Absorbent articles containing an antimicrobial composition containing a hydrophilic antimicrobial agent

Abstract

To provide an absorbent article that has excellent antibacterial properties and excellent leak-proof properties. [Solution] An absorbent article 1 comprising an absorbent body 27, wherein the absorbent article 1 comprises a pair of leak-proof walls 43 in which a leak-proof wall elastic member 45 is bonded to a hydrophobic sheet member 33 by a leak-proof wall adhesive portion 35 made of hot melt adhesive, the absorbent article 1 comprises a leak-proof wall overlapping region 47 that overlaps with the pair of leak-proof walls 43 in the thickness direction T when unfolded, the absorbent article 1 comprises an antimicrobial composition 39 comprising a hydrophilic antimicrobial agent and a hydrophilic and non-volatile organic solvent, the absorbent article 1 comprises an antimicrobial composition arrangement region 41 that overlaps with the antimicrobial composition 39 in the thickness direction T when unfolded, and the average basis weight of the antimicrobial composition 39 in the longitudinal central region 51 and the width central region 55 when unfolded is higher than the average basis weight of the antimicrobial composition 39 in the longitudinal central region 51 and the leak-proof wall overlapping region 47.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to an absorbent article comprising an antimicrobial composition containing a hydrophilic antimicrobial agent and a hydrophilic and non-volatile organic solvent. [Background technology]

[0002] Absorbent articles containing antibacterial agents are being considered. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an absorbent sheet for absorbent articles (Claim 1) comprising an organic hydrophobic antibacterial agent, a hydrophilic and non-volatile organic solvent, and 10% by mass or less of water, and an absorbent article comprising an absorbent core containing an organic hydrophobic antibacterial agent and a hydrophilic and non-volatile organic solvent (Claim 6). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-70515 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] Patent Document 1 does not disclose the absorbent article relating to this disclosure. Therefore, the purpose of this disclosure is to provide an absorbent article that has excellent antibacterial properties as well as excellent leak-proof properties. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The Disclosers provide an absorbent article comprising absorbents having longitudinal, widthwise, and thicknesswise directions that are orthogonal to each other, wherein the absorbent article comprises a pair of leak-proof walls, each of which an elastic leak-proof wall member is bonded to a hydrophobic sheet member by a leak-proof wall adhesive portion made of a hot-melt adhesive, wherein in the unfolded state the absorbent article comprises an overlapping leak-proof wall region that overlaps the pair of leak-proof walls and the thicknesswise direction, wherein the absorbent article comprises an antimicrobial composition comprising a hydrophilic antimicrobial agent and a hydrophilic and non-volatile organic solvent, wherein in the unfolded state the absorbent article comprises the antimicrobial composition and the An absorbent article has been found that has an antibacterial composition placement area that overlaps in the thickness direction, and in the unfolded state, the central part of the absorbent body divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction is partitioned as the longitudinal central region, and the area that overlaps with the absorbent body in the width direction is partitioned as the width central region, and in the unfolded state, the antibacterial composition placement area is located in at least the longitudinal central region and the width central region, and the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition in the longitudinal central region and the width central region is higher than the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition in the longitudinal central region and the overlapping area of ​​the leak-proof wall. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The absorbent article relating to this disclosure has excellent antibacterial properties and excellent leak-proof properties. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a panty-type sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a panty-type sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a panty-type sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a panty-type sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5]Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a panty-type sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a panty-type sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a panty-type sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a panty-type sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating a panty-type sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating a shorts-type sanitary napkin 1 according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating a sanitary napkin 71 according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating a sanitary napkin 71 according to a second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Specifically, this disclosure relates to the following aspects: [Aspect 1] An absorbent article comprising absorbents having longitudinal, widthwise, and thicknesswise directions that are perpendicular to each other, The above absorbent article comprises a pair of leak-proof walls, each of which an elastic leak-proof wall member is bonded to a hydrophobic sheet member by a leak-proof wall adhesive portion made of hot-melt adhesive. The absorbent article, in its deployed state, comprises the pair of leak-proof walls and the overlapping leak-proof wall region that overlaps in the thickness direction. The above absorbent article comprises an antimicrobial composition containing a hydrophilic antimicrobial agent and a hydrophilic and non-volatile organic solvent. The absorbent article described above, in the unfolded state, includes an antibacterial composition area that overlaps with the antibacterial composition in the thickness direction. In the above-described deployed state, the center of the absorber divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction is defined as the central region in the longitudinal direction, and the region overlapping with the absorber in the width direction is defined as the central region in the width direction. In the above-described deployed state, the antibacterial composition placement region is at least disposed in the central region in the longitudinal direction and the central region in the width direction, and the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition in the central region in the longitudinal direction and the central region in the width direction is higher than the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition in the central region in the longitudinal direction and the overlapping region of the leakage-preventing wall. An absorbent article characterized by the above.

[0009] In the above absorbent article, since the antibacterial composition contains a hydrophilic antibacterial agent and a hydrophilic and non-volatile organic solvent, the hydrophilic antibacterial agent is less likely to crystallize, and the hydrophilic antibacterial agent can be rapidly transferred to the body fluid absorbed by the absorbent article. Also, even after the hydrophilic antibacterial agent has moved to the body fluid, the hydrophilic antibacterial agent is less likely to crystallize and is likely to exert an antibacterial action on the body fluid.

[0010] In the above absorbent article, in the deployed state, the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition in the central region in the longitudinal direction and the central region in the width direction is higher than the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition in the central region in the longitudinal direction and the overlapping region of the leakage-preventing wall. Therefore, in the central region in the longitudinal direction and the central region in the width direction, the antibacterial composition with a relatively high average basis weight can exert an antibacterial action on the body fluid. Also, in the central region in the longitudinal direction and the overlapping region of the leakage-preventing wall, since the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition is relatively low, the antibacterial composition containing the hydrophilic antibacterial agent and the hydrophilic organic solvent is less likely to inhibit the hydrophobicity of the leakage-preventing wall, and the adhesive force of the leakage-preventing wall adhesive portion that fixes the leakage-preventing wall elastic member to the hydrophobic sheet member is less likely to decrease, the elastic member can exert elasticity, and the pair of leakage-preventing walls are likely to stand up when the absorbent article is worn. From the above, the absorbent article is excellent in antibacterial action and excellent in leakage prevention.

[0011] [Aspect 2] The absorbent article according to Embodiment 1, wherein, in the above-described unfolded state, the antimicrobial composition area is not located in the longitudinal central region and the leakage-proof wall overlapping region.

[0012] In the absorbent article described above, the antimicrobial composition area is not located in the longitudinal central region and the area where the leak-proof wall overlaps. Therefore, in the longitudinal central region and the area where the leak-proof wall overlaps, the antimicrobial composition containing the hydrophilic antimicrobial agent and the hydrophilic organic solvent is less likely to inhibit the hydrophobicity of the leak-proof wall, and the adhesive strength of the leak-proof wall adhesive portion that fixes the leak-proof wall elastic member to the hydrophobic sheet member is less likely to decrease, allowing the leak-proof wall elastic member to exhibit greater elasticity, and making it easier for the pair of leak-proof walls to stand upright when the absorbent article is worn. As a result, the absorbent article has excellent antimicrobial properties and excellent leak-proof properties.

[0013] [Aspect 3] The absorbent article according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the above-mentioned leak-proof wall adhesive portion is positioned on both outer sides of the antimicrobial composition placement area in a plan view from the width direction.

[0014] In the absorbent article described above, in a plan view from the width direction, the leak-proof wall adhesive portion is located on both outer sides of the antibacterial composition placement area; that is, the leak-proof wall elastic member is bonded to the hydrophobic sheet by the leak-proof wall adhesive portion on both outer sides of the antibacterial composition placement area. Therefore, the leak-proof wall elastic member can exhibit elasticity, making it easier for the pair of leak-proof walls to stand up when the absorbent article is worn. As a result, bodily fluids are less likely to leak, and the antibacterial effect is more easily exerted on the bodily fluids held between the pair of leak-proof walls. Thus, the absorbent article has excellent antibacterial properties as well as excellent leak-proof properties.

