Absorbent article

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article efficiently and effectively allowing a user to perceive cold sensation.SOLUTION: An absorbent article comprises: an absorber; a surface sheet positioned at a skin facing surface side of a wearer than the absorber; and a rear face sheet positioned at a non-skin facing surface side of the wearer than the absorber, and has a vertical direction corresponding to the front-back direction of the wearer, and a lateral direction orthogonal thereto. There are provided: a flap part extending outward from the outer edge of the absorber and forming the outline of the absorbent article; and a peripheral nonwoven fabric forming a skin facing surface at least in the flap part. The peripheral nonwoven fabric has an overlapping region overlapped on the surface sheet, and the overlapping region contains a polyethylene resin and has a volume filling ratio of 3.5% or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an absorbent article. [Background technology]

[0002] From the viewpoint of providing a structure that allows the perception of a refreshing or cool sensation, various studies have been conducted on the physical properties of fibers and the structure of articles. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a fabric that contains at least one type of organic polymer fiber having a thermal conductivity of 5 W / mK or more in the fiber axis direction at 20°C to 30°C, has a thermal conductivity of 0.08 W / mK or more in the thickness direction at 20°C to 30°C, and has a cooling sensation of 0.13 W / cm 2 Thus, a fabric has been disclosed.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses an absorbent article in which a cooling agent is applied to side flaps extending outward from both lateral sides of the absorbent body.

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses a fiber having a sheath polymer composed of a polyamide and a core polymer composed of a polyetheresteramide copolymer, and containing 0.1 to 5% by weight of inorganic particles in the entire fiber, and a fabric using the same.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 4 discloses a knitted fabric made by knitting a composite fiber yarn having a sheath layer made of polyethylene and a core layer made of nylon or polyester. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-236130 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-120208 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2016-204784 A [Patent Document 4] Utility Model Registration No. 3226090 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Absorbent articles used for absorbing bodily fluids, such as sanitary napkins, are generally composed of a plurality of nonwoven fabrics. When such absorbent articles come into contact with the skin before use or while being worn, the wearer may feel a warm sensation, which may cause discomfort such as stuffiness during use. From the viewpoint of reducing such discomfort, it is effective to provide the absorbent article with a configuration capable of making the wearer feel a cool sensation. However, Patent Documents 1, 3, and 4 do not particularly consider how to efficiently and effectively make the wearer feel a cool sensation in the absorbent article. In addition, the technology of Patent Document 2 has room for improvement in terms of efficiently and effectively making the wearer feel a cool sensation.

[0008] Accordingly, the present invention relates to an absorbent article that can efficiently and effectively provide the perception of coolness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention relates to an absorbent article comprising an absorbent body, a top sheet positioned closer to the wearer's skin than the absorbent body, and a back sheet positioned closer to the wearer's non-skin than the absorbent body, and having a vertical direction corresponding to the front-to-back direction of the wearer and a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. In one embodiment, the absorbent article has a flap portion that extends outward from the outer edge of the absorbent body and forms the contour of the absorbent article, and preferably has a peripheral nonwoven fabric that forms at least the skin-facing surface of the flap portion. In one embodiment, the peripheral nonwoven fabric has an overlapping region that overlaps with the topsheet, and the overlapping region preferably contains a polyethylene resin and has a volume filling rate of 3.5% or more. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the absorbent article of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently and effectively make the wearer feel a cool sensation when the article touches the skin. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing, with a part cut away, the skin-facing side (top sheet side) of a sanitary napkin, which is one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Diagram 3] 3(a) to (c) are schematic diagrams for explaining variations of the linear embossed portion according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4(a) is a perspective view of the topsheet shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4(b) is a cross-sectional view. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 and showing another embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing still another embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The absorbent article of the present invention will be described below based on its preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 and 2 show a sanitary napkin 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as "napkin 1"), which is one embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention. 1, the napkin 1 has a longitudinal direction X that corresponds to the front-to-rear direction of the wearer and extends from the wearer's abdomen through the crotch area to the back, and a transverse direction Y that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. The napkin 1 is divided into three regions in the longitudinal direction X: an excretory part-facing region B including an area that faces an excretory part such as the wearer's vulva when worn, a front region A that is disposed further forward in the longitudinal direction X (toward the wearer's abdomen) than the excretory part-facing region B, and a rear region C that is disposed further rearward in the longitudinal direction X (toward the wearer's back) than the excretory part-facing region B.

[0013] In this specification, the "skin-facing surface" refers to the surface of the absorbent article or its constituent member (e.g., absorbent body 4) that faces the skin of the wearer when the absorbent article is worn, and the "non-skin-facing surface" refers to the surface of the absorbent article or its constituent member that faces the opposite side to the skin when the absorbent article is worn. The skin-facing surface is the surface that is relatively close to the wearer's skin, and the non-skin-facing surface is the surface that is relatively far from the wearer's skin. In this specification, the terms "when worn" and "worn state" refer to the normal, proper wearing position, that is, the state in which the absorbent article is worn while maintaining the proper wearing position.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, the napkin 1 has an absorbent body 5 that is elongated in the longitudinal direction X. The absorbent body 5 is the main part of the napkin 1 and includes an absorbent body 4 that absorbs and retains bodily fluids, a top sheet 2 that is located closer to the wearer's skin than the absorbent body 4 and can come into contact with the wearer's skin, and a back sheet 3 that is located closer to the wearer's skin than the absorbent body 4. The topsheet 2 of this embodiment has a length (width) in the lateral direction Y that is approximately equal to the width of the absorbent body 4 in the lateral direction Y, and covers the entire skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 4. The backsheet 3 of this embodiment covers the entire non-skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 4, and further extends outward in the lateral direction Y from both side edges of the absorbent body 4 along the longitudinal direction X. The napkin 1 of this embodiment also includes a second sheet 7 disposed between the absorbent body 4 and the topsheet 2. The topsheet 2 and the second sheet 7 are both fibrous sheets.

[0015] The napkin 1 has flap portions 6 which extend outward from the outer edge (periphery) of the absorbent body 4 and form the outline of the napkin 1. The flap portions 6 are areas where the absorbent body 4 is not placed. The flap portion 6 of this embodiment has a pair of wing portions 6W, 6W extending outward in the horizontal direction Y from both side portions along the vertical direction X of the excretory-facing region B of the absorbent main body 5.

[0016] When the absorbent article has wing portions 6W as in this embodiment, the excretory part facing region B is a region having the wing portions 6W in the longitudinal direction X. Specifically, the excretory part facing region B is a region sandwiched between an imaginary line extending in the lateral direction Y through the front bases of the pair of wing portions 6W, 6W in the longitudinal direction X, and an imaginary line extending in the lateral direction Y through the rear bases of the pair of wing portions 6W, 6W. In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, a pair of wing portions 6W, 6W are formed symmetrically with respect to a vertical center line CL that divides the napkin 1 in half in the horizontal direction Y and extends in the vertical direction X, and the front base of one wing portion 6W and that of the other wing portion 6W are located at the same position in the vertical direction X.

[0017] In the excretory part facing region B of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, the sheet materials 60, 60 forming the flap portion 6 extend outward in the horizontal direction Y, thereby forming a pair of wing portions 6W, 6W extending on both the left and right sides of the absorbent main body 5 along the vertical direction X. In a plan view as shown in Fig. 1, the wing portion 6W has a substantially trapezoidal shape with its lower base (a side longer than the upper base) located on the side of the absorbent main body 5. A wing portion adhesive portion (not shown) is formed on the non-skin facing surface of the wing portion 6W for fixing the wing portion 6W to clothing such as shorts. The wing portion 6W is used by folding it over to the non-skin facing surface (outer surface) of the crotch portion of clothing such as shorts. In addition, since the wing portion 6W is used by folding it over to the non-skin facing (outer) side of the crotch portion of the garment, the non-skin facing side of the wing portion 6W, on which the adhesive portion of the wing portion is formed, faces the wearer's skin during use and becomes the skin facing side. Before use, the adhesive portion of the wing portion is covered with a release sheet (not shown) made of film, nonwoven fabric, paper, etc.

