Nonabsorbent surge layer having discrete regions of superabsorbent and method for making

An absorbent article, comprising:

• a liquid-permeable body-side liner;
• a surge material adjacent to the body-side liner;
• a substantially liquid-impermeable outer cover adjacent to the surge material;
• a plurality of discrete regions in the surge material;
• and
• a superabsorbent material bonded to the surge material in at least some of the regions.

An absorbent article, comprising:

• a liquid-permeable body-side liner;
• a surge material adjacent to the body-side liner;
• an absorbent core adjacent the surge material;
• a substantially liquid-impermeable outer cover adjacent to the absorbent core;
• a plurality of discrete regions in at least one of the surge material and the absorbent core;
• and
• a superabsorbent material bonded to the least one of the surge material and the absorbent core in the discrete regions.

A method of applying superabsorbent material to surge material, comprising:

• making a superabsorbent material precursor solution;
• printing the superabsorbent precursor solution onto surge material;
• drying the superabsorbent precursor;
• and
• crosslinking the superabsorbent precursor.