[0015] [Aspect 4] The absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein in each of the pair of leak-proof walls described above, the hydrophobic sheet member is positioned on the non-skin side of the leak-proof wall elastic member in the deployed state.

[0016] In the absorbent article described above, in the unfolded state, the hydrophobic sheet member is located on the non-skin side of the leak-proof elastic member. Therefore, the hydrophobic sheet member located on the non-skin side of the leak-proof elastic member can prevent the antibacterial composition in the antibacterial composition placement area from reaching the leak-proof adhesive portion that adheres the leak-proof elastic member to the hydrophobic sheet member, thus preventing a decrease in the adhesive strength of the leak-proof adhesive portion. As a result, the absorbent article is more likely to maintain its leak-proof properties over time, more likely to retain bodily fluids inside the pair of leak-proof walls, and more likely to impart antibacterial properties to bodily fluids. Thus, the absorbent article exhibits excellent antibacterial properties as well as excellent leak-proof properties.

[0017] [Aspect 5] The absorbent article described above is a pant-type absorbent article having a waistband portion, as described in any one of embodiments 1 to 4.

[0018] The absorbent material described above is a specified pair of pants-type absorbent material. Therefore, when wearing the absorbent material, it is easier to guide the wearer's excretory opening to the appropriate position on the absorbent material. As a result, the absorbent material has excellent antibacterial properties and excellent leak-proof properties.

[0019] [Aspect 6] The above-mentioned waist portion comprises a sheet member, a waist elastic member that is expandable and contractible around the waist, and a waist adhesive portion that adheres the waist elastic member to the sheet member with a hot melt adhesive, and in the pant-type state, the antibacterial composition is not in contact with the waist portion, as described in Embodiment 5.

[0020] In the absorbent article described above, the antibacterial composition is not in contact with the waistband portion. Therefore, the antibacterial composition is less likely to reduce the adhesive strength of the waistband adhesive portion, and less likely to cause the waistband elastic member to come loose. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the wearability of the pant-type absorbent article, and it becomes easier to keep the wearer's excretory opening in the appropriate position on the absorbent article. Consequently, the absorbent article has excellent antibacterial properties, excellent leak-proof properties, and excellent wearability.

[0021] [Aspect 7] The absorbent article according to embodiment 5 or 6, further comprising an elastic member around the rear legs, wherein, in a pant-type state, the antibacterial composition is not in contact with the elastic member around the rear legs.

[0022] In the absorbent article described above, the antibacterial composition does not come into contact with the elastic member around the rear legs when the garment is in a pant-like state. Therefore, the antibacterial composition makes it less likely for the elastic member around the rear legs to come loose. As a result, the absorbent article has excellent fit around the rear legs and excellent leak prevention.

[0023] [Aspect 8] The absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 5 to 7, wherein the antimicrobial composition area is further located outside the longitudinal direction of the absorbent, in an area where the absorbent is not present, and the absorbent article has irregularities in the area where the absorbent is not present.

[0024] In the absorbent article described above, the antibacterial composition area is further located in the area where the absorbent material is absent. Because the absorbent material is absent in this area, it tends to have irregularities as the waist expands and contracts in the width direction. Therefore, the absorbent article can accurately apply the antibacterial composition to the wearer's skin in the area where the absorbent material is absent.

[0025] [Aspect 9] The absorbent article described above is an absorbent article folded in the width direction, wherein the pant-type absorbent article described above is folded in three in the width direction, as described in any one of embodiments 5 to 8. Since the absorbent article described above is an absorbent article folded in a predetermined width direction, it has the same effect as in Embodiment 1.

[0026] [Aspect 10] The absorbent article further comprises a buttock cover portion having an elastic member for the buttock cover portion, and in the absorbent article folded in the width direction, the antibacterial composition is not in contact with the buttock cover portion, as described in Embodiment 9.

[0027] In the absorbent article folded in the width direction described above, the antibacterial composition does not come into contact with the buttock cover portion. Therefore, the elastic material of the buttock cover portion is less likely to come loose. As a result, the absorbent article has excellent fit and leak-proof properties in the buttock cover portion.

[0028] [Aspect 11] The absorbent article described above is an absorbent article folded in both the width direction and the longitudinal direction, wherein the absorbent article folded in the width direction is further folded in half in the longitudinal direction, and the antibacterial composition is arranged on the portion of the absorbent article folded in both the width direction and the longitudinal direction that protrudes toward the skin.

[0029] In the absorbent article folded in the width and length directions described above, the antibacterial composition is placed on the portion that protrudes towards the skin. The portion that protrudes towards the skin is the part that is most likely to come into contact with the wearer's skin. Therefore, the absorbent properties can be exerted in the portion that protrudes towards the skin, and the antibacterial effect of the antibacterial composition can also be exerted in that portion.

[0030] [Aspect 12] The absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 11, further comprising a liquid-impermeable back sheet, wherein a graphic indicating antibacterial properties is arranged on the non-skin side of the back sheet. The absorbent article described above is equipped with a predetermined graphic. Therefore, the antibacterial performance of the antibacterial composition can be visually communicated to the user or wearer of the absorbent article.

[0031] [Aspect 13] The absorbent article is disposed on the non-skin side of the absorbent body so as to extend in the longitudinal direction, and further comprises a main elastic member bonded by a main elastic member bonding portion using hot melt adhesive. In the above-described unfolded state, the main elastic member overlaps with the antibacterial composition placement area in a plan view in the thickness direction, but does not overlap with the antibacterial composition placement area in a plan view in the longitudinal direction. An absorbent article as described in any one of the descriptions 1 to 12.

[0032] The absorbent article described above is equipped with a predetermined elastic body member. Therefore, in the absorbent article described above, the absorbent material is more likely to come into contact with the wearer's skin, and the antibacterial composition is more likely to impart an antibacterial effect to bodily fluids. Furthermore, in the absorbent article described above, the antibacterial composition is less likely to reduce the adhesive strength of the main body adhesive part, the elastic body member is less likely to come off, and the antibacterial composition is more likely to continue to impart an antibacterial effect to bodily fluids.

[0033] [Aspect 14] The absorbent article according to any one of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein each of the pair of leak-proof walls does not contain the antimicrobial composition, and the hydrophobic sheet members constituting each of the pair of leak-proof walls are colored.

[0034] In the absorbent article described above, each of the pair of leak-proof walls does not contain an antibacterial composition, and the hydrophobic sheet members constituting the pair of leak-proof walls are colored. Therefore, the user or wearer can easily identify the location of the antibacterial composition in the absorbent article, and it is also easier to position the absorbent article correctly.

[0035] The absorbent articles related to this disclosure will be described in detail below. [First Embodiment] Figures 1 to 9 illustrate an absorbent article, specifically a panty-type sanitary napkin 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as the "first embodiment"). Figure 1 is a perspective view of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1. Figures 2 and 3 show the skin-side and non-skin-side of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 in its unfolded state, respectively. Figures 4 and 5 show the skin-side and non-skin-side of the absorbent body 3 in its unfolded state, respectively. Figure 6 is an end view of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 at the VI-VI end face of Figure 2. Note that in Figure 6, the compression portion 37 is omitted, and not all joints are shown. Figures 7 to 9 illustrate how to fold the panty-type sanitary napkin 1.

[0036] The panty-type sanitary napkin 1 has a waist opening 101 and a pair of leg openings 103 (one leg opening 103a and the other leg opening 103b), and a pair of locking parts 105 (one locking part 105a and the other locking part 105b) extending from the waist opening 101 toward the pair of leg openings 103. The pair of locking parts 105 lock the front waist portion 7 and the rear waist portion 9, which will be described later.

[0037] The panty-type sanitary napkin 1 comprises an absorbent body 3 with an absorbent core 27 for absorbing menstrual blood, and an outer casing 5 having the shape of panties. The absorbent core 27 has a rectangular shape with a longitudinal direction L and a width direction W. The absorbent body 3 is fixed to the outer casing 5 by an inter-body adhesive part 131 made of hot melt adhesive.

[0038] The panty-type sanitary napkin 1, in its unfolded state, has a longitudinal direction L and a width direction W derived from the absorbent material 27, and a thickness direction T perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and width direction W. Note that the longitudinal direction L and width direction W refer to the long and short directions of the absorbent material 27, respectively, and not to the long and short directions of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 in its unfolded state.

