Absorbent Article and Components Thereof Having Improved Softness Signals, and Methods for Manufacturing

a technology of absorbent articles and softness signals, applied in the direction of other domestic articles, transportation and packaging, bandages, etc., can solve the problems of eluded precise measurement or quantification, no universally accepted unit or method of softness measurement, no standard or universally accepted unit of softness measurement, etc., and achieves the goal of achieving objective characterization

Inactive Publication Date: 2012-07-12
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY +1
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

As a result of the complexity of the mix of the above-described characteristics, to the extent softness is considered an attribute of a nonwoven web material, it may elude precise measurement or quantification.
Although several methods for measuring and evaluating material features that are believed to affect softness signals have been developed, there are no standard, universally accepted units or methods of measurement for softness.
It is a subjective, relative concept, difficult to characterize in an objective way.
Because softness is difficult to characterize, it can also be difficult to affect in a predictable way, through changes or adjustments to specifications in materials or manufacturing processes.
However, among the costs involved in producing nonwoven web material formed of pol

Method used

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  • Absorbent Article and Components Thereof Having Improved Softness Signals, and Methods for Manufacturing
  • Absorbent Article and Components Thereof Having Improved Softness Signals, and Methods for Manufacturing
  • Absorbent Article and Components Thereof Having Improved Softness Signals, and Methods for Manufacturing

Examples

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example 1

[0125]An exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Sample A, was a spunbond nonwoven made in a four beam process, laying down four layers (layers A, B, C, D) of fibers, two layers formed of ExxonMobil 3155 polypropylene and two layers formed of ExxonMobil SFT315 polypropylene blend with the bottom layers of the nonwoven being made from ExxonMobil 3155. Each layer contained 2.5% by weight of a master batch containing about 30% by weight polypropylene and 70% TiO2 (a whitener), corresponding to about 1.75% by weight TiO2 for the layer. The spunbond nonwoven was bonded using the bond pattern described for Example 2 below. The bottom side of the nonwoven was hydraulically treated using two rows of jets, each at 50 bars (725 p.s.i.) pressure, for a total energy transmission of 0.02 kwhr / kg.

[0126]By comparison, Control A was made from the same nonwoven substrate and bond pattern with only about 0.3% of whitener in each layer. Further, Control A was hydroengorged using a hydraulic tre...

example 2

[0130]An improved backsheet laminate including an improved spunbond nonwoven web laminated / adhered to a polymeric film was manufactured. The nonwoven web was calender-bonded in a pattern, between the nip between a pattern calender roller and a smooth calender roller as described herein, to impart a pattern of bond impressions as schematically suggested in FIG. 3B. The improved web had a basis weight of about 25 gsm and comprised PP.

[0131]The web was manufactured by First Quality Nonwovens, Inc., Great Neck, N.Y., using a calender roller bearing a repeating “P11” pattern as schematically depicted in FIG. 3A, as provided by The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, and manufactured by Ungricht Roller & Engraving Technology (A.+E. Ungricht GmbH+Co KG), Mönchengladbach, Germany. Referring to FIG. 3A, the engraving / machining specifications for the roller pattern were such that WS1 and LS1 were each 8.077 mm; WP1 was 1.69 mm; and LP1 was 1.1 mm, such that the protrusion surface 100 ...

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Abstract

An absorbent article having improved softness signals is disclosed. The article may include a topsheet or a backsheet including a nonwoven web. The web may have a basis weight of 30 gsm or less, may be formed of spunlaid fibers including polyolefin and up to 5 percent by weight TiO2, and may be impressed with a pattern of bond impressions to a bond area percentage of at least 10 percent forming a pattern of bonded regions and raised regions. The web may have opacity of 42 or greater; have an average height difference between bonded regions and raised regions of at least 280 μm; be hydroengorged; and/or have a cross-direction tensile strength of 350 gf/cm. A nonwoven web manufactured to have a suitable combination of such features exhibits an enhanced appearance of softness, soft tactile feel and satisfactory mechanical attributes, while being relatively cost effective.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 375,564, filed Aug. 20, 2010, the substance of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The business of manufacturing and marketing disposable absorbent articles for personal care or hygiene (such as disposable diapers, training pants, adult incontinence undergarments, feminine hygiene products, breast pads, care mats, bibs, wound dressing products, and the like) is relatively capital intensive and highly competitive. To maintain or grow their market share and thereby maintain a successful business, manufacturers of such articles must continually strive to enhance their products in ways that serve to differentiate them from those of their competitors, while at the same time controlling costs so as to enable competitive pricing and the offering to the market of an attractive value-to-price proposition.[0003]One way in which some manu...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A61L15/24A61L15/58
CPCA61F13/51476A61F13/5148A61F13/51496A61F13/511Y10T156/1023A61F2013/51078Y10T428/24802Y10T428/24479A61F13/51104Y10T428/24612B29C49/071B29C2949/0715A61F2013/15715A61F13/15577A61F13/15585A61F13/15731A61F13/51401A61F13/51458A61F13/515A61F2013/51038A61L15/24A61L15/18A61F13/15739B29B11/14B29C59/005B29C59/04B29K2023/00B29K2105/256B29L2031/4878D04H3/11
Inventor KANYA, KEVIN RONALDCOSLETT, W. ANDREWPARSONS, JOHN C.
Owner THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
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