Cool-feeling agent

Abstract

To provide a cool-feeling agent that enables a cooling effect to be easily felt for a long time.SOLUTION: A cool-feeling agent imparts a cool feeling to the skin or mucous membrane. The cool-feeling agent includes a first compound and a second compound that are miscible at room temperature to constitute a liquid. The first compound and the second compound have different volatilities and are both solids at room temperature in their isolated forms. At least one of the first compound and the second compound has a cooling effect.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling agent that can be used in absorbent articles and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] When wearing absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins and panty liners, the wearer may feel discomfort due to stuffiness caused by insensible perspiration and sweating. In response to this, absorbent articles containing cooling agents are known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). These absorbent articles can alleviate the wearer's discomfort by providing a cooling sensation due to the cooling effect of the cooling agent. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-234031 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-234028 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The cooling sensation of absorbent articles containing the above cooling sensation agent is usually strongest immediately after opening and gradually weakens thereafter. Therefore, in such absorbent articles, the cooling sensation does not last long, and the continuous weakening of the cooling sensation over time promotes habituation, further shortening the time during which the wearer can actually feel the cooling sensation.

[0005] The present invention relates to a cooling agent whose cooling effect is easily felt over a long period of time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The cooling sensation agent according to one embodiment of the present invention imparts a cooling sensation to the skin or mucous membrane. The cooling sensation agent includes a first compound and a second compound that are compatible with each other to form a liquid at room temperature. The first compound and the second compound have different volatilities, and each of them is a solid at room temperature by itself. At least one of the first compound and the second compound has a cooling effect.

[0007] The absorbent article according to one embodiment of the present invention is used in a state of contact with the skin or mucous membrane. The absorbent article includes a cooling agent that imparts a cooling sensation to the skin or mucous membrane. The cooling sensation agent includes a first compound and a second compound that are compatible with each other to form a liquid at room temperature. The first compound and the second compound have different volatilities, and each of them is a solid at room temperature by itself. At least one of the first compound and the second compound has a cooling effect.

[0008] In a package according to one embodiment of the present invention, absorbent articles that are used in contact with the skin or mucous membrane are individually packaged. The packaging body includes an absorbent article containing a cooling agent that imparts a cooling sensation to the skin or mucous membrane, and a packaging sheet for packaging the absorbent article. The cooling agent includes a cooling component that has a cooling effect and is volatile. During the period from when the packaging sheet is opened until the volatilization of the cooling sensation ingredient substantially ceases, there is a volatilization suppression period during which the volatilization rate of the cooling sensation ingredient is lower than the periods before and after that period. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the absorbent article of the present invention, the cooling effect of the cooling agent can be easily felt for a long period of time. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of an absorbent article according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2]2 is a cross-sectional view of the absorbent article taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a package in which the absorbent article is packaged. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging body taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the packaging sheet of the packaging body. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the packaging body before it is folded. [Figure 7] 4 is a graph showing a schematic change over time in the amount of volatilization of a cooling sensation component in the cooling sensation agent contained in the package. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a cooling sensation agent that is particularly suitable for an absorbent article that is used in contact with the skin or mucous membrane of a wearer. First, an absorbent article to which the cooling sensation agent according to this embodiment can be applied will be described.

[0012] [Overall configuration of absorbent article 1] As shown in Fig. 1, an absorbent article 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention has a vertical direction X corresponding to the front-to-back direction of a wearer, and a horizontal direction Y corresponding to the left-to-right direction of the wearer and perpendicular to the vertical direction X. Furthermore, the absorbent article 1 has a thickness direction Z perpendicular to both the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y. In this embodiment, the absorbent article 1 is a pad-type article that is long in the vertical direction X, and is configured as, for example, a panty liner that is attached to the crotch part of underwear. A panty liner is an absorbent article that is used mainly to absorb excretory fluids such as vaginal discharge during non-menstrual periods. In this specification, "longitudinal X-direction front" or "front" means the front in the longitudinal direction X, i.e., the direction toward the ventral side of the wearer. "longitudinal X-direction rear" or "rear" means the rear in the longitudinal direction X, i.e., the direction toward the dorsal side of the wearer. In this specification, the skin side in the thickness direction Z means the side that is placed on the wearer side when the absorbent article 1 is worn. The non-skin side in the thickness direction Z means the side that is placed on the clothing side when the absorbent article 1 is worn.