[0018] When the absorbent article does not have wing portions, the excretory part facing region B may be any region that faces the excretory part, and is typically a region located in the center when the absorbent article is divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction X.

[0019] The flap portion 6 in this embodiment has a pair of side flap portions 6S, 6S located outward in the transverse direction Y from both side edges 4S, 4S of the absorbent body 4, a front flap portion 6A located outward in the transverse direction X from the end portions of the absorbent body 4 in the front region A, and a rear flap portion 6C located outward in the transverse direction X from the end portions of the absorbent body 4 in the rear region C. The side flap portions 6S are aligned along both side portions in the transverse direction Y of the napkin 1. The front flap portion 6A and the rear flap portion 6C are located at both ends in the transverse direction X of the napkin 1 between extension lines VL, VL obtained when both side edges 4S, 4S of the absorbent body are extended outward in the transverse direction X (see FIG. 1). The side flap portion 6S of this embodiment has the wing portion 6W in the region B facing the excretory part.

[0020] The flap portion 6 is composed of a sheet member arranged so as to straddle the inside and outside of the outer edge of the absorbent body 4. The napkin 1 has a peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 that forms at least the skin-facing surface of the flap portion 6. The peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 of this embodiment is arranged on the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 4 so as to straddle the inside and outside of the outer edge of the absorbent body 4, and forms the skin-facing surface of the flap portion 6. The flap portion 6 of this embodiment is configured to include a peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 that forms the skin-facing surface of the flap portion 6, and a back sheet 3 that extends outward from the outer edge of the absorbent body 4. In detail, the side flap portions 6S, 6S are configured from the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 and the back sheet 3, and both side portions located on both sides of the lateral direction Y of the front flap portion 6A and the rear flap portion 6C are configured from the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60, the top sheet 2, and the back sheet 3. In addition, the central portions in the lateral direction Y of the front flap portion 6A and the rear flap portion 6C are configured from the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3. In addition to such a form, the flap portion 6 may further include a second sheet 7 that extends outward from the outer edge of the absorbent body 4. The multiple sheet members (for example, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 and the back sheet 3) constituting the flap portion 6 are joined to each other by a joining means such as adhesive, heat or ultrasonic fusion.

[0021] The peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 of this embodiment forms the skin-facing surface of the flap portion 6 and also forms a pair of leakage-preventing cuffs 60b, 60b (see FIG. 2). The pair of leakage-preventing cuffs 60b, 60b have free ends 60c where the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 is not joined to the topsheet 2, and fixed ends (not shown) joined to the topsheet 2. The leakage-preventing cuffs 60b prevent lateral leakage by having the free ends 60c stand up from the fixed ends. The leakage-preventing cuffs 60b are formed by partially joining the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 to the topsheet 2 by known joining means such as adhesive or heat embossing.

[0022] The peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 has an overlap region 61 overlapping with the topsheet 2 (see FIG. 1). The peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 of this embodiment has a central extending portion 62 located inward from the outer edge of the absorbent body 4 in a plan view, and the central extending portion 62 forms an overlap region 61 overlapping with the topsheet 2 in a plan view. The central extending portion 62 extends in the longitudinal direction X, and overlaps with both side portions of the absorbent body 4 along the longitudinal direction X in a plan view. The peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 may have an overlapping region 61 located inside the outer edge of the absorbent body 4, or may have an overlapping region 61 located across from the inside and outside of the outer edge of the absorbent body 4.

[0023] In order to more reliably ensure the contact area between the overlapping region 61 and the wearer's skin, it is preferable that the overlapping region 61 has a portion that is 4 mm or more in width, and it is more preferable that the width of the overlapping region 61 is 4 mm or more, and even more preferable that it is 6 mm or more, and it is preferable that it is 15 mm or less, and more preferably that it is 12 mm or less. In this embodiment, since the overlapping region 61 is formed by the central extension portion 62, it is preferable that the width W1 of the central extension portion 62 is 4 mm or more. From the same viewpoint as above, the width W1 of the central extension portion 62 (see FIG. 1) is preferably 4 mm or more and 15 mm or less, more preferably 6 mm or more and 12 mm or less. When the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 forms the skin-facing surface of the side flap portion 6S, the width W1 of the overlapping region 61 is the length of the region 61 in the horizontal direction Y, and when the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 forms the skin-facing surface of the front flap portion 6A or the rear flap portion 6C, the width W1 of the overlapping region 61 is the length of the region 61 in the vertical direction X.

[0024] In the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 of this embodiment, the overlapping region 61 contains a polyethylene resin. In other words, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 of this embodiment contains fibers containing a polyethylene resin as constituent fibers. In general, polyethylene resin is known to have high thermal conductivity among organic polymer materials. Therefore, from the viewpoint of making the user easily perceive a cool sensation by suppressing the decrease in thermal conductivity caused by the interface between the polyethylene resin and a resin other than polyethylene resin and exerting the high thermal conductivity of the polyethylene resin itself, it is preferable that the constituent fiber of the overlapping region 61 has polyethylene resin at least on the entire outer surface, and more preferably, the entire fiber is formed of polyethylene resin. Examples of such fibers include (i) a mode in which both the outer surface and the inside of the fiber are made of polyethylene resin, that is, a mode in which the constituent resin of the fiber is only polyethylene resin, and (ii) a mode of a two-component composite fiber containing a low melting point component made of polyethylene resin and a high melting point component having a melting point higher than that of the low melting point component, and the low melting point component is continuously present on at least a part of the fiber surface in the fiber length direction.

[0025] Specific examples of the embodiment (i) include fibers made of a single type of polyethylene resin as a constituent resin, and fibers made of only multiple types of polyethylene resin as a constituent resin.Specific examples of the embodiment (ii) include (a) core-sheath fibers in which a resin other than polyethylene resin is used as a core as a high melting point component, and a sheath of polyethylene resin is formed as a low melting point component to cover the surface of the core, and (b) side-by-side fibers in which polyethylene resin is used as a low melting point component, a resin other than polyethylene resin is used as a high melting point component, and the polyethylene resin as a low melting point component is continuously present on at least a part of the fiber surface along the fiber length direction. The fibers containing the polyethylene resins (i) and (ii) may be solid or hollow, but are preferably solid from the viewpoint of increasing thermal conductivity and making the user more likely to perceive a cool sensation.

[0026] Examples of the polyethylene resin contained in the overlapping region 61, i.e., the polyethylene resin contained in the constituent fibers of the overlapping region 61, include low-density polyethylene resin (LDPE), medium-density polyethylene resin (MDPE), high-density polyethylene resin (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene resin (LLDPE), and ethylene-propylene copolymers. These can be used alone or in combination. When an ethylene-propylene copolymer is used as the polyethylene resin, the proportion of ethylene units in the copolymer is preferably 95% by mass or more, and more preferably 98% by mass or more, from the viewpoint of increasing thermal conductivity. The proportion of propylene units in the copolymer is preferably 5% by mass or less, and more preferably 2% by mass or less.

[0027] Examples of fibers made only of polyethylene resin include fibers made only of HDPE (that is, fibers containing 100% by mass of HDPE) and core-sheath fibers or side-by-side fibers using a plurality of the above-mentioned various polyethylenes. Examples of core-sheath fibers or side-by-side fibers using only polyethylene resin include fibers using HDPE for the core and sheath, each of which has a different melting point; core-sheath fibers using one or more of LDPE and LLDPE for the core and HDPE for the sheath; core-sheath fibers using HDPE for the core and LLDPE for the sheath; and side-by-side fibers in which HDPE is present continuously along the length of the fiber on at least a portion of the surface of the fiber using LLDPE. In the fibers made only of polyethylene resin, the types and combinations of polyethylene resins are not limited to those described above and can be applied.

