect of technology auxiliary material or carrier web sheet in lamination process.

In alternative, this spunbond polypropylene non-woven material quantitatively can be more greater or lesser or this material can substitute with a kind of air-laid wadding tissue, wet-laying tissue or any above-mentioned material.If organize to substitute the polypropylene non-woven material with wet-laying, then laminating direction is preferably reverse, like this, and when product is made, just multiple bonding air-laid wadding non-woven material covers on the wet-laying organized layer.Under the thicker situation of sanitary towel, any acquisition elements recited above can be used.In addition, in a thicker preferred embodiment of sanitary towel, whole acquisition elements can be made (that is, not needing the 3rd top flat) with a kind of low-density latex bonded air-laid wadding material.Be applicable to that the material of making this acquisition elements is from Walkisoft, USA of Mt.Holly, the No.FG413MHB product that NC buys, it quantitatively is about 80 gram/rice ²

Top flat 38 described here be preferably consolidation in acquisition elements 44 or/and on the absorbent article core 42.The U.S. Patent application sequence No.09/074 that mentioned in the above, narrated in 909 a kind of on many discrete sites with the usability methods of top flat consolidation (or in conjunction with) to the layer elements down.Drawn for the patent application of reference describedly as top, top flat is preferably only bonding at some discrete upper and lower layer elements in position, and at the central part of articles for use one " without adherent window " will be arranged.

The assembling of sanitary towel

Top flat 38, egative film 40, absorbent article core 42 and acquisition elements 44 (if any) can be assembled into various configuration well known in the art (comprise cascade type or title " sandwich type " and around volume type or title " cartridge type ").Illustrated in figures 1 and 2 is a preferred embodiment that is assembled into the sanitary towel 20 of sandwich type.In Fig. 1-3, the length of top flat 38 and egative film 40 and width dimensions are generally greater than absorbent article core 42.Top flat 38 and egative film 40 extend to outside each edge of absorbent article core 42 to form the each several part of periphery 30.Top flat 38 towards medicated clothing one side as described above with simultaneously the combining of acquisition elements 44 towards health.If desired, acquisition elements 44 can combine with absorbent article core 42.If these elements are to combine, can adopt described here being used for to come combination in conjunction with any method of top flat 38 and acquisition elements 44.Yet in illustrated embodiment, acquisition elements 44 is not directly to be attached on the absorbent article core 42.Egative film 40 be preferably by binding agent be attached to absorbent article core on medicated clothing one side.

The part that top flat 38 and egative film 40 exceed absorbent article core 42 and acquisition elements 44 edges preferably also is together with each other.These parts of top flat 38 and egative film 40 can combine with any usability methods well known in the art.Here used " combination " speech comprises three kinds of structures: thus an element directly is attached on another element this element directly is fixed on another element; An element is attached on one or several medium element, thereby medium element again then attach on another element this element is fixed on another element; And an element becomes as a whole with another element, that is an element is actually the part of another element.In an illustrated embodiment, the curl part of apical end 28 of absorbent article core 42 edges and main part that exceeds of top flat 38 and egative film 40 preferably entirely combines with binding agent basically, and by pressurization or the method that not only heats but also pressurize with its compacting.

Exemplary absorbent device structure

A particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises that one meets the top flat of above-mentioned United States Patent (USP) 6,025,049 and above-mentioned particularly preferred absorbent article core.Sample 2 in the performance of this special preferable configuration such as the back table 1.Data from table 1 as seen, holding of this special preferred embodiment reached good equilibrium between fluidity energy and the sense of touch.

Specifically, the top flat 38 of this special preferred embodiment comprises a shaping thermoplastic film, this thermoplastic film has a plurality of macroscopic pores and a large amount of microcosmic hole, when this thermoplastic film is used as top flat, these a plurality of macroscopic pores allow the fluid of contact top flat 38 health faces by top flat, and this a large amount of microcosmic hole extends upward and forms Body contact face 20A.The discontinuous isolated zone that also has a plurality of microcosmic on the area between this microcosmic hole and this macroscopic pores includes the deposit of low-surface-energy material on this zone.Between the bottom polymer architecture of particularly preferred top flat 38 and this deposit, there is a surface energy gradient, this surface energy gradient produces a power, and this is made every effort to promote makes that the sedimentary body fluid of institute is absorbed by absorbent article core 42 to the macroscopic pores migration and by macroscopic pores on the health face 20A.