[0013] 2, the absorbent article 1 includes a top sheet 2, a back sheet 3, and an absorbent body 4. In this embodiment, the absorbent article 1 may further include a second sheet 5. 2, the absorbent article 1 has a configuration in which a back sheet 3, an absorbent body 4, a second sheet 5, and a top sheet 2 are laminated in this order in the thickness direction Z. The components of the absorbent article 1 are appropriately joined together, for example, by bonding with an adhesive or heat sealing, embossing, or the like.

[0014] The top sheet 2 forms the skin-facing surface of the absorbent article 1. The top sheet 2 is configured as a sheet material having liquid permeability. Therefore, the top sheet 2 has fine voids (not shown), such as gaps between fibers. Furthermore, the top sheet 2 may have visible openings 21 from the viewpoint of increasing liquid permeability, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As the top sheet 2, any sheet commonly used in absorbent articles such as panty liners and sanitary napkins can be used without any particular limitation. The top sheet 2 may contain, for example, a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, or a polyester resin such as polyethylene terephthalate. The top sheet 2 may also contain natural fibers such as cotton fibers. As shown in FIG. 1, the topsheet 2 is disposed over the entire surface of the absorbent article 1, for example. The top sheet 2 may also have an embossed pattern 22. However, the configuration of the top sheet 2 is not limited to the example shown in FIGS.

[0015] The back sheet 3 forms the non-skin facing surface of the absorbent article 1. The back sheet 3 is formed of a sheet material such as a thermoplastic resin film or a laminate of the film and a nonwoven fabric. Such a sheet material preferably has functions such as liquid impermeability and water repellency. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of increasing wearing comfort, the back sheet 3 preferably has breathability and / or moisture permeability. As shown in FIG. 1, the backsheet 3 is disposed, for example, over the entire surface of the absorbent article 1 and has the same planar shape as the topsheet 2. 2, an adhesive Q for fixing the absorbent article 1 to an undergarment may be disposed on the backsheet 3. The adhesive Q is formed of, for example, a hot melt adhesive.

[0016] The absorbent body 4 is disposed between the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3. For example, the absorbent body 4 may be adhered to the back sheet 3 by an adhesive P. The absorbent body 4 may contain an absorbent material capable of absorbing excreted liquid. As shown in FIG. 2, the absorbent body 4 is preferably configured using an absorbent sheet from the viewpoint of making it thinner and improving the wearing comfort. The absorbent sheet may be configured, for example, of absorbent paper or nonwoven fabric, and may contain an absorbent polymer. As shown in FIG. 2, the absorbent sheet may have a two-layer structure by folding back both ends in the lateral direction Y toward the back sheet 3. In this case, the two layers of absorbent sheets may be bonded together by an adhesive P. In order to provide the wearer with a cool sensation and increase comfort, the absorbent 4 contains a cooling sensation agent C. The cooling sensation agent C is volatile and stimulates thermoreceptors (e.g., TRPM8 receptors) on the skin or mucous membrane surface of the wearer. This allows the cooling sensation agent C to provide the wearer with a cool sensation without actually causing a change in temperature. The cooling sensation agent C will be described in detail later.

[0017] The absorbent body 4 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of reliably absorbing excreted liquid, it is preferably disposed in the center of the absorbent article 1 in the horizontal direction Y and the vertical direction X. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of improving the wearability of the absorbent article 1, the planar shape of the absorbent body 4 is preferably smaller than those of the top sheet 2, the back sheet 3, and the second sheet 5. Specific examples of the planar shape of the absorbent body 4 include, but are not limited to, a rectangular shape as shown in FIG.

