Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Karen Goeders

Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev

Dave Allen Soerens

Mark Michael Mleziva

WanDuk Lee

Theodore T Tower

Yuriy Galabura

Austin N Pickett

Marsha R Forthofer

Xuedong Song

Bryan David Haynes

Neil T Scholl

Sridhar Ranganathan

Ning Wei

Wing-Chak Ng

Kazuhiro Takahashi

Simon K Poruthoor

Lori A Eslinger

April Montoya Vaverka

Yusuke Ueda

Megumi Tomioka

Allen F Vater

Superabsorbent particles having a median size of from about 50 to about 2,000 micrometers and containing nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 10 to about 500 nanometers are provided. The superabsorbent particles exhibit a Vortex Time of about 80 seconds or less.

Nanoporous superabsorbent particles

A material for distributing fluid can include a first side edge, a second side edge, a first end edge, and a second end edge. The material can include a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface. The material can be liquid impermeable and at least one of the first surface and the second surface include at least one channel. The channel can include a channel width, a channel length, and a channel depth. The channel width can be from 0.1 mm to 2.5 mm. The channel depth can be configured such that the channel does not extend completely through the material.

Material including channel for improved fluid distribution

The present invention discloses a nonwoven web and methods for manufacturing the nonwoven web. One aspect of the invention includes a plurality of outwardly facing nozzles that are positioned at various angles with respect to the axis of a pipe the nozzles are located on. Another aspect of the invention pertains to perturbing at least a portion of a fiber matrix prior to the fiber matrix collecting on a forming surface. The perturbed fiber matrix provides for an increase in cross-machine direction fiber strength of the nonwoven web.

Nonwoven web with increased CD strength

An absorbent article comprising an absorbent member positioned between a topsheet and a backsheet is provided. The absorbent member contains at least one layer that comprises superabsorbent particles containing nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 10 to about 500 nanometers.

Absorbent article containing nanoporous superabsorbent particles

Superabsorbent particles have a median size of from about 50 to about 2,000 micrometers and contain a porous network that includes a plurality of nanopores having an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 10 to about 500 nanometers, wherein the superabsorbent particles exhibit a Vortex Time of about 80 seconds or less and a free swell gel bed permeability (GBP) of 5 darcys or more, of 10 darcys or more, of 20 darcys or more, of 30 darcys or more, of 60 darcys or more, or of 90 darcys or more. A method for forming such superabsorbent particles includes forming a composition that contains a superabsorbent polymer and a solvent system; contacting the composition with a non-solvent system to initiate formation of the porous network through phase inversion; removing non-solvent from the composition; and surface crosslinking the superabsorbent particles.

A capillary structure for passive, directional fluid transport, includes a capillary having a forward direction and a backward direction extending in an x-y plane and a depth extending in a z-direction, the capillary including first and second capillary units each having a diverging section having a backward end, a forward end, and a width in the y-direction, wherein the width increases from the backward end to the forward end, wherein the backward end of the second capillary unit diverging section is connected to the forward end of the first capillary unit diverging section to form a transition section having a step decrease in width from the forward end of the first capillary unit diverging section to the backward end of the second capillary unit diverging section, and wherein the depth in the transition section is less than the depth in each diverging section.

Surface for directional fluid transport including against external pressure

A wetness indicator material may be used on a substrate to form a wetness sensor. The sensor may show either the presence or absence of an aqueous-based fluid or water-containing medium, such as vaginal fluid or urine in a personal hygiene article. The wetness sensor may be incorporated into the article. The wetness indicator material includes a standard colorant that does not change color when wetted. The standard colorant increases the range of hues exhibited by the wetness indicator material.

Wetness indicator having varied hues

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Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Karen Goeders