Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Evonik Stockhausen Gmbh

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Xiaomin Zhang

Jian Qin

Yong Li

Sridhar Ranganathan

Richard Norris Dodge, Ii

Lawrence Howell Sawyer

Sylvia Bandy Little

David Louis Zenker

Jayant Chakravarty

Debra Jean McDowall

Shannon Kathleen Melius

Stanley Michael Gryskiewicz

Billie Jean Matthews

Rob David Everett

Violet May Grube

Thomas Gerald Bolwerk

James Hongxue Wang

David Martin Jackson

Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai

Kuo-Shu Edward Chang

Tong Sun

Cathleen Mae Uttecht

Jacek K Dutkiewicz

David Glen Biggs

Zhibing Hu

Thomas Kremer

Lisa Marie Jacobsen

Werner Lonsky

Dave Allen Soerens

Peiguang Zhou

Gregory K Hall

Thomas Gerard Vercauteren

Nancy Birbiglia Lange

Daniel Wideman

Debra Ann Miller

Debra Ann Graverson

An absorbent material formed at least in part of a crosslinked polymer. The absorbent material has a centrifuge retention capacity as determined by a Centrifuge Retention Capacity Test of at least about 20 g/g and a gel bed permeability under load as determined by a Gel Bed Permeability Under Load Test of at least about 300&#xd7;10cmor a free swell gel bed permeability as determined by a Free Swell Gel Bed Permeability Test of at least about 2,500&#xd7;10cm. The crosslinked polymer may comprise either at least about 75 weight percent anionic polymer or at least about 75 weight percent cationic polymer. In one embodiment, the cross-linked polymer is surface treated with a water soluble non-cross-linked polymer having a potential for becoming charged opposite that of the cross-linked polymer.

Absorbent materials and absorbent articles incorporating such absorbent materials

Elastic composite laminates are disclosed. The laminates include an elastic member bonded to at least one facing material. In accordance with the present disclosure, an adhesive composition is coextruded with an elastomeric material to form the elastic member. In this manner, the elastic member can be bonded to the facing material in a stretched state without having to apply a separate adhesive layer between the two materials. In one embodiment, the elastic member can be bonded to the facing material according to a pattern that includes bonded areas and non-bonded areas.

Stretch bonded laminate including an elastic member containing an adhesive composition

Absorbent structures that form superabsorbent polymers in situ. The structures include an absorbent material and a fibrous material containing an activating agent. The fibrous material releases the activating agent upon stimulation with an activator, which causes the polymer to become a superabsorbent polymer. The absorbent component is desirably a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer. The absorbent structures form a superabsorbent composition in situ. Methods of making the activating agent containing fibrous material are provided.

Absorbent structure comprising synergistic components for superabsorbent polymer

An article comprises a stretchable absorbent composite () that includes a quantity of superabsorbent particles () which are operatively contained within a matrix of elastomeric polymer fibers (). In particular aspects, the composite article can include at least about 60 wt % of the superabsorbent particles and not more than about 40 wt % of the elastomeric polymer fibers, based on a total weight of the composite. In other aspects, the composite article can provide a high stretchability. Additional aspects can provide a low shake-out. Particular configurations can, for example, provide a stretchability value of at least about 30%. Additional aspects can include a configuration that provides a shake-out value of not more than about 2%. In further aspects, the absorbent composite can include superabsorbent particles having a coating of treatment-material that is thermally processible. Additional aspects can include a treatment-material which is water soluble.

Stretchable absorbent composite with low superaborbent shake-out

An absorbent material formed at least in part of a cross-linked polymer. The absorbent material has a centrifuge retention capacity as determined by a Centrifuge Retention Capacity Test of at least about 20 g/g and a gel bed permeability under load as determined by a Gel Bed Permeability Under Load Test of at least about 300&#xd7;10cmor a free swell gel bed permeability as determined by a Free Swell Gel Bed Permeability Test of at least about 2,500&#xd7;10cm. The cross-linked polymer may comprise either at least about 75 weight percent anionic polymer or at least about 75 weight percent cationic polymer. In one embodiment, the cross-linked polymer is surface treated with a water soluble non-cross-linked polymer having a potential for becoming charged opposite that of the cross-linked polymer.

A stretchable absorbent composite having a Composite Permeability of about 10 Darcy or more, or about 15 Darcy or more, and Composite Stretchability of about 30% or more, or about 50% or more, or about 100% or more, and a method of making such a stretchable absorbent composite. The stretchable absorbent composite includes a superabsorbent material, an elastomeric material, and, optionally, pulp fibers. More particularly, the stretchable absorbent composite may include between about 30% and about 85% by weight superabsorbent material, between about 5% and about 25% by weight elastomeric material, and between about 10% and about 70% by weight pulp fibers. The stretchability and liquid handling abilities of the stretchable absorbent composite renders the stretchable absorbent composite suitable for incorporation into a variety of absorbent articles, including personal care products, health/medical absorbent articles, and household/industrial absorbent articles, for example.