[0018] The second sheet 5 is disposed, for example, between the topsheet 2 and the absorbent body 4. For example, the second sheet 5 may be adhered to the absorbent body 4 by an adhesive P. The second sheet 5 is composed of a sheet material having functions such as permeability and retention of excreted liquid. The second sheet 5 preferably has at least one of the following functions: a function to increase the absorbency of the absorbent article 1, a function to reduce the return of excreted liquid absorbed in the absorber 4 to the top sheet 2, and a function to draw liquid from the top sheet 2. There are no particular limitations on the second sheet 5, and any material that is commonly used in absorbent articles such as panty liners, sanitary napkins, etc. The second sheet 5 may be made of, for example, nonwoven fabric or absorbent paper. In order to provide a sufficient liquid-retaining function, the second sheet 5 preferably has a planar shape larger than that of the absorbent body 4. For example, the second sheet 5 may have the same planar shape as the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3, and may be disposed over the entire surface of the absorbent article 1.

[0019] [Overall configuration of packaging body 100] 3 and 4 show a packaging body 100 in which absorbent articles 1 according to this embodiment are individually packaged. The packaging body 100 according to this embodiment includes the absorbent articles 1 and a packaging sheet 110. In the packaging body 100, the packaging sheet 110 is folded together with the absorbent articles 1, so that the absorbent articles 1 are packaged one by one.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, the packaging sheet 110 has a layered structure including two adhesive layers 111 and one airtight layer 112, with the airtight layer 112 sandwiched between the two adhesive layers 111. The fusion layer 111 is made of a fusible resin component and has a lower melting point than the airtight layer 112. By disposing an adhesive layer between the fusion layer 111 and the airtight layer 112, it is possible to prevent the interface between them from peeling off. The airtight layer 112 has high gas barrier properties and has an oxygen permeability lower than that of the fusion layer 111. The oxygen permeability can be measured based on the coulometric method or the differential pressure method. The oxygen permeability of the airtight layer 112 measured by the differential pressure method is 900 mL / m in an environment of 23° C. 2 ·day·atm or less, and 100mL / m 2 ·day·atm or less is more preferable, and 50mL / m 2 It is even more preferable that the temperature be 100°C or less.

[0021] Fig. 6 shows the packaging body 100 shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 in a state before folding. The packaging sheet 110 before folding shown in Fig. 6 is rectangular having four sides along the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y, and is configured as a sheet material that is long in the vertical direction X, with dimensions in the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y being slightly larger than those of the absorbent article 1. The absorbent article 1 before folding shown in Fig. 6 is arranged on the packaging sheet 110, aligned with the center of the packaging sheet 110 in the vertical direction X and the horizontal direction Y. 6 shows two folding lines L1, L2 extending in the horizontal direction Y. The packaging body 100 is divided along the vertical direction X into a central region 100C, a rear region 100R, and a front region 100F by the folding lines L1, L2. The central region 100C is located at the center of the packaging body 100 in the vertical direction X, the rear region 100R is located behind the central region 100C in the vertical direction X, and the front region 100F is located in front of the central region 100C in the vertical direction X.

[0022] The packaging body 100 is folded back from the state shown in Fig. 6 at folding lines L1 and L2 so that the absorbent article 1 is on the inside. More specifically, in the packaging body 100, the rear region 100R is folded back forward in the longitudinal direction X at folding line L1 so as to overlap the central region 100C, and then the front region 100F is folded back backward in the longitudinal direction X at folding line L2 so as to overlap the central region 100C and the rear region 100R. As a result, the packaging body 100 is folded in three as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the entire absorbent article 1 is covered by the packaging sheet 110.