The preferred embodiment also comprises an acquisition elements 44, this acquisition elements 44 be positioned at as mentioned above top flat 38 below.Acquisition elements 44 comprises second top flat 46 and one the 3rd top flat 48 of a spunbond polypropylene non-woven material, the 3rd top flat 38 is to reach above-mentioned United States Patent (USP) 5 as mentioned, 549, the 589 described multiple bonding air-laid wadding non-woven materials that are glued together with powder adhesives and latex adhesive like that.

Absorbent article core 42 fronts that are used for the preferred embodiment were introduced in detail, and on August 8th, 1999 with the public that assign of people's such as Noel name application and with the U.S. Patent application sequence No.60/128 of the common trial of present patent application, more detailed description is arranged in 352.As mentioned above, comprised the blend of hardwood pulp fiber and softwood pulp fiber in the preferred structure of absorbent article core 42, these fibers have high capillary pressure and superabsorbent polymer, so absorbent article core 42 has very high infiltration storage capacity.

The structure that preferred element recited above is discussed according to assembling one joint of top sanitary towel is assembled into the preferred embodiment of sanitary towel 20 of the present invention with liquid-tight egative film 40 well known in the art.

Selectable unit

The side flap

As mentioned above, the sanitary towel 20 shown in Fig. 1-2 is preferably and comprises a pair of optional side flap 24, and this offside flap 24 is combined on the main part 22.The side flap 24 laterally extends outwardly and exceeds vertical side 26 of main part 22 and arrive their far-end (or " free end ") 62 from their near-end 60 beginning.The side flap 24 stretches out from the middle body at least 36 of main part 22.As shown in Figure 1, each side flap 24 is by side flap transverse centerline ₁Be divided into first half 64 and latter half of 66.Side flap transverse centerline ₁Can overlap with the horizontal main centrage T of sanitary towel, but this is not absolute necessary.

The side flap 24 can be connected with main part 22 in any suitable mode.Preferably, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1-3, the side flap 24 is an integral body (that is the side flap 24 integrally is made up of the extension of top flat 38 and egative film 40) with main part 22.In other alternate embodiment, the side flap 24 can be made up of the independent component that combines with main part 22.Each side flap 24 be connected with main part 22 along a junction (or contact).This junction is the junction such as connecting line 68 such machine-direction oriented (or " longitudinally ") normally.Here used " junction " (or " connecting line ") speech is meant a zone, and the side flap 24 begins from this zone to extend or be attached on the integral part 22.In illustrated embodiment, connecting line 68 can be designed to be by zone that concaves or lines determined.

The side flap 24 can have any suitable configuration.The side flap that is suitable for has been described: authorized the reexamination patent No.B14 of Van Tilburg on April 27th, 1993,589,876 with the reexamination certificate in following patent disclosure; Authorized the United States Patent (USP) 4,687,478 of Van Tilburg on August 18th, 1987; Authorize people's such as Lavash United States Patent (USP) 5,389,094 February 14 nineteen ninety-five; JIUYUE in 1996 were authorized people's such as Weinberger United States Patent (USP) 5,558,663 (having described a side flap substitute that is added by the wearer outward) on the 24th; And on October 3rd, 1996 is with the international patent application sequence No.PCT US 96/15957 of people's such as Lash name application.U.S. Patent application sequence No.09/074 on May 8th, 1998 with people's such as Daniels name application, 909 comprise deformed region and an extensible district or a different extensibilities district that forms hinge with December in 1996 was described the side flap 24 on the 20th among the international patent application sequence No.PCT/US96/2087 with the people's such as Lynard of the U.S. name application other preferred feature.

Auxiliary device

Can comprise and preferably include on the medicated clothing face 20B of sanitary towel 20 and be used for sanitary towel is attached to the fixture that wearer's underwear gets on.Central fixed-bearing 82 has been shown among Fig. 3, and this fixed-bearing 82 is suitable for the main part 22 of sanitary towel is fixed in the crotch district of underwear.Any kind fixture well known in the art can use such as binding agent fixture, mechanical fixed part etc.Have binding agent, preferably the fixture of pressure sensitive adhesives is well suited for this occasion.In a preferred embodiment, central fixed-bearing 82 comprise that a pair of middle ware separates longitudinally and aim at binding agent band or the zone of longitudinal centre line L.