[0039] When unfolded, the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 is divided into a front waistband portion 7 located near the front end 17, a rear waistband portion 9 located near the rear end 19, and a crotch portion 11 located between the front waistband portion 7 and the rear waistband portion 9. The front end 17 and the rear end 19 refer to the edges on the front waistband portion 7 side and the rear waistband portion 9 side, respectively, that define the waistband opening 101. The front waistband portion 7 and the rear waistband portion 9 are locked together by a pair of locking portions 105, forming a waistband portion 13.

[0040] The outer casing 5 comprises a first outer sheet 111 extending from the front torso portion 7 to the rear torso portion 9 and positioned on the non-skin side, a second ventral outer sheet 113a extending from the front torso portion 7 to the crotch portion 11 and positioned on the skin side, and a second dorsal outer sheet 113b extending from the rear torso portion 9 to the crotch portion 11 and positioned on the skin side. The first outer sheet 111, the second ventral outer sheet 113a, and the second dorsal outer sheet 113b are each made of a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric.

[0041] In the deployed state, the front body section 7 has a plurality of front body elastic members 115 positioned between the first outer sheet 111 and the ventral second outer sheet 113a. These members extend from one locking portion 105a to the other locking portion 105b and are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction L. The plurality of front body elastic members 115 are joined to the first outer sheet 111 and the ventral second outer sheet 113a by a front body adhesive portion (not shown) made of hot melt adhesive, while extended relative to the first outer sheet 111 and the ventral second outer sheet 113a.

[0042] In the deployed state, the rear torso section 9 has a plurality of rear torso elastic members 117 that extend from one locking portion 105a to the other locking portion 105b and are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction L, between the first outer sheet 111 and the back side second outer sheet 113b. The plurality of rear torso elastic members 117 are joined to the first outer sheet 111 and the back side second outer sheet 113b by a rear torso adhesive portion (not shown) made of hot melt adhesive, while extended relative to the first outer sheet 111 and the back side second outer sheet 113b.

[0043] In the deployed state, in the crotch area 11, a plurality of buttock cover elastic members 119 are arranged between the first outer sheet 111 and the second outer sheet 113b on the back, extending from one leg opening 103a to the other leg opening 103b and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction L. The first outer sheet 111, the second outer sheet 113b on the back, and the plurality of buttock cover elastic members 119 form a buttock cover portion 15 that covers the wearer's buttocks.

[0044] Furthermore, in the deployed state, the rear waist portion 9 and crotch portion 11 are provided with three rear leg elastic members 121 that are curved and positioned between the first outer sheet 111 and the back side second outer sheet 113b, overlapping with the absorbent body 3, passing through one leg opening 103a and the other leg opening 103b, to the other locking portion 105b, and projecting toward the longitudinal centerline LC that extends parallel to the width direction W at the center of the longitudinal direction L of the shorts-type sanitary napkin 1.

[0045] The buttock cover elastic member 119 and the three rear leg elastic members 121 are joined to the first outer sheet 111 and the ventral second outer sheet 113a by an internal adhesive portion 133 made of hot melt adhesive, while stretched relative to the first outer sheet 111 and the dorsal second outer sheet 113b.

[0046] The absorbent body 3, in its unfolded state and in the thickness direction T, comprises, in order, a top sheet 21 having a skin-contact surface 23a and a non-skin-contact surface 23b, a second sheet 25, an absorbent body 27, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 29, a main body elastic member 31, and a hydrophobic sheet member 33. The absorbent body 27 comprises an absorbent core 27a and a core wrap sheet 27b covering the absorbent core 27a. The absorbent core 27a is hourglass-shaped.

[0047] The absorbent body 3 has a compression section 37 that compresses the top sheet 21, the second sheet 25, and the absorbent material 27 (absorbent core 27a and core wrap sheet 27b), and the compression section 37 has a design that resembles a rabbit.

[0048] The core wrap sheet 27b, positioned between the absorbent core 27a and the backsheet 29, is bonded to the absorbent core 27a by an absorbent adhesive portion (not shown) made of hot melt adhesive. Furthermore, the core wrap sheet 27b, positioned between the absorbent core 27a and the backsheet 29, is joined to the backsheet 29 by a core wrap adhesive portion 135 made of hot melt adhesive.

[0049] The top sheet 21 is positioned to cover the second sheet 25 and the absorbent body 27 (absorbent core 27a and core wrap sheet 27b), and is bonded to the back sheet 29 with hot melt adhesive. The back sheet 29 is made of a permeable open film. The back sheet 29 stands upright together with the leak-proof wall 43 (described later) and protects the sides of the absorbent body 27. The hydrophobic sheet member 33 is made of a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric.

[0050] The main elastic member 31 is composed of five thread-like elastic members. The five thread-like elastic members are arranged at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction L and spaced apart in the width direction W. The main elastic member 31 is joined to the back sheet 29 and the hydrophobic sheet member 33 by a main elastic member adhesive portion 137 made of hot melt adhesive, with the five thread-like elastic members stretched relative to the back sheet 29 and the hydrophobic sheet member 33. The main elastic member 31 is a component that facilitates contact between the absorbent main body 3 and, consequently, the absorbent core 27a, and the wearer's excretory opening.

[0051] In Figure 6, the main elastic member 31 is shown to be positioned on the back sheet 29 side, and the main elastic member adhesive portion 137 is shown to be positioned on the hydrophobic sheet member 33 side. However, in reality, the main elastic member adhesive portion 137 adheres the main elastic member 31 from both the back sheet 29 side and the hydrophobic sheet member 33 side.

[0052] At each end of the hydrophobic sheet member 33 in the width direction W, it is folded twice by two fold lines extending parallel to the longitudinal direction L, once inward and once towards the non-skin side, forming a leak-proof wall 43. A pair of leak-proof walls 43 are formed at both ends of the hydrophobic sheet member 33 in the width direction W. Each pair of leak-proof walls 43, when unfolded, is provided with two leak-proof elastic members 45 that extend in the longitudinal direction L and are spaced apart in the width direction W. The two leak-proof elastic members 45 are bonded to the leak-proof wall 43 (hydrophobic sheet member 33) by a leak-proof adhesive bonding portion 35 made of hot melt adhesive, while being stretched relative to the leak-proof wall 43 (hydrophobic sheet member 33). When unfolded, the shorts-type napkin 1 is provided with a leak-proof overlapping region 47 that overlaps the pair of leak-proof walls 43 in the thickness direction T. The pair of leak-proof walls 43 are made of a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric that forms the hydrophobic sheet member 33. They are hydrophobic and stand up from the absorbent body 3 when the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 is worn, suppressing menstrual blood leakage.

[0053] The absorbent body 3 comprises an antimicrobial composition 39 containing a hydrophilic antimicrobial agent and propylene glycol, a hydrophilic and non-volatile organic solvent, which is arranged on the non-skin contact surface 23b of the top sheet 21 in the thickness direction T. The panty-type napkin 1 also comprises an antimicrobial composition area 41 that overlaps with the antimicrobial composition 39 in the thickness direction T when unfolded. Because the absorbent body 3 comprises the antimicrobial composition 39, the hydrophilic antimicrobial agent can be quickly transferred to the bodily fluid absorbed by the panty-type napkin 1, and even after the hydrophilic antimicrobial agent has been transferred to the bodily fluid, it is less likely to crystallize, and the hydrophilic antimicrobial agent can easily exert its antimicrobial effect on the bodily fluid.

[0054] In the unfolded state, the absorber 27 is divided into three equal parts along its longitudinal direction L, with the central region designated as the longitudinal central region 51, and the regions on both sides of the longitudinal central region 51 along the longitudinal direction L designated as the longitudinal side regions 53. Furthermore, in the unfolded state, the region overlapping with the absorber 27 in the width direction W is designated as the width direction central region 55, and the region not overlapping with the absorber 27 in the width direction W is designated as the width direction side regions 57.