[0023] 3, the packaging body 100 is provided with fusion sealed regions 120 extending across the entire width in the vertical direction X at both ends in the horizontal direction Y. In each fusion sealed region 120, a central region 100C, a rear region 100R, and a front region 100F that overlap each other on the outer side in the horizontal direction Y of the region where the absorbent article 1 is present are fusion-bonded by a fusion layer 111 of the packaging sheet 110. The fusion bonding between the fusion layers 111 of the packaging sheet 110 in the fusion seal area 120 can be performed by various commonly used methods. Examples of such fusion bonding methods include thermal embossing, ultrasonic embossing, corona treatment, plasma treatment, and the like. Among these, in the thermal embossing, peel strength and airtightness can be easily adjusted by adjusting the embossing shape and size. Furthermore, in the fusion seal area 120, the adhesion can be further increased by further performing corona treatment or plasma treatment.

[0024] 3 and 4, the package 100 is provided with a sealing and fixing region 130 extending between the pair of fusion seal regions 120 in the horizontal direction Y at an end of the front region 100F opposite the folding line L2 in the vertical direction X. In the sealing and fixing region 130, the front region 100F is joined to the rear region 100R. The front region 100F can be joined to the rear region 100R in the sealing and fixing region 130 by various commonly used methods, such as fusion bonding similar to that of the fusion seal region 120, or bonding using an adhesive.

[0025] In this way, the packaging body 100 uses the packaging sheet 110 provided with the airtight layer 112 that is difficult for gas to permeate, and by sealing the packaging sheet 110 with the fusion seal area 120 and the sealed fixing area 130, it is possible to increase the airtightness of the internal space that contains the absorbent article 1. As a result, in the packaging body 100, a saturated state of the cooling sensation component constituting the cooling sensation agent C of the absorbent article 1 is maintained in the internal space, and it is possible to suppress a decrease due to dissipation of the cooling sensation component constituting the cooling sensation agent C into the external environment until the packaging sheet 110 is opened at the time of use. When the packaging sheet 110 of the package 100 is opened at the time of use, the absorbent article 1 is released and the cooling agent C contained in the absorbent article 1 starts to volatilize.

[0026] [Cooling agent C] (Basic configuration) The cooling sensation agent C contained in the absorbent article 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail. In the cooling sensation agent C according to this embodiment, the volatilization rate of the cooling sensation component is controlled so that the wearer can easily feel the cooling sensation effect for a long period of time. Specifically, Fig. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the change over time in the amount of volatilization of the cooling sensation ingredient in the cooling sensation agent C according to this embodiment and a general cooling sensation agent. In Fig. 7, the cooling sensation agent C according to this embodiment is shown by a solid line, and the general cooling sensation agent is shown by a dashed line. The horizontal axis of Fig. 7 indicates time, and the time when volatilization starts (i.e., the time when the packaging sheet 110 is opened) is set to zero. The vertical axis of Fig. 7 indicates the total weight of the volatilized cooling sensation ingredient as the amount of volatilization of the cooling sensation ingredient. It can be seen that in a general cooling agent, the volatilization rate of the cooling component decreases monotonically with time, whereas in the cooling agent C according to the present embodiment, it can be seen that the volatilization rate alternates between high and low states as the volatilization of the cooling component progresses.

[0027] 7, in the cooling agent C according to this embodiment, the entire period from the start of volatilization of the cooling component to when volatilization of the cooling component substantially ceases can be divided into four periods: a first period T1, a second period T2, a third period T3, and a fourth period T4. In the cooling agent C, the cooling component remains sufficiently in the first period T1, the second period T2, and the third period T3, whereas in the fourth period T4, the cooling component is depleted and the volatilization rate decreases. The cooling agent C according to this embodiment is configured so that the volatilization rate in the second period T2 in which the cooling component remains sufficiently is lower than that in the first period T1 and the third period T3. That is, in the cooling agent C, the second period T2 is configured as a volatilization suppression period in which the volatilization amount of the cooling component is suppressed. As a result, in the cooling agent C according to this embodiment, the amount of volatilization of the cooling component is suppressed in the second period T2, and the cooling effect of the cooling component lasts for a long time. Also, in the cooling agent C, the cooling effect is stronger in the third period T3 than in the immediately preceding second period T2, so the wearer feels a fresh cool sensation as if they had just put it on again, preventing the wearer from becoming acclimatized. Therefore, with the cooling agent C, the cooling effect is more easily felt for a long time than with general cooling agents, in which the strength of the cooling effect of the cooling component decreases monotonically over time.

