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Attachment of superabsorbent materials to fibers using oil

a superabsorbent material and fiber technology, applied in the field of oil-based fiber-based superabsorbent material attachment, can solve the problems of increasing production costs, requiring capital investment, and affecting the effect of the absorbent core retention ra

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-02-10
WEYERHAEUSER CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention provides fibers and/or superabsorbent materials treated with oil that are useful in absorbent cores formed from the treated fibers and/or treated superabsorbent materials and untreated fibers and/or untreated superabsorbent materials. The compositions of the present invention can be formed into absorbent articles for absorbing fluids such as aqueous fluids like urine or blood. The compositions are useful in methods for retaining superabsorbent materials in webs or masses of fibers commonly used as absorbent structures in absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinent devices and feminine hygiene products. The methods provide absorbent structures that are able to retain superabsorbent mate

Problems solved by technology

When superabsorbent materials are in the form of powder or small particles, it is a challenge to retain the superabsorbent material in the absorbent core which comprises a matrix of fibers, commonly cellulose fibers.
While humidifying the manufacturing location is effective, it requires a capital investment and increases the costs of production.
Retaining the superabsorbent material in an absorbent core over an extended period of time is another challenge that faces manufacturers.
The retention of superabsorbent materials in the absorbent core may fail over time for a number of reasons such as vigorous handling of the absorbent core which results in dislodgment of the superabsorbent material or a reduction in the moisture content of the absorbent core.

Method used

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  • Attachment of superabsorbent materials to fibers using oil
  • Attachment of superabsorbent materials to fibers using oil
  • Attachment of superabsorbent materials to fibers using oil

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

Oil Treatment of Fibers

[0047] Pulp sheets of southern pine fluff available from Weyerhaeuser Company under the designation NB416 with a starting moisture content of 6% by weight based on total sheet weight were coated in a Black Brothers gravure-type roll coater with mineral oil. The mineral oil was USP mineral oil purchased at a Rite Aid pharmacy carrying the label “Rite Aid Mineral Oil USP” and a CAS number 8020-83-5 and 8012-95-1, with alternative CAS numbers 39355-35-6, 79956-36-8 and 83046-05.3. The gravure coater applied a uniform coating of the mineral oil over one entire surface of the pulp sheet from where it was rapidly soaked up by the sheet. The mineral oil was applied to the pulp sheet at a rate of 10.5 parts by weight mineral oil to 100 parts of oven dried pulp. The treated sheet was stored in a plastic zippered bag for 24 hours at room temperature to allow the added oil to migrate within the sheet. The pulp sheets were then fiberized in a hammermill and combined with...

control example 1

[0049] For this control example, pads were prepared from the same type of fibers and superabsorbent material as Example 1 without mineral oil applied to the fibers. The same conditions as Example 1 were employed in preparing the pads of this control example. The collected pads were subjected to Rotap testing and saddle wick testing under the same conditions described in Example 1. The results are depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 as NB416.

control example 2

[0050] In this control example, a commercial modified pulp available from Weyerhaeuser Company under the designation RP-S4 was used to form pads of such fibers and the same superabsorbent material described in Example 1. RP-S4 contains wood pulp fibers treated with a number of agents comprising molecules having at least two hydrogen bond or coordinate covalent bond forming functional groups or combinations of such functional groups which are contained on the fibers for the purpose of attaching superabsorbent material to the fibers. The pads were formed using the same conditions as Example 1. The collected pads were subjected to the Rotap testing and saddle wick testing under the same conditions described in Example 1. The results are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 as RP-S4.

[0051] The results illustrate that absorbent articles prepared from fibers treated with oil in accordance with the present invention and combined with superabsorbent material retain the superabsorbent material ...

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PUM

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Abstract

Oil is used in absorbent structures to promote the retention of superabsorbent materials within the absorbent structures that are formed from fibers and the superabsorbent material. The oil is applied to either the fibers or the superabsorbent material or both prior to or during the formation of the components into an absorbent structure. Acquisition rates and fluid retention levels of the absorbent structures are described.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the attachment of superabsorbent material to fibers using oil, methods of achieving such attachment, and compositions for use in attaching superabsorbent materials to fibers using oil. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In the production of absorbent articles, such as diapers and incontinent devices, it is known to combine superabsorbent materials and cellulose fibers to form an absorbent core. The absorbent core receives fluid to be absorbed and retains the fluid. When superabsorbent materials are in the form of powder or small particles, it is a challenge to retain the superabsorbent material in the absorbent core which comprises a matrix of fibers, commonly cellulose fibers. Various methods of retaining superabsorbent material in an absorbent core have been described. For example, it has been proposed that the cellulose fibers be embedded within the surface of the superabsorbent material. [0003] Another approach descr...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B27N3/04A61F13/15A61L15/34A61L15/60
CPCA61L15/60A61L15/34Y10T428/249924
Inventor HAMILTON, ROBERTMA, KIETWEST, HUGHHALABISKY, DONALD D.
Owner WEYERHAEUSER CO