Spunbond web material with improved tactile softness attributes

Abstract

A nonwoven web formed of spunlaid fibers comprising a first polyolefin, a second polyolefin, and a softness enhancer additive is disclosed. The nonwoven web is impressed with a first pattern of bond impressions defining a second pattern of unbonded raised regions, and has undergone a hydrogengorgement process following a calendar bonding process. Also disclosed is an absorbent article in which the nonwoven web is a component.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 968,415, filed Mar. 21, 2014, 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...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text discusses the issue of softness in manufacturing disposable absorbent articles for personal care or hygiene. The softness of these products is important to consumers and is influenced by various factors such as the material's features and properties, including but not limited to loft, fiber thickness and density, basis weight, microscopic pliability and flexibility of individual fibers, surface friction characteristics, number of loose fibers or free fiber ends, and other features. However, softness is a subjective concept and difficult to measure and quantify. Different individuals may have different perceptions of what material features and properties cause them to perceive softness. The patent text describes various methods and approaches that have been attempted to enhance softness in nonwoven web materials used in disposable absorbent articles, but there is still room for improvement.

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.

Images