[0028] (Specific configuration example) Hereinafter, a specific example of the configuration for changing the volatilization speed of the cooling sensation component in the cooling sensation agent C according to this embodiment as described above will be described.

[0029] The cooling agent C according to this embodiment can be configured to contain the following specific first and second compounds. Both the first compound and the second compound have volatility, but the volatility of the first compound and the second compound is different from each other. Both the first compound and the second compound are solid at room temperature when used alone. In this embodiment, room temperature refers to 23°C. At least one of the first compound and the second compound is configured as a cooling ingredient having a cooling effect. In other words, in the cooling agent C, both the first compound and the second compound may be cooling ingredients, or only one of the first compound and the second compound may be a cooling ingredient. Furthermore, the second compound has solubility in the molten first compound and has a freezing point depressing effect on the first compound, and thus maintains a contact state between the solid phases of the first compound and the second compound, so that the first compound is melted to become a liquid phase, and the second compound is dissolved in the liquid phase first compound, gradually progressing. In the cooling sensation agent C, the ratio of the first compound to the second compound can be appropriately adjusted to make the first compound and the second compound completely compatible with each other without the need for other solvents such as dipropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, etc. As a result, the cooling sensation agent C is obtained as a liquid in which the first compound and the second compound are compatible with each other and which does not contain a gel phase or a solid phase.

[0030] In the cooling sensation agent C according to this embodiment, both the first compound and the second compound show the time change in volatilization amount shown by the solid line in Fig. 7. The mechanism by which the first period T1, the second period T2, the third period T3, and the fourth period T4 shown in Fig. 7 appear in the first compound and the second compound will be described. In the first period T1, the volatilization of the first compound and the second compound, which are not in a stable compatible state and are in a state where they are easily volatilized, progresses. In the second period T2, only the first compound and the second compound remain in a stable compatible state, and the amount of volatilization of the first compound and the second compound is suppressed. In the second period T2, the ratio of the first compound to the second compound gradually changes due to the gradual volatilization of the first compound and the second compound having different volatilities. In the third period T3, the stable compatible state between the first compound and the second compound is gradually broken down with the change in the ratio of the first compound to the second compound, and precipitation of a gel phase or a solid phase progresses. As a result, the stable compatible state is broken down and the first compound and the second compound, which are in a state that makes them more likely to volatilize, begin to volatilize. In the fourth period T4, the first compound and the second compound are depleted, and the volatilization rate decreases. In this way, in the case of cooling sensation agent C, both the first compound and the second compound show the change in volatilization amount over time shown by the solid line in Figure 7, so that regardless of whether the first compound or the second compound is a cooling sensation ingredient, the effect of making the cooling sensation feelable by the wearer of the absorbent article 1 for a long period of time can be effectively obtained.

[0031] In the cooling agent C, when a plurality of cooling ingredients are contained, it is preferable to delay the volatilization of the cooling ingredient having a stronger cooling effect in order to maintain the cooling effect for a longer period of time. From this viewpoint, in the cooling agent C, when both the first compound and the second compound are cooling ingredients, it is preferable that one of the first compound and the second compound having a stronger cooling effect is less volatile than the other. The strength of the cooling sensation effect of each compound can be evaluated, for example, by a wearer wearing an absorbent article 1 having each compound applied to the absorbent core 4 in the same manner as a commercially available sanitary napkin or panty liner.