[0055] The antibacterial composition area 41 (antibacterial composition 39) is located in the longitudinal direction L from the front end 61, which is the front end of the absorbent body 3 in the longitudinal direction L, to the rear end 63, which is the rear end of the absorbent body 3 in the longitudinal direction L. Therefore, the antibacterial composition area 41 (antibacterial composition 39) is located in the longitudinal central area 51 and the longitudinal side areas 53 on both sides thereof. In addition, the antibacterial composition area 41 (antibacterial composition 39) is located in the widthwise central area 55 in the widthwise direction W, but the antibacterial composition area 41 (antibacterial composition 39) is not located in the widthwise side areas 57.

[0056] In the unfolded state, the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition 39 in the longitudinal central region 51 and the width central region 55 is higher than the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition 39 in the longitudinal central region 51 and the leak-proof wall overlapping region 47. As a result, in the longitudinal central region 51 and the width central region 55, the antibacterial composition 39 with a relatively higher average basis weight can exert its antibacterial effect on bodily fluids. Furthermore, in the longitudinal central region 51 and the leak-proof wall overlapping region 47, the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition 39 is relatively low, so the antibacterial composition 39 is less likely to inhibit the hydrophobicity of the leak-proof wall 43, and the adhesive strength of the leak-proof wall adhesive portion 35 that fixes the leak-proof wall elastic member 45 to the hydrophobic sheet member 33 is less likely to decrease, allowing the leak-proof wall elastic member 45 to exhibit elasticity, and making it easier for the pair of leak-proof walls 43 to stand upright when the shorts-type sanitary napkin 1 is worn.

[0057] Furthermore, in the unfolded state, the antibacterial composition area 41 is not located in the longitudinal central region 51 and the leak-proof wall overlapping region 47. As a result, in the longitudinal central region 51 and the leak-proof wall overlapping region 47, the antibacterial composition 39 is less likely to inhibit the hydrophobicity of the leak-proof wall 43, and the adhesive strength of the leak-proof wall adhesive portion 35 that fixes the leak-proof wall elastic member 45 to the hydrophobic sheet member 33 is less likely to decrease, allowing the leak-proof wall elastic member 45 to exhibit more elasticity, and making it easier for the pair of leak-proof walls 43 to stand upright when an absorbent article is worn.

[0058] In the unfolded state, the region located outside the longitudinal direction L of the absorbent material 27 is referred to as the absorbent material-free region 65. In the unfolded state, the antibacterial composition placement region 41 (antibacterial composition 39) is located from the front end 61 to the rear end 63 of the absorbent body 3. Therefore, the absorbent material-free region 65 includes the antibacterial composition placement region 41 in which the antibacterial composition 39 is placed. The absorbent material-free region 65 is where the absorbent material 27 is absent, and in the case of the shorts-type sanitary napkin 1, it is located in the front waistband portion 7 and the rear waistband portion 9. As a result, it has an uneven surface due to the contraction of multiple front waistband elastic members 115 and rear waistband elastic members 117. This allows the antibacterial composition to be accurately applied to the wearer's skin. Furthermore, since the antibacterial composition area 41 (antibacterial composition 39) is located in the absorbent-free area 65, the antibacterial composition 39 is more likely to exert its antibacterial effect on bodily fluids other than those excreted from the excretory opening, such as sweat.

[0059] In the panty-type sanitary napkin 1, the leak-proof wall adhesive portion 35, which adheres the leak-proof wall elastic member 45 to the hydrophobic sheet member 33, is positioned so as to be located on both outer sides of the antibacterial composition placement area 41 in a plan view from the width direction W. This allows the leak-proof wall elastic member 45 to exhibit elasticity, making it easier for the pair of leak-proof walls 43 to stand upright when the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 is worn.

[0060] As shown in Figure 6, in each of the pair of leak-proof walls 43, the hydrophobic sheet member 33 is positioned in the unfolded state on the non-skin side of the leak-proof elastic member 45, specifically, between the leak-proof elastic member 45 and the top sheet 21. This prevents the hydrophobic sheet member 33, which is located on the non-skin side of the leak-proof elastic member 45, from reaching the leak-proof adhesive portion 35 that adheres the leak-proof elastic member 45 to the hydrophobic sheet member 33, thus reducing the adhesive strength of the leak-proof adhesive portion 35.

[0061] In the unfolded state, the main elastic member 31 overlaps with the antibacterial composition placement area 41 in a plan view in the thickness direction T, but does not overlap in a plan view in the longitudinal direction L. As a result, in the panty-type napkin 1, the absorbent material 27 is more likely to come into contact with the wearer's skin, and the antibacterial composition 39 is more likely to impart an antibacterial effect to bodily fluids. In addition, in the panty-type napkin 1, the antibacterial composition 39 makes it less likely for the adhesive strength of the main elastic member adhesive portion 137 to decrease, the main elastic member 31 is less likely to come off, and the antibacterial composition 39 is more likely to continue to impart an antibacterial effect to bodily fluids.

[0062] Each of the pair of leak-proof walls 43 does not contain the antibacterial composition 39, and the hydrophobic sheet members 33 constituting each of the pair of leak-proof walls 43 are colored pink. This makes it easier for the user or wearer to identify the location of the antibacterial composition 39 on the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 and to position the panty-type sanitary napkin 1.

[0063] The panty-type sanitary napkin 1 is a panty-type absorbent article having a waistband portion 13 composed of a front waistband portion 7 and a rear waistband portion 9. The front waistband portion 7 comprises a first outer sheet 111 and a second ventral outer sheet 113a, which are sheet members, a plurality of stretchable front waistband elastic members 115, and a front waistband adhesive portion (not shown) made of hot melt adhesive. The rear waistband portion 9 comprises a first outer sheet 111 and a second dorsal outer sheet 113b, which are sheet members, a plurality of stretchable rear waistband elastic members 117, and a rear waistband adhesive portion (not shown) made of hot melt adhesive. In the panty-type state of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1, the antibacterial composition 39 is not in contact with the waistband portion 13. This allows the antibacterial composition 39 to be accurately applied to the wearer's skin.

[0064] The crotch area 11 comprises a first outer sheet 111 and a second outer sheet 113b on the back side, which are sheet members, a rear leg elastic member 121, and a rear leg elastic member bonding portion (not shown) made of hot melt adhesive. In the panty-type sanitary napkin 1, the antibacterial composition 39 is not in contact with the rear leg elastic member 121 or the adhesive portion of the rear leg elastic member. As a result, the antibacterial composition 39 makes it less likely for the rear leg elastic member 121 to come loose.

[0065] The panty-type sanitary napkin 1 can be stored and distributed as a panty-type sanitary napkin 1A folded in the width direction as shown in Figure 8, or as a panty-type sanitary napkin 1B folded in both the width and length directions as shown in Figure 9. The method for forming the panty-type sanitary napkin 1A, which is folded in the width direction, and the panty-type sanitary napkin 1B, which is folded in both the width and length directions, is as follows.

[0066] As shown in Figure 7, the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 in its natural state has two longitudinal first fold lines F that extend parallel to the longitudinal direction L along the width direction W edge of the absorbent material 27. L1 and the second fold line F in the longitudinal direction L2 Next, with the back panel 59 of the panty-type napkin 1 facing inward, it is folded into thirds in the width direction W to form the panty-type napkin 1A folded in the width direction as shown in Figure 8. Then, as shown in Figure 8, the panty-type napkin 1A folded in the width direction is folded along the width direction fold line F which extends parallel to the width direction W. W By folding it in the longitudinal direction L, a pair of shorts-type sanitary napkins 1B are formed, folded in both the width and longitudinal directions, as shown in Figure 9.

[0067] The panty-type sanitary napkin 1A, folded in the width direction, has excellent antibacterial properties and excellent leak-proof properties. Furthermore, in the panty-type sanitary napkin 1A, folded in the width direction, the antibacterial composition 39 does not come into contact with the buttock cover portion 15. As a result, the elastic member 119 of the buttock cover portion is less likely to come off.

[0068] In the panty-type sanitary napkin 1B, which is folded in the width and length directions, the antibacterial composition is placed on the portion that protrudes towards the skin. This allows the portion that protrudes towards the skin to exhibit absorbency and the antibacterial effect of the antibacterial composition 39 to be exerted. Furthermore, even in the shorts-type sanitary napkin 1B that is folded in the width and length directions, the antibacterial composition 39 does not come into contact with the buttock cover portion 15. This makes it less likely for the elastic member 119 of the buttock cover portion to come off.