Place at the close side flap far-end 62 of the side flap 24 outer surfaces preferably is provided with side flap binding agent 84.The purposes of side flap binding agent be assist to keep the side flap 24 behind the edge of crotch area in the side flap 24 centered on the position should be arranged.United States Patent (USP) 4,917,697 pairs of suitable parts that are adhesively fixed have been made more detailed description.Can be attached to the side flap 24 on the underwear on the position or be attached on the side flap on opposite for the side flap 24 being remained on to have.

But the used fixture of the present invention is not limited to the adhering device that bonds.Any class fixture that use this area can use.For example, sanitary towel 20 can be fixed on wearer's the underwear with mechanical fixed part, this mechanical fixed part is just like VELCRO or authorize the United States Patent (USP) 4 of Battrell August 7 nineteen ninety, 946,527 or authorize people's such as Goulait United States Patent (USP) 5 February 28 nineteen ninety-five, 392,498 described fixtures.Yet only the fixture that utilizes the bonding adhering device is described here for simplicity.

All covered the removable release liner of one deck on the corresponding bonding adhering device.Among the figure center liner release liner and side flap release liner the two all use numeral 86 to mark.All should cover one deck release liner 86 on all pressure sensitive adhesives attached on the extraneous surfaces before sanitary towel uses to prevent binding agent.United States Patent (USP) 4,917 has been described the release liner that is suitable in 697.Authorize in people's such as Swanson the United States Patent (USP) 4,556,146 and described a kind of particularly preferred release liner, this release liner also as one independently encapsulant be used for packing sanitary towel.

Will take unsticking layer 86 earlier off before sanitary towel 20 of the present invention uses is put into sanitary towel 20 in the underwear again.Main part 22 will be placed in the crotch portion of underwear, and an end of main part 22 extends towards the leading portion of underwear, and the other end extends towards the back segment of underwear.Egative film 40 will be towards panty crotch central authorities' inner surface and contact with it.With the center liner part 82 that is adhesively fixed main part 22 is fixed on and should has on the position.The distal portions of the side flap 24 lateral edges folding around underwear is got up.With side flap binding agent 84 the side flap 24 is fixed on the side flap of a following or relative side of underwear.

Example

Example 1

The given method of the following surface analysis method of this example one joint comes the fluidity of holding of several different embodiment of sanitary towel of the present invention can be compared with the sanitary towel of flexibility and typical prior art sanitary towel and market sale, and this market sale sanitary towel believes the outstanding person's that can represent in the prior art products.

Table 1

Catalogue number(Cat.No.)	The swash of wave sees through the time (second)	The wet amount of the back of the body (milligram)	Drip acquisition time (second)	Flexibility (PSU)
					????1	????43	????45	????3	????34
????2	????47	????9	????5	????35
					????3	????10	????5	????5	????37
????4	????13	????5	????6	????8
					????5	????95	????11	????25	????31
????6	????55	????11	????6	????9
					????7	????195	????330	????0.2	????49
????8	????33	????749	????18	????49
					????9	????38	????8	????8	????8
????10	????134	????19	????0.2	????22
					????11	????11	????4	????0.3	????5
????12	????49	????43	????49	????41
					????13	????63	????6	????52	????36
????14	????60	????46	????3	????38
					????15	????55	????28	????0.6	????36
????16	????64	????83	????47	????26
					????17	????71	????30	????0.5	????23

Catalogue number(Cat.No.)	The sample explanation
		????1	Prior art: top flat such as United States Patent (USP) 6,025,049, absorbent article core is as application sequence No.09/074,909
????2	The present invention: top flat such as United States Patent (USP) 6,025,049, the absorbent article core of above-mentioned special preferred embodiment
		????3	The present invention: top flat such as United States Patent (USP) 6,025,049, thick, air felt absorbent article core
????4	Prior art: top flat such as United States Patent (USP) 4,342,314, thick, air felt absorbent article core
		????5	The present invention: top flat is as application sequence No.09/217,736, the absorbent article core of above-mentioned special preferred embodiment
????6	Prior art: top flat such as United States Patent (USP) 4,342,314, absorbent article core is as application sequence No.09/074,909
		????7	Prior art: available from the Laurier Softmesh Ultia thin sanitary towel of Japanese Kao Mfg.Co

