Mechanically strong absorbent non-woven fibrous mats

A non-woven liquid entrapping device comprising:

• a super absorbent component;
• and
• a liquid absorbent, liquid wicking, hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component, wherein the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component is a single material that is both liquid absorbent and liquid wicking,
• wherein the super absorbent component and the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component are in physical proximity thereby resulting in fluid communication,
• wherein the super absorbent component is more absorbent than the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component, but wherein the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component absorbs more quickly than and has a smaller holding capacity than the super absorbent component, thereby resulting in a net fluid flow from the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component to the super absorbent component,
• wherein the super absorbent component is mechanically entangled by the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component,
• wherein the super absorbent component is present in an amount from about 1% (w/w) to about 85% (w/w),
• wherein the liquid entrapping device is capable of absorbing from 400% to 6000% when placed in water and from 500% to 1250% when placed in synthetic urine (by weight),
• wherein the absorbent component is selected from polyesters, polyethers, polyester-polyethers, polymers having pendant carboxylic acids or pendant hydroxyls, polysiloxanes, polyacrylamides, kaolins, serpentines, smectites, glauconite, chlorites, vermiculites, attapulgite, sepiolite, allophane and imogolite, sodium polyacrylates, 2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid, and any combination thereof, and
• wherein the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component is selected from zein protein, polyester elastomers, polydimethylsiloxane, hydrophilic poly(ether-co-ester) elastomers, silicone-co-polyethyleneglycol elastomers, polyacrylates, thermoplastic polyurethanes, poly(ether-co-urethanes), and any combination thereof.

A non-woven liquid entrapping device comprising:

• an absorbent component;
• and
• a liquid absorbent, liquid wicking, hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component, wherein the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component is a single material that is both liquid absorbent and liquid wicking,
• wherein the absorbent component and the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component are in physical proximity thereby resulting in fluid communication,
• wherein the absorbent component is more absorbent than the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component, but wherein the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component absorbs more quickly than and has a smaller holding capacity than the absorbent component, thereby resulting in a net fluid flow from the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component to the absorbent component,
• wherein the absorbent component is mechanically entangled by the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component,
• wherein the non-woven liquid entrapping device, including the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component, is formed from nanofibers having a fiber diameter of about 1 nanometer to about 3,000 nanometers,
• wherein the absorbent component is capable of holding at least about 50 times its own weight in liquid,
• wherein the liquid entrapping device is capable of absorbing from 400% to 6000% when placed in water and from 500% to 1250% when placed in synthetic urine (by weight),
• wherein the absorbent component is selected from polyesters, polyethers, polyester-polyethers, polymers having pendant carboxylic acids or pendant hydroxyls, polysiloxanes, polyacrylamides, kaolins, serpentines, smectites, glauconite, chlorites, vermiculites, attapulgite, sepiolite, allophane and imogolite, sodium polyacrylates, 2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid, and any combination thereof, and
• wherein the hydrophilic elastomeric fibrous component is selected from zein protein, polyester elastomers, polydimethylsiloxane, hydrophilic poly(ether-co-ester) elastomers, silicone-co-polyethyleneglycol elastomers, polyacrylates, thermoplastic polyurethanes, poly(ether-co-urethanes), and any combination thereof.