Absorbent core with nonwoven web(s) comprising superabsorbent fibers
Inventors
Ehrnsperger, Bruno Johannes • Kamphus, Juliane • Seeboth, Simone • Kraemer, Saskia
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12594199-B2
Publication Date
2026-04-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
An absorbent core including one or more nonwoven webs with superabsorbent fibers. The superabsorbent fibers may include one or more surfactants. The one or more nonwoven webs have an amount of extractables of less than 20 weight-%, and/or an amount of titratable soluble of less than 20%. The nonwoven webs have a capacity of at least 7 g/g. The absorbent core may be used in an absorbent article.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an absorbent core comprising one or more nonwoven webs in which the one or more nonwoven webs include at least 80 weight-% of superabsorbent fibers based on the total weight of the nonwoven web. The superabsorbent fibers include one or more surfactants, and the absorbent core includes at least 60 weight-% of the superabsorbent fibers based on the total weight of the absorbent core.
The one or more nonwoven webs have an amount of extractables of less than 20 weight-% based on the total weight of the one or more nonwoven webs according to the Extractables Test Method, and an amount of titratable soluble of less than 20% according to the Titratable Soluble Test Method. The disclosed structure also has a capacity of at least 7 g/g as measured according to the Centrifuge Retention Capacity test.
The invention further describes absorbent articles and methods of making absorbent cores. The absorbent articles comprise a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, and the method includes providing superabsorbent fibers, converting the superabsorbent fibers into a continuous nonwoven web, and forming absorbent cores from the continuous nonwoven web or separate nonwoven webs with surfactants provided on and/or inside the superabsorbent fibers and/or on the continuous nonwoven web and/or on separate sheets of nonwoven web.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims include three inventive directions, covering an absorbent core, an absorbent article with a topsheet and backsheet, and a method of making an absorbent core. Across these independent claims, the main inventive features are defined by superabsorbent fiber content, surfactants, constrained extractables and titratable soluble, and a minimum centrifuge retention capacity.
Superabsorbent fiber-dominant nonwoven web core with surfactants
An absorbent core comprising one or more nonwoven webs where the one or more nonwoven webs comprise at least 80 weight-% of superabsorbent fibers based on the total weight of the nonwoven web, the superabsorbent fibers comprise one or more surfactants, and the absorbent core comprises at least 60 weight-% of the superabsorbent fibers based on the total weight of the absorbent core.
Low extractables nonwoven web and high centrifuge retention capacity
The one or more nonwoven webs have an amount of extractables of less than 20 weight-% based on the total weight of the one or more nonwoven webs according to the Extractables Test Method, and the nonwoven webs have a capacity of at least 7 g/g as measured according to the Centrifuge Retention Capacity test set out herein.
Absorbent article with superabsorbent core meeting extractables and centrifuge retention limits
An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, where the absorbent core comprises one or more nonwoven webs with at least 80 weight-% of superabsorbent fibers, the superabsorbent fibers comprise one or more surfactants, the absorbent core comprises at least 60 weight-% of the superabsorbent fibers, the one or more nonwoven webs have an amount of extractables of less than 20 weight-% based on the total weight of the one or more nonwoven webs according to the Extractables Test Method, and the nonwoven webs have a capacity of at least 7 g/g as measured according to the Centrifuge Retention Capacity test set out herein.
Making an absorbent core with surfactant placement and constrained extractables/titratable soluble
A method of making an absorbent core comprising providing superabsorbent fibers, converting the superabsorbent fibers into a continuous nonwoven web, and forming a continuous absorbent core or cutting the continuous nonwoven web into separate nonwoven webs and forming an absorbent core, wherein one or more surfactants are provided on and/or inside the superabsorbent fibers and/or on the continuous nonwoven web and/or on the separate sheets of nonwoven web.
Extractables, titratable soluble, and centrifuge retention capacity thresholds
The nonwoven web(s) have an amount of extractables of less than 20 weight-% based on the total weight of the one or more nonwoven webs, and/or an amount of titratable soluble of less than 20% according to the Titratable Soluble Test Method, wherein the nonwoven webs have a capacity of at least 7 g/g as measured according to the Centrifuge Retention Capacity test, and wherein the absorbent core comprises at least 60 weight-% of the superabsorbent fibers based on the total weight of the absorbent core.
Across the independent claims, the inventive subject matter is an absorbent core and absorbent article built from nonwoven webs that are at least 80 weight-% superabsorbent fibers, with surfactants in the superabsorbent fibers and an absorbent core content of at least 60 weight-% superabsorbent fibers, while constraining extractables to less than 20 weight-% and titratable soluble to less than 20% and requiring a centrifuge retention capacity of at least 7 g/g.
Stated Advantages
Improves liquid acquisition speed and absorbent performance by reducing leaching effects associated with extractables/titratable soluble that would otherwise block pore voids, increase viscosity, and reduce osmotic capacity.
Maintains suitable capacity while reducing extractables/titratable soluble, enabling faster acquisition times.
Documented Applications
Absorbent articles comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core configured for fluid acquisition, including structures such as an acquisition system positioned between the absorbent core and the topsheet.
Absorbent cores and absorbent articles evaluated by Modified Fluid Acquisition test method involving multiple gush events.
Absorbent core making as part of producing absorbent cores from superabsorbent fibers converted into continuous nonwoven webs and cut into separate cores/webs.
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