# US 11,027,039 B2 · Absorbent material, and system and method of making same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,039 B2 - Document ID: US11027039B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/905,813 - Filed: 2018-02-26 - Published: 2018-10-11 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-26 - Assignees: DSG Technology Holdings Ltd. - Applicants: Dsg Technology Holdings Ltd. - Inventors: Eugenio Varona; Andrew Wright; Dennis Smid - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027039B2 ## CPC - A61L 15/60: Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents - A61F 13/531: having a homogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad (A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence) - A61L 15/225: {Mixtures of macromolecular compounds} - B01J 20/24: Naturally occurring macromolecular compounds, e.g. humic acids or their derivatives - B01J 20/267: {Cross-linked polymers} - B01J 20/28028: {Particles immobilised within fibres or filaments} - B01J 20/3085: {Chemical treatments not covered by groups B01J20/3007 - B01J20/3078} - B01J 20/3208: {Polymeric carriers, supports or substrates} - B01J 20/3295: {Coatings made of particles, nanoparticles, fibers, nanofibers} - A61F 2013/530343: {being natural fibres} - A61F 2013/530613: {in fibres} - B01J 2220/68: Superabsorbents - 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) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS ## Abstract A fiber-SAP particle includes a superabsorbent core particle (SAP core particle) and a plurality of fibers attached to the SAP core particle and extending therefrom. The fiber-SAP particles may be formed in a fluidized bed chamber using a spray drying process. The fiber-SAP particles may be incorporated into absorbent cores and articles, such as in disposable diapers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of forming fiber-SAP particles, comprising mixing fibers with superabsorbent particles (SAP) such that at least some of the fibers attach to at least some of the SAP, thereby forming fiber-SAP particles, wherein said mixing is preceded by providing wetted fibers and introducing said wetted fibers with said SAP, and each fiber-SAP particle comprises a plurality of the fibers attached to one of the superabsorbent particles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said providing wetted fibers include providing said fibers in a liquid suspension, prior to said mixing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising partially drying said wetted fibers prior to said mixing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising spray drying a liquid suspension of said fibers prior to said mixing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising partially drying a liquid suspension of fibers prior to said mixing including atomizing said liquid suspension. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an aerosol of said fibers prior to said mixing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to said mixing, providing a liquid suspension of said fibers and forming a dispersion of droplets of the liquid suspension to flash liquid off the fibers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said introducing includes introducing a liquid suspension of fibers into a heated zone, whereby said wetted particles is spray dried. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said mixing includes introducing SAP into a chamber and introducing fibers into said chamber at an angle to the direction at which said SAP are introduced into the chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising wetting the surface of the SAP particles to promote attachment between the surface of the SAP particles and the fibers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising, forming a liquid suspension of said fibers and atomizing the liquid suspension prior to said mixing, whereby vapor is produced, and wherein said wetting includes depositing vapor from said atomization on said SAP. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said mixing attaches each of a plurality of fibers to a SAP core particle, whereby one end of the fiber is attached to the SAP core particle and a free end is spaced from said SAP core particle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said mixing includes embedding fibers, at least partially, into SAP core particles. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting a network of fiber-SAP particles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein adjacent fiber-SAP particles within the network are at least partially spaced apart. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein fibers of adjacent fiber-SAP particles within the network are entangled with one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the fibers comprise nanofibrillated cellulose fibers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising subjecting SAP particles to corona treatment, crosslinking the SAP particles, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising mixing additives with the fibers, the SAP, the fiber-SAP particles, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising subjecting the fiber-SAP particle to electrostatic charging. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the SAP is at least partially wet, such that the SAP is at least partially swollen when mixed with at least partially dried fibers, wherein the at least partially wet SAP includes crevices on a surface thereof, and wherein the fiber attaches within the crevice. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein further comprising at least partially drying the SAP after attachment of the fibers thereto, such that the SAP at least partially shrinks and the crevices at least partially closes. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, introducing a liquid suspension of fibers into a first zone including atomizing said liquid suspension; and wherein said mixing includes receiving partly spray dried fibers in a second zone and introducing said SAP into said second zone, including urging mixing said SAP and partly dried fibers, whereby fibers are supported on said SAP and extend therefrom. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising drawing moisture from said first zone and directing said moisture to a supply of SAP prior to mixing said SAP with said fibers. ### Claim 25 A method of forming fiber-SAP particles, comprising: providing wetted fibers, including providing said fibers in a liquid suspension; mixing said wetted fibers with superabsorbent particles (SAP) such that at least some of the fibers attach to at least some of the SAP, thereby forming fiber-SAP particles. ### Claim 26 A method of forming fiber-SAP particles, comprising: forming an aerosol of a liquid suspension, the liquid suspension including wetted fibers; mixing said wetted fibers with superabsorbent particles (SAP) such that at least some of the fibers attach to at least some of the SAP. thereby forming fiber-SAP particles.