# US 6,689,934 B2 · Absorbent materials having improved fluid intake and lock-up properties > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,689,934 B2 - Document ID: US6689934B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/291,239 - Filed: 2002-11-08 - Published: 2003-07-10 - Granted: 2004-02-10 - Earliest claimed: 2001-12-14 - Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Inventors: Richard Norris Dodge, II; Nancy Birbiglia Lange; Jayant Chakravarty; Jian Qin; Sridhar Ranganathan; Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai; Cathleen M. Uttecht; Xiaomin Zhang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6689934B2 ## CPC - A61L 15/60: Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents - Y10T 442/2484: Coating or impregnation is water absorbency-increasing or hydrophilicity-increasing or hydrophilicity-imparting - Y10T 442/659: Including an additional nonwoven fabric - Y10T 442/692: Containing at least two chemically different strand or fiber materials - Y10T 442/696: Including strand or fiber material which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous compositions, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.] - Y10T 442/699: Including particulate material other than strand or fiber material - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Disclosed are absorbent composites, useful in an absorbent article, having high liquid intake rates. The absorbent composites may also have a rapid liquid lock-up. Absorbent composites of this invention have an intake rate of at least about 1.9 cc liquid/second at an 80% absorbent composite saturation level and a liquid lock-up fraction of at least about 0.70 at 50% superabsorbent material saturation. The absorbent composites of this invention can be a freeze-dried composite, an airformed absorbent composite, or other fibrous or non-fibrous absorbent composites. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable body-side liner; an absorbent composite; and a substantially liquid-impermeable outer cover adjacent to the absorbent composite material; wherein the absorbent composite has an intake rate of at least about 1.9 cubic centimeters of 0.9% by weight sodium chloride aqueous solution per second at 80% absorbent composite saturation and a liquid lock-up fraction of at least about 0.70 at 50% superabsorbent saturation determined using 0.9% by weight sodium chloride aqueous solution, the intake rate and the liquid lock-up fraction being determined by the methods set forth herein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent composite has an intake rate of at least about 2.3 cubic centimeters of 0.9% by weight sodium chloride aqueous solution per second at 80% absorbent composite saturation and a liquid lock-up fraction of at least about 0.75 at 50% superabsorbent material saturation determined using 0.9% by weight sodium chloride aqueous solution. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent composite has an intake rate of at least about 2.7 cubic centimeters of 0.9% by weight sodium chloride aqueous solution per second at 80% absorbent composite saturation and a liquid lock-up fraction of at least about 0.80 at 50% superabsorbent material saturation determined using 0.9% by weight sodium chloride aqueous solution. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent composite has an intake rate of at least about 3.3 cubic centimeters of 0.9% by weight sodium chloride aqueous solution per second at 80% absorbent composite saturation and a liquid lock-up fraction of at least about 0.80 at 50% superabsorbent material saturation determined using 0.9% by weight sodium chloride aqueous solution. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent composite comprises a superabsorbent material in a weight amount of about 10 to 70 weight percent based on total weight of the absorbent composite. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent composite comprises a water-insoluble fiber in a weight amount of about 30 to 90 weight percent, based on total weight of the absorbent composite. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the water-insoluble fiber comprises at least one of a natural fiber and a synthetic fiber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The absorbent article of claim 7, wherein the water-insoluble fiber comprises a fiber selected from the group consisting of wood pulp fiber, cotton linter, thermoplastic fibers, elastic fibers, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent composite comprises a binder material in a weight amount of about 0 to 20 weight percent, based on total weight of the absorbent composite. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The absorbent article of claim 9, wherein the binder material is selected from the group consisting of poly(aminoamide) epichlorohydrin polymer, latex, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The absorbent article of claim 9, wherein the binder material comprises a water-insoluble, water-swellable polymer selected from the group consisting of sodium-polyacrylate, carboxymethyl cellulose, chitosan salt, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The absorbent article of claim 9, wherein the binder material comprises a thermoplastic fiber selected from the group consisting of polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, polyester fibers, nylon fibers, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The absorbent article of claim 9, wherein the binder material is elastic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent composite comprises a freeze-dried fibrous composite. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent composite comprises an airformed absorbent composite. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent composite comprises a wetformed absorbent composite. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the superabsorbent material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of particles, fibers, nonwoven, aggregate, printed, coated, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The absorbent article of claim 17, wherein the superabsorbent material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of sodium-polyacrylate, carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl polysaccharides, polyaspartic acid salt, maleic anhydride-isobutylene copolymer, chitosan salts, polyquarternary ammonium salts, polyvinyl amines, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent article is a diaper. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent article is a training pant. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent article is a swim wear garment. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent article is an adult incontinence garment. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent article is a feminine hygiene product. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent article is a medical absorbent product.