Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Other

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai

Brigitte C Wertheim

Brian T Etzel

Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev

William S Pomplun

Pavneet Singh Mumick

Jian Qin

James Hongxue Wang

Richard Norris Dodge, Ii

Jayant Chakravarty

Xiaomin Zhang

Frank Steven Glaug

David Martin Jackson

Yung Hsiang Huang

Sridhar Ranganathan

Cathleen Mae Uttecht

Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet

Susan Marie Weyenberg

Charles Wilson Colman

John Edward Kerins

Mary Jo Meyer

Brian K Nortman

Jennifer Cappel Larson

Christopher Dale Fenwick

Bridget Ann Balogh

Roland Columbus Smith, Jr

Nancy Birbiglia Lange

D Keith Osteen

Erin A Evans

Scott Stephen Englebert

This invention is a surge material having permanent storage properties that results in faster intake and greater saturation capacity and reduced fluid flowback. More specifically the invention is a surge material with a superabsorbent material printed on in a pattern of discrete regions. The objective of the invention is obtained by printing, or other known application process, a liquid superabsorbent precursor solution containing a crosslinkable composition onto a surge material and then curing the printed surge material to crosslink the polymers to get a surge material having discrete regions of superabsorbent material in the surge material. This invention is also useful in making an absorbent core of an absorbent article with improved strength, increased absorbency, and decreased shedding of superabsorbent material.

Nonabsorbent surge layer having discrete regions of superabsorbent and method for making

A biodegradable hydrophilic binder fiber. These fibers may be produced by co-spinning an aliphatic polyester material in a side-by-side configuration with a polylactide polymer to obtain a fiber with improved material attributes. A multicarboxylic acid may be incorporated into either or both components of the fiber. The aliphatic polyester polymer may be selected from a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polybutylene succinate-co-adipate polymer, or a blend of these polymers. The biodegradable bicomponent fiber exhibits substantial biodegradable properties, yet has improved thermal stability and has significantly reduced shrinkage. The bicomponent fiber may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.

Biodegradable bicomponent fibers with improved thermal-dimensional stability

A breathable, biodegradable/compostable laminate for use in personal care products. The laminates may be produced from polymer blends. The biodegradable/compostable laminates may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.

Breathable, biodegradable/compostable laminates

This invention relates to an absorbent composite which utilizes multifunctional superabsorbent materials to enhance distribution of fluids within the absorbent composite. More specifically, this invention relates to superabsorbent materials which swell and absorb fluids and also can deswell and release fluids into the surrounding absorbent composite and towards additional superabsorbent material. The superabsorbent materials of this invention deswell and release fluid by means of a triggering mechanism. Triggering mechanisms can include thermal, chemical, mechanical, electronic, magnetic, and radiation energies. Swelling and deswelling of the superabsorbent materials can be repeated for more than one cycle thereby improving fluid distribution. Multiple swelling and deswelling cycles allow multiple insults to be distributed throughout an absorbent composite, fully utilizing the absorbent capabilities of the full absorbent composite and minimizing leakage.

Absorbent composites exhibiting swelling/deswelling properties

Disclosed are absorbent composites, useful in an absorbent article, having high liquid intake rates. The absorbent composites may also have a rapid liquid lock-up. Absorbent composites of this invention have an intake rate of at least about 1.9 cc liquid/second at an 80% absorbent composite saturation level and a liquid lock-up fraction of at least about 0.70 at 50% superabsorbent material saturation. The absorbent composites of this invention can be a freeze-dried composite, an airformed absorbent composite, or other fibrous or non-fibrous absorbent composites.

Absorbent materials having improved fluid intake and lock-up properties

The present invention is directed to multicomponent fibers having poly(ethylene oxide) in at least a portion of the exposed surface of the fiber. In one embodiment, the PEO is a grafted poly(ethylene oxide). The multicomponent fibers of the present may be used to manufacture nonwoven webs that can be used as components in medical and health care related items, wipes and personal care absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, incontinence garments, sanitary napkins, pantiliners, bandages and the like.

Multicomponent fibers

A method for making a biodegradable thermoplastic composition. The thermoplastic composition may be used in methods to produce multi-component fibers and non-woven materials that demonstrate a higher contact angle hysteresis, quicker intake times, and improved skin dryness as compared to prior art materials. In addition, biodisintegratable nonwoven materials made according to the present invention also exhibit high wetting rates, which is unexpected based upon the higher hysteresis values. The nonwoven material may be produced using thermoplastic compositions which comprise an unreacted mixture of an aliphatic polyester polymer as a continuous phase, polyolefin microfibers as a discontinuous phase encased within the aliphatic polyester polymer continuous phase, and a compatibilizer for the aliphatic polyester polymer and the polyolefin microfibers. The multicomponent fiber exhibits substantial biodisintegratable properties and good wettability yet is easily processed. The biodisintegratable nonwoven materials may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.