[0069] [Second Embodiment] Figures 10 to 12 illustrate an absorbent article, specifically a nighttime sanitary napkin 71, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as the "second embodiment"). Specifically, Figures 10 and 11 show the skin-side and non-skin-side of the sanitary napkin 71 in its unfolded state, respectively. Figure 12 is an end view of the XII-XII end face of Figure 10.

[0070] A sanitary napkin 71 according to the second embodiment includes a pair of side flaps 73 and a pair of hip flaps 75 for securing the sanitary napkin 71 to clothing.

[0071] The sanitary napkin 71, in its unfolded state and in the thickness direction T, comprises, in order, a liquid-permeable top sheet 21, an absorbent core 27 positioned adjacent to the non-skin side of the top sheet 21, and a liquid-impermeable back sheet 29 positioned adjacent to the non-skin side of the absorbent core 27. The top sheet 21 has a skin-contact surface 23a that comes into contact with the wearer's skin, and a non-skin-contact surface 23b opposite to the skin-contact surface 23a. In its unfolded state, the absorber 27 has a longitudinal direction L, a width direction W, and a thickness direction T that are all orthogonal to each other.

[0072] The absorbent body 27 comprises an absorbent core 27a and a core wrap sheet 27b that covers the absorbent core 27a. The sanitary napkin 71 has a pair of hydrophobic sheet members 33 on both outer sides in the width direction W of the top sheet 21. Each of the pair of hydrophobic sheet members 33 is hydrophobic.

[0073] Each of the pair of leak-proof walls 43 is formed by (i) folding a hydrophobic sheet member 33 once towards the non-skin side at a first fold line (not shown) that extends parallel to the longitudinal direction L, with three leak-proof elastic members 45 sandwiched in between, and then (ii) folding the three leak-proof elastic members 45 and a portion of the hydrophobic sheet member 33 towards the skin side at a second fold line (not shown) that is located outside the width direction W of the first fold line and extends parallel to the longitudinal direction L. In the unfolded state, the three leak-proof elastic members 45 in each of the pair of leak-proof walls 43 extend in the longitudinal direction L and are spaced apart in the width direction W. The three leak-proof elastic members 45 are bonded to the leak-proof wall 43 (hydrophobic sheet member 33) by a leak-proof adhesive bonding portion 35 made of hot melt adhesive while being stretched relative to the leak-proof wall 43 (hydrophobic sheet member 33). In its unfolded state, the sanitary napkin 71 comprises a pair of leak-proof walls 43 and overlapping leak-proof wall regions 47 that overlap in the thickness direction T. The pair of leak-proof walls 43 are made of a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric that forms the hydrophobic sheet member 33, and are hydrophobic, stand upright when worn, and suppress menstrual blood leakage.

[0074] The sanitary napkin 71 comprises an antimicrobial composition 39 containing a hydrophilic antimicrobial agent and propylene glycol, a hydrophilic and non-volatile organic solvent, which is placed on the non-skin contact surface 23b of the top sheet 21. The panty-type napkin 1 also comprises an antimicrobial composition area 41 that overlaps with the antimicrobial composition 39 in the thickness direction T when unfolded. Because the sanitary napkin 71 contains the antimicrobial composition 39, the hydrophilic antimicrobial agent is less likely to crystallize, allowing the hydrophilic antimicrobial agent to be quickly transferred to the bodily fluids absorbed by the sanitary napkin 71. Furthermore, even after the hydrophilic antimicrobial agent has moved to the bodily fluids, it is less likely to crystallize, making it easier for it to exert its antimicrobial effect on the bodily fluids.

[0075] The antibacterial composition 39 and antibacterial composition area 41 of the sanitary napkin 71 according to the second embodiment are similar to the antibacterial composition 39 and antibacterial composition area 41 of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment in that they are arranged over the entire length L of the sanitary napkin 71, but their effects are different. Because the antibacterial composition 39 and antibacterial composition area 41 are arranged over the entire length L, the antibacterial composition 39 is more likely to exert its antibacterial effect on bodily fluids other than bodily fluids excreted from the excretory opening, such as sweat, in areas that are prone to sweating and close contact, such as the lower abdomen and buttocks, which are easily touched when moving.

[0076] Regarding points other than those mentioned above, the antibacterial composition 39 and antibacterial composition placement area 41 of the sanitary napkin 71 according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the panty-type sanitary napkin 1 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, the effects and advantages described in the first embodiment will not be explained in the second embodiment.

[0077] The sanitary napkin 71 according to the second embodiment further comprises the following configuration. The top sheet 21 and the pair of hydrophobic sheet members 33 are bonded together by a side adhesive portion 77 using hot melt adhesive. The sanitary napkin 71 has a compression portion 37 that compresses the top sheet 21 and the absorbent body 27 (absorbent core 27a and core wrap sheet 27b). The sanitary napkin 71 has a round seal portion 79 at its outer edge that seals the top sheet 21 or hydrophobic sheet member 33 and the back sheet 29.

[0078] The top sheet 21 or hydrophobic sheet member 33 is bonded to the absorbent body 27, specifically the core wrap sheet 27b, by an absorbent body bonding portion 81 made of hot melt adhesive. In the absorbent body 27, the absorbent core 27a and the core wrap sheet 27b are bonded together by an absorbent body internal bonding portion 83 made of hot melt adhesive. The core wrap sheet 27b is also bonded to the back sheet 29 by a core wrap bonding portion 135 made of hot melt adhesive. The back sheet 29 has an adhesive portion 85 for fixing the sanitary napkin 71 to clothing and a release sheet 87.

[0079] The absorbent articles relating to this disclosure are not particularly limited as long as they are equipped with an absorbent material, and include, for example, sanitary napkins, panty liners, shorts-type napkins, tampons, disposable diapers (e.g., adult disposable diapers, baby disposable diapers), urine pads, incontinence pads, absorbent shorts, breast pads, etc.

[0080] The absorbent article described above generally comprises a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent material between the top sheet and the back sheet. The absorbent article may further optionally include a liquid diffusion sheet (hereinafter referred to as a "second sheet") placed between the top sheet and the absorbent material, a liquid diffusion sheet (sometimes referred to as a "third sheet") placed between the absorbent material and the back sheet, and a sheet placed on the non-skin side of the back sheet (for example, a nonwoven fabric sheet, for example, a hydrophobic sheet member).

[0081] The absorbent article described above may be a pant-type absorbent article with a waistband. This makes it easier to guide the wearer's urinary opening to the appropriate position on the absorbent article when wearing it. Examples of pant-type absorbent articles with a waistband include shorts-type sanitary napkins and disposable diapers (e.g., adult disposable diapers, baby disposable diapers). Generally, in its unfolded state and longitudinally, absorbent garments are divided into a front waistband, a rear waistband, and a crotch area located between the front and rear waistbands, with the front and rear waistbands being locked together by a pair of locking parts to form the waistband.

[0082] The absorbent material described above can be any absorbent material used in the art without limitation. The absorbent material may be formed from, for example, only an absorbent core, and may include a core wrap sheet that covers the absorbent core from the skin side and / or the non-skin side. Examples of materials constituting the absorbent core include pulp fibers and superabsorbent polymers.

[0083] The absorbent material of the absorbent article relating to this disclosure has longitudinal, widthwise, and thicknesswise directions that are perpendicular to each other. The plane perpendicular to the thicknesswise direction may be referred to as the planar direction, and this planar direction includes the longitudinal and widthwise directions. The longitudinal and widthwise directions used in reference to the absorbent article refer to the longitudinal and widthwise directions of the absorbent material, and not to the long and short directions of the absorbent article. Furthermore, in this specification, when the terms longitudinal, widthwise, and / or thicknesswise are used simply, they refer to the longitudinal, widthwise, and / or thicknesswise directions as defined above in reference to the absorbent article.

