Capillary Acceleration Sheet for Absorbent Articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Absorbent articles with absorbent cores and liquid distribution layers take time to dry and experience significant rewetting, leading to discomfort and inefficiency in liquid management.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a capillary acceleration sheet with specific fiber diameters and fineness between the absorbent material and the topsheet, creating channels with minimal absorbent material, to enhance liquid distribution and absorption, thereby reducing rewetting and improving dryness at the topsheet surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a liquid distribution and acquisition layer (ADL) is provided between the topsheet and absorbent core, then liquid distribution is improved, but topsheet dryness is delayed and rewetting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent core is segmented into zones with varying absorbent material density, creating channels that facilitate rapid liquid transport. This segmentation allows liquid to be quickly distributed through defined pathways rather than diffusing through a uniform layer, resolving the contradiction between liquid distribution and drying time.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the absorbent core are given different properties: channels have reduced absorbent material for fast liquid flow, while surrounding zones have full absorbent material for absorption. This local differentiation enables simultaneous rapid liquid distribution and quick topsheet drying by directing liquid through low-resistance pathways.
2Quantity of substance
If absorbent material is distributed uniformly across the absorbent core, then absorption capacity is maximized, but liquid distribution speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent core is divided into channel regions and absorption zones. Channel regions have minimal absorbent material to enable rapid liquid transport, while absorption zones surrounding the channels contain full absorbent material capacity. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating transport function from absorption function in different spatial locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The channels act as intermediary pathways that transport liquid from the topsheet to the absorbent material. These channels provide a low-resistance conduit system that accelerates liquid distribution without requiring the entire absorbent core to be uniformly distributed, thus maintaining both speed and capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The capillary acceleration sheet facilitates fast dryness and reduced rewetting, ensuring effective liquid distribution and improved leakage protection by quickly pulling liquid towards the absorbent material, resulting in enhanced user comfort and performance.
Implementation Method 1
the capillary acceleration sheet has a fineness which results in a high capillary suction of liquid towards the absorbent material
Data Source
AI summary
An absorbent article comprising a liquid pervious topsheet (300), a liquid impervious backsheet (200), absorbent material positioned between the liquid pervious topsheet and the liquid impervious backsheet, and a capillary acceleration sheet (400) between the absorbent material and the liquid pervious topsheet, wherein the absorbent material is arranged on a bottom core wrap sheet such that one or more channels are formed, wherein less absorbent material per surface area is present in the one or more channels compared to an area around the one or more channels, wherein preferably substantially no absorbent material is present in the one or more channels, wherein the capillary acceleration sheet (400) has a basis weight between 15 and 55 g/m2 and comprises fibres having an average diameter between 10 and 35 micron, preferably between 15 and 30 micron, more preferably between 17 and 27 micron.