????8	Prior art: available from the thick sanitary towel of Laurier Softmesh Slim of Japanese Kao Mfg.Co
		????9	Prior art: available from the Sofy Sara thin sanitary towel of Japanese UniCharm
????10	Prior art: available from Personal Products Co.of Skillman, the Stayfree Ultra Thin thin sanitary towel of NJ
		????11	Prior art: available from the thick sanitary towel of Stayfree Alas Normal Malla Siempre Seca of Venezuela from Johnson ﹠ Johnson de Venezuela
????12	Prior art: available from the Kotex Camelia thin sanitary towel of German Kimberly-Clark GmbH
		????13	Prior art: available from the elis thin sanitary towel of Korea S elleair
????14	The present invention: permanent hydrophilic top flat such as above-mentioned U.S. Patent application sequence No.________ (P﹠G case numbers 8012, the applicant fills out after patent application serial numbers is known), absorbent article core such as United States Patent (USP) 5,795,921
		????15	The present invention: polyethylene shaped film topsheet such as above-mentioned U.S. Patent application sequence No.________ (P﹠G case numbers 8012, the applicant fills out after patent application serial numbers is known), absorbent article core such as United States Patent (USP) 5,795,921
????16	Prior art: available from the porose hydrophobicity nonwoven of the Corolind top flat of German Corovin GmbH of Prnne, quantitative 20 gram/rice 2, as United States Patent (USP) 5,628,097
		????17	Prior art: available from the hydrophobicity nonwoven top flat that the Corolind perforated surface activating agent of German Corovin GmbH of Prnne is handled, quantitative 20 gram/rice 2, meet United States Patent (USP) 5,628,097

2 examples of example compare the performance relevant with flexibility of top flat of the present invention and prior art top flat.Table 2

Catalogue number(Cat.No.)	Flexibility (PSU)	Compression ratio (gram per centimeter 3)	Area density (gram per centimeter 3)
				????1	????32	????325	????0.027
????2	????4	????549	????0.037
				????3	????43	????581	????0.072
????4	????46	????226	????0.018
				????5	????-	????714	????0.050
????6	????-	????592	????0.073
				????7	????-	????653	????0.150
????8	????-	????488	????0.058
				????9	????-	????205	????0.037
????10	????47	????339	??????-

????11	????33	????430	?-
				????12	????48	????939	?-
????13	????-	????250	?-
				????14	????41	????350	?-

Catalogue number(Cat.No.)	The sample explanation
		????1	Top flat such as United States Patent (USP) 6,025,049
????2	Top flat such as United States Patent (USP) 4,342,314
		????3	Top flat is as application sequence No.09/217,736
????4	Nonwoven web sheet available from the Laurier Softmesh Ultia thin sanitary towel top flat of Japanese Kao Mfg.Co
		????5	Formed film available from the Sofy Sara thin sanitary towel top flat of Japanese UniCharm
????6	Available from Personal Products Co.of Skillman, the nonwoven web sheet of the top flat of the Stafryee Ultra Thin thin sanitary towel of NJ
		????7	Formed film available from the top flat of the thick sanitary towel of Stayfree Alas Normal Malla Siempre Seca of Venezuela from Johnson ﹠ Johnson de Venezuela
????8	Nonwoven web sheet available from the top flat of the Kotex Camelia thin sanitary towel of German Kimberly-Clark GmbH
		????9	Nonwoven web sheet available from the top flat of the elis thin sanitary towel of Korea S elleair
????10	The polyethylene shaped film topsheet that meets above-mentioned U.S. Patent application sequence No.________ (P﹠G case number 8012, the applicant fills out) after patent application serial numbers is known
		????11	As United States Patent (USP) 4,629,643 formed film top flat
????12	Available from the Corolind hydrophobicity nonwoven web sheet of German Corovin GmbH of Penne, as United States Patent (USP) 5,628, behind the 097 formation aperture quantitatively is 20 gram/rice 2
		????13	Permanent hydrophilic formed film top flat as above-mentioned U.S. Patent application sequence No.________ (P﹠G case number 8012, the applicant fills out after patent application serial numbers is known)
????14	Distortion permanent hydrophilic formed film as above-mentioned U.S. Patent application sequence No.________ (P﹠G case number 8011, fill out after applicant's patent application serial numbers is known)

Analytical method

The drip acquisition time

1) the top flat sample with 28 centimetres of about 18 cm x is placed on one deck BOUNTY toweling (available from Procter ﹠amp; Gamble of Cincinnati, OH) on, this toweling is layered on the flat surfaces.Clean Lexan with 1 centimetre of 15 centimetres wide 20 cm thick of a block length ^Plate is placed on the top flat sample, this Lexan ^Be drilled with the hole of 18 1.9 centimetres (3/4 inches) on the plate, every row 6 holes are totally 3 rows, 2.5 centimetres of pitchs of holes.The pressure that this plate is applied on the sample is about 0.02 ft lbf/inch ²(0.14 kPa), this pressure have guaranteed closely to contact between top flat and the Bounty toweling.