[0028] Among these, from the viewpoint of having a physical property of high thermal conductivity and enabling the user to sense a stronger cooling sensation, it is preferable that the polyethylene resin contains HDPE, and more preferably consists of only HDPE. In other words, it is more preferable to use HDPE alone.

[0029] When the constituent fibers of the overlapping region 61 contain a resin other than polyethylene resin as in the above embodiment (ii), examples of the other resin include polyolefin resins other than polyethylene resins such as polypropylene (PP) and polybutene, polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide resins, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene, acrylic resins such as polyacrylic acid and polymethyl methacrylate, fluororesins such as polyperfluoroethylene, and nylon, etc. These resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0030] When the constituent fibers of the overlapping region 61 are of the above-mentioned embodiment (ii), the constituent fibers preferably contain nylon and polyethylene resin. That is, the overlapping region 61 is preferably composed of fibers containing nylon and polyethylene resin. In this case, the constituent fibers of the overlapping region 61 include, for example, at least one of core-sheath fibers and side-by-side fibers containing nylon and polyethylene resin. The core-sheath fibers have nylon as a core and polyethylene resin as a sheath, and the side-by-side fibers have nylon and polyethylene resin continuously present along at least a part of the fiber surface in the fiber length direction. When the constituent fibers of the overlapping region 61 contain nylon and polyethylene resin, the manufacturing efficiency of the napkin 1 capable of perceiving a cool feeling, which will be described later, can be further improved.

[0031] The content of polyethylene resin relative to the total mass of resin contained in the overlap region 61 is preferably 70 mass% or more, more preferably 80 mass% or more, even more preferably 90 mass% or more, still more preferably 100 mass% or less, and even more preferably 100 mass%.

[0032] In the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 of this embodiment, the overlapping region 61 has a volume filling rate of 3.5% or more. By providing such a volume filling rate, the overlapping region 61 contains less air with low thermal conductivity, thereby improving heat transfer, which in turn allows a person to feel a stronger sense of coolness when coming into contact with the overlapping region 61. From the viewpoint of more effectively allowing a person to feel a coolness when coming into contact with the overlapping region 61, the volume filling rate of the overlapping region 61 is preferably 7.0% or more, more preferably 10.0% or more, even more preferably 14.0% or more, and even more preferably 20.0% or more. From the viewpoint of improving the texture, the volume filling rate of the overlapping region 61 is preferably 60.0% or less, more preferably 50.0% or less, and further preferably 30.0% or less.

[0033] The volume filling rate can be expressed as a percentage of the apparent volume to the actual volume, and can be measured by the following method. First, a predetermined area of ​​the nonwoven fabric to be measured (e.g., overlapping region 61) is cut out as a measurement sample, and its mass (g) is measured. The predetermined area when cutting out the measurement sample is preferably 1 cm square, but if it is not possible to cut out a measurement sample with that dimension, cut out the measurement sample with a width and length that is as large as possible within the area of ​​the overlapping region 61 to be measured where the basis weight is visually uniform. Then, from the mass and area of ​​the measurement sample, the basis weight A (g / cm 2 ) is calculated. The thickness B (cm) of the measurement sample is also measured. The thickness B (cm) of the measurement sample is measured using a laser displacement meter (Keyence Corporation, LK-080. All laser displacement meters in this specification are of this type). First, only a plate weighing 12.59 g (diameter 55 mm) is placed on the laser displacement meter to measure the thickness, and zero-point adjustment is performed by setting this as zero. Next, with the plate placed on the measurement sample, the thickness B (cm) of the measurement sample is measured. In measuring the thickness B, the thickness of 4.9 mN / cm was measured by placing the plate. 2 A load of is applied to the measurement sample. Next, the specific gravity C (g / cm3 ) is used to calculate the volume filling rate (%) from the following formula (I). When the fibers constituting the overlapping region 61 contain two or more resins, the sum of the specific gravities based on the mass ratios of the respective constituent resins is used as the specific gravity C. For example, the specific gravity C1 (g / cm 3 ) and specific gravity C2 (g / cm 3 ) in a mass ratio of 30:70, the specific gravity C (g / cm 3 ) is calculated as "0.3 x specific gravity C1 + 0.7 x specific gravity C2". Volume filling rate (%) = 100 × (A) / (B × C) (I)

[0034] When removing the component to be measured from the absorbent article, the component to be measured (e.g., the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60) is carefully peeled off after spraying the absorbent article with cold spray to solidify the hot melt adhesive, and the component is obtained. Such a method is also applied to other measurements in this specification.

[0035] Hereinafter, the configuration "containing polyethylene resin and having a volume filling rate of 3.5% or more" is also referred to as configuration (1). Since the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 of this embodiment has the configuration (1) as a whole, the overlapping region 61 also has the configuration (1). Instead of such a form, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 may have only the overlapping region 61 having the configuration (1), or the overlapping region 61 and other regions other than the overlapping region may partially have the configuration (1).

[0036] The peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 extends outward across the outer edge of the absorbent body 4, so that it is likely to come into contact with the wearer's skin when the napkin 1 is attached to an undergarment or when the napkin 1 is worn. In the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60, the overlapping region 61 contains polyethylene resin and has a volumetric filling rate of 3.5% or more [configuration (1)], so that the thermal conductivity of the overlapping region 61 effectively causes a cool sensation when the napkin 1 comes into contact with the skin. Furthermore, the napkin 1 of this embodiment is provided with the configuration (1) in a portion that is likely to come into contact with the skin, so that the amount of the component member having the configuration (1) used can be reduced. In this way, the napkin 1 of this embodiment can efficiently and effectively cause a cool sensation to be felt.

[0037] In the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 forming the skin-facing surface of any one of the side flap portion 6S, the front flap portion 6A, and the rear flap portion 6C, the overlapping region 61 may have the above-mentioned configuration (1). In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 forming the skin-facing surface of the side flap portion 6S has the overlapping region 61 having the above-mentioned configuration (1) (see FIG. 1). With such a configuration, the amount of sheet member having the above-mentioned configuration (1) used can be further reduced, so that the cool sensation can be perceived more efficiently.

[0038] In order to ensure the aforementioned cool sensation, it is preferable that overlapping region 61 contains fibers having a thermal conductivity equal to or higher than a predetermined value in at least a portion of the surface of overlapping region 61 . In detail, it is preferable that the overlapping region 61 contains, in a part of its surface, fibers having a thermal conductivity of preferably 0.11 W / mK or more, more preferably 0.13 W / mK or more, and further preferably 0.15 W / mK or more. Furthermore, it is practical for overlapping region 61 to contain fibers having a thermal conductivity of 0.4 W / mK or less in a portion of its surface. Fibers having such thermal conductivity have a thermal conductivity at the surface of the fiber within the above range. The overlap region 61 can more easily obtain the above-mentioned thermal conductivity by including, for example, the above-mentioned polyethylene resin-containing fiber as a constituent fiber.

[0039] The thermal conductivity can be measured, for example, by the following method. First, a measurement sample is collected from the overlapping region 61 by the method described above. Next, the measurement sample is introduced into a heating and pressurizing device such as a press machine, and pressurized while being heated at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the nonwoven fabric or fiber raw material, to form a film-like sample with a thickness of about 1 mm. At this time, the pressing conditions are appropriately adjusted so that no air remains in the sample. Then, using a steady-state thermal conductivity measuring device (KES-F6, manufactured by Kato Tech Co., Ltd.), the thermal conductivity is measured based on the amount of heat transferred from the hot plate at 30° C. through the sample to the hot plate at 20° C. This measurement is performed at 10 points for one film-like sample, and the highest value among these is taken as the thermal conductivity (W / mK).