Stretchable absorbent composites having high permeability

A superabsorbent composition comprising a superabsorbent material and an elastomer. The superabsorbent composition has a two-phase morphology resulting in one of the superabsorbent material and elastomer being dispersed as aggregates in the other continuous material. The superabsorbent composition has a low glass transition temperature. The low glass transition temperature gives the superabsorbent composition many beneficial properties. This invention also discloses novel superabsorbent particles, fibers, films, and microporous films. Also disclosed in this invention are personal care articles comprising such particles, fibers, films and microporous films.

Microphase separated superabsorbent compositions and method for making

Superabsorbent polymer materials are provided including absorbent polymers having a fast vortex time, desirably about 10 seconds or less, and a stiffness index of at least about 0.7, as determined by test procedures described herein. The absorbent polymers can be modified to obtain a faster vortex time by a method including providing an absorbent polymer having a first vortex time, absorbing water with the absorbent polymer, freeze-drying the swollen absorbent polymer to remove at least a portion of the absorbed water, and obtaining a modified absorbent polymer having a second vortex time. The ratio of the first vortex time to the second vortex time is at least about 5, and desirably the modified absorbent polymer has a stiffness index of at least about 0.7.

High stiffness absorbent polymers having improved absorbency rates and method for making the same

Absorbent article including an absorbent core having multiple absorbent layers. The absorbent layers interact in a manner which desirably locates absorbed liquid in an appointed, high saturation wicking layer.

Layered absorbent structure with a zoned basis weight

An absorbent fibrous foam composite comprising a fluid intake capacity of at least 15 g/g, a vertical wicking distance of at least 10 cm, and an absorbency under zero load of at least 15 g/g. The absorbent fibrous foam composite comprising a water insoluble fibrous material and a superabsorbent material. The absorbent fibrous foam composite made by forming a slurry of water, a water-insoluble fiber, and a binding agent. A water-swellable, water-insoluble superabsorbent material is added to the slurry and the temperature is lowered until the water freezes. The frozen water is then removed by sublimation process and an absorbent fibrous foam recovered. The Gelation Time, which represents a fluid absorption rate of superabsorbent during the preparation, is critical to preparing uniform absorbent freeze-dried foams and can be adjusted by various mixing conditions and physical and chemical superabsorbent treatments.

Absorbent materials having improved absorbent properties

This invention relates to an absorbent composite which utilizes multifunctional superabsorbent materials to enhance distribution of fluids within the absorbent composite. More specifically, this invention relates to superabsorbent materials which swell and absorb fluids and also can deswell and release fluids into the surrounding absorbent composite and towards additional superabsorbent material. The superabsorbent materials of this invention deswell and release fluid by means of a triggering mechanism. Triggering mechanisms can include thermal, chemical, mechanical, electronic, magnetic, and radiation energies. Swelling and deswelling of the superabsorbent materials can be repeated for more than one cycle thereby improving fluid distribution. Multiple swelling and deswelling cycles allow multiple insults to be distributed throughout an absorbent composite, fully utilizing the absorbent capabilities of the full absorbent composite and minimizing leakage.

Absorbent composites exhibiting swelling/deswelling properties

Disclosed are absorbent composites, useful in an absorbent article, having high liquid intake rates. The absorbent composites may also have a rapid liquid lock-up. Absorbent composites of this invention have an intake rate of at least about 1.9 cc liquid/second at an 80% absorbent composite saturation level and a liquid lock-up fraction of at least about 0.70 at 50% superabsorbent material saturation. The absorbent composites of this invention can be a freeze-dried composite, an airformed absorbent composite, or other fibrous or non-fibrous absorbent composites.

Absorbent materials having improved fluid intake and lock-up properties

Fibrous materials containing activating agents for making superabsorbent polymers

A distinctive absorbent article includes an absorbent core having multiple absorbent layers, wherein the absorbent layers interact in such a manner which preferentially locates absorbed liquid in an appointed, high saturation wicking layer. The localization of the liquid within this wicking layer increases the potential of this layer to move liquid through capillary action due to the higher saturation level and increased amount of liquid available. The intake capability of the absorbent system is maintained or improved over current systems by keeping a second layer of the absorbent system at low saturation levels through as many insults of the product as possible, while providing optimum intake performance through appropriate control of the composite properties. The low saturation in this layer provides void volume for the incoming insult as well, as a high permeability, thus increasing the intake rate of the absorbent system as a whole, but the structure of the low saturation layer is also balanced to provide an appropriately high level of capillary tension to provide enough control of the liquid to stop leakage from occurring. This low saturation layer is used in addition to a surge material and provides intake functionality in addition to that provided by the surge material. In particular aspects of the invention, the body side layer of the absorbent core does not extend over the entire surface of the overall absorbent core, therefore is not used as the high saturation, wicking layer, but as the intake layer. This arrangement also allows the intake layer to be in direct contact with the incoming liquid, therefore allowing for more immediate access and improved intake function. In additional aspects, at least one primary layer region can have a non-uniform, selectively zoned basis weight distribution. Particular configurations of the at least one primary layer region can be constructed with a target area of such primary layer region having a basis weight which is less than a basis weight of another non-target portion of the primary layer region. Moreover, at least one primary layer region can have a heterogeneous structure. In particular constructions, the at least one primary layer region can include a plurality of two or more sublayers.

Layered absorbent structure with a zoned basis weight and a heterogeneous layer region

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

Xiaomin Zhang