[0084] The absorbent article described above is equipped with a pair of leak-proof walls. The pair of leak-proof walls are members that stand up when the absorbent article is worn and suppress the leakage of bodily fluids. In each of the pair of leak-proof walls, a leak-proof wall elastic member is bonded to the hydrophobic sheet member by a leak-proof wall adhesive portion made of hot melt adhesive. The leak-proof wall elastic member is bonded to the hydrophobic sheet member by the leak-proof wall adhesive portion in a state where it is stretched in the longitudinal direction. The leak-proof wall elastic member may be one or more, and if the leak-proof wall elastic member is a plurality of leak-proof wall elastic members, the plurality of leak-proof wall elastic members may be spaced apart in the width direction. Examples of the above-mentioned leak-proof elastic wall member include filamentous elastic members (e.g., rubber threads) and stretchable nonwoven fabrics. Examples of the above-mentioned hydrophobic sheet member include nonwoven fabrics, such as hydrophobic treated nonwoven fabrics.

[0085] In its deployed state, the absorbent article includes a leak-proof wall overlapping region that overlaps with the pair of leak-proof walls in the thickness direction. In this specification, "unfolded state" means the state in which the absorbent article is spread out on a flat surface by stretching the material constituting the absorbent article (e.g., nonwoven fabric) to the extent that it does not tear. In the case of the absorbent article being of the pant type (e.g., panty-type sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, etc.), it means the state in which the pant-type absorbent article is spread out on a flat surface by releasing the locking of the fastening part of the pant-type absorbent article to separate the ventral and dorsal parts, and stretching the material constituting the pant-type absorbent article (e.g., nonwoven fabric) to the extent that it does not tear. Furthermore, in this specification, the deployed state of an absorbent article may be simply referred to as the "deployed state."

[0086] The absorbent article described above comprises an antimicrobial composition containing a hydrophilic antimicrobial agent and a hydrophilic and non-volatile organic solvent. The above-mentioned hydrophilic antibacterial agent refers to an antibacterial agent that can dissolve in 100g of deionized water at 25°C in an amount of 40g or more in 5 hours. Examples of the above-mentioned hydrophilic antibacterial agent include cationic antibacterial agents. Examples of the above-mentioned cationic antibacterial agents include guanidine-based antibacterial agents, biguanide-based antibacterial agents, and quaternary ammonium salts. An example of the above-mentioned guanidine-based antibacterial agent is polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG). An example of the above-mentioned biguanide-based antibacterial agent is polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), also known as polyaminopropyl biguanide. Examples of the above-mentioned quaternary ammonium salts include benzalkonium chloride and benzethonium chloride.

[0087] The above-mentioned organic solvent is hydrophilic and non-volatile. Hydrophilicity means that it is miscible with water in any ratio. Non-volatility means that it has a vapor pressure of 50 Pa or less at 25°C.

[0088] Examples of the above organic solvents include polyhydric alcohols (for example, polyhydric alcohols that are liquid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure), monohydric alcohols, etc. Room temperature means 25°C, and atmospheric pressure means 1,013 hPa. Examples of polyhydric alcohols that are liquid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure include glycols and glycerin. Examples of glycols include propylene glycol (PG), dipropylene glycol (DPG), 1,3-butylene glycol (BG), polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400), etc. Examples of monohydric alcohols include 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol, etc.

[0089] The absorbent article relating to this disclosure comprises an antimicrobial composition containing a hydrophilic antimicrobial agent and a hydrophilic and non-volatile organic solvent. As a result, the absorbent article allows the hydrophilic antimicrobial agent to be rapidly transferred to the body fluid absorbed by the absorbent article, and even after the hydrophilic antimicrobial agent has moved to the body fluid, it is less likely to crystallize and is more likely to exert its antimicrobial effect on the body fluid. The absorbent article described above includes an antibacterial composition area, which is an area that overlaps with the antibacterial composition in the thickness direction when unfolded.

[0090] The average basis weight of the hydrophilic antibacterial agent described above can be appropriately set according to the antibacterial performance required for the absorbent material. The average basis weight of the antibacterial agent can be set in accordance with JIS L 1902:2015 "Test methods and antibacterial effects of textile products" to obtain the required antibacterial performance. The required antibacterial performance is defined as showing antibacterial activity with a statistically significant difference of log 2 or higher when the test bacteria used for antibacterial testing are Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

[0091] The average basis weight of the above-mentioned hydrophilic antibacterial agent is preferably 0.01 g / m².2 Above, and more preferably 0.02 g / m 2 or more. Further, the average basis weight of the hydrophilic antibacterial agent is preferably 1.0 g / m 2 or less, and more preferably 0.8 g / m 2 or less. Further, the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition is preferably 0.1 g / m 2 or more, and more preferably 0.3 g / m 2 or more. Further, the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition is preferably 50.0 g / m 2 or less, and more preferably 40 g / m 2 or less.

[0092] By setting the average basis weight of the hydrophilic antibacterial agent within the above range, when evaluating the antibacterial property using test bacteria as Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae in JIS L 1902:2015 "Test Methods for Antibacterial Property and Antibacterial Effect of Textiles", antibacterial property can be shown with a significant difference of logarithm 2 or more. Also, due to the above average basis weight, even when the absorbent article repeatedly absorbs body fluids, the hydrophilic antibacterial agent can maintain its effect.

[0093] In the present disclosure, the average basis weight of the hydrophilic antibacterial agent is measured as follows. (1) Cut out a predetermined portion (such as the central region in the longitudinal direction and the central region in the width direction, the central region in the longitudinal direction and the overlapping region of the leak-proof wall, etc.) from the absorbent article to obtain a sample, and measure the area of the sample. (2) Dissolve the sample in a predetermined reagent (for example, ethanol), analyze the sample by a predetermined analysis method, and identify and quantify the hydrophilic antibacterial agent and the organic solvent constituting the antibacterial composition. The organic solvent is analyzed using GC / MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), and the hydrophilic antibacterial agent is analyzed using LC / MS (high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry). (3) Calculate the average basis weight of the hydrophilic antibacterial agent by dividing the mass of the hydrophilic antibacterial agent obtained in (2) above by the predetermined area of the sample.

[0094] In the absorbent articles relating to this disclosure, it is preferable that the hydrophilic antibacterial agent in the antibacterial composition does not precipitate even when left standing at 0°C for 24 hours. This makes it possible to suppress the crystallization of the hydrophilic antibacterial agent during storage and use of the absorbent articles.

[0095] In this disclosure, the presence or absence of precipitation of hydrophilic antimicrobial agents is evaluated as follows. (1) Prepare a predetermined amount (e.g., 5 g) of the antimicrobial composition and place it in a petri dish. (2) Leave the petri dish containing the antibacterial composition to stand for 24 hours at a temperature of 0°C and a relative humidity of 50%RH, and visually check whether the hydrophilic antibacterial agent has precipitated and formed a precipitate.

[0096] In the absorbent articles relating to this disclosure, it is preferable that the hydrophilic antibacterial agent does not precipitate even when twice the mass of water is added at 25°C. This makes it possible to suppress the crystallization of the antibacterial agent in the antibacterial composition when the antibacterial composition comes into contact with bodily fluids.

[0097] In this disclosure, the contact test between the antimicrobial composition and water is carried out as follows. (1) Prepare a predetermined amount (e.g., 5 g) of the antimicrobial composition and place it in a petri dish. (2) At 25°C, add deionized water (for example, 10 g) twice the mass of the antibacterial solution to the antibacterial composition in the petri dish and visually observe whether or not the antibacterial agent precipitates in the antibacterial solution.

[0098] The above antibacterial composition can be placed at any position in the thickness direction of the absorbent article, for example, on the skin-contacting surface, the interior and / or non-skin-contacting surface of the top sheet, the skin-side, interior and / or non-skin-contacting surface of the second sheet if desired, the skin-side, interior and / or non-skin-contacting surface of the core wrap sheet (a core wrap sheet located on the skin side of the absorbent core) if desired, and the skin-side, interior and / or non-skin-contacting surface of the absorbent core if desired.

[0099] In this specification, the skin-contacting surface and the non-skin-contacting surface refer to the surface that comes into contact with the wearer's skin and the surface opposite to it. The skin-side and the non-skin-contacting surface refer to the surface that is on the wearer's skin side and the surface opposite to it, respectively. Furthermore, in this specification, "skin side" and "non-skin side" refer to the side of the wearer's skin and the opposite side, respectively.

