# US 2019/0314218 A1 · Webs for absorbent articles and methods of making the same

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- Number: US 2019/0314218 A1
- Document ID: US20190314218A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/372,702
- Filed: 2019-04-02
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-17
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Kelyn A. ARORA; John L. HAMMONS; Nathan R. WHITELY; Misael O. AVILES
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314218A1

## CPC

- A61F 13/51104: {the top sheet having a three-dimensional cross-section, e.g. corrugations, embossments, recesses or projections}
- A61F 13/51305: {having areas of different permeability}
- A61F 13/15764: {Transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives}
- A61F 13/15804: {Plant, e.g. involving several steps}
- A61F 13/51113: {comprising an additive, e.g. lotion or odour control (A61F13/51108 takes precedence)}
- A61F 13/51121: {characterised by the material}
- A61F 13/512: characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
- A61F 13/513: {characterised by its function or properties, e.g. stretchability, breathability, rewet, visual effect;} having areas of different permeability
- A61F 13/514: Backsheet, i.e. the impermeable cover or layer furthest from the skin {(A61F13/15211, A61F13/15252 take precedence)}
- A61F 13/53: characterised by the absorbing medium (A61F13/20 takes precedence)
- D04H 1/4291: Olefin series
- D04H 1/5405: {at spaced points or locations}
- D04H 1/5412: {sheath-core}
- D04H 1/5416: {sea-island}
- A61F 2013/15463: {Absorbency}
- A61F 2013/15715: {Shaping or making outer layers}
- A61F 2013/15886: {by spot bonding}
- A61F 2013/422: {the alarm being a colour change}
- A61F 2013/51338: {having improved touch or feeling, e.g. smooth film}
- A61F 2013/51366: {with hydrophilic lower face}
- A61F 2013/8497: {having decorations or indicia means}
- D04H 1/5414: {side-by-side}
- 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)
- D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B)

## Abstract

The present disclosure is directed, in part, to webs or topsheets for absorbent articles and methods of making the same. The webs and topsheets include bicomponent fibers having a first component and a second component, wherein the first component has a different hydrophilicity than the second component. The webs and topsheets include a continuous land area and discrete zones of modified surface energy. One of the first and second components forms an outer surface of the fibers in the continuous land area and the other of the components at least partially forms an outer surface of the fibers in the discrete zones of modified surface energy such that the discrete zones of modified surface energy have a different hydrophilicity than the continuous land area.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An absorbent article comprising:
a nonwoven topsheet;
a backsheet; and
an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet;
wherein the nonwoven topsheet comprises:
a plurality of bicomponent fibers forming the nonwoven topsheet, at least some of the bicomponent fibers each comprise a first component and a second component, wherein the first component comprises a hydrophobic resin or a hydrophobic melt additive, and wherein the second component comprises a hydrophilic resin or a hydrophilic melt additive;
a continuous land area comprising the bicomponent fibers; and
discrete zones of modified surface energy comprising the bicomponent fibers, wherein at least a majority of the discrete zones of modified surface energy are surrounded by the continuous land area;
wherein, in the continuous land area, the second component is not exposed to maintain the continuous land area hydrophobic; and
wherein, in at least some of the discrete zones of modified surface energy, the second component is at least partially exposed to render the discrete zones of modified surface energy hydrophilic.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the discrete zones of modified surface energy comprise bonds.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the bonds comprise calendar bonds or point bonds.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the discrete zones of modified surface energy comprise perimeter portions at least partially surrounding apertures in the topsheet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the perimeter portions of the apertures are at least partially formed by ruptured bonds.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the nonwoven topsheet is formed of only a single layer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the discrete zones of modified surface energy comprise increased permeability zones.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the at least some of the bicomponent fibers comprise spunbond fibers or staple fibers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the at least some of the bicomponent fibers comprise core/sheath type bicomponent fibers, wherein the first component forms the sheath, and wherein the second component forms the core.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the at least some of the bicomponent fibers comprise islands-in-the-sea type bicomponent fibers, wherein the first component forms the sea, and wherein the second component forms the islands.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a hydrophobic melt additive, and wherein the second component comprises a hydrophilic melt additive.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the topsheet is free of topical surface energy modifying treatments.

### Claim 13

A method of manufacturing a nonwoven topsheet comprising discrete zones of modified surface energy, the method comprising:
providing a web comprising bicomponent fibers, wherein at least some of the bicomponent fibers each comprise a first component and a second component, wherein the first component comprises a hydrophobic resin or a hydrophobic melt additive, and wherein the second component comprises a hydrophilic resin or a hydrophilic melt additive;
providing a continuous land area in the web, wherein, in the continuous land area, the first component surrounds the second component in the fibers and the second component is not exposed to maintain the continuous land area hydrophobic; and
applying heat or energy to the web to create bonds or apertures in the web to form the discrete zones of modified surface energy within the continuous land area, wherein, in the discrete zones of modified surface energy, the second component is at least partially exposed to render the discrete zones of modified surface energy at least partially hydrophilic.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, comprising applying heat or energy to form only discrete bonds.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, comprising applying heat or energy to form only apertures.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, comprising:
conveying the web in a machine direction;
wherein the applying heat or energy step comprises forming overbonds in the web;
stretching the web substantially in a cross-machine direction to at least partially rupture at least some of the overbonds and at least partially form apertures; and
forming the discrete zones of modified surface energy at least partially on perimeters of the apertures.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the applying heat or energy step comprises pin aperturing the web to form apertures, and wherein the discrete zones of modified surface energy are formed on portions of perimeters of the apertures.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the web is a single layer web.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the applying heat or energy step occurs after any spontaneous blooming of the hydrophilic melt additive and/or the hydrophobic melt additive.

### Claim 20

A method of manufacturing a single layer, nonwoven topsheet comprising discrete zones of modified surface energy, the method comprising:
providing a web comprising bicomponent fibers, wherein at least some of the bicomponent fibers each comprise a first component and a second component, wherein the first component comprises a hydrophobic resin or a hydrophobic melt additive, and wherein the second component comprises a hydrophilic resin or a hydrophilic melt additive;
conveying the web in a machine direction;
providing a continuous land area in the web, wherein, in the continuous land area, the first component surrounds the second component and the second component is not exposed to maintain the continuous land area hydrophobic;
applying heat or energy to the web to create discrete overbonds in the web within the continuous land area; and
stretching the web substantially in a cross-machine direction to at least partially rupture at least some of the overbonds in the web and at least partially form apertures, wherein the discrete zones of modified surface energy are at least partially formed on portions of perimeters of the apertures, and wherein the second component is at least partially exposed in the discrete zones of modified surface energy to render the perimeters of the apertures at least partially hydrophilic.