Personal care absorbent with inherent transfer delay

Abstract

There is provided a personal care absorbent article having an absorbent core that has been treated in a manner, or is made from materials, that inhibit the transfer of liquid through the structure in the target area. The distribution layer above the core could likewise be treated in a manner that discourages Z-directional fluid movement. A separate transfer delay layer is avoided, thereby simplifying manufacture and reducing costs. A number of transfer delay treatments are possible. These include increasing the density of the upper layer of the absorbent core or lower layer of the distribution layer below the target area, making the absorbent core below the target area of rich in superabsorbent, making all or part of the core below the target area from very slow absorbing superabsorbents, including a soluble binder in the core below the target area, treating the core or distribution layer below the target area with a hydrophobic treatment, or combinations of these methods.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.