If entire product is assessed, another kind of scheme is not use this flat board.As an alternative, be added on the product sample by following figure with 18 Sanguis caprae seu ovis (seeing step 2): 6 are added drop-wise near the intersection point of the longitudinal centre line of product and cross central line; Respectively add 3 near the two ends of longitudinal centre line; The two ends of cross central line respectively add 3.

2) with pipette (can with the Eppendorf Air Displacement pipette of 100 milliliters of capacity) 45 milliliters of Sanguis caprae seu ovis are dripped on the specimen surface by a hole on the plate.The top of pipette should be high from the about 3-5 millimeter of topsheet surface, and should be minimum from the power of drop being sent time effect from pipette.

Pick up counting immediately when 3) drop contacts sample.

4) when looking that drop has entered or see through the top surface of sample, just stop timing, and write down this drop acquisition time.

5) if acquisition time surpasses 60 seconds, then be recorded as 61 seconds.

6) 17 holes of residue on the Lexan plate are repeated step 1 to 5, each sample carries out 18 times altogether and measures.

7) other two top flat samples are repeated step 1 to 6.

8) calculate average drip acquisition time, drop does not pass or saw through the person and be taken as 61 seconds with interior at 60 seconds in the calculating.

The swash of wave sees through the time

The swash of wave of this test method measuring sample sees through the time, that is the liquid that is added to the prescribed volume on top sheet materials or the absorbent device health face sees through the required time of sample, and described top sheet materials or absorbent device contact with following moisture absorption body fluid.Here employed method be European disposable use and non-woven material association (Brussels, standard method No.150.3-96 Belgium) but following some difference is arranged:

Experimental condition	EDANA method 150.3-96	The inventive method
			Ambient temperature	????20±2℃	22±1℃
Relative humidity	????65±2％	50±2％
			Experimental liquid	Synthetic urine solution	Sanguis caprae seu ovis
The substrate hydroscopic substance	Filter paper	The absorbent device that processing is over
			Restriction pressure	500 fill/(12.5 centimetres) 2(about 0.3 kPa)	0.25 ft lbf/inch 2(1.7 kPas)
Gather fluid volume	5 milliliters of each swashes of wave	10 milliliters of each swashes of wave

The wet amount of the back of the body

Carrying on the back wet amount test is that design is used for measuring the amount of fluid that makes the topsheet surface humidity from a moisture absorption construction through top flat.Here employed method be European disposable use and non-woven material association (Brussels, standard method No.151.1-96 Belgium), but following some difference is arranged:

Experimental condition		EDANA 151.1-96 method	The inventive method
				Ambient temperature
		20±2℃	22±1℃
				Envionmental humidity		65±2％	50±2％
The filter paper model		ERTFF3	?Ahlstrom(Mt.Holly ?Springs，PA)#632
				Filter paper quantity		5	7
Restriction pressure		4000 gram/(10 centimetres) 2(about 3.9 kPas)	0.77 ft lbf/inch 2(5.2 kPas)
				Experimental liquid		Synthetic urine solution	Sanguis caprae seu ovis
The carrier fluid amount		3 times of filter paper weight	7.5 milliliter
				Appear the time	Distribute	Carried 3 minutes	15 minutes
Moistening again	2 minutes	15 seconds

Dull and stereotyped flexibility

General introduction

By some trained classification personnel the soft-touch of a series of test products or top sheet materials is compared.

The classification personnel

All classification personnel are that they have the ability to distinguish the difference that soft-touch is small through the women who selects and train.A part of content of this training is that each classification personnel is determined " dominant hand " (that is a most responsive hands), all uses this hands in all assessments afterwards.In basic exercise again and again, all classification personnel are supervised, and will repeat for the drift amount that will produce along with the time reduces to minimum this training.

Device

Experience case: the room that design is used for experiencing assessment has some characteristics, personnel keep apart mutually such as each classification, to set up a barrier between sample and the appraiser, they will contact sample by the slit on the barrier, and preferably also have other characteristics well known in the art.We find, followingly experience case and are suitable for being used for carrying out flexibility.This experiences the square casket that case is 43 centimetres of (panel) * 20 of one 33 cm x centimetre (deeply), an opening that is used to put into sample is arranged on the back side of case, an opening is also arranged on the front of case, this opening hides (intermediate section of curtain is split into and is each wide about 21 centimetres two parts, so that the classification personnel are easy near sample) with the black curtain.

