Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Michael Franklin Kalmon

Yong Li

Anthony John Wisneski

Bernhardt Edward Kressner

Sridhar Ranganathan

Richard Warren Tanzer

Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet

Jacek K Dutkiewicz

Wendy Lynn Van Dyke

Kristin Ann Goerg-Wood

Gary Douglas Williams

Krzysztof Andrzej Szymonski

Jian Oin

Sriram Padmanabhan Anjur

Donald Francis Guay

An absorbent article ( ) includes a backsheet layer ( ), a liquid permeable topsheet layer ( ), and an absorbent body ( ) sandwiched between the backsheet and topsheet layers. The absorbent body ( ) includes a first fibrous stratum ( ) having a first quantity of absorbent fibers, a second fibrous stratum ( ) having a second quantity of absorbent fibers, and at least a third fibrous stratum ( ) which is located between and integrally formed with the first and second fibrous strata ( ). In particular aspects, the third fibrous stratum ( ) includes an operative quantity of a substantially hydrophilic, wet-strength agent. In other aspects, the wet-strength agent is distributed in the third quantity of absorbent fibers to render the third fibrous stratum ( ) substantially non-dispersible.

High-strength, stabilized absorbent article

An apparatus and process for forming an absorbent web ( ) includes an airlaying of a first fibrous stratum ( ), and an airlaying of an intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) onto the first fibrous stratum. A liquid, wet-strength agent is distributed onto fibers of the intermediate fibrous stratum, and at least a second fibrous stratum ( ) is airlaid onto the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ). The method is desirably configured to operatively form or join the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) with the first and second fibrous strata, and render the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) substantially non-dispersible in an aqueous liquid. In a particular aspect, the strata of the web ( ) can be operatively compressed prior to curing the wet-strength agent. In another aspect, the liquid wet-strength agent can be distributed onto the fibers of the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) during an airlaying of the intermediate fibrous stratum.

Multi-chamber process and apparatus for forming a stabilized absorbent web

An apparatus and process for forming an absorbent web ( ) includes an airlaying of a first fibrous stratum ( ) which has a first quantity of absorbent fibers; an airlaying of a second fibrous stratum ( ) which has a second quantity of absorbent fibers; and an airlaying of a third, intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) which has a third quantity of absorbent fibers. The intermediate fibrous stratum has a location that is interposed between the first fibrous stratum and the second fibrous stratum. A liquid, wet-strength agent is distributed onto the fibers of the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) during the airlaying of the intermediate fibrous stratum to thereby render the intermediate fibrous stratum substantially non-dispersible. The process and apparatus are configured to operatively form or join the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) with at least the first fibrous stratum ( ), and in desired aspects, the invention can integrally form or join the intermediate fibrous stratum ( ) with both of the first and second fibrous strata ( ) and ( ), respectively. In a particular aspect, the invention can configure the first and second fibrous strata ( ) and ( ) to be substantially dispersible in an aqueous liquid, and in a further aspect, the composite strata of the web ( ) can be operatively compressed prior to a curing of the wet-strength agent.

Process and apparatus for forming a stabilized absorbent web

A composite absorbent structure and method are disclosed including providing a first wicking layer having preferred liquid transport properties in a preferred contact with a second absorbent retention layer. The composite absorbent structure of the present invention provides preferred liquid transport and liquid retention properties. The composite absorbent structure has a first wicking layer in a preferred contact with the second retention layer by a novel intimate contact means effective to achieve a Contact Intimacy Ratio providing the preferred liquid transport and liquid retention functions when the first wicking layer and the second absorbent retention layer are combined together in accordance with the present invention. In one aspect, a bonding agent is used in the present invention in combination with the first wicking layer of wettable fibers and a second retention layer of a hydrogel-forming polymeric material, preferably superabsorbent, to form a composite absorbent structure having the preferred Contact Intimacy Ratio and providing the preferred liquid transport function and the preferred liquid retention function.

Absorbent structure and method

Disclosed is an absorbent structure containing hydrogel-forming polymeric material, wettable staple fiber, and wettable binder fiber. The absorbent structure exhibits improved z-direction permeability of a liquid as compared to an otherwise essentially identical absorbent structure which does not comprise a wettable binder fiber. Also disclosed is an disposable absorbent product containing such an absorbent structure.

Absorbent structure having improved liquid permeability

Growing community of inventors

Atoka, TN, United States of America

Michael Franklin Kalmon