IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,662,745
Granted Patent B2
US 7,662,745 · App. 10/739,385 · Granted Feb 16, 2010

Stretchable absorbent composites having high permeability

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,662,745
App. No.
10/739,385
Granted
Feb 16, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A stretchable absorbent composite having a Composite Permeability of about 10 Darcy or more, or about 15 Darcy or more, and Composite Stretchability of about 30% or more, or about 50% or more, or about 100% or more, and a method of making such a stretchable absorbent composite. The stretchable absorbent composite includes a superabsorbent material, an elastomeric material, and, optionally, pulp fibers. More particularly, the stretchable absorbent composite may include between about 30% and about 85% by weight superabsorbent material, between about 5% and about 25% by weight elastomeric material, and between about 10% and about 70% by weight pulp fibers. The stretchability and liquid handling abilities of the stretchable absorbent composite renders the stretchable absorbent composite suitable for incorporation into a variety of absorbent articles, including personal care products, health/medical absorbent articles, and household/industrial absorbent articles, for example.

Claims (31)

1. A stretchable absorbent composite, comprising: a superabsorbent material; and an elastomeric material; wherein the absorbent composite exhibits a Composite Stretchability of about 50% or more, and a Composite Permeability of about 15 Darcy or more; wherein the absorbent composite is located within a personal care absorbent article.

2. The absorbent composite of claim 1 , comprising between about 5% and about 95% by weight superabsorbent material.

3. The absorbent composite of claim 1 , comprising between about 50% and about 95% by weight superabsorbent material.

4. The absorbent composite of claim 1 , comprising between about 5% and about 25% by weight elastomeric material.

5. The absorbent composite of claim 1 , further comprising between 0% and about 75% by weight pulp fibers.

6. The absorbent composite of claim 1 , further comprising a surfactant.

7. The absorbent composite of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent material has a gel bed permeability under 0.3 psi of about 30 Darcy or more.

8. The absorbent composite of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent material has a Centrifuge Retention Capacity of about 20 grams/gram or more.

9. The absorbent composite of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent material comprises an anionic superabsorbent material surface-treated with a polyvinyl amine solution.

10. The absorbent composite of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises at least one of the group consisting of olefinic copolymers, polyethylene elastomers, polypropylene elastomers, polyester elastomers, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, polyurethane, polyisoprene, cross-linked polybutadiene, and combinations thereof.

11. A stretchable absorbent composite, comprising: about 60% by weight or more superabsorbent material; and an elastomeric material; wherein the absorbent composite exhibits a Composite Stretchability of about 30% or more, and a Composite Permeability of about 15 Darcy or more; wherein the absorbent composite is located within a personal care absorbent article.

12. The absorbent composite of claim 11 , comprising between about 5% and about 25% by weight elastomeric material.

13. The absorbent composite of claim 11 , further comprising between 0% and about 25% by weight pulp fibers.

14. The absorbent composite of claim 11 , further comprising a surfactant.

15. The absorbent composite of claim 11 , wherein the superabsorbent material has a gel bed permeability under 0.3 psi of about 30 Darcy or more.

16. The absorbent composite of claim 11 , wherein the superabsorbent material has a Centrifuge Retention Capacity of about 20 grams/gram or more.

17. The absorbent composite of claim 11 , wherein the superabsorbent material comprises an anionic polymer superabsorbent material surface-treated with a polyvinyl, amine solution.

18. The absorbent composite of claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises at least one of the group consisting of olefinic copolymers, polyethylene elastomers, polypropylene elastomers, polyester elastomers, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, polyurethane, polyisoprene, cross-linked polybutadiene, and combinations thereof.

19. A stretchable absorbent composite, comprising: a superabsorbent material; and an elastomeric material; wherein the absorbent composite exhibits a Composite Stretchability of about 100% or more, and a Composite Permeability of about 10 Darcy or more; wherein the absorbent composite is located within a personal care absorbent article.

20. The absorbent composite of claim 19 , comprising between about 5% and about 95% by weight superabsorbent material.

21. The absorbent composite of claim 19 , comprising between about 50% and about 95% by weight superabsorbent material.

22. The absorbent composite of claim 19 , comprising between about 5% and about 25% by weight elastomeric material.

23. The absorbent composite of claim 19 , further comprising between 0% and about 75% by weight pulp fibers.

24. The absorbent composite of claim 19 , further comprising a surfactant.

25. The absorbent composite of claim 19 , wherein the superabsorbent material has a gel bed permeability under 0.3 psi of about 30 Darcy or more.

26. The absorbent composite of claim 19 , wherein the superabsorbent material has a Centrifuge Retention Capacity of about 20 grams/gram or more.

27. The absorbent composite of claim 19 , wherein the superabsorbent material comprises an anionic polymer superabsorbent material surface-treated with a polyvinyl amine solution.

28. The absorbent composite of claim 19 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises at least one of the group consisting of olefinic copolymers, polyethylene elastomers, polypropylene elastomers, polyester elastomers, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene, polyurethane, polyisoprene, cross-linked polybutadiene, and combinations thereof.

29. A diaper comprising the absorbent composite of claim 1 .

30. A diaper comprising the absorbent composite of claim 11 .

31. A diaper comprising the absorbent composite of claim 19 .

Assignments (2)
NAME CHANGE Recorded Feb 3, 2015
From: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
To: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 034880/0742 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2003
From: ZHANG, XIAOMIN; QIN, JIAN; JACKSON, DAVID MARTIN; JACOBSEN, LISA MARIE
To: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 014824/0526 →