[0040] The peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 preferably contains short fibers at least in the overlapping region 61. Short fibers refer to fibers having a fiber length of 90 mm or less. When the overlapping region 61 contains short fibers, the contact area with the skin increases, making it easier to sense a cool sensation. From the viewpoint of further increasing the contact area, the fiber length of the short fibers contained in the overlapping region 61 is preferably 30 mm or more and 60 mm or less, more preferably 40 mm or more and 55 mm or less. When the fiber is in a crimped state, the fiber length is measured without stretching it. When measuring the fiber length, the fiber is left to stand with as little bending as possible, and the distance from one end point to the other end point of 10 fibers is measured with a ruler, and the arithmetic average of these fiber lengths is taken as the fiber length.

[0041] In order to further increase the contact area with the skin, the short fibers contained in the overlapping region 61 preferably have an average fiber diameter of 3.3 dtex or less, more preferably 2.8 dtex or less, and also preferably 1.3 dtex or more and 3.3 dtex or less, and more preferably 2.0 dtex or more and 2.8 dtex or less. The average fiber diameter (dtex) of the fibers is measured by the following method.

[0042] [Method of measuring average fiber diameter (dtex)] First, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 is removed from the absorbent article by the above-mentioned method, and the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 in an unloaded state is cut into a size of 50 mm x 100 mm (area 500 mm 2 ) to prepare a measurement sample. Next, the surface of the measurement sample (the surface of the overlapping region 61 facing the skin) is observed using an electron microscope, and the fiber thicknesses of ten random fibers are measured. Then, the arithmetic mean value Dn (μm) of the measured fiber thicknesses is calculated. Next, a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used to identify the constituent resin of the fiber on the surface of the measurement sample, and the theoretical fiber density Pn (g / cm 3 The arithmetic mean value Dn (μm) of the obtained fiber thickness and the theoretical fiber density Pn (g / cm 3 ) to calculate the weight (g) per 10,000 m of fiber length, and this calculated value is regarded as the average fiber diameter (dtex) of the fibers in the overlap region 61.

[0043] In order to make it easier to perceive the cool sensation when it comes into contact with the skin and to obtain the cool sensation more reliably, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 has a cool contact sensation q max However, preferably 0.1 W / m 2 More preferably, 0.15 W / m 2 More than 0.4 W / m 2 Less than or equal to 0.3 W / m 2 less than or equal to 0.1 W / m 2 More than 0.4W / m 2 Less than or equal to 0.15 W / m 2 More than 0.3W / m 2 The following is the cooling sensation q max is a thermal source having a temperature 10° C. higher than the surface temperature of the overlapping region 61, and the thermal source is 98 mN / cm 2 Cool sensation when touched with a contact pressure of q max It is.

[0044] Cool touch q maxis a numerical representation of the skin sensation of feeling cold when the skin touches an object. This cold sensation varies depending on the amount of heat transferred from the skin to the object when the skin touches the object. The more heat transferred, the colder the skin feels when touched. max corresponds to the maximum amount of heat transfer from the skin to the object, and the cold sensation q max The value of is larger when the object feels colder when touched and smaller when the object feels warmer. Cool touch q max can be measured in the following manner.

[0045] [Cold sensation q max Measurement method] The nonwoven fabric to be measured is removed from the absorbent article by the above-mentioned method, and a test piece having a length of 1 cm and a width of 1 cm is cut out from the nonwoven fabric. When measuring the cool touch sensation in the overlapping region 61, the test piece is cut out from the overlapping region 61 in the surrounding nonwoven fabric 60. The cut-out test piece is left for 24 hours in an environment of room temperature of 23°C and relative humidity of 50%. Next, under the above-mentioned environment, the test piece is placed on a measurement table and fixed to the measurement table with double-sided tape. As the measurement table, a thermostatic device using a gas or liquid as a heat medium is used. Then, using a measuring device (Kato Tech Co., Ltd., KES-F7 Thermo Lab II) and following the measurement manual for the device, the test piece was brought into contact with a heat source and the contact cold sensation q of the test piece was measured. max Specifically, the heat source is a material having an area of ​​9.0 cm 2 The temperature of a pure copper plate having a mass of 9.8 g is adjusted to 33°C (a temperature 10°C higher than the surface temperature of the test piece), and the pure copper plate is brought into contact with the test piece with a contact pressure of 1 kPa. The value of the heat flow at the moment of this contact is set to zero, and the maximum value of the heat flow when the pure copper plate is in contact with the test piece is measured. This measurement is carried out five times, and the arithmetic mean value of these multiple measured values ​​is defined as the contact coolness q max (W / m 2 )

[0046] From the viewpoint of preventing the inclusion of air with low thermal conductivity and further improving the texture and wearing comfort, the basis weight of the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 is preferably 20 g / m 2 More preferably, 30 g / m 2 More than 90 g / m 2 Less than 70 g / m 2 The following is the result.

[0047] The back sheet 3 is made of a material that is poorly liquid-permeable, liquid-impermeable or water-repellent, and a moisture-permeable sheet such as a moisture-permeable resin film can be preferably used. The back sheet 3 of this embodiment is directly integrated with the surrounding nonwoven fabric 60 by bonding at the flap portion 6. In this case, the back sheet 3 is preferably formed of a moisture permeable sheet. With such a configuration, heat can be easily released to the outside from the back sheet 3 integrated with the surrounding nonwoven fabric 60, and the coolness of the flap portion 6, which is touched by the hand when putting the napkin 1 on the underwear, can be further improved. The back sheet 3 and the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 may be integrated together by bonding with an adhesive or the like, or by fusion bonding.

[0048] In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, a linear embossed portion 9 is formed on the skin-facing surface of the flap portion 6, and the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 is joined to the absorbent body 5 by the linear embossed portion 9. In this embodiment, the linear embossed portion 9 joins the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 to the topsheet 2, and the inner end in the lateral direction Y from the linear embossed portion 9 becomes a free end, forming the above-mentioned leakproof cuff 60b. The linear embossed portion 9 is a portion in which the fibers constituting the surrounding nonwoven fabric 60 and the top sheet 2 are densified by embossing with or without heat, and has high thermal conductivity, making it easier to sense a cool sensation when it comes into contact with the skin of the hand, etc.

[0049] The linear embossed portion 9 of this embodiment extends continuously in the vertical direction X over the entire length of the napkin 1. From the viewpoint of facilitating contact with the skin of the hand or the like, it is preferable that the linear embossed portion 9 extends in the vertical direction X while meandering. "Extending in the vertical direction X while meandering" means that the linear embossed portion 9 extends in the vertical direction X so as to partially form an angle with respect to the vertical direction X. As such a form, as shown in FIG. 1, the linear embossed portion 9 may be zigzag-shaped, or wavy-shaped having convex portions that alternately protrude outward and inward in the horizontal direction Y in a plan view (see FIG. 3(a)), the entire linear embossed portion 9 may be curved in an arc shape (see FIG. 3(b)), a shape in which a plurality of arcs are intermittently arranged (see FIG. 3(c)), or a combination of these shapes. From the viewpoint of making it easier to contact with the skin, the width of the linear embossed portion 9 is preferably 1 mm or more and 3 mm or less, and more preferably 1.3 mm or more and 2 mm or less.

[0050] In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, the topsheet 2 as well as the overlapping region 61 are areas that are likely to come into contact with the skin. A known liquid-permeable sheet can be used for the topsheet 2, and for example, a single-layer or multi-layer nonwoven fabric manufactured by any of various known manufacturing methods can be used. From the viewpoint of increasing the perception of a cool sensation when touching the overlapping region 61, it is effective to make the physical properties of the overlapping region 61 and the topsheet 2 different as follows. It is preferable that the volume filling rate of the overlapping region 61 of the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 is higher than the volume filling rate of the topsheet 2 (overlapping region 61>topsheet 2). In this case, when the overlapping region 61 and the topsheet 2 come into contact with the skin, the cool sensation in the overlapping region 61 can be perceived more strongly compared to the topsheet 2. In order to ensure such an effect, the difference in volume filling rate between the overlapping region 61 and the top sheet 2 is preferably 1% or more, more preferably 5% or more, and also preferably 20% or less, more preferably 15% or less, and also preferably 1% or more and 20% or less, more preferably 5% or more and 15% or less.

