The Procter Gamble Company

The Procter & Gamble Cellulose Company

The Buckeye Cellulose Corporation

Danny R Moore

Howard Leon Schoggen

James W Owens

Walter L Dean

Gerald A Young

Jeffrey T Cook

Neal L Schlintz

Susan L Crenshaw

Glen Ray Lash

Benjamin Edgar Chapman

Michael T Payne

Carlisle M Herron

Robert M Bourbon

Arthur F Phillips

Jeffery T Cook

Robert W Perkins

Orin Alvin Shields

Absorbent structures having a fluid acquisition/distribution layer with an average dry density of less than about 0.30 g/cc, an average density upon wetting with 1.0% NaCl aqueous solution of less than about 0.20 g/cc, and an average dry basis weight from about 0.001 to about 0.10 g/cm.sup.2 ; and a fluid storage layer positioned beneath the acquisition/distribution layer comprising at least about 15% superabsorbent material. The fluid acquisition/distribution layer comprises from about 50% to 100% chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers and from 0% to about 50% binding means.

Absorbent structures containing stiffened fibers and superabsorbent

An absorbent article having a dual-layer absorbent member, wherein the deposition region of its upper acquisition layer comprises a distribution zone and an acquisition zone having a lower average density and a lower average basis weight per unit area than the distribution zone. The acquisition zone is positioned toward the front of either the absorbent member or the absorbent article so that the acquisition zone may most effectively and efficiently rapidly acquire discharged liquids. The lower storage layer comprises a mixture of hydrophilic fibrous material and discrete particles of absorbent gelling material having a particular size distribution so as to enhance the absorbent capacity and acquisition rate of the dual-layer absorbent member. The upper acquisition layer comprises a homogeneous composition of stiffened, twisted, and curled cellulose fibers which provide enhanced wicking action in the densified distribution zone. The upper acquisition layer serves to rapidly and evenly distribute fluids to the lower storage layer for storage, while freeing the acquisition zone for the next discharge of fluid.

Absorbent members having improved fluid distribution via low density and

Absorbent structures having a wetlaid fluid acquisition/distribution layer with an average dry density of less than about 0.30 g/cc, an average density upon wetting with 1.0% NaCl aqueous solution of less than about 0.20 g/cc, and an average dry basis weight from about 0.001 to about 0.10 g/cm.sup.2 ; and a fluid storage layer positioned beneath the aquisition/distribution layer comprising at least about 15% superabsorbent material. The fluid acquisition/distribution layer comprises from about 50% to 100% chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers and from 0% to about 50% binding means.

Absorbent structures containing superabsorbent material and web of

Individualized, stiffened, twisted cellulosic fibers and absorbent structures made from such fibers. The fibers have an average dry fiber twist count of at least about 4.5 twist nodes per millimeter, an average wet fiber twist count of at least about 0.5 twist nodes per millimeter less than the dry fiber twist count, and a water retention value of between about 28% and about 50%. Preferably the fibers have an average wet fiber twist count of at least about 3.0 twist nodes per millimeter and an isopropyl alcohol retention value of less than about 30%.

Twisted, chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers and absorbent structures

A process for making individualized, crosslinked fibers having low levels of residual crosslinking agent. The fibers are made by contacting the fibers with a crosslinking agent; reacting the crosslinking agent with the fibers to form intrafiber crosslink bonds in the substantial absence of interfiber bonds; and washing the fibers with an alkaline solution.

Process for making individualized, crosslinked fibers having reduced

Individualized, crosslinked fiber, and process for making such fibers. The individualized, crosslinked fibers have between about 0.5 mole % and about 3.5 mole % crosslinking agent, calculated on a cellulose anhydroglucose molar basis, reacted with fibers in the form of intrafiber crosslink bonds, wherein the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialdehydes, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialdehyde acid analogues having at least one aldehyde functionality, and oligomers of such C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialdehydes, and dialdehyde acid analogues. Preferably, the crosslinking agent is glutaraldehyde, and between about 0.75 mole % and about 2.5 mole % crosslinking agent react to form the intrafiber crosslink bonds. The individualized crosslinked fibers are useful in a variety of absorbent structure applications.

Individualized crosslinked fibers and process for making said fibers

Absorbent structures containing individualized, crosslinked fibers. The individualized, crosslinked fibers preferably have between about 0.5 mole % and about 3.5 mole % crosslinking agent, calculated on a cellulose anhydroglucose molar basis, reacted with the fibers in the form of intrafiber crosslink bonds, wherein the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialdehydes, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialdehyde acid analogues having at least one aldehyde functionality, and oligomers of such C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialdehydes and dialdehyde acid analogues. More preferably, the crosslinking agent is glutaraldehyde, and between about 0.75 mole % and about 2.5 mole % crosslinking agent react to form the intrafiber crosslink bonds. Also preferably, the absorbent structures have actual dry densities greater than their corresponding equilibrium wet densities, and expand upon wetting. The absorbent structures may also contain hydrogel-forming material.

Absorbent structure containing individualized, crosslinked fibers

A two-ply nonwoven fabric laminate comprises a first-ply of synthetic fibrous nonwoven material having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a thickness, and having a basis weight of from about 10 g/m.sup.2 to about 50 g/m.sup.2 ; and a second ply of fibrous nonwoven material having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a thickness, and having a basis weight of from about 10 g/m.sup.2 to about 50 g/m.sup.2. The inner surfaces of the first and second plies are adhered at their interface by a flexible, soft latex binder. The binder is adhered to substantially all fibers exposed on the inner surfaces of the first and second plies. The binder is present in the first ply from its inner surface to a depth of from about 20% to about 80% of its thickness, and is present in the second ply from its inner surface to a depth of from about 20% to about 80% of its thickness.

Two-ply nonwoven fabric laminate

A nonwoven disposable towel, having particular utility as a surgical towel, comprising a five-ply structure and method of making it. The outermost plies of the towel are tissue. To each of these tissue plies there is adhered an intermediate ply constituting a medium density, thermoplastic, long fibered, nonwoven material. These tissue-intermediate ply assemblies comprise primary laminates accounting for four plies of the towel. Between these primary laminates there is located a fifth or center ply constituting a low density, melt blown, long fibered, nonwoven material. The entire structure is heat sealed about its periphery and additional spot heat bonds may be employed to minimize slippage between the center ply and the two primary laminates. The two primary laminates may be embossed prior to assembly of the towel.

Disposable nonwoven surgical towel and method of making it

A moist pulp fiberization device wherein picked moist pulp enters a tubular chamber behind a fiberizing blade mounted coaxially within the chamber, the fiberizing blade being configured to produce a turbulent vortex with little, if any, pressure differential within the chamber, the flow of pulp through the chamber being induced and controlled by drawing a vacuum on the trailing end of the chamber and providing an adjustable orifice plate intermediate the fiberizing blade and the trailing end of the chamber; if required, the fibers withdrawn from the chamber may be successively introduced into one or more additional chambers of like configuration to effect substantially complete fiber separation, whereupon the separated fibers are discharged for subsequent processing and use.

Growing community of inventors

Germantown, TN, United States of America

Danny R Moore