Absorbent structure having improved absorption properties

An absorbent, porous structure (4) comprising:

• a first absorbent region (19), primarily consisting of a first material, which stands in direct connection with a second absorbent region (20), primarily consisting of a second material that is hydrophilic,
• wherein the first material is hydrophilic and exhibits a receding wetting angle θr which is essentially as large as, or smaller than the receding wetting angle θr of the second material in an un-treated condition,
• wherein the first material comprises an agent that raises the receding wetting angle θr of the first material above the value for the receding wetting angle θr of the second material, the combination of the agent and the first material still being hydrophilic, whereby the receding wetting angle θr is larger for the first material than for the second material, and whereby liquid transport between the two regions (19, 20) takes place in a direction from the first region (19) to the second region (20) at least when the porous structure (4) is wet,
• wherein the agent for raising the receding wetting angle θr is ethylhydroxy-ethylcellulose (EHEC).

An absorbent article comprising:

• a liquid-pervious cover layer (2;
• 32), a liquid-impervious cover layer (3;
• 33) and an absorbent body (4;
• 34) enclosed between the two cover layers (2, 3;
• 32, 33);
• the absorbent body (4;
• 34) including a first absorbent region (19;
• 49), primarily consisting of a first material, which stands in direct connection with a second absorbent region (20;
• 50), primarily consisting of a second material that is hydrophilic,
• wherein the first material is hydrophilic and exhibits a receding wetting angle θr which is essentially as large as, or smaller than the receding wetting angle θr of the second material in an un-treated condition,
• wherein the first material comprises an agent that raises the receding wetting angle θr of the first material above the value for the receding wetting angle θr of the second material, the combination of the agent and the first material still being hydrophilic, whereby the receding wetting angle θr is larger for the first material than for the second material, and whereby liquid transport takes place between the two regions (19, 20;
• 49, 50) in a direction from the first region (19;
• 49) to the second region (20;
• 50) at least when the absorbent body (4;
• 34) is wet.