Absorbent articles and methods of making

An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims wherein the top layer of the core wrap is a multi-layered nonwoven and comprises at least one spunbond layer and at least one meltblown layer, and is a nonwoven preferably selected from the group consisting of:

• SM, SMS, SMMS, and combinations thereof.

An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims wherein the top layer of the core wrap, preferably the entire core wrap, comprises synthetic fibers, wherein said synthetic fibers are comprised at a level of greater than 80% wt by weight of said core wrap, and wherein said core wrap has a basis weight of from 5 to 50 g/m2.

An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one of the channels (106) extends both along the longitudinal axis (48) and along an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (48), such that a shape is formed that is substantially U-shaped.

An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least the top layer of the core wrap, preferably the entire core wrap, has a specific volume of less than 13 cm3/g, preferably less than 12.6 cm3/g, more preferably from 5.5 cm3/g to 12.0 cm3/g, even more preferably from 8.5 cm3/g to 11.2 cm3/g.

An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least the top layer of the core wrap, preferably the entire core wrap, has a mean flow pore size of from 15 μm to 200 μm, preferably from 30 μm to 150 μm, more preferably from 45 μm to 130 μm, even more preferably from 55 μm to 110 μm, even more preferably from 60 μm to less than 100 μm, even more preferably from 65 μm to 95 μm, even more preferably from 70 μm to 90 μm.

An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the top layer of the core wrap has a first basis weight and the bottom layer of the core wrap has a second basis weight, wherein the first and second basis weights are different, preferably wherein the first basis weight is greater than the second basis weight, more preferably wherein the first basis weight is from 1.1 to 4.0, preferably from 1.2 to 3.5, even more preferably from 1.5 to 2.5, even more preferably from 1.6 to 2.0, times the second basis weight.

An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims wherein the second end (110′,111′) of at least one channel is at a distance from the first end (110, 111) of at least one other channel taken along the longitudinal axis (48), such that at least two spaced apart channels are formed along said longitudinal axis (48) that are offset from a transverse line running perpendicular from said longitudinal axis (48) and wherein said distance taken along the longitudinal axis (48) is less than 18 mm, preferably from 6 mm to 15 mm, preferably wherein the core comprises at least four channels (106) and wherein said distance between second and first ends (110,111,110′,111′) of a first pair of longitudinally displaced channels is different from the distance between second and first ends (110,111,110′,111′) of a second pair of longitudinally displaced channels wherein the first pair of channels run substantially parallel to the second pair of channels.

An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims wherein the top layer of said core wrap is adhered to a bottom layer of said core wrap, along said channels (106), at a plurality of discrete joining areas, wherein said joining areas form a pattern consisting of elongated oblique members (1061) having an angle α from the longitudinal axis (48), wherein said angle α is greater than 0° and less than 90°, preferably from 15° to 75°, more preferably from 20° to 70°, and preferably wherein at least one, preferably at least 10%, more preferably at least 40%, even more preferably at least 50%, of said elongated oblique members (1061) have a total length (Lo) which is at least substantially equal to, preferably greater than, the width (wc) of the channel along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (48), and preferably wherein said discrete joining areas are free of adhesive and typically comprise mechanical bonds.

An absorbent article according to any of the preceding claims wherein at least the top layer of the core wrap, preferably the entire core wrap, has a thickness of less than 0.5 mm, preferably from 0.1 to 0.4 mm, more preferably from 0.15 to 0.3 mm, according to the method described herein.