The Procter Gamble Company

International Paper Company

Jörg Endres

Paul Thomas Weisman

Rodrigo Rosati

Olaf Erik Isele

Mike P Purdon

Sharon Ann Young

Mattias Schmidt

Ward William Ostendorf

Gueltekin Erdem

Darrell Ian Brown

Andrea Peri

Aniruddha Chatterjee

Gene Xiaoqing Huang

Ernesto Gabriel Bianchi

Holger Beruda

Olaf Erik Alexander Isele

Ludwig Busam

Han Xu

Ryo Minoguchi

James Terry Knapmeyer

J Michael Bills

Amy Eichstadt Waun

Sandra Sautter

Angel Stoyanov

Dirk Saevecke

Kenneth Michael Hamall

Julien René Garcia

Alexander Fedotov

An absorbent article such as a diaper extending in a longitudinal direction parallel to a longitudinal axis (') and a transversal direction (′) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and comprising a distribution layer () between a topsheet () and an absorbent core (). The distribution layer comprises a fibrous material and a first and second longitudinally-extending channels () substantially free of fibrous material. The fibrous material is profiled in the transversal direction so that average basis weight between the channels differs from the average basis weight in the lateral areas outward of the channels by at least 50 g/mand/or wherein the distribution layer comprises a first region having a first basis weight (bw) and a second region having a second basis weight (bw), wherein the first basis weight and the second basis weight differ by at least 20 g/m, preferably by at least 50 g/m, and these regions are present in different areas of the distribution layer but in the same longitudinally extending transversal section. The absorbent core may comprise channel-forming areas (). The article further comprises a backsheet ().

Absorbent article with a distribution layer comprising channels

A liquid permeable substrate for an absorbent article is disclosed. The substrate includes a first layer including a hydrophobic material and a second layer including a hydrophilic material. The first layer is joined to the second layer. The substrate includes a plurality of recesses, a plurality of projections, and a plurality of land areas. The land areas surround at least a majority of the plurality of projections and a plurality of the recesses. The plurality of recesses, the plurality of projections, and the plurality of land areas together form a first three-dimensional surface on a first side of the substrate and a second three-dimensional surface on a second side of the substrate. The substrate has an overall z-directional height in the range of about 1000 μm to about 6000 μm according to the Overall Substrate Height Test.

Three-dimensional substrates

A liquid permeable substrate for an absorbent article is disclosed. The substrate includes a first layer including a hydrophobic material and a second layer including a hydrophilic material. The first layer is joined to the second layer. The substrate includes a plurality of recesses, a plurality of projections, and a plurality of land areas. The land areas surround at least a majority of the plurality of projections and a plurality of the recesses. The plurality of recesses, the plurality of projections, and the plurality of land areas together form a first three-dimensional surface on a first side of the substrate and a second three-dimensional surface on a second side of the substrate. The substrate has an overall z-directional height in the range of about 1000 &#x3bc;m to about 6000 &#x3bc;m according to the Overall Substrate Height Test.

An absorbent article comprises a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, and a distribution material comprising a wet-laid, three-dimensional fibrous substrate comprising at least 80% pulp fibers by weight of the wet-laid, three-dimensional fibrous substrate. The wet-laid, three-dimensional fibrous substrate comprises a continuous network region and a plurality of discrete zones that are dispersed throughout the continuous network region. The continuous network region comprises a first average density and the plurality of discrete zones comprise a second average density. The discrete zones are dispersed throughout the continuous network region. The first average density and the second average density are different.

Absorbent articles having distribution materials

An absorbent article comprises a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, and a distribution material comprising a wet-laid, three-dimensional fibrous substrate comprising at least 80% pulp fibers by weight of the wet-laid, three-dimensional fibrous substrate. The wet-laid, three-dimensional fibrous substrate comprises a continuous network region, a plurality of discrete zones, and a plurality of transition regions. The transition regions are positioned intermediate the continuous network region and at least some of the plurality of discrete zones.

Absorbent articles comprising bleached polycrylic acid crosslinked cellulose fibers with reduced furfural content are disclosed. The reduced furfural content is accompanied by a strong reduction of malodor associated with crosslinked fibers. Methods of furfural reduction include treatment with hydrogen peroxide in the absence of alkaline or other bleaching agents subsequent to curing polyacrylic acid crosslinked cellulose fibers. Some embodiments of treated polycrylic acid crosslinked cellulose fibers have a furfural content lower than 1.3 ppm. In some embodiments, the reduction of furfural content of the treated crosslinked fibers compared to untreated crosslinked fibers is at least 55%. In some embodiments, furfural content decreases with aging of the treated crosslinked fibers.

Reduced furfural content in polyacrylic acid crosslinked cellulose fibers used in absorbent articles

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Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Jörg Endres