[0100] In the above-described absorbent article, when unfolded and viewed from above, the absorbent material can be divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction, with the center being designated as the longitudinal central region, and the regions on both sides of the longitudinal central region being designated as longitudinal side regions. The longitudinal central region is defined as the distance in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent material from one edge to the other, divided into three equal parts by straight lines parallel to the width direction.

[0101] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned absorbent article, in the unfolded state and in a plan view, the area that overlaps with the absorbent in the width direction can be demarcated as the width-direction central region, and the area that does not overlap with the absorbent in the width direction can be demarcated as the width-direction side region. The width-direction central region is the area demarcated by a straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction that intersects with the outermost part of the absorbent in the width direction.

[0102] In the absorbent article relating to this disclosure, the antimicrobial composition area is located in at least the longitudinal central area and the width central area. Furthermore, the antimicrobial composition area may be located in the longitudinal central area and overlapping area with the leak-proof wall, the longitudinal side area and the width central area, etc. In addition, the antimicrobial composition area can be located in the longitudinal side area and the width side area, the longitudinal side area and overlapping area with the leak-proof wall, etc.

[0103] In the absorbent article relating to this disclosure, if the areas other than the antimicrobial composition placement area are designated as areas without the antimicrobial composition, these areas without the antimicrobial composition can be placed in overlapping areas of the leak-proof wall, for example, the longitudinal central area and overlapping area of ​​the leak-proof wall, the longitudinal side area and overlapping area of ​​the leak-proof wall, etc. This makes it less likely for the antimicrobial composition containing a hydrophilic antimicrobial agent and a hydrophilic organic solvent to inhibit the hydrophobicity of the leak-proof wall, and also reduces the likelihood of a decrease in the adhesive strength of the leak-proof wall adhesive portion that fixes the leak-proof wall elastic member to the hydrophobic sheet member, allowing the elastic member to exhibit its elasticity and making it easier for the pair of leak-proof walls to stand up when the absorbent article is worn. Furthermore, these areas without the antimicrobial composition can be placed in the longitudinal side area and widthwise central area, widthwise side area, etc.

[0104] In the absorbent article relating to this disclosure, in the unfolded state, the average basis weight of the antimicrobial composition in the longitudinal central region and the width central region is higher than the average basis weight of the antimicrobial composition in the longitudinal central region and the overlapping region of the leak-proof wall. In the longitudinal central region and the width central region, the antimicrobial composition with a relatively higher average basis weight can exert an antimicrobial effect on bodily fluids. Furthermore, in the longitudinal central region and the overlapping region of the leak-proof wall, the average basis weight of the antimicrobial composition is relatively low, so the antimicrobial composition containing a hydrophilic antimicrobial agent and a hydrophilic organic solvent is less likely to inhibit the hydrophobicity of the leak-proof wall, and the adhesive strength of the leak-proof wall adhesive portion that fixes the leak-proof wall elastic member to the hydrophobic sheet member is less likely to decrease, the elastic member can exert its elasticity, and the pair of leak-proof walls can stand up more easily when the absorbent article is worn.

[0105] In the above-described deployment state, the antibacterial composition area does not necessarily have to be located in the longitudinal central region and the leak-proof wall overlapping region. That is, the average basis weight of the antibacterial composition in the longitudinal central region and the leak-proof wall overlapping region may be 0. As a result, in the longitudinal central region and the leak-proof wall overlapping region, the antibacterial composition containing the hydrophilic antibacterial agent and the hydrophilic organic solvent will be less likely to inhibit the hydrophobicity of the leak-proof wall, the adhesive strength of the leak-proof wall adhesive portion that fixes the leak-proof wall elastic member to the hydrophobic sheet member will be less likely to decrease, the leak-proof wall elastic member will exhibit more elasticity, and the pair of leak-proof walls will stand up more easily when an absorbent article is worn.

[0106] The above-mentioned leak-proof wall adhesive portion can be positioned at any position in a plan view from the width direction, preferably located outside at least one of the antibacterial composition placement areas, and more preferably located outside both of the antibacterial composition placement areas. This allows the leak-proof wall elastic member to exhibit elasticity, making it easier for the pair of leak-proof walls to stand up when an absorbent article is worn.

[0107] In each of the pair of leak-proof walls described above, the hydrophobic sheet member may or may not be positioned on the non-skin side of the leak-proof elastic member in the deployed state, but it is preferable that it be positioned on the non-skin side of the leak-proof elastic member. This prevents the antibacterial composition in the antibacterial composition placement area from reaching the leak-proof adhesive portion that adheres the leak-proof elastic member to the hydrophobic sheet member, thus reducing the adhesive strength of the leak-proof adhesive portion.

[0108] If the absorbent article relating to this disclosure is a pant-type absorbent article having a waistband portion, the waistband portion may comprise a sheet member, a waistband elastic member that is expandable and contractible around the waist, and a joint portion that joins the waistband elastic member to the sheet member. The joint portion can be a waistband adhesive portion bonded with a hot-melt adhesive, a waistband welding portion that welds the sheet member, etc. If the joint portion is a waistband adhesive portion bonded with a hot-melt adhesive, it is preferable that the antibacterial composition does not come into contact with the waistband portion in the pant-type state. This makes it less likely for the adhesive strength of the waistband adhesive portion to decrease due to the antibacterial composition, and less likely for the waistband elastic member to come off. Examples of the elastic body members mentioned above include those similar to the leak-proof wall elastic members described above.

[0109] If the absorbent article relating to this disclosure is a pant-type absorbent article having a waist portion, the absorbent article may further include rear leg elastic members. The rear leg elastic members may extend in the dorsal region in a direction along the width direction (for example, extending from one locking portion along one leg opening and the other leg opening to the other locking portion). The rear leg elastic members may be curved so as to protrude toward the longitudinal centerline. Furthermore, the rear leg elastic members may be partially or completely fractured in the region that overlaps with the absorbent or absorbent core when the pant-type absorbent article is deployed. The dorsal region mentioned above refers to the area behind the longitudinal centerline, which extends parallel to the width direction at the longitudinal center of the pants-type absorbent article in its unfolded state.

[0110] The rear leg elastic member described above can be bonded to the sheet member by a hot-melt adhesive bond to the rear leg elastic member. In this case, it is preferable that the antibacterial composition does not come into contact with the rear leg elastic member or the bond to the rear leg elastic member when the garment is in a pant-like state. This makes it less likely for the rear leg elastic member to come off the sheet member due to the antibacterial composition. Examples of the rear leg elastic members mentioned above include those similar to the leak-proof wall elastic members described above.

[0111] If the absorbent article relating to this disclosure is a pair of pants-type absorbent articles having a waist portion, the absorbent article may be a pair of pants-type absorbent articles that are folded in the width direction, or an absorbent article that is folded in the width direction.

[0112] If the absorbent article relating to this disclosure is a pant-type absorbent article having a waist portion, the absorbent article may further include a buttocks cover portion. The buttocks cover portion is located in the crotch area, and in the unfolded state, there is no pair of locking portions on the extension of the width direction of the buttocks cover portion. The buttocks cover portion may include a buttocks cover elastic member, and the buttocks cover portion may include a sheet member, a buttocks cover elastic member, and a buttocks cover elastic member adhesive portion for bonding the buttocks cover elastic member to the sheet member with a hot melt adhesive. In the absorbent article folded in the width direction described above, it is preferable that the antibacterial composition is not in contact with the buttock cover portion. This makes it less likely for the elastic member of the buttock cover portion to come off. The elastic member of the buttock cover portion can be the same as the leak-proof wall elastic member described above.

[0113] If the absorbent article relating to this disclosure is a pant-type absorbent article having a waist portion, the absorbent article may be an absorbent article folded in both the width direction and the longitudinal direction, where the absorbent article folded in the width direction is further folded in half in the longitudinal direction. In the absorbent article folded in both the width direction and the longitudinal direction, it is preferable that the antibacterial composition is placed on the portion that protrudes toward the skin. This allows the absorbent property to be exerted on the portion that protrudes toward the skin, and also allows the antibacterial effect of the antibacterial composition to be exerted.

