Absorbent members for body fluids having good wet integrity and relatively high concentrations of hydrogel-forming absorbent polymer

An absorbent core for acquiring, distributing and storing body fluids, which comprises a fluid storage absorbent layer comprising fibrous matrix having at least one region containing particles of a surface crosslinked hydrogel-forming absorbent polymer having carboxy functional groups, said hydrogel-forming polymer being present in said region in a concentration of from about 60 to 100% by weight, said hydrogel-forming polymer providing a gel continuous fluid transportation zone when in a swollen state and having:

• (a) a Saline Flow Conductivity (SFC) value of from about 50 to about 500.times.10.sup.-7 cm.sup.3 sec/g;
• (b) a Performance under Pressure (PUP) capacity value of from about 25 to about 33 g/g under a confining pressure of 0.7 psi (5 kPa);
• (c) a basis weight of at least about 20 gsm;
• (d) about 10% or less extractable polymer;
• (e) a gel volume of from about 25 to about 80 g/g;
• said region having, when subjected to normal use conditions, sufficient wet integrity such that said gel continuous zone substantially maintains its ability to acquire and transport body fluids through said gel continuous zone.