Tagged superabsorbent polymers in a multicomponent structure
OwnerDavid S. Allan, Joseph L. Weir +2inventors
InventorsDavid S. Allan, Joseph L. Weir, Richard M. Van Effen, Sergio S. Cutie
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Abstract
The present invention is an absorbent composite that contains at least two intermixed or segregated superabsorbent polymers, at least one of which is incorporated throughout with a latent indicator that becomes manifest by a developer that is peculiar to the indicator. The invention provides a means of monitoring the performance of accuracy of superabsorbent polymer placement in absorbent structures such as diapers, adult incontinence devices, and sanitary napkins.
Claims21
An absorbent composite comprising at least two superabsorbent polymers, either segregated or intermixed, wherein at least one of the superabsorbent polymers is incorporated throughout with a latent indicator that becomes manifest by a development method so that the incorporated superabsorbent can be distinguished from all other components upon development of the indicator.
An absorbent composite comprising at least two segregated or intermixed superabsorbent polymer regions, wherein each superabsorbent polymer, or one less than each superabsorbent polymer, is incorporated throughout with a latent indicator peculiar to that superabsorbent polymer so that each superabsorbent polymer can be distinguished from each other upon development of the indicators.
A method of manifesting a superabsorbent polymer region in an absorbent composite that contains at least two segregated or intermixed superabsorbent polymers, which method comprises the steps of a) incorporating a latent indicator into a first superabsorbent polymer;
- b) preparing a patterned composite of the first superabsorbent polymer and a second superabsorbent polymer so that each superabsorbent polymer defines a particular region of the patterned composite;
- c) treating the patterned composite with a developer for the latent indicator so that the first superabsorbent polymer becomes manifest distinctly from the second superabsorbent polymers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.