[0114] The absorbent article further comprises a liquid-impermeable backsheet, and preferably, a graphic indicating antibacterial properties is placed on the non-skin side of the backsheet. This allows the antibacterial performance of the antibacterial composition to be visually communicated to the user or wearer of the absorbent article. Examples of the graphic include a mark indicating that a predetermined certification standard has been met, and an illustration representing a material containing a component known to have antibacterial properties. An example of a mark indicating that a predetermined certification standard has been met is the SEK mark of the Japan Textile Evaluation Technology Council (e.g., antibacterial and deodorizing processing mark, antimicrobial processing mark, etc.). An example of a material containing a component known to have antibacterial properties is plants.

[0115] The absorbent article relating to this disclosure may further include a main elastic member disposed on the non-skin side of the absorbent body so as to extend in the longitudinal direction and bonded to the main elastic member by a hot-melt adhesive. In this case, in the unfolded state, it is preferable that the main elastic member overlaps with the antibacterial composition area in a plan view in the thickness direction, but does not overlap in a plan view in the longitudinal direction and / or the width direction. This makes it easier for the absorbent body to come into contact with the wearer's skin, and for the antibacterial composition to impart an antibacterial effect to bodily fluids. Furthermore, in the absorbent article, the adhesive strength of the main bond portion is less likely to decrease due to the antibacterial composition, the main elastic member is less likely to come off, and the antibacterial composition can continue to impart an antibacterial effect to bodily fluids.

[0116] Preferably, each of the pair of leak-proof walls described above does not contain the antibacterial composition described above. This makes it less likely for the adhesive strength of the leak-proof wall adhesive portion that fixes the leak-proof wall elastic member to the hydrophobic sheet member to decrease, the leak-proof wall elastic member to exhibit more elasticity, and the pair of leak-proof walls to stand up more easily when an absorbent article is worn. Each of the pair of leakproof walls described above may or may not be colored.

[0117] When neither of the pair of leak-proof walls contains the antibacterial composition, it is preferable that each of the pair of leak-proof walls is colored a predetermined color. The predetermined color is preferably a color other than white, such as pink or green. This makes it easier for the user or wearer to identify the location of the antibacterial composition on the absorbent article and to position the absorbent article more easily.

[0118] The above-mentioned antibacterial composition and antibacterial composition placement area are located in the longitudinal central region as described above, and may also be located in the longitudinal lateral region. Furthermore, the above-mentioned antibacterial composition and antibacterial composition placement area are located in the width central region, and may also be located in the width lateral region.

[0119] In the absorbent article described above, the area outside the longitudinal direction of the absorbent (i.e., outside the longitudinal side region) can be demarcated as an absorbent-free region. In the case of a pant-type absorbent article equipped with an absorbent body, the area outside the longitudinal direction of the absorbent (i.e., outside the longitudinal side region) of the absorbent body can be demarcated as an absorbent-free region. Furthermore, the absorbent-free region can be further divided into a front absorbent-free region located on the front side of the absorbent and a rear absorbent-free region located on the rear side of the absorbent.

[0120] In this case, the antibacterial composition and the antibacterial composition placement area can be placed in the absorbent-free area, and the antibacterial composition and the antibacterial composition placement area can be placed in at least one of the front absorbent-free area and the rear absorbent-free area. This makes it easier for the antibacterial composition to exert its antibacterial effect on bodily fluids other than those excreted from the excretory opening, such as sweat, in areas that are prone to sweating and close contact, such as the lower abdomen and buttocks, and are easily touched when moving. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of manufacturing absorbent articles, the antibacterial composition can be applied continuously, which reduces the likelihood of unevenness in the amount (basis weight) of the antibacterial composition applied.

[0121] Furthermore, if the absorbent article relating to this disclosure is a pant-type absorbent article having a waistband, the areas without absorbent material tend to have irregularities due to the expansion and contraction of the front and rear waistbands in the width direction, since no absorbent material is present. Therefore, the absorbent article can accurately apply the antibacterial composition to the wearer's skin in the areas without absorbent material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0122] 1. Panty-style sanitary napkin 3. Absorbent body 5. Exterior 7 Front waist area 9. Rear torso area 11 Groin area 13 Waist area 15. Buttocks cover section 21 Top Sheet 25 Second row seats 27 Absorbent material 27a Absorption core 27b Core Wrap Sheet 29 Backseat 33 Hydrophobic sheet member 35 Leakage prevention wall adhesive part 39 Antibacterial composition 41 Antibacterial composition placement area 43 Leakage prevention wall 45 Leak-proof wall elastic member 47 Leakage wall overlap area 51 Longitudinal central region 53 Longitudinal side region 55 Width center area 57 Side region in the width direction 65 Absorber-free region 71 Sanitary napkins

Claims

1. An absorbent article comprising absorbents having longitudinal, widthwise, and thicknesswise directions that are perpendicular to each other, The absorbent article comprises a pair of leak-proof walls, each of which an elastic leak-proof wall member is bonded to a hydrophobic sheet member by a leak-proof wall adhesive portion made of hot-melt adhesive. The absorbent article, in its deployed state, comprises the pair of leak-proof walls and the overlapping leak-proof wall region that overlaps in the thickness direction. The absorbent article comprises an antimicrobial composition containing a hydrophilic antimicrobial agent and a hydrophilic and non-volatile organic solvent. The absorbent article, in the unfolded state, has an antibacterial composition area that overlaps with the antibacterial composition in the thickness direction, In the unfolded state, the absorbent material is divided into three equal parts in the longitudinal direction, with the central part being defined as the longitudinal central region, and the region overlapping with the absorbent material in the width direction being defined as the width central region. In the unfolded state, the antimicrobial composition placement area is located at least in the longitudinal central region and the width central region, and the average basis weight of the antimicrobial composition in the longitudinal central region and the width central region is higher than the average basis weight of the antimicrobial composition in the longitudinal central region and the leak-proof wall overlapping region. An absorbent article characterized by the following features.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein, in the deployed state, the antimicrobial composition area is not located in the longitudinal central region and the leak-proof wall overlapping region.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the leak-proof wall adhesive portion is positioned on both outer sides of the antimicrobial composition placement area in a plan view from the width direction.

4. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein in each of the pair of leak-proof walls, the hydrophobic sheet member is positioned on the non-skin side of the leak-proof wall elastic member in the deployed state.

5. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent article is a pant-type absorbent article having a waist portion.

6. The absorbent article according to claim 5, wherein the waist portion comprises a sheet member, a waist elastic member that is expandable and contractible around the waist, and a waist adhesive portion that adheres the waist elastic member to the sheet member with a hot melt adhesive, and in the pant-type state, the antibacterial composition is not in contact with the waist portion.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 5, further comprising an elastic member around the rear legs, wherein in a pant-type state, the antibacterial composition is not in contact with the elastic member around the rear legs.

8. The absorbent article according to claim 5, wherein the antimicrobial composition area is further located in an area of ​​the absorbent that is not present and is on the outer side of the absorbent in the longitudinal direction, and the absorbent article has irregularities in the area of ​​the absorbent that is not present.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 5, wherein the absorbent article is an absorbent article folded in the width direction, wherein the pant-type absorbent article is folded three times in the width direction.

10. The absorbent article further comprises a buttock cover portion having an elastic member for the buttock cover portion, and in the absorbent article folded in the width direction, the antibacterial composition is not in contact with the buttock cover portion, as described in claim 9.

11. The absorbent article according to claim 9, wherein the absorbent article is an absorbent article folded in the width direction and the longitudinal direction, wherein the absorbent article folded in the width direction is further folded in half in the longitudinal direction, and the antibacterial composition is arranged on the portion of the absorbent article folded in the width direction and the longitudinal direction that is convex toward the skin.

12. The absorbent article according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid-impermeable back sheet, wherein a graphic indicating antibacterial properties is arranged on the non-skin side of the back sheet.

13. The absorbent article is disposed on the non-skin side of the absorbent body so as to extend in the longitudinal direction, and further comprises a main elastic member bonded by a main elastic member bonding portion using a hot melt adhesive. In the unfolded state, the main elastic member overlaps with the antibacterial composition placement area in a plan view in the thickness direction, but does not overlap with the longitudinal plan view. The absorbent article according to claim 1.

14. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of leak-proof walls does not contain the antimicrobial composition, and the hydrophobic sheet members constituting each of the pair of leak-proof walls are colored.

Images