Felt pan: when fractionated sample only is top flat, do substrate with the felt pan of 18 centimetres of one 23 cm x.A kind of suitable base material is available from Kunin Felt of Hampton, the Rainbow Class of NH, the 54 polyester felt pans of Royal Blue.

Method

1) the evaluation group group leader puts into first sample and experiences case.The sample number of assessing in any one test loop can as many as six.Use two control samples in each series, one is that the higher relatively sample of flexibility reading is (by above-mentioned United States Patent (USP) 4,629, the 643 hydroforming thin film of making, the flexibility reading is about 35), another is that the relatively low sample of flexibility reading is (by above-mentioned United States Patent (USP) 4,342,514 formed films of making, the flexibility reading is about 5).Sample is delivered to each classification personnel there randomly.When the sample of assessment only was top flat, sample at first will entirely be spread out on the felt pan surface before delivering to classification personnel there.Only classification is once for each sample.

2) the classification personnel carry out classification with 60 fens systems to the flexibility of each sample, be meant soft at all in 0 minute and be meant in 60 minutes very soft/soft.The classification personnel determine the flexibility grade (finger is wanted embowment only to contact sample with its top) of sample with the top of first, second and third three fingers of her dominant hand.The effect of control sample is to keep the different once concordance between the test.The grade of each sample marks and is recorded in the sample data form with the scale of linearity.

3) come repeating step 1 and 2 with at least 12 classification personnel.

Report

Report out the meansigma methods and the standard deviation of each sample test, comprise the control sample.Can use the method (for example, variance analysis, Newman-Keuls respectively organize between mean and relatively wait) of known definite statistical significant difference.

Loaded state thickness

General introduction:

This test determines material thickness is with the variation of adding load.The resulting data of this method can be used for calculating the variation with adding load of the compression ratio of material and area density.

Scope:

This method is applicable to that thickness is from 0.2 millimeter to 5 millimeters material.The sample of testing with this method should be smooth and obviously not crooked.The end face of specimen material and bottom surface should be substantially parallel.

Sample:

It is the flat board to sample pressurization of being used for of 25.4 mm dias that sample should cut into greater than diameter.The rectangle cutting die that is suitable for is of a size of 6.99 centimetres of 3.81 cm x.The tested position of sample should be shakeout.Sample can obtain from independent material or final products cutting, but cutting part must not have fold or bending, and sampling process must not make the size distortion of material.For example, when taking a sample on final products, specimen material must be clearly and the material separation of other parts.At least tackle three different samples and measure, get the meansigma methods of its measurement result.

Device:

Use constant speed stretching (CRE) testing machine to test.The CRE testing machine that is suitable for is available from InstronCorporation, Canton, the Instron 5564 type testing machines of MA.The control accuracy of the crosshead position of CRE testing machine and certainty of measurement should reach 0.01 millimeter.The load measurement precision of CRE testing machine should reach 0.5 gram force (5 milli cattle).The compliance of CRE testing machine under 1 Niu Zaihe should be less than 0.02 millimeter.Should fix a diameter on the crosshead of motion is 25.4 millimeters (5.07 centimetres of areas ²) and and the rigidly connected circular flat disk of force cell.Should fix the circular flat board that a diameter is at least 100 millimeters on the static clamp below rigidly.The work surface of upper and lower two flat boards should be parallel to each other, and its nonparallelism error is smaller or equal to 0.02 millimeter.

Test procedure:

1. be 100 centimetres with analytical balance to known its area accurately ²Or above top flat sample carries out weighing, accurately to 0.0002 gram, to determine the gram number of top flat sample.

2. smooth sample is placed on down on the flat board, the spacing between the parallel flat is known.To the sample of one 1.00 millimeters thick, the initial separation of recommendation is 3.00 millimeters.During each on-test, when flat board does not touch sample, the CRE force cell be made zero.

3.CRE the upper flat plate of testing machine falls towards sample with the speed of 2.54 mm/min, and writes down the data of 100 points in every millimeter stroke at least, when compression that sample is subjected to and load reach 500 gram forces till.

4. determine the thickness of the material under arbitrary specified load by the position data of upper flat plate.Material thickness in the time of should measuring load and be 5 gram forces and 50 gram forces (pressure that sample is subjected to should be 100 handkerchiefs and 1000 handkerchiefs mutually) at 2.