[0032] Specifically, the first compound of the cooling sensation agent C according to the present embodiment is preferably, for example, a cyclohexyl derivative or a cyclohexanol derivative. Examples of the cyclohexyl derivative include menthyl lactate, menthyl ethylamino oxalic acid, 3-(l-menthoxy)propane-1,2-diol, 3-(l-menthoxy)-2-methylpropane-1,2-diol, menthyl succinate, 3-(l-menthoxy)ethan-1-ol, 3-(l-menthoxy)propan-1-ol, 3-(l-menthoxy)butan-1-ol, l-menthyl-4-hydroxypentanoate, and l-menthyl-3-hydroxybutyrate. Examples of the cyclohexanol derivative include menthol, p-menthane-3,8-diol, and isopulegol. Examples of carboxamides include N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide (N-ethyl-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxamide), N,2,3-trimethyl-2-(l-methylethyl)-butanamide, and l-menthylacetic acid N-ethylamide.

[0033] The second compound of the cooling sensation agent C according to this embodiment may be any compound that has solubility in the molten first compound and has a freezing point depressing effect on the first compound. For example, when menthol is used as the first compound, camphor, thymol, etc. may be used as the second compound. In addition, in the cooling sensation agent C according to the present embodiment, the first compound and the second compound are preferably contained in a ratio that makes the first compound and the second compound a completely compatible liquid. From this viewpoint, in the cooling sensation agent C, for example, when a cyclohexyl derivative or a cyclohexanol derivative is used as the first compound, the weight ratio of the first compound to the second compound, that is, the value obtained by dividing the weight of the first compound contained in the cooling sensation agent C by the weight of the second compound contained in the cooling sensation agent C, is preferably 1.5 or more and 3.0 or less.

[0034] (Additional configuration) The cooling agent C according to this embodiment may be composed only of the first compound and the second compound, but may also contain other components.

[0035] Specifically, the cooling sensation agent C according to the present embodiment can be configured to include, for example, a specific third compound as follows, as a cooling sensation component that shows the time change in volatilization amount shown by the solid line in FIG. 7, similar to the first compound and the second compound. The third compound, like the first and second compounds, is volatile and is a solid at room temperature by itself. The third compound is soluble in the first and second compounds that are compatible and liquid, and does not have a freezing point depressing effect on the first compound. In cooling sensation agent C, the third compound exists as a solute component dissolved in the liquid in which the first and second compounds are compatible.

[0036] The mechanism by which the first period T1, the second period T2, the third period T3, and the fourth period T4 shown in FIG. 7 appear in the third compound of the cooling sensation agent C according to this embodiment will be described. In the first period T1, the volatilization of the third compound, which is not in a stable dissolved state and is in a state that is easily volatilized, progresses. In the second period T2, only the third compound remains in a stable dissolved state, and the amount of volatilization of the third compound is suppressed. In the third period T3, the stable liquid state of the first and second compounds as a solvent for the third compound is gradually broken down with the change in the ratio of the first and second compounds, and precipitation of a gel phase or solid phase progresses. As a result, the stable dissolved state of the third compound is also broken down, and volatilization of the third compound that has precipitated as a gel phase or solid phase progresses. In the fourth period T4, the third compound is depleted and the volatilization rate decreases.

[0037] In the cooling agent C according to this embodiment, in order to maintain the cooling effect for a longer period of time, it is preferable to use a cooling component whose volatilization is promoted at a different timing than the other cooling components as the third compound. In other words, in the cooling agent C, when the cooling components contained other than the third compound are of the immediate type whose volatilization is promoted at an early timing, it is preferable that the third compound is of the delayed type whose volatilization is promoted at a late timing. Conversely, in the cooling agent C, when the cooling components contained other than the third compound are of the delayed type, it is preferable that the third compound is of the immediate type. Furthermore, it is preferable that the cooling sensation agent C has high solubility in the liquid in which the first compound and the second compound are compatible with each other. Specifically, the weight of the third compound that is soluble in the liquid in which the first compound and the second compound are compatible with each other is preferably 2 times or more, more preferably 5 times or more, and even more preferably 10 times or more, the total weight of the first compound and the second compound.

