Stretchable absorbent article

1. A method for making an absorbent article, at least a portion of which is stretchable during use, said method comprising the steps of:

applying a layer of adhesive composition to a liquid impermeable, stretchable substrate, the adhesive composition having an open time of at least about 0.5 seconds, a viscosity of less than about 10,000 centipoises at a temperature of less than or equal to about 250 degrees Fahrenheit (about 121 degrees Celsius), a storage modulus of less than or equal to about 1.0x10 7 dyne/cm 2 at 25 degrees Celsius, and a glass transition temperature in the range of about −25 degrees Celsius to about 25 degrees Celsius;

applying a layer of particulate superabsorbent material to the adhesive composition after applying the adhesive composition to the stretchable substrate, and

passing the stretchable substrate through a nip within the open time of the adhesive composition to facilitate adhesive bonding between the adhesive composition and the particulate superabsorbent material.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of applying a second layer of adhesive composition to said layer of particulate superabsorbent material after applying said layer of particulate superabsorbent material to the layer of adhesive composition applied to the substrate.

3. The method set forth in claim 2 wherein the stretchable substrate is a first substrate, the method further comprising positioning a second substrate in superposed relationship with the first substrate and in contact with the second layer of adhesive composition to secure the second substrate thereto.

4. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein the second substrate is stretchable.

5. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the substrate is a first substrate, the method further comprising positioning a second substrate in superposed relationship with the first substrate and in contact with the layer of particulate superabsorbent material, and securing the second substrate to the first substrate.

6. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the adhesive composition is a hot-melt adhesive, the step of applying a layer of adhesive composition to the stretchable substrate comprising meltblowing said hot-melt adhesive onto said substrate.

7. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising applying hydrophilic fibers to the adhesive composition after applying said adhesive composition to the stretchable substrate.

8. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of applying a second layer of adhesive composition over the layer of particulate superabsorbent material and applying a second layer of particulate superabsorbent material to the second layer of adhesive composition.

9. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the adhesive composition is hydrophilic.

10. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the adhesive composition is hydrophobic.

11. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the adhesive composition has a viscosity in the range of about 1,000 to about 8,000 centipoises at a temperature of about 300 degrees Fahrenheit (about 149 degrees Celsius).

12. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the adhesive composition has a viscosity in the range of about 2,000 to about 6,000 centipoises at a temperature of about 300 degrees Fahrenheit (about 149 degrees Celsius).