Absorbent article with unitary absorbent layer for center fill performance

An absorbent article for use on the body of a wearer, the absorbent article having two longitudinal sides, a target zone and a body side, the absorbent article comprising:

• a) a liquid impervious backsheet;
• b) a liquid pervious topsheet attached to the backsheet;
• c) a unitary absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the unitary absorbent layer having a thickness, and comprising a central portion and an outer portion surrounding the central portion, the central portion and the outer portion separated by a boundary comprising a slit, the outer portion having a body-side surface;
• and
• d) a wicking barrier spanning a horizontal distance on the surface of the outer portion of the unitary absorbent layer and spanning the thickness of the unitary absorbent layer in a portion of the slit, wherein the wicking barrier is at least one selected from a group consisting of substantially liquid impervious and hydrophobic material impregnated.

An absorbent article for use on the body of a wearer, the absorbent article having, a longitudinal centerline, two longitudinal sides, a target zone and a body side, the absorbent article comprising:

• a) a liquid impervious backsheet;
• b) a liquid pervious topsheet attached to the backsheet;
• c) an absorbent core having a body-side surface disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent core comprising a unitary absorbent layer having a thickness and a width in the target zone of the absorbent article, the unitary absorbent layer comprising a central portion, an outer portion, and a boundary between the outer portion and the central portion, the boundary including one or more slits passing through the thickness of the unitary absorbent layer, the outer portion and the central portion each having a body-side surface and a garment-side surface;
• and
• d) a wicking barrier spanning a horizontal distance above the body-side surface of the outer portion of the unitary absorbent layer and spanning a vertical distance in the one or more slits of the unitary absorbent layer, wherein the wicking barrier is liquid impervious.

An absorbent article for use on the body of a wearer, the absorbent article having two longitudinal sides, a target zone and a body side, the absorbent article comprising:

• a) a liquid impervious backsheet;
• b) a liquid pervious topsheet attached to the backsheet;
• c) a unitary absorbent layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the unitary absorbent layer having a thickness, and comprising a central portion and an outer portion separated by a boundary comprising a slit, the outer portion having a body-side surface;
• and
• d) a wicking barrier spanning a horizontal distance on the surface of the outer portion of the unitary absorbent layer and spanning the thickness of the unitary absorbent layer in a portion of the slit, wherein the wicking barrier is liquid impervious.