[0038] In the cooling sensation agent C according to this embodiment, for example, a cyclohexyl derivative or a cyclohexanol derivative different from the first compound can be used as the third compound. Note that, as the third compound, only one type of compound or two or more types of compounds may be used. More specifically, in the cooling sensation agent C, when menthol is used as the first compound and camphor or thymol is used as the second compound, it is preferable to use menthyl lactate as the third compound. In this way, in the cooling sensation agent C, the combination of immediate-acting menthol and delayed-acting menthyl lactate allows the cooling sensation effect to be sustained for a longer period of time. In addition, the cooling sensation agent C can be configured so that 10 times or more of menthyl lactate can be dissolved in a liquid in which menthol and camphor are compatible with each other, relative to the weight of the liquid.

[0039] [Example] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. As an example of the above embodiment, a cooling sensation agent C composed of a first compound, a second compound, and a third compound was prepared, and a sample of an absorbent article in which the cooling sensation agent C was applied to an absorbent body was evaluated. In order to prepare the cooling sensation agent C according to the embodiment, first, menthol was prepared as the first compound, camphor was prepared as the second compound, and menthyl lactate was prepared as the third compound. Next, a vial containing 1.5 mg of menthol and 0.6 mg of camphor was manually shaken up and down to stir, thereby obtaining a liquid in which menthol and camphor were dissolved. Then, 20 mg of menthyl lactate was dissolved in the liquid in which menthol and camphor were dissolved in the vial, thereby obtaining the cooling sensation agent C according to the embodiment. The absorbent article sample according to the embodiment had the configuration shown in Fig. 2. The absorbent body in the absorbent article sample had a dimension of 100 mm in the longitudinal direction X and 30 mm in the lateral direction Y. In the absorbent article sample, the cooling sensation agent C according to the embodiment was applied over the entire length (100 mm) of the skin-facing surface side of the absorbent body 4, and the sample was placed in an airtight container and allowed to stand at room temperature (23°C) for 3 weeks.

[0040] The sample of the absorbent article according to the embodiment was taken out from the airtight container under an environment of 40°C temperature and 80% humidity, and the change in the amount of volatilization of menthol and menthyl lactate over time was measured. A specific method for measuring the amount of volatilization of cooling agent C will be described later. In the measurement of the change in the amount of menthol volatilization over time, a graph was obtained that could be divided into a first period T1, a second period T2, a third period T3, and a fourth period T4, as in Fig. 7. That is, in the absorbent article sample according to the embodiment, the volatilization rate in the second period T2 was lower than in the first period T1 and the third period T3, and it was found that a volatilization suppression period in which the amount of menthol volatilization was suppressed was formed. Specifically, in the absorbent article sample according to the embodiment, the amount of menthol volatilization in the second period T2 was 0.1 times the amount of menthol volatilization in the first period T1, and was 0.3 times the amount of menthol volatilization in the third period T3. In addition, the measurement of the change in the amount of volatilization of menthyl lactate over time also yielded a graph that could be divided into a first period T1, a second period T2, a third period T3, and a fourth period T4, as in Fig. 7. In other words, in the absorbent article sample according to the embodiment, the volatilization rate in the second period T2 was lower than in the first period T1 and the third period T3, and it was found that a volatilization suppression period was formed in which the amount of volatilization of menthyl lactate was suppressed. Specifically, in the absorbent article sample according to the embodiment, the amount of volatilization of menthyl lactate in the second period T2 was 0.1 times the amount of volatilization of menthyl lactate in the first period T1, and was 0.06 times the amount of volatilization of menthyl lactate in the third period T3.

