Reticulated absorbent composite
View Patent ↗An absorbent composite ( 10 ) having a fibrous matrix that includes absorbent material is disclosed. The fibrous matrix defines voids ( 14 ) and passages between the voids, which are distributed throughout the composite. Absorbent material ( 18 ) is located within some of the voids ( 14 ). Absorbent material located in these voids is expandable into the void. In a preferred embodiment, the composite's fibrous matrix includes resilient and matrix fibers ( 16 ). The composite optionally includes a wet strength agent.
1. A method for forming an absorbent composite, comprising the steps of:
adding superabsorbent particles to a first fibrous slurry comprising crosslinked cellulosic fibers in a dispersion medium to form a second fibrous slurry;
depositing the second fibrous slurry on a foraminous support to form a wet composite; and
drying the wet composite to form an absorbent composite comprising a fibrous matrix and superabsorbent particles,
wherein the fibrous matrix defines voids and passages between voids distributed substantially throughout the matrix;
wherein superabsorbent particles are located within some of the voids; and
wherein superabsorbent particles located within the voids are expandable into the voids.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first fibrous slurry further comprises wood pulp fibers.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the superabsorbent particles are swellable in the dispersion medium.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the superabsorbent particles absorb less than about 20 times its weight in the dispersion medium.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first fibrous slurry further comprises a wet strength agent.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the wet strength agent is a polyamide-epichiorohydrin resin.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the dispersion medium comprises water.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the dispersion medium further comprises a surfactant.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of ionic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second fibrous slurry has a consistency of from about 0.05 to about 15 percent solids by weight.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is a wet-laid method.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is a foam method.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the adding superabsorbent particles to crosslinked cellulosic fibers comprises adding the superabsorbent particles as a chilled water suspension.
14. A method for forming an absorbent composite, comprising the steps of:
combining superabsorbent particles with a dispersion medium to form an superabsorbent particle slurry;
adding the superabsorbent particle slurry to a fibrous slurry comprising crosslinked cellulosic fibers to provide a fibrous superabsorbent particle slurry;
depositing the fibrous superabsorbent particle slurry on a foraminous support to form a wet composite; and
drying the wet composite to form an absorbent composite comprising a fibrous matrix and superabsorbent particles,
wherein the fibrous matrix defines voids and passages between voids distributed substantially throughout the matrix;
wherein superabsorbent particles are located within some of the voids; and
wherein the superabsorbent particles located within the voids are expandable into the voids.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first fibrous slurry further comprises a wet strength agent.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the superabsorbent particle slurry comprises chilled water.