Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Jin Chen

Sangwook Lee

Xuedong Song

Andrew Mark Long

William Clayton Bunyard

SiOn Choi

Sarah A O'Brien

Marcela Rendon

A disposable absorbent product includes a double-network polymer element including a cross-linked, covalently-bonded polymer and a reversible, partially ionicly-bonded polymer, wherein the element has a moisture level less than or equal to 15 percent of the total weight of the element, wherein the element comprises a latent retractive force, and wherein the element is configured to release the retractive force to achieve a dimensional change in the disposable absorbent product with exposure of the element to an aqueous liquid. Manufacturing a disposable absorbent product includes producing a double-network hydrogel; elongating by force and dehydrating while still elongated the double-network hydrogel, wherein elongating and dehydrating captures a latent retractive force in the element; and positioning the element in a disposable absorbent product such that a dimensional change in the disposable absorbent product is achieved with exposure of the element to an aqueous liquid.

Products with materials that shrink in one dimension and expand in another dimension

A feminine care absorbent article having fluid barrier and decolorizing structures is described. Such structures can prevent the spread of menses fluid towards the edges of the article and can also decolorize stains so that the stains are less noticeable. The article includes a liquid permeable topsheet having a central layer positioned adjacent opposing side layers. The side layers can include a separating region that at least partially separates a decolorizing agent carrier material treated with a decolorizing agent from an absorbent core. At least one of the side layers can also include at least one fluid barrier region that can prevent or slow the spread of fluids from the center of the article to the edges. The combination of the separating and fluid barrier regions can allow the decolorizing agent to sufficiently decolorize a fluid insult that may have spread to the lateral edges of the article.

Absorbent article with side barriers and decolorizing agents

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Jin Chen