[0041] (Method for measuring the amount of evaporation of cooling agent C) The amount of volatilization of cooling sensation agent C can be determined by extracting the cooling sensation agent from the target member or target portion of a sample of an absorbent article with a solvent, and analyzing the extracted solution by gas chromatography (GC). Measurements are performed with a flame ionization detector (FID) attached to a gas chromatograph, for example, a 7890A manufactured by Agilent Technologies. A calibration curve is prepared in advance to show the relationship between the concentration of the compound constituting cooling sensation agent C and the peak area, and quantitative analysis can be performed based on the calibration curve. An example will be described in which the cooling agent C contains menthyl lactate and / or menthol. Menthyl lactate and / or menthol are extracted from a target material or target site using methanol as a solvent. Three to five different concentrations of menthyl lactate and / or menthol solutions are prepared in advance, and the peak area of ​​each concentration is calculated from a GC chromatogram. A calibration curve is created by plotting the peak area against the concentration of the standard sample using n-pentyl alcohol as a standard sample. The amount of menthyl lactate and / or menthol is calculated by analyzing the extract under the same conditions as the analysis used to create the calibration curve and applying the obtained peak area to the calibration curve. The amount of menthyl lactate and / or menthol obtained is left to stand at room temperature (23°C) for three weeks, and the amount of volatilization of the cooling agent after a predetermined time can be calculated by subtracting the amount of menthyl lactate and / or menthol obtained from the amount of menthyl lactate and / or menthol obtained from the prepared sample.

[0042] [Other embodiments] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0043] For example, in the above embodiment, a panty liner is shown as an example of the absorbent article 1 to which the cooling sensation agent C is applied, but the absorbent article 1 is not limited to this. The absorbent article to which the cooling sensation agent C according to the present embodiment is applied may be, for example, a sanitary napkin, a urine pad, a disposable diaper, etc., other than a panty liner.

[0044] In addition, the cooling sensation agent C according to this embodiment can be widely used in applications other than the absorbent article 1. Examples of applications of the cooling sensation agent C according to this embodiment other than the absorbent article 1 include heating devices equipped with a heating element. In such heating devices, the cooling sensation agent C according to this embodiment can be used to reduce the warmth felt by the user. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1. Absorbent articles 2. Surface sheet 3…Back sheet 4…Absorbent 5. Middle seat 100...packaging 110…Packaging sheet C: Cooling agent

Claims

1. An absorbent article to be used in contact with the skin or mucous membrane, Contains a cooling agent that imparts a cooling sensation to the skin or mucous membrane, the cooling sensation agent includes a first compound and a second compound that are compatible with each other to form a liquid at room temperature, the first compound and the second compound have different volatilities from each other, and each is a solid at room temperature by itself; At least one of the first compound and the second compound has a cooling effect Absorbent articles.

2. One of the first compound and the second compound, which has a stronger cooling effect, is less volatile than the other. The absorbent article of claim 1.

3. the first compound is a cyclohexyl derivative or a cyclohexanol derivative; the second compound has a freezing point depressing effect on the first compound, The weight ratio of the first compound to the second compound is 1.5 or more and 3.0 or less. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the first compound is menthol; The second compound is camphor or thymol. The absorbent article of claim 3.

5. further comprising a third compound dissolved in the liquid; The third compound has volatility and a cooling effect, and is solid at room temperature by itself. The absorbent article of claim 3.

6. The third compound is a cyclohexyl derivative or a cyclohexanol derivative different from the first compound. The absorbent article of claim 5.

7. The third compound is menthyl lactate The absorbent article of claim 6.

8. A cooling agent that imparts a cooling sensation to the skin or mucous membrane, a first compound and a second compound that are miscible with each other to form a liquid at room temperature; the first compound and the second compound have different volatilities from each other, and each is a solid at room temperature by itself; At least one of the first compound and the second compound has a cooling effect Cooling agent.

9. A package in which absorbent articles to be used in contact with the skin or mucous membrane are individually packaged, The present invention provides an absorbent article including a cooling agent that provides a cooling sensation to the skin or mucous membrane, and a packaging sheet that packages the absorbent article, The cooling agent contains a cooling component having a cooling effect and volatility, A volatilization suppression period exists between the time when the packaging sheet is opened and the time when the volatilization of the cooling sensation ingredient substantially stops, during which the volatilization rate of the cooling sensation ingredient is lower than in periods before and after the volatilization suppression period. packaging.

Images