Liquid detecting article and method of making same
A liquid indicating article is disclosed. It can have a single layer, but generally will have at least two layers bonded together, wherein a visible layer masks a second colored layer and the visible layer becomes at least semitransparent when wet.
1. A liquid indicating article comprising:
a first visible layer having a wet tensile strength of from at least 125 to about 200,000 g/inch that transitions from a first opaque state to a less opaque second state, and
a second layer having a color different from the less opaque state;
wherein the visible layer is interlocked to the second layer and the transition of the first layer occurs while in contact with a liquid.
2. The liquid indicating article of claim 1 comprising a woven or nonwoven gauze bonded to a net prepared by perforating a film.
3. The liquid indicting article of claim 1 comprising a woven or nonwoven gauze bonded to a foam.
4. The liquid indicating article of claim 1 wherein the first layer, second layer or both the first layer and the second layer is a non-woven material.
5. The liquid indicating article of claim 1 wherein the second layer is prepared employing pigments that are completely contained within the matrix of the colored layer.
6. The liquid indicating article of claim 5 wherein the pigments are not readily soluble in water and resist transfer to skin upon which it is applied.
7. The liquid indicating article of claim 2 wherein the woven or nonwoven gauze is suitable for use in wound care.
8. The liquid indicating article of claim 3 wherein the woven or nonwoven gauze is suitable for use in wound care.
9. The liquid indicating article of claim 4 wherein both the layers are suitable for use in would care.
10. The liquid indicating article of claim 1 wherein the bonding within the article is water resistant.
11. The liquid indicating article of claim 1 wherein a layer becoming less opaque while in contact with a liquid has a color or appearance change of at least 10% of the dry L (lightness) or C (chromo) values.
12. The liquid indicating article of claim 1 wherein the layer becoming less opaque while in contact with a liquid has a color or appearance change of at least 20% of the dry L (lightness) or C (chromo) values.
13. The liquid indicating article of claim 12 wherein a layer becoming less opaque while in contact with a liquid has a color or appearance change of at least 30% of the dry L (lightness) or C (chromo) values.
14. The liquid indicating article of claim 1 wherein the liquid indicating article is a dressing.
15. A process for manufacturing a liquid indicating article of claim 1 comprising applying:
a first visible layer that transitions from a first opaque state to a less opaque second state, to
a second layer having a color different from the less opaque state;
wherein the visible layer is interlocked to the second layer and the transition of the first layer occurs while in contact with a liquid.
16. The process of claim 15 wherein the process is subject to quality assurance by employing a reference grade spectrophotometer to measure color change to the article when the article is contacted with a liquid.
17. The process of claim 16 wherein the layer becoming less opaque while in contact with a liquid has a color or appearance change of at least 10% of the dry L (lightness) or C (chromo) values.
18. The process of claim 15 wherein materials employed in the process are water resistant.
19. A liquid indicating article comprising:
a first visible layer having a wet tensile strength of from at least 125 to about 225,000 g/inch that transitions from a first opaque state to a less opaque second state, and
a second layer having a color different from the less opaque state;
wherein the visible layer is interlocked to the second layer and the transition of the first layer occurs while in contact with a liquid.