# US 10,946,117 B2 · Absorbent article containing a soft and durable backsheet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,946,117 B2 - Document ID: US10946117B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/028,959 - Filed: 2014-11-18 - Published: 2016-09-15 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-20 - Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Applicants: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Inventors: Lei Huang; Mark G. Kupelian; Prasad Potnis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10946117B2 ## CPC - A61L 15/225: {Mixtures of macromolecular compounds} - A61F 13/51401: {characterised by the material} - A61F 13/51478: {being a laminate, e.g. multi-layered or with several layers} - A61F 13/535: inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes ({A61F13/5323,} A61F13/537 take precedence) - A61L 15/24: Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof {(A61L15/225 takes precedence)} - A61L 15/26: Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof {(A61L15/225 takes precedence)} - A61L 15/34: Oils, fats, waxes or natural resins {(A61L15/225 takes precedence)} - A61L 15/60: Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents - A61F 2013/51452: {being nonwovens} - A61F 2013/530233: {being thermoplastic fibres} - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract An absorbent article having an outwardly body-facing surface and an outwardly garment-facing surface Is provided. The absorbent article contains a topsheet, backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The backsheet contains a nonwoven facing laminated to a film. The nonwoven facing contains a first nonwoven web containing a plurality of fibers formed from a first polyolefin composition and a second nonwoven web containing a plurality of fibers formed from a second polyolefin composition. The first polyolefin composition contains at least one ethylene polymer and the second polyolefin composition contains at least one rigid propylene polymer and at least one ductile propylene polymer. The second nonwoven web defines the garment-facing surface of the article. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article having an outwardly body-facing surface and an outwardly garment-facing surface, the article comprising: a topsheet; a backsheet that contains a nonwoven facing laminated to a film, wherein the nonwoven facing contains a first nonwoven web containing a plurality of fibers formed from a first polyolefin composition and a second nonwoven web containing a plurality of fibers formed from a second polyolefin composition, wherein the first polyolefin composition contains at least one ethylene polymer, wherein the ethylene polymer constitutes at least 80 wt. % of the polymer content of the first polyolefin composition and has a modulus of elasticity of from 50 to 500 MPa as determined in accordance with ASTM D638-10, and wherein the second polyolefin composition contains at least one rigid propylene polymer, 0.1 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of at least one ductile propylene homopolymer, and at least one fatty acid derivative, wherein the at least one ductile propylene polymer and the at least one fatty acid derivative are contained in the second polyolefin composition at a ratio of the at least one ductile propylene polymer to the at least one fatty acid derivative of about 10 to about 50, the second nonwoven web defining the garment-facing surface of the article; and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first polyolefin composition has a melting temperature of from 50° C. to 145° C. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the ethylene polymer is linear low density polyethylene. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the rigid propylene polymer has a modulus of elasticity of from 800 to 4,000 MPa, as determined in accordance with ASTM D638-10. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the rigid propylene polymer is an isotactic homopolymer of propylene. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the rigid propylene polymer constitutes from 80 wt. % to 99.5 wt. % of the second polyolefin composition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the ductile propylene polymer is from 1 to 500 MPa, as determined in accordance with ASTM D638-10. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the modulus of elasticity of the rigid propylene polymer to the modulus of elasticity of the ductile propylene polymer is from 1 to 50, as determined in accordance with ASTM D638-10. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the ductile propylene polymer has a melting temperature of from 40° C. to 120° C. and/or degree of crystallinity of from 1% to 35%, as determined using differential scanning calorimetry in accordance with ASTM D-3417. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the ductile propylene polymer is a metallocene-catalyzed homopolymer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the width at the half height of the endothermic peak of the second polyolefin composition is 5° C. or more, as determined using differential scanning calorimetry in accordance with ASTM D-3417. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid derivative is a fatty acid amide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The absorbent article of claim 12, wherein the fatty acid amide comprises erucamide, oleamide, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first nonwoven web, the second nonwoven web, or both are a spunbond web. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first nonwoven web constitutes from 20 wt. % to 80 wt. % of the facing and the second nonwoven web constitutes from 20 wt. % to 80 wt. % of the facing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first nonwoven web is positioned adjacent to the second nonwoven web. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the film is liquid-impermeable and optionally vapor-permeable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the topsheet defines the body-facing surface of the article and/or the topsheet includes a nonwoven web, apertured film, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the nonwoven facing exhibits a machine direction peak load of 2,000 grams-force or more and/or a cross-machine direction peak load of 1,200 grams-force or more, as determined in accordance with ASTM Standard D-5034. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the nonwoven facing exhibits a machine direction peak elongation of 20% or more and/or a cross-machine direction peak elongation of 35% or more, as determined in accordance with ASTM Standard D-5034.