Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Jason Matthew Laumer

Dave Allen Soerens

Young Ko

David Martin Jackson

Sridhar Ranganathan

Stanley Roy Kellenberger

Kambiz Bayat Makoui

Lawrence Howell Sawyer

Richard Harry Thiessen

Russell Paul George

James Hongxue Wang

Jian Qin

Candace Dyan Krautkramer

Cathleen Mae Uttecht

Henry Louis Griesbach, Iii

Debra Jean McDowall

Shannon Kathleen Melius

Brenda Marie Nelson

Henry L Griesbach

Rob David Everett

Varunesh Sharma

Kenneth Russell Casson

Julie Anne Draves

David Allen Soerens

Rob D Everett

Debra Jean Mcdowall

Henry L Iii Griesbach

An absorbent binder coating including monoethylenically unsaturated polymer units, polyacrylate ester units that include an alkoxysilane functionality, and polyolefin glycol units and/or polyolefin oxide units, can be applied to various substrates. For example, the coating can be self-applied to an article of clothing or to a person's skin to provide absorbency. Alternatively, the coating can provide moisture absorbency, as well as adhesive properties, when incorporated into various articles including medical devices, wound dressings, laminates, absorbent garments, packaging materials, and horticultural products.

Absorbent binder coating

A method of making an absorbent structure having high integrity is provided. A first superabsorbent polymer precursor composition including a monomer, a crosslinking agent and a reducing agent, and a second superabsorbent polymer precursor composition including a monomer, a crosslinking agent and an oxidizing agent are combined at a plurality of discrete, spaced-apart locations on or in a substrate. The precursor compositions react with each other to form discrete, spaced-apart microdomains of superabsorbent polymer adhering to the substrate. The spacing is sufficient to avoid gel blocking when the microdomains swell due to liquid absorption. The adhesion to the substrate is sufficient to maintain spacings between the microdomains of superabsorbent polymer.

Method of making an absorbent structure having high integrity

Absorbent structures having controlled liquid intake, distribution and absorption properties include at least one substrate layer and a flexible absorbent binder formed on and bound to the substrate at selected locations. The flexible absorbent binder is selectively formed so as to provide flow channels, regions of higher and lower fluid intake and absorption, dams for preventing fluid leakage, and other desirable features. The absorbent structures are useful in personal care absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, diapers, training pants, adult incontinence garments and the like.

Absorbent structures with selectively placed flexible absorbent binder

A process for making an absorbent fibrous web composite including a stable, controllable dispersion of superabsorbent polymer is provided. A pre-formed web, desirably including cellulose fibers and, optionally, thermoplastic fibers is provided. First and second superabsorbent polymer precursor compositions are added to the fibrous web using separate streams. The first and second superabsorbent polymer precursor compositions combine with each other and chemically react on or in the fibrous web, to form a superabsorbent polymer which sticks to the surface of the fibrous web.

Process for adding superabsorbent to a pre-formed fibrous web using two polymer precursor streams

An absorbent binder composition is provided which is capable of crosslinking after application to a substrate, in the absence of radiation, at a temperature of about 120&#xb0; C. or less. The absorbent binder composition includes about 15 to about 99.8% by mass monoethylenically unsaturated polymer units, about 0.1 to about 20% by mass polyacrylate ester units having an alkoxysilane functionality, and about 0.1 to about 75% by mass of polymer units selected from polyolefin glycols and polyolefin oxides. The absorbent binder composition can be prepared using a template polymerization process, with the preformed polyolefin glycol or polyolefin oxide serving as a template polymer.

Absorbent binder composition and method of making it

A process for forming an absorbent fibrous web composite includes the initial step of forming a fibrous web from hydrophilic fibers and, optionally, thermoplastic fibers. Then, a superabsorbent polymer is completely formed in situ on or in the fibrous web by adding one or more superabsorbent polymer precursor compositions to the fibrous web using a non-contact process, and performing the polymerization reaction(s) completely on or in the web.

Process for adding superabsorbent to a pre-formed fibrous web via in situ polymerization

A method of making an absorbent binder composition includes combining a first aqueous monomer solution including a reducing polymerization initiator with a second aqueous monomer solution including an oxidizing polymerization initiator to form a binder composition having post application, moisture-induced crosslinking capability. The first aqueous monomer solution includes a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer that contains an alkoxysilane functionality. The second aqueous monomer solution includes a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer. The monoethylenically unsaturated monomer included in the first and second aqueous monomer solutions may be carboxylic, sulphonic, or phosphoric acids or salts or a combination thereof. The ethylenically unsaturated monomer may be an acrylate or methacrylate. Crosslinking of the resulting binder composition is induced by removal of water. The polymerization of the monomer solutions to form an absorbent binder composition may be carried out in about 100 minutes or less.

Method for making an absorbent binder composition and application thereof to a substrate

A fluid storage material including particles, such as superabsorbent particles and/or microencapsulated fragrance agents, cleansing agents, or skin rejuvenation agents, secured to one another and/or secured to a substrate. The fluid storage material can be made by dispersing particles in a crosslinkable binder solution, applying the combined particles and binder solution to a surface such as a substrate or a release surface, inducing crosslinking of the binder, and removing the solvent from the surface such as, for example, by drying the solvent. The fluid storage material is particularly suitable for use in personal care products.

Fluid storage material including particles secured with a crosslinkable binder composition and method of making same

An absorbent article for personal care use includes a fluid intake layer, a flexible absorbent binder layer and a support layer. The flexible absorbent binder layer is formed between the intake layer and the support layer, and is bound to both layers. The flexible absorbent binder layer is formed from an absorbent binder composition which is applied in a liquid form, and which is capable of spontaneous crosslinking at about 120&deg; C. or less. The absorbent article has a simplified structure and a simplified manufacturing method compared to conventional personal care absorbent articles.

Absorbent article with self-forming absorbent binder layer

An absorbent binder composition including a monoethylenically unsaturated polymer, such as carboxylic acid, sulphonic acid, or phosphoric acid, or salts thereof, and an acrylate or methacrylate ester that contains an alkoxysilane functionality, or a monomer capable of co-polymerization with a compound containing a trialkoxy silane functional group and subsequent reaction with water to form a silanol group. The absorbent binder composition is particularly suitable for use in manufacturing absorbent articles. A method of making the absorbent binder composition includes preparing a monomer solution, adding the monomer solution to an initiator solution, and activating a polymerization initiator within the initiator solution.

Absorbent binder composition and method of making same

A process for making an absorbent composite including absorbent fibers, superabsorbent polymer and, optionally, thermoplastic fibers and other ingredients is provided. The synthesis (i.e., polymerization) of the superabsorbent is completely integrated into the process for forming the absorbent composite. Specifically, the polymerization of superabsorbent is initiated from within a plurality of absorbent and/or thermoplastic fibers, which are then formed into a web. The integrated process eliminates the need for separate manufacture of superabsorbent polymer prior to the fiber forming and web forming processes. Also, the superabsorbent polymer thus formed tends to disperse better and remain adhered to the absorbent and/or thermoplastic fibers, providing a stable and uniform absorbent composite for various end use applications.

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

Jason Matthew Laumer