Methods for making a biodegradable thermoplastic composition

The present invention is directed to thermoformable ion-sensitive compositions having improved processability. In addition, the present invention is directed to a process of making water-dispersible fibers, films and fabrics, which maintain their structural integrity and strength when in use, but dissolve and disperse when placed in contact with large amounts of water, such as in a conventional sink or toilet. Moreover, the present invention is directed to water-dispersible products, including flushable products such as personal care products, diapers, incontinence devices, release liners, feminine napkins, product packaging, etc., which contain fibers, films and fabrics formed from the water-sensitive compositions.

Methods for making water-sensitive compositions for improved processability and fibers including same

A thermoplastic composition that includes an unreacted mixture of a polyethylene oxide polymer, a polyolefin polymer, an aliphatic polyester polymer, and, optionally, a compatibilizer for the polymers. One embodiment of such a thermoplastic composition is a mixture of polyethylene oxide polymer, poly(lactic acid) polymer, and polyethylene polymer. The thermoplastic composition is capable of being extruded into fibers that may be formed into nonwoven structures that may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.

Methods for making a thermoplastic composition including polyethlene oxide and fibers including same

A disposable article including a biodegradable nonwoven material having improved fluid management properties. The nonwoven material may be produced using thermoplastic compositions which comprise an unreacted mixture of a poly(lactic acid) polymer; a polybutylene succinate polymer or a polybutylene succinate adipate polymer, or a mixture of such polymers; and a wetting agent. The thermoplastic composition exhibits substantial biodegradable properties yet is easily processed. The biodegradable nonwoven materials may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.

Methods for making a thermoplastic composition and fibers including same

Disclosed herein is a water dispersible pantiliner which has a triggerably dispersible body side facing liner, a garment side facing baffle, and, optionally, a triggerably dispersible absorbent core disposed between the liner and baffle. The garment baffle may be biodegradable. In one embodiment, the invention has a peel strip overlaying a garment attachment adhesive layer which adhesively attaches the peel strip to the clothing of a wearer on one side and to one side of a baffle on the other. The baffle is in turn attached on a second side to a body facing side with a construction adhesive. The body facing side may be made from multiple layers such as a body side liner and absorbent layer.

Water dispersible pantiliner

Disclosed is a biodisintegratable nonwoven material having improved fluid management properties. The biodisintegratable nonwoven material demonstrates a higher contact angle hysteresis, quicker intake times, and improved skin dryness as compared to prior art nonwoven materials. In addition, these biodisintegratable nonwoven materials also exhibit high wetting rates, which is unexpected based upon the higher hysteresis values. The nonwoven material may be produced using thermoplastic compositions which comprise an unreacted mixture of an aliphatic polyester polymer as a continuous phase, polyolefin microfibers as a discontinuous phase encased within the aliphatic polyester polymer continuous phase, and a compatibilizer for the aliphatic polyester polymer and the polyolefin microfibers. The multicomponent fiber exhibits substantial biodisintegratable properties and good wettability yet is easily processed. The biodisintegratable nonwoven materials may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.

Biodisintegratable nonwovens with improved fluid management properties

Disposable absorbent product having biodisintegratable nonwovens with improved fluid management properties

A biodegradable nonwoven material having improved fluid management properties. The nonwoven material may be produced using thermoplastic compositions which comprise an unreacted mixture of a poly(lactic acid) polymer; a polybutylene succinate polymer or a polybutylene succinate adipate polymer, or a mixture of such polymers; and a wetting agent. The thermoplastic composition exhibits substantial biodegradable properties yet is easily processed. The biodegradable nonwoven materials may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.

Biodegradable polylactide nonwovens with improved fluid management properties

A novel synthetic fiber is disclosed including a first component of an aliphatic polyester polymer, a second component of a multicarboxylic acid, an admixture of the first component aliphatic polyester polymer and the second component multicarboxylic acid to form an unreacted specified thermoplastic composition, and melt blending the unreacted specified thermoplastic composition in an extruder or a mixer. The second component multicarboxylic acid lubricates the extruder and provides a nucleating agent for crystallizing the specified thermoplastic composition to form a mean crystal size less than about 120 Angstroms. Fiber composed of the specified thermoplastic composition has a mean crystal size less than about 120 Angstroms. The fiber has a glass transition temperature (Tg) less than about 55&deg; C. In one aspect, a first component of polylactic acid and a second component of adipic acid provide synthetic fibers in a nonwoven structure used in a biodegradable and compostable disposable absorbent product for the absorption and removal of body fluids.

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai