Absorbent articles comprising absorbent materials exhibiting deswell/reswell
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsRichard N. Dodge, II, Jian Qin, Scott J. Smith, Gonglu Tian, Yaru Shi
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Abstract
The present invention relates to absorbent articles that include absorbent compositions which exhibit swelling, deswelling, and reswelling behavior. More specifically, absorbent compositions of this invention swell and absorb fluids after exposure to aqueous fluids, deswell and release fluids from the swollen absorbent compositions, and can also reswell and absorb fluids. The swelling-deswelling-reswelling behavior allows enhanced liquid distribution in absorbent composites and absorbent articles.
Claims28
An absorbent composite comprising:
- an absorbent composition;
- wherein the absorbent composition comprises a SAP, a deswell triggering agent (TAD) and a reswell triggering agent (TAR);
- wherein the SAP, the TAD and the TAR are all selected from either solubility-based chemistry or neutralization-based chemistry groupings;
- wherein the TAD comprises a first water-soluble solid chemical wherein the TAD has a release profile for releasing the water-soluble solid chemical wherein the release profile is selected from a singular release profile or a sigmoidal release profile;
- wherein the TAR comprises a second water-soluble solid chemical wherein the reswell triggering anent has a sigmoidal release profile for releasing the second water-soluble solid chemical;
- wherein the first water-soluble chemical has a higher cumulative release than the second water-soluble chemical after exposure to aqueous fluid and before about 100% release;
- and
- wherein the absorbent composite has a top side and an opposing bottom side.
An absorbent composite having a fibrous matrix comprising:
- a SAP, a deswell triggering agent (TAD) and a reswell triggering agent (TAR);
- wherein the SAP, the TAD and the TAR are all selected from either solubility-based chemistry or neutralization-based chemistry groupings;
- wherein the absorbent composite has a top layer, a middle layer and a bottom layer;
- wherein the middle layer is disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer;
- and
- wherein each of SAP, TAD and TAR is present in at least one of the layers;
- and wherein the middle layer comprises substantially only SAP.
An absorbent system comprising:
- a SAP, a deswell triggering agent (TAD) and a reswell triggering agent (TAR);
- wherein the SAP, the TAD and the TAR are all selected from either solubility-based chemistry or neutralization-based chemistry groupings;
- wherein the absorbent system comprises an absorbent composite, a top discrete layer, and a bottom discrete layer;
- wherein the absorbent composite includes a fibrous matrix;
- wherein the absorbent composite is disposed between the top discrete layer and the bottom discrete layer;
- and
- wherein the absorbent composite, the top discrete layer, and the bottom discrete layer each comprise exclusively only one of the SAP, the TAD, and the TAR.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.