Calculate:

Compression ratio equals the secant slope of section between compression stress/strain curve 5 gram forces and 50 gram forces at 2 divided by compressing area.Compression ratio unit is (a gram per centimeter ³).This secant slope equals the load change value divided by change value of thickness.For example, if the thickness of material under 5 gram force load is 1.00 millimeters and thickness under 50 gram force load is 0.70 millimeter, then:

Equally, the area density under the specified load restrains number (the gram number of every square centimeter of material) with material and can get divided by the thickness under the paid close attention to load:

For example, if the gram number of material is 0.00325 gram per centimeter ², the thickness under the 100 handkerchief effect pressure is 0.065 centimetre, then:

Average absorption pressure

The height of absorbtivity (free absorptive capacity) half the when Fluid Volume of absorption of this experimental measurement or desorbing equals highly to be 0 centimetre.Here employed method is the U.S. Patent application sequence No.09/258 that is entitled as the hygroscopic piece (AbsorbentMembers Comprising a High Surface Area Material for Absorbing Body Fluids) that comprises the high surface area material that is used for absorb body fluids of 1999.3.1 with people's such as Young name application, 889 described capillary tube adsorption methods, but following some difference is arranged:

1) initial suction highly is 50 centimetres, rather than 200 centimetres.

2) test is carried out under the laboratory indoor conditions, rather than under controlled temperature and relative humidity, carry out.

3) glass filter plate 202 is what not cover.

4) container 206 and balance 207 do not seal.

5) cylinder 266 and piston 288 do not carry out balance under 31 ℃.

6) substitute apertured film to reduce evaporation with a thin film that blocks.

7) being provided with highly is 50 centimetres.

8) do not do the evaporation loss correction.

9) according to absorbing isotherm formula, the height of sample absorbtivity one half is determined average capillary absorption pressure when equaling highly to be 0 centimetre with the fluid of absorption of sample.

All patent disclosures of being narrated in the present patent application, patent application (and by and any patent and any foreign patent application of having announced accordingly of deriving) and publication all are incorporated herein by reference.Yet, do not think that particularly the present invention is instructed or disclosed to the draw for any file of reference here.Do not admit material or the product instruction that any commerce of being mentioned is sold especially here yet or disclose the present invention.

Specific embodiments more of the present invention have been done diagram and description above, obviously, those skilled in the art also can make multiple change or modification under the situation of the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (15)

1. absorbent device, described absorbent device has health face and medicated clothing face, and described absorbent device comprises:

The top flat of saturating liquid, described top flat has a kind of moistening barrier that prevents again, and the compression ratio of wherein said top flat is less than about 488 gram per centimeters ³

Liquid-tight egative film, this egative film are placed on the below of described top flat and combine along the periphery and the described top flat of described absorbent device at least; And

Absorbent article core, this absorbent article core are placed between described top flat and the described egative film, and described absorbent article core has the internal surface area of the high high capillary pressure of generation, to strengthen being deposited on the body fluid absorption on the described body surface;

Wherein said top flat and described absorbent article core be collaborative to be had less than about 55 seconds swash of wave described absorbent device to see through the time and less than 30 milligrams the wet amount of the back of the body.

2. absorbent device, described absorbent device has health face and medicated clothing face, and described absorbent device comprises:

The top flat of saturating liquid, described top flat has a kind of moistening barrier that prevents again, and the compression ratio of wherein said top flat is less than about 488 gram per centimeters ³

Liquid-tight egative film, this egative film are placed on the below of described top flat and combine along the periphery and the described top flat of described absorbent device at least; And

Absorbent article core, this absorbent article core are placed between described top flat and the described egative film, and described absorbent article core has the internal surface area of the high high capillary pressure of generation, to strengthen being deposited on the body fluid absorption on the described body surface;

Wherein said top flat and described absorbent article core be collaborative to have less than about 30 seconds drip acquisition time and less than 30 milligrams the wet amount of the back of the body described absorbent device.

3. absorbent device, described absorbent device has health face and medicated clothing face, and described absorbent device comprises:

The top flat of saturating liquid, described top flat has a kind of moistening barrier that prevents again;

Liquid-tight egative film, this egative film are placed on the below of described top flat and combine along the periphery and the described top flat of described absorbent device at least; And

Absorbent article core, this absorbent article core are placed between described top flat and the described egative film, and described absorbent article core has the internal surface area of the high high capillary pressure of generation, to strengthen being deposited on the body fluid absorption on the described body surface;

The dull and stereotyped flexibility of wherein said absorbent device is between about 30PSU and 60PSU, and described top flat and described absorbent article core are collaborative that described absorbent device is had less than about 30 seconds drip acquisition time and less than 30 milligrams the wet amount of the back of the body.

