Acquisition System with Saturated Carboxylic Acids for Diaper Skin Irritation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Absorbent articles, such as diapers, often cause skin irritation due to high humidity and the presence of urine and feces, leading to issues like diaper rash, and the use of lotions on the topsheet can hinder liquid acquisition and storage while potentially harming skin health.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an acquisition and distribution system with saturated carboxylic acids, specifically monocarboxylic, dicarboxylic, or tricarboxylic acids with a pKa between 2.5 and 5.0, within the absorbent article to neutralize ammonia and maintain skin pH, reducing skin irritation and improving liquid handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If lotion is applied on the body-facing surface of the topsheet to protect skin, then skin care is improved, but liquid acquisition and storage are negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the skin protection function from the topsheet lotion and relocates it to the absorbent core through incorporation of skin-care components. This separation allows the topsheet to maintain its liquid acquisition function while the core provides skin protection, resolving the contradiction between skin care and liquid acquisition performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer or system between the topsheet and the wearer's skin, where skin-care components are incorporated into the absorbent core. This intermediary structure enables skin protection without interfering with the topsheet's liquid acquisition capability, as the protective components are positioned to interact with skin only after liquid has been absorbed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If lotion is applied on the topsheet to provide skin protection, then skin health is improved, but urine storage is adversely impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the skin protection function from the topsheet surface and relocates it to the absorbent core. By incorporating skin-care components into the core rather than applying lotion on the topsheet, the urine storage capacity is preserved while skin protection is maintained through the core's interaction with the wearer's skin.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates skin-care components into the absorbent core during manufacturing, performing the skin protection function in advance and in a controlled manner. This preliminary incorporation ensures that skin protection is provided without requiring surface lotions that would interfere with urine acquisition and storage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If hydrophobic lotion is applied on the topsheet for skin care, then skin protection is improved, but liquid acquisition speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the skin protection function from the hydrophobic lotion on the topsheet and relocates it to the absorbent core. This separation removes the hydrophobic barrier from the liquid acquisition path, restoring rapid liquid uptake while maintaining skin protection through the core's skin-care components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and location of skin-care components from surface-applied hydrophobic lotion to incorporated components within the absorbent core. This parameter change transforms the skin protection mechanism from a surface barrier to an internal component system, eliminating the negative impact on liquid acquisition speed.
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 use of saturated carboxylic acids in the absorbent article effectively neutralizes ