ABSORBENT ARTICLES WITH BIOCOMPOSTABLE PROPERTIES
Disclosed is an absorbent article with biocompostable properties, such as a feminine hygiene pad. Particularly, the present invention is directed to an absorbent sanitary article with a high degree of biocompostability. The sanitary article comprises, in one embodiment, at least a top layer, a back layer, and absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core includes a superabsorbent polymer, and wherein at least the superabsorbent polymer is biocompostable. The absorbent article exhibits improved biocompostable properties and performance comparable to non-biodegradable absorbent articles which include non-biodegradable superabsorbent polymers.
1 . An absorbent article, comprising:
a fluid-permeable top layer;
a fluid-resistant back layer; and
an absorbent core;
wherein the absorbent core includes a superabsorbent polymer (SAP);
wherein the SAP includes a modified starch-based biopolymer;
wherein the modified starch-based biopolymer is surface and interior crosslinked; and
wherein the modified starch-based biopolymer has a Free Swell Capacity (FSC) of at least 18 g/g and a Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC) of at least 13 g/g in defibrinated sheep's blood.
2 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the SAP does not include a synthetic polymer and does not include a graft polymer.
3 . The article of claim 1 , wherein a biobased carbon content of the SAP is at least 50%.
4 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the SAP is biocompostable.
5 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the modified starch-based biopolymer includes at least one negatively charged moiety.
6 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the SAP exhibits no cytotoxicity and is not a dermal irritant.
7 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the modified starch-based biopolymer is formed using at least two different crosslinking agents, and wherein epichlorohydrin is not used as a crosslinking agent.
8 . An absorbent article, comprising:
a fluid-permeable top layer;
a fluid-resistant back layer; and
an absorbent core;
wherein the absorbent core includes a superabsorbent polymer (SAP);
wherein the SAP includes a modified biopolymer;
wherein the modified biopolymer is surface and interior crosslinked; and
wherein a biobased carbon content of the SAP is at least 50%.
9 . The article of claim 8 , wherein the modified biopolymer includes a charge modified biopolymer.
10 . The article of claim 8 , wherein the modified biopolymer exhibits no cytotoxicity and is not a dermal irritant.
11 . The article of claim 8 , wherein the modified biopolymer has a Free Swell Capacity (FSC) of at least 18 g/g and a Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC) of at least 13 g/g in defibrinated sheep's blood.
12 . The article of claim 8 , wherein the SAP does not include a synthetic polymer and does not include a graft polymer.
13 . The article of claim 8 , wherein the modified biopolymer is formed using at least two different crosslinking agents.
14 . The article of claim 8 , wherein the modified biopolymer is biocompostable.
15 . An absorbent article, comprising:
a fluid-permeable top layer;
a fluid-resistant back layer; and
an absorbent core;
wherein the absorbent core includes a superabsorbent polymer (SAP);
wherein the SAP includes a modified biopolymer;
wherein the SAP is biobased;
wherein the modified biopolymer is surface and interior crosslinked;
wherein the SAP does not include a synthetic SAP; and
wherein the SAP does not include a graft polymer.
16 . The article of claim 15 , wherein the modified biopolymer has a Free Swell Capacity (FSC) of at least 18 g/g and a Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC) of at least 13 g/g in defibrinated sheep's blood
17 . The article of claim 15 , wherein the modified biopolymer is synthesized by producing a biopolymer through reactive extrusion using a charge modifying agent and a plasticizer, performing interior crosslinking on the biopolymer, coating the interior crosslinked biopolymer with a surface crosslinking agent, and thermally treating the interior crosslinked biopolymer to create surface crosslinks on the interior crosslinked, charge modified biopolymer.
18 . The article of claim 15 , wherein a biobased carbon content of the SAP is at least 50%.
19 . The article of claim 15 , wherein the SAP exhibits no cytotoxicity and is not a dermal irritant.
20 . The article of claim 15 , wherein the modified biopolymer is biocompostable.