4. absorbent device, described absorbent device has health face and medicated clothing face, and described absorbent device comprises:

The top flat of saturating liquid, described top flat has a kind of moistening barrier that prevents again, and the area density of wherein said top flat is less than about 0.035 gram per centimeter ³

Liquid-tight egative film, this egative film are placed on the below of described top flat and combine along the periphery and the described top flat of described absorbent device at least; And

Absorbent article core, this absorbent article core are placed between described top flat and the described egative film, and described absorbent article core has the internal surface area of the high high capillary pressure of generation, to strengthen being deposited on the body fluid absorption on the described body surface;

Wherein said top flat and described absorbent article core be collaborative to have less than about 30 seconds drip acquisition time and less than 30 milligrams the wet amount of the back of the body described absorbent device.

5. absorbent device, described absorbent device has health face and medicated clothing face, and described absorbent device comprises:

The top flat of saturating liquid, described top flat has a kind of moistening barrier that prevents again;

Liquid-tight egative film, this egative film are placed on the below of described top flat and combine along the periphery and the described top flat of described absorbent device at least; And

Absorbent article core, this absorbent article core are placed between described top flat and the described egative film, and described absorbent article core has the internal surface area of the high high capillary pressure of generation, to strengthen being deposited on the body fluid absorption on the described body surface;

The dull and stereotyped flexibility of wherein said top flat is between about 30PSU and 60PSU, and described top flat and described absorbent article core are collaborative that described absorbent device is had less than about 30 seconds drip acquisition time and less than 30 milligrams the wet amount of the back of the body.

6. as each described absorbent device in the claim 1 to 5, it is characterized in that the average absorption pressure of described at least a portion of described absorbent article core is greater than about 7 centimetres.

7. absorbent device as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, the average absorption pressure of described absorbent article core is between about 7 centimetres and about 25 centimetres.

8. absorbent device according to any one of the preceding claims, it is characterized in that, described top flat comprises a kind of shaping thermoplastic film material, this material has a plurality of macroscopic pores and a large amount of microcosmic holes, wherein on the engaging zones between macroscopic pores and the microcosmic hole the discontinuous interval region of a plurality of microcosmic is arranged also, the deposit that comprises low-surface-energy material on this interval region, this makes and has formed the surface energy gradient between the basal layer polymer architecture of deposit and formed film.

9. as each described absorbent device in the claim 1 to 7, it is characterized in that, described top flat comprises a kind of non-woven material, comprises the deposit of low-surface-energy material on this non-woven material, and this makes and has formed the surface energy gradient between the basal layer polymer architecture of deposit and non-woven material.

10. as each described absorbent device in the claim 1 to 7, it is characterized in that, the lamination that described top flat comprises a kind of non-woven material and the porose thermoplastic film that is shaped is formed, the deposit that has low-surface-energy material on the surperficial facing surfaces that is connected with thermoplastic film of this non-woven material, this makes and has formed the surface energy gradient between the basal layer polymer architecture of deposit and non-woven material.

11. absorbent device according to any one of the preceding claims is characterized in that, described absorbent article core comprises a kind of foam of polymers, and this foam is formed by a kind of high inner phase latex.

12. as each described absorbent device in the claim 1 to 10, it is characterized in that described absorbent article core comprises a kind of blend, this blend is by forming through chemicosolidifying, twisting and bulk fiber, high surface area fiber and the thermoplastic binder fibre that curl.

13., it is characterized in that described absorbent article core comprises a kind of air-laid wadding fibrous web sheet as each described absorbent device in the claim 1 to 10, comprise the basic blend uniformly of a kind of hardwood fiber and cork fibrous in this net sheet.

14., it is characterized in that described absorbent article core also comprises the superabsorbent granule as claim 12 or 13 described absorbent devices.

15. absorbent device according to any one of the preceding claims, it is characterized in that, described absorbent device also comprises acquisition elements, this acquisition elements and described top flat are undertaken bonding by figure so produce not adherent window, wherein said acquisition elements is placed between described top flat and the described absorbent article core, and absorbent article core wherein comprises a kind of multiple adherent air-laid wadding non-woven material, and this non-woven material comprises a kind of blend of being made up of cellulose fibre, biconstituent fibers, superabsorbent granule and latex adhesive.

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