Absorbent article having a reduced humidity level

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11931469-B2
Application number	US-201816631885-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2018
Priority date	Jul 28, 2017
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

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 porous superabsorbent particles, wherein the particles exhibit a relative humidity microclimate of about 67% or less after being exposed to an atmosphere having a temperature of about 23° C. and relative humidity of 80% for a time period of 20 minutes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An absorbent article comprising an absorbent member positioned between a topsheet and a backsheet, wherein the absorbent member contains at least one layer that comprises porous superabsorbent particles, wherein the particles contain a porous network that includes a plurality of nanopores and wherein the nanopores have an average cross-sectional dimension of from 10 to 500 nanometers, wherein the percent porosity of the particles is greater than 5%, wherein the particles have a total pore area of greater than 2 m 2 /g, wherein the absorbent member comprises a fibrous material, wherein an average percent volume occupied by the nanopores within a given unit volume of the fibrous material is from 15% to 80% per cm3, wherein the particles exhibit a relative humidity microclimate of 67% or less after being exposed to an atmosphere having a temperature of 23° C. and relative humidity of 80% for a time period of 20 minutes.

2. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the layer further contains a fibrous material.

3. The absorbent article of claim 2 , wherein the fibrous material includes absorbent fibers, synthetic polymer fibers, or a combination thereof.

4. The absorbent article of claim 3 , wherein the absorbent fibers contain pulp fibers.

5. The absorbent article of claim 3 , wherein the synthetic polymer fibers include meltblown fibers.

6. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent particles are mixed into a matrix of the fibrous material.

7. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent particles constitute from 20 wt. % to 90 wt. % of the layer of the absorbent member.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent particles exhibit an Absorption Rate of 300 g/g/ks or more after being placed into contact with an aqueous solution of 0.9 wt. % sodium chloride for 0.015 kiloseconds.

9. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent particles exhibit a Vortex Time of 80 seconds or less.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the particles exhibit an Absorption Rate of 600 to 1,500 g/g/ks or more after being placed into contact with an aqueous solution of 0.9 wt. % sodium chloride for 0.015 kiloseconds.

11. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent particles exhibit a total absorbent capacity of 10 g/g or more after being placed into contact with an aqueous solution of 0.9 wt. % sodium chloride for 3.6 kiloseconds.

12. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the particles exhibit a Centrifuge Retention Capacity of 20 g/g or more.

13. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the particles exhibit a relative humidity microclimate of 67% or less after being exposed to an atmosphere having a temperature of 23° C. and relative humidity of 80% for a time period of from 20 minutes to 150 minutes.

14. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the porous network further comprises micropores.

15. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein at least 25 vol. % of the porous network is formed by the nanopores.

16. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the particles are formed from a crosslinked polymer that contains repeating units derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomeric compounds having at least one hydrophilic radical.

17. The absorbent article of claim 16 , wherein the monomeric compounds are monoethylenically unsaturated.

18. The absorbent article of claim 16 , wherein the hydrophilic radical includes a carboxyl, carboxylic acid anhydride, carboxylic acid salt, sulfonic acid, sulfonic acid salt, hydroxyl, ether, amide, amino, quaternary ammonium salt group, or a combination thereof.

19. The absorbent article of claim 16 wherein the polymer contains repeating units derived from a (meth)acrylic acid monomeric compound or a salt thereof.

20. The absorbent article of claim 16 , wherein the polymer contains an alkoxysilane functionality.

21. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the particles have a median size of from 50 to 2,000 micrometers.

22. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the particles have a specific surface area of 0.2 square meters per gram or more as determined in accordance with ISO 9277:2010.

23. The absorbent article of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent member contains an absorbent core that includes the superabsorbent particles.

24. The absorbent article of claim 23 , wherein the absorbent member further contains a surge layer positioned adjacent to the absorbent core.

25. The absorbent article of claim 24 , wherein a wrapsheet covers the absorbent core.

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Galabura Yuriy
• Mleziva Mark M
• Macdonald John Gavin
• Topolkaraev Vasily A
• Mcbride Michelle
• Rodriguez Karien J
• Valaskey Matthew
• Soerens Dave
• Scholl Neil T
• Lee Wanduk

Classifications

• A61L15/425 Primary

  Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges · CPC title

• A61F13/53 Primary

  characterised by the absorbing medium (A61F13/20 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61F13/53713

  the layer having a promotional function on liquid propagation in the vertical direction · CPC title

• A61L15/12

  containing macromolecular materials · CPC title

• A61L15/20

  containing organic materials · CPC title