[0051] From the same viewpoint as above, the volume filling rate of the top sheet 2 is preferably 2% or more, more preferably 3% or more, and also preferably 5% or less, more preferably 4% or less, and also preferably 2% or more and 5% or less, more preferably 3% or more and 4% or less.

[0052] In addition, the overlapping region 61 of the peripheral nonwoven fabric has a cooler touch q than the top sheet 2. max It is preferable that the cooling sensation in the overlapping region 61 is higher than that in the topsheet 2 (overlapping region 61 > topsheet 2). In this case, too, the cooling sensation in the overlapping region 61 can be perceived more strongly in comparison with the topsheet 2. In order to ensure such an effect, the contact coolness q between the overlapping region 61 and the top sheet 2 is set to be 100%. max The difference is preferably 0.05 W / m 2 More preferably, 0.08 W / m 2 More than or equal to 0.2 W / m 2 Less than or equal to 0.15 W / m 2 less than or equal to 0.05 W / m 2 More than 0.2W / m 2 Less than or equal to 0.08 W / m 2 More than 0.15W / m 2 The following is the result.

[0053] From the same viewpoint as above, the cool touch q of the top sheet 2 max is preferably 0.03 W / m 2 More preferably, 0.04 W / m 2 or more, and preferably 0.07 W / m 2 Less than or equal to 0.06 W / m 2 less than or equal to 0.03 W / m 2 More than 0.07W / m 2 Less than 0.04 W / m is more preferable. 2 More than 0.06W / m 2 The following is the result.

[0054] In order to enhance the perception of a cool sensation in the overlapping region 61 compared to the top sheet 2, the content of polyethylene resin relative to the total mass of the resin contained in the top sheet 2 is preferably 30% by mass or more and 70% by mass or less, and more preferably 40% by mass or more and 60% by mass or less.

[0055] The top sheet 2 of this embodiment preferably has compressive deformability. In this case, when the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 touches the wearer's skin, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 can easily deform in the overlapping region 61 in accordance with the deformation of the overlapping top sheet 2. This deformation increases the contact area between the overlapping region 61 and the wearer's skin, allowing the wearer to effectively sense a cool sensation. In order to ensure the above-mentioned effects, the surface sheet 2 has a compressive strength of 0.5 gf / cm 2 (4.9mN / cm 2 The amount of compressive deformation under load is preferably 0.15 mm or more, more preferably 0.2 mm or more, and is preferably 0.15 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less, more preferably 0.2 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less.

[0056] The amount of compressive deformation can be measured, for example, using a KES-FB-3 compression tester manufactured by Kato Tech Co., Ltd. A piece of a certain size is used as a sample from the surface sheet 2 to be measured. The sample is attached to the test stand of the compression tester and cut to an area of ​​2 cm. 2 The specimen is compressed between steel plates with circular flat surfaces. The compression speed is 0.02mm / sec, and the maximum compression load is 9.8mN / cm. 2 (1gf / cm 2 The thickness without load is T0 (mm), and the strain rate is 4.9 mN / cm 2 (5gf / cm 2 When the thickness under load is Tm (mm), the amount of compressive deformation (mm) can be calculated as "T0-Tm" by subtracting the thickness Tm from the thickness T0. The thickness of the sample is measured using, for example, a laser displacement meter.

[0057] The topsheet 2 having the compressive deformation amount in the above range is preferably one having an uneven shape on the skin-facing side. The topsheet 2 of this embodiment is one embodiment of such a sheet having an uneven shape. The topsheet 2 of this embodiment has a first surface F1 and a second surface F2, which is the surface opposite to the first surface F1, as shown in FIG. 4(a), and is a laminated nonwoven fabric in which a first fiber layer 11 forming the first surface F1 and a second fiber layer 12 forming the second surface F2 are laminated as shown in FIG. 4(b). A plurality of convex portions 14 are formed on the first fiber layer 11. The first surface F1 is the skin-facing surface of the topsheet 2, and the second surface F2 is the non-skin-facing surface of the topsheet 2. The topsheet 2 of this embodiment has a plurality of embossed portions 13 in which the first fiber layer 11 and the second fiber layer 12 are integrated (see FIG. 4(b)), and the first fiber layer 11 and the second fiber layer 12 are partially bonded by the plurality of embossed portions 13. The embossed portions 13 can be formed by a method of embossing with or without heat, a method of ultrasonic embossing, or the like. When the embossed portion 13 is formed by such an embossing process, the embossed portion 13 becomes a portion where the constituent fibers of the topsheet 2 are denser than other portions. The embossed portion 13 may be formed by bonding with an adhesive instead of embossing.

[0058] As shown in Fig. 4(a), the topsheet 2 of this embodiment has, on the first surface F1 side, a plurality of convex portions 14 protruding toward the first surface F1 side and linear concave portions 15 surrounding the convex portions 14. The concave portions 15 are formed by embossed portions 13 (see Fig. 4(b)). The concave portions 15 are arranged in a lattice pattern, and convex portions 14 are formed in each area partitioned by the lattice-shaped concave portions 15. As shown in Fig. 4(b), the topsheet 2 has a solid structure in which the insides of the convex portions 14 are filled with the constituent fibers of the first fiber layer 11 and the second fiber layer 12, and the first fiber layer 11 mainly protrudes toward the first surface F1 side. The bottoms of the concave portions 15 are joint portions (embossed portions) 13 in which the constituent fibers of the first fiber layer 11 and the second fiber layer 12 are consolidated and joined. The embossed portion 13 in this embodiment is a linear embossed portion, but the planar shape of the embossed portion 13 is not particularly limited and may be a circle, an ellipse, a triangle, a rectangle, or a combination of these, or may be formed in a linear shape such as a straight line or a curve.

[0059] From the viewpoint of formability of the uneven shape, it is preferable that in the topsheet 2 of this embodiment, the first fiber layer 11 contains a heat-extensible fiber, and the second fiber layer 12 contains a non-heat-extensible fiber. A heat-extensible fiber is a fiber whose length is extended by heating, and is a fiber that is extended at a temperature of 90° C. or more, preferably 110° C. to 140° C. Heat-extensible fibers are extended by heat treatment, and as a result, the fiber space is larger than that of non-extensible fibers. Examples of such fibers include fibers that are extended by heating due to a change in the crystal state of the resin, and fibers that have been subjected to a crimping process and whose apparent length is extended by releasing the crimp. Non-thermally extensible fibers are fibers that do not substantially expand in length upon application of heat. Examples of the thermally extensible fibers and non-thermally extensible fibers that can be used include those described in paragraphs

[0013] and

[0037] to

[0040] of JP 2005-350836 A and those described in paragraphs

[0012] and

[0024] to

[0046] of JP 2011-127258 A.

[0060] When the first fiber layer 11 contains heat-extensible fibers and the second fiber layer 12 contains non-heat-extensible fibers, the topsheet 2 can be produced, for example, by the following method. A web containing non-heat-extensible fibers and a web containing heat-extensible fibers are laminated together, and then embossed to partially bond the two webs together. This produces a laminate in which the two webs are laminated together. In the laminate, the web containing non-heat-extensible fibers becomes the second fiber layer 12, and the web containing heat-extensible fibers becomes the first fiber layer 11. Next, the laminate is heat-treated at a temperature equal to or higher than the thermal elongation initiation temperature of the thermally extensible fibers contained in the first fiber layer 11. A thermostatic dryer or an air-through heat treatment machine can be used for the heat treatment. This heat treatment elongates the constituent fibers of the first fiber layer 11, causing the first fiber layer 11 located in the area surrounded by the joints to protrude toward the first surface F1, forming irregularities (a three-dimensional shape). In this way, a topsheet 2 having irregularities on the first surface F1 is obtained.

[0061] In the topsheet 2, the first fiber layer 11 may contain a non-heat-shrinkable fiber, and the second fiber layer 12 may contain a heat-shrinkable fiber, thereby forming an uneven shape in the first fiber layer 11. In this case, the non-heat-shrinkable fiber includes both a fiber that does not exhibit heat shrinkability and a fiber that does not substantially shrink at the heat-shrinkage starting temperature of the heat-shrinkable fiber contained in the second fiber layer 12 described below. The heat-shrinkable fiber is a fiber having heat shrinkability, which shrinks when heat is applied. Although the heat-shrinkable fiber is heat-shrunk by a heating treatment, it still has heat shrinkability. As the heat-shrinkable fiber, one made of the above-mentioned thermoplastic resin and having heat shrinkability is preferably used. By making the first fiber layer 11 contain a non-heat-shrinkable fiber and the second fiber layer 12 contain a heat-shrinkable fiber, it is possible to easily form irregularities in the first fiber layer 11 of the topsheet 2 by heat treatment.

[0062] Examples of heat-shrinkable fibers include helical crimped fibers, more specifically, latent crimped fibers. Before being heated, the latent crimped fibers can be handled in the same way as conventional fibers for nonwoven fabrics, and have the property of developing helical crimps and shrinking when heated at a predetermined temperature. The latent crimped fibers are, for example, eccentric core-sheath or side-by-side composite fibers made of two types of thermoplastic polymer materials with different shrinkage rates. Examples of such fibers include those described in JP-A-9-296325 and JP-A-2759331.

[0063] When the first fiber layer 11 contains a non-heat-shrinkable fiber and the second fiber layer 12 contains a heat-shrinkable fiber, the top sheet 2 can be manufactured, for example, by the following method. A web made of heat-shrinkable fiber and a web containing non-heat-shrinkable fiber are laminated, and then embossed to partially bond the two webs. This results in a laminate in which the two webs are laminated. Next, the laminate is heat-treated. The heat treatment is set at a temperature equal to or higher than the heat-shrinkage initiation temperature of the heat-shrinkable fiber. For such heat treatment, a constant temperature dryer or an air-through heat treatment machine can be used. This heat treatment shrinks the constituent fiber (heat-shrinkable fiber) of the second fiber layer 12, and the first fiber layer 11 located in the area surrounded by the joint 13 is caused to protrude toward the first surface F1 side, forming unevenness (three-dimensional shape). In this way, the top sheet 2 having unevenness on the first surface F1 side is obtained.

[0064] Alternatively, the topsheet 2 having an uneven shape may be one described in JP 2015-112343 A, in which a laminated first fiber layer 11 and a second fiber layer 12 are joined to each other at a plurality of joining portions 13, and the first fiber layer 11 protrudes in a direction away from the second fiber layer 12 at portions other than the joining portions 13 to form protrusions 14. Such protrusions 14 have a hollow structure. The protrusions 14 formed on the skin-facing surface of the topsheet 2 may be of a hollow structure or a solid structure, but from the viewpoint of making it easier to keep the amount of compressive deformation within the above-mentioned range, it is preferable that the protrusions 14 have a solid structure.

[0065] From the viewpoint of preventing the inclusion of air with low thermal conductivity and further improving the texture and wearing comfort, the basis weight of the top sheet 2 is preferably 18 g / m 2 More preferably, 25 g / m 2 More than 80 g / m 2 Less than 70 g / m 2 The following is the result. From the viewpoint of making the overlapping region 61 more perceptible as a cool sensation in comparison with the topsheet 2, it is preferable that the basis weight of the overlapping region 61 be greater than the basis weight of the topsheet 2. From the same viewpoint as above, the difference in basis weight between the overlapping region 61 and the top sheet 2 is preferably 20 g / m 2 More preferably, 30 g / m 2 More than 60 g / m 2 Less than 50 g / m 2 The following is the result.

[0066] 2, the napkin 1 of this embodiment includes a second sheet 7 disposed between the topsheet 2 and the absorbent body 4. The width (length in the horizontal direction Y) of the second sheet 7 is preferably shorter than the width (length in the horizontal direction Y) of the absorbent body 4, and the length in the vertical direction X is preferably longer than the length in the vertical direction X of the absorbent body 4, and the second sheet 7 is preferably disposed continuously over the entire length of the napkin in the vertical direction X. The second sheet 7 is a sheet separate from the topsheet 2 and the absorbent body 4, and is also called a sublayer sheet in the technical field. As with the topsheet 2, the second sheet 7 may be a liquid-permeable sheet such as a nonwoven fabric.

[0067] From the viewpoint of further improving the coolness, it is preferable that the second sheet 7 contains a coolant. In this case, it is preferable that the coolant in the second sheet 7 is unevenly distributed on the flap portion 6 side in the longitudinal direction X or the lateral direction Y. This can further improve the coolness in the overlapping region 61 of the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60. The above-mentioned "uneven distribution" forms include a form in which the cooling agent is more distributed in the peripheral portion (flap portion 6 side) than in the center of the second sheet 7, as well as a form in which the cooling agent is not present in the center but is present in the peripheral portion. In the latter case, it is preferable that the cooling agent in the second sheet 7 is present in an area within 15 mm inward in the longitudinal direction X or lateral direction Y from the peripheral portion of the absorbent 4 that overlaps with the second sheet 7. In addition, in the second seat 7, the cooling agent may be concentrated on at least one of the side flap portions 6S, 6S, the front flap portion 6A, and the rear flap portion 6C, or it may be concentrated on two or more of these.

[0068] In order to further improve the cooling effect, it is preferable to distribute the cooling agent as follows. The cooling agent content in the peripheral portion of the second sheet 7 is preferably at least 1% by mass higher than that in the central portion, and more preferably at least 2% by mass higher. The cooling agent content is the average content in each of the central portion and the peripheral portion. The peripheral portion is a region within 2 mm inward in the longitudinal direction X or lateral direction Y from the periphery of the absorbent body 4 overlapping with the second sheet 7, and the central portion is a region located more inward in the longitudinal direction X or lateral direction Y than the peripheral portion.

[0069] The cooling agent can be one that makes the wearer feel cold when it comes into contact with the skin of the wearer. For example, it can be one that i) acts on the receptor activation channel (TRPM8) in the nerves of the skin, or ii) lowers the surrounding temperature by vaporization. Specific examples of the cooling sensation agent of i) above include menthol (eg, l-menthol) and its derivatives (eg, menthyl lactate), methyl salicylate, camphor, cucumber extract, and essential oils derived from plants (eg, mint, eucalyptus, nutmeg). Specific examples of the cooling sensation agent of the above ii) include alcohols such as methanol and ethanol.

[0070] In the napkin 1 of this embodiment, the topsheet 2, second sheet 7, and absorbent body 4 are partially joined by compressed grooves 8. The compressed grooves 8 are grooves formed by the topsheet 2, second sheet 7, and absorbent body 4 being integrally recessed toward the backsheet 3, and the bottoms of the grooves reach the absorbent body 4 (not shown in FIG. 2). That is, in the compressed grooves 8, the topsheet 2 and second sheet 7 are integrally compressed and consolidated. The compressed grooves 8 in this embodiment are annular linear grooves extending in the vertical direction X from the front region A through the excretory part facing region B to the rear region C. The compressed grooves 8 have a shape that is line symmetrical with respect to the vertical center line CL. In the compressed grooves 8, the density of the fibers constituting the topsheet 2, the second sheet 7 and the absorbent body 4 is higher than the density of the surrounding areas of the compressed grooves 8. Such compressed grooves 8 can suppress the diffusion of bodily fluids in the planar direction of the absorbent body 4, and effectively prevent leakage of liquid from around the periphery of the napkin 1.

[0071] 1, the absorbent body 4 extends in the longitudinal direction X of the napkin 1 (absorbent body 5). The absorbent body 4 of this embodiment extends from the front region A through the excretory part facing region B to the rear region C. The absorbent body 4 of this embodiment is configured to include an absorbent sheet 40 (hereinafter, also referred to as a "highly loaded absorbent body") in which a water-absorbing polymer 41 is supported on a sheet (see FIG. 2). The absorbent sheet 40 is an absorbent body formed into a sheet shape, and is generally distinguished from an absorbent body including a stack of absorbent materials. Representative examples of absorbent sheets include those described in Japanese Patent No. 2963647 and Japanese Patent No. 2955223. As the absorbent sheet, a sheet-like material formed by bonding between constituent fibers or between a superabsorbent polymer and constituent fibers through the adhesive force generated in a wet superabsorbent polymer or a binder such as a separately added adhesive or adhesive fiber can be preferably used. Examples of absorbent sheets that can be used include absorbent sheets containing pulp manufactured by the method described in JP-A-8-246395, dry sheets in which ground pulp and a superabsorbent polymer are fed on an air current and then piled up, and then solidified with an adhesive (e.g., vinyl acetate adhesive, PVA, etc.), absorbent sheets obtained by applying a hot melt adhesive or the like between pulp-containing paper or nonwoven fabric and then spraying a superabsorbent polymer, and absorbent sheets obtained by blending a superabsorbent polymer during the manufacturing process of spunbond or meltblown nonwoven fabric. Each of these absorbent sheets can be cut into a predetermined shape and used as a sheet-like absorbent body.

[0072] The absorbent body including the absorbent sheet 40 can be made thinner than an absorbent body including a stack of absorbent materials, and is less likely to contain air with low thermal conductivity, which increases the transfer of heat, and makes it possible to further increase the perception of a cool sensation when the napkin 1 is touched. The absorbent sheet 40 of this embodiment includes two absorbent sheets 40, a first absorbent sheet 40a and a second absorbent sheet 40b, and has a laminated structure in which these absorbent sheets 40a, 40b are laminated in multiple layers (see FIG. 2). The absorbent body 4 has a central absorbent section 4a, a front absorbent section 4b covering the skin-facing surface of the central absorbent section 4a, and a back absorbent section 4c covering the non-skin-facing surface of the central absorbent section 4a, and these absorbent sections 4a, 4b, 4c are formed by folding the first absorbent sheet 40a and the second absorbent sheet 40b. The first absorbent sheet 40a is folded in a state in which both side portions along the longitudinal direction X are folded back to the non-skin-facing surface side, thereby forming the central absorbent section 4a having a two-layer structure. The second absorbent sheet 40b is folded such that both side portions along the longitudinal direction X are folded back to the non-skin facing side and to cover the outer surface of the central absorbent section 4a, thereby forming the front absorbent section 4b and the back absorbent section 4c. In the second absorbent sheet 40b, the portion (layer) covering the skin facing surface of the central absorbent section 4a constitutes the front absorbent section 4b, and the portion (layer) covering the non-skin facing surface of the central absorbent section 4a constitutes the back absorbent section 4c.

[0073] The thickness t1 (see FIG. 2) of the absorbent body including the absorbent sheet 40 is preferably 1 mm or more and 4 mm or less, and more preferably 2 mm or more and 3 mm or less. In this specification, the thickness t1 of the absorbent body is measured by the following method. First, the absorbent body 4 to be measured is placed on a horizontal surface without any wrinkles or bends, and the absorbent body 4 is subjected to a pressure of 5 cN / cm 2 The thickness is measured under a load of 5 cN / cm. For example, a thickness gauge (PEACOCK DIAL UPRIGHT GAUGE SR5-C, manufactured by Ozaki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.) is used to measure the thickness. During the measurement, a load of 5 cN / cm is applied between the tip of the thickness gauge and the object to be measured. 2The thickness is measured by placing a plate (an acrylic plate with a thickness of about 5 mm) that is circular or square in plan view and has a size adjusted so that the thickness is 100 mm. If the absorbent body is configured to include a core wrap sheet, the thickness of the absorbent body is measured including the core wrap sheet.

[0074] From the viewpoint of further improving the flexibility and fluffy touch of the napkin 1, the absorbent body 4 preferably includes a stack containing a water-absorbent polymer and a water-absorbent fiber. Examples of the water-absorbent polymer and the water-absorbent fiber include a stack of hydrophilic fibers such as cellulose including pulp, a mixed stack of the hydrophilic fibers and a water-absorbent polymer, a stack of water-absorbent polymer, etc. In this case, the absorbent body 4 preferably includes an absorbent core made of the stack, and a core wrap sheet that covers the surface of the absorbent core. The thickness of the absorbent body including the stacks is preferably 3.0 mm or more and 13.0 mm or less, and more preferably 4.0 mm or more and 8.0 mm or less.

[0075] Another embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention is shown in Figures 5 and 6. In the following description of the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, components different from the above-mentioned embodiment will be mainly described, and similar components will be given the same reference numerals and description will be omitted. For components that are not particularly described, the description of the above-mentioned embodiment will be applied as appropriate.

[0076] In the napkin 1a shown in Fig. 5, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 forming the skin-facing surface of the rear flap portion 6C has an overlapping region 61a having the above-mentioned structure (1). The napkin 1a of this embodiment does not have an overlapping region having the above-mentioned structure (1) in the central extending portion 62, but has an overlapping region 61a having the above-mentioned structure (1) outward in the longitudinal direction X from the end portion in the longitudinal direction X of the absorbent body 4. In this way, the napkin may have an overlapping region 61 having the above-mentioned structure (1) outward from the outer edge of the absorbent body 4. The napkin 1a of this embodiment has an overlapping region 61a having the above-mentioned feature (1) on the rear flap portion 6C side, so that when worn, it comes into contact with the skin (e.g., buttocks) over a wide area, allowing the wearer to feel a cool sensation more effectively. Also, since the sheet member having the above-mentioned feature (1) is used only in areas that are likely to come into contact when worn, the amount of the sheet member used can be reduced.

[0077] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the back sheet 3 is directly integrated with the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 by bonding at the flap portion 6 (see FIG. 2), but the back sheet 3 and the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 may be indirectly integrated. For example, as in the napkin 1b shown in FIG. 6, the top sheet 2 may be interposed between the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 and the back sheet 3. In such a configuration, the top sheet 2 extends outward from the outer edge of the absorbent body 4 and extends to an area including a pair of wing portions 6W, 6W. That is, the overlapping area 61 is located across the inside and outside of the outer edge of the absorbent body 4 and extends to the outer end of the wing portion 6W in the lateral direction Y. In this case, the overlapping area 61 having the configuration (1) may be arranged to straddle the inside and outside of the outer edge of the absorbent body 4, may extend to the lateral Y side edge of the side flap portion 6S, and may further extend to an area including the wing portions 6W, 6W.

[0078] While the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 has a central extending portion 62, which forms the overlapping region 61, but the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 may not have the central extending portion 62. In this case, a large area can be secured for direct contact between the skin and the absorbent body 5 (top sheet) without the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60, so that it is possible to maintain high absorption efficiency of bodily fluids and the like. When the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 does not have a central extending portion 62, the overlapping region 61 having the configuration (1) is preferably formed outward from the outer edge of the absorbent body 4.

[0079] The absorbent article of the present invention also broadly includes articles used to absorb bodily fluids discharged from the human body (urine, loose stools, menstrual blood, sweat, etc.), and in addition to the napkins mentioned above, includes, for example, sanitary shorts, incontinence pads, disposable diapers, etc. EXAMPLES

[0080] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to such examples.

[0081] Example 1 In Example 1, a napkin 1 having an absorbent body 5 and side flap portions 6S, 6S as shown in Fig. 1 was produced. The top sheet 2 used was made of PET / PE core-sheath fibers (fiber diameter 2.4 dtex, fiber length 51 mm) with a PET core and PE sheath. The top sheet 2 had a basis weight of 28 g / m 2 and the volume filling rate was 3%. The back sheet 3 was prepared by spraying the back sheet of a napkin (manufactured by Kao Corporation, product name Laurier Slim Guard) with cold spray and then carefully peeling it off so as not to tear it. The absorbent body 4 was prepared by laminating two absorbent sheets in multiple layers as shown in FIG. 2 (see FIG. 2). The thickness t1 of the absorbent body 4 was 4 mm or less. The top sheet 2 had a width approximately equal to that of the absorbent body 4, a length in the vertical direction X longer than that of the absorbent body 4, and covered the entire skin-facing surface of the absorbent body 4. The side flap portions 6S were formed by arranging peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 on both sides of the skin-facing side of the absorbent body 5 and integrating this with the back sheet 3 by adhesive. Such peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 was arranged so as to straddle the inside and outside of both side edges of the absorbent body 4, i.e., to have a central extending portion 62 and form an overlapping region. The width of this overlapping region was 11 mm. The peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 was made of nylon / PE core-sheath fiber (fiber diameter 2.4 dtex, fiber length 51 mm) with a nylon core and PE sheath. The peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 had a basis weight of 38 g / m 2 The volume filling rate was 11%. In other words, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 had the above-mentioned configuration (1).

[0082] [Examples 2 and 3] In Example 2, a napkin was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 having a different basis weight and volume filling rate was used. In Example 3, a napkin was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 with a different basis weight was used, and a stack containing a water-absorbent polymer and water-absorbent fibers was used instead of the absorbent sheet. The basis weight of the water-absorbent polymer in the stack was 50 g / m 2 The basis weight of the absorbent fiber is 300 g / m 2 The thickness of the stack was 4.5 mm.

[0083] Example 4 In Example 4, the topsheet 2 and backsheet 3 extending outward from the outer edge of the absorbent body 4 were joined, peripheral nonwoven fabrics 60 were placed on the topsheet 2 on both sides of the absorbent main body 5, and the topsheet 2 and peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 were integrated with an adhesive to produce a napkin 1b as shown in Fig. 6. In other words, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 and the backsheet 3 were not directly integrated. Apart from this, the napkin was produced in the same manner as in Example 1.

[0084] Comparative Example 1 In Comparative Example 1, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 was arranged on both side portions of the absorbent main body 5 so that the topsheet 2 and the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 did not overlap, and the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 was integrated with the backsheet 3 by an adhesive. Specifically, the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 was arranged outward in the lateral direction Y from both side edges of the absorbent body 4 so that it did not overlap with either the absorbent body 4 or the topsheet 2. Apart from this, the napkin was produced in the same manner as in Example 1.

[0085] In the napkins of each embodiment, the width of the overlapping region 61 of the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 forming the skin-facing surface of the side-flap portion 6S was 4 mm or more. In addition, the cool contact sensation q of the overlapping region 61 in the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 and the top sheet 2 max The amount of compressive deformation (mm) of the topsheet 2 was measured by the method described above. The measurement results are shown in Table 1 below. The "Difference in volume filling rate between the overlapping area and the top sheet" and "Contact coolness q between the overlapping area and the top sheet" of Comparative Example 1 in Table 1 below max The value of "difference in volume filling rate between the surrounding nonwoven fabric and the top sheet" is calculated based on "difference in volume filling rate between the surrounding nonwoven fabric and the top sheet" and "contact cool sensation q max This is the "difference" value.

[0086] [Sensory evaluation of cooling sensation] Ten expert panelists touched the skin-facing side of each of the napkins of the Examples and Comparative Examples and evaluated the cooling sensation according to the following criteria. The napkins used in this evaluation were each left in a 23°C environment until the temperature was equal to the ambient temperature. The higher the arithmetic mean score, the easier it was to effectively perceive the cooling sensation of the napkin. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0087] 10 to 9 points: A strong cooling sensation is felt, and the cooling sensation is excellent. 8 to 7 points: The cooling sensation can be perceived well. 6 to 5 points: A feeling of coolness can be perceived. 4 to 3 points: Not much cooling sensation. 2 to 1 points: No cooling sensation at all.

[0088] [Table 1]

[0089] As shown in Table 1, the napkins of each Example were all rated at 7 points or more for cool sensation, and compared to the napkin of Comparative Example 1, which did not have an overlapping region, the napkins had a stronger sense of cool sensation when contacted. These results showed that the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 having the above-mentioned configuration (1) had an overlapping region 61 overlapping the top sheet 2, which allowed the user to feel a stronger sense of cool sensation when contacted. From the results of Table 1, and from the comparison of Example 2 with the other Examples, it was shown that increasing the difference in the volumetric filling rate between the overlapping region and the top sheet was effective in increasing the sense of cool sensation. Furthermore, from the comparison of Example 1 with Example 3, it was shown that using an absorbent sheet in the absorbent body, and from the comparison of Example 1 with Example 4, it was shown that directly integrating the peripheral nonwoven fabric 60 with the back sheet 3 was effective in increasing the sense of cool sensation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 1,1a,1b Sanitary napkins 2 Surface sheet 3 Back sheet 4. Absorber 4a Central absorption section 4b Surface absorption part 4c Back absorption part 5. Absorbent body 6 Flap section 6A Front flap section 6C Rear flap section 6S Side flap section 6W Wing section 7 Second seat 8. Compression groove 9 Linear embossed section 11 First fiber layer 12 Second fiber layer 13 Joint (embossed) 14 Convex part 15 Recess 40 Absorbent Sheet 40a First absorbent sheet 40a absorbent sheet 40b Second absorbent sheet 40b Absorbent sheet 41 Water-absorbent polymer 60 Peripheral non-woven fabric 60b Leakage prevention cuff 60c Free end 61 Overlap region 62 Central extension part A Front region B Region facing the excretion part C Rear region F1 First surface F2 Second surface VL Extension line X Vertical direction Y Horizontal direction

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising an absorbent body, a top sheet positioned closer to the wearer's skin than the absorbent body, and a back sheet positioned closer to the wearer's non-skin facing side than the absorbent body, the article having a vertical direction corresponding to the front-to-back direction of the wearer and a horizontal direction perpendicular thereto, a flap portion extending outward from the outer edge of the absorbent body and forming the outline of the absorbent article, and a peripheral nonwoven fabric forming at least the skin-facing surface of the flap portion; The peripheral nonwoven fabric has an overlapping region that overlaps with the topsheet, the overlapping region containing a polyethylene resin and having a volume filling rate of 3.5% or more.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral nonwoven fabric has a central extending portion located inward from the outer edge of the absorbent body, and the central extending portion forms the overlapping region.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the volume filling rate of the peripheral nonwoven fabric in the overlapping region is 1% or more higher than the volume filling rate of the topsheet.

4. The flap portion has side flap portions along both sides of the absorbent article in the lateral direction, The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the peripheral nonwoven fabric forming the skin-facing surface of the side flap portion has the overlapping region.

5. The back sheet is formed of a moisture-permeable sheet, The absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein the peripheral nonwoven fabric and the backsheet are directly integrated in the flap portion.

6. 3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein a linear embossed portion is formed on the skin-facing surface of the peripheral nonwoven fabric, joining the peripheral nonwoven fabric and the top sheet, and the linear embossed portion extends in a serpentine manner in the longitudinal direction.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the overlapping region is made of fibers containing nylon and polyethylene resin.

8. The surface sheet has a resistance of 0.5 gf / cm ２ 3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the KES compressive deformation amount under load is 0.15 mm or more.

9. 3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein a second sheet is disposed between the top sheet and the absorbent body, the second sheet containing a cooling agent, the cooling agent being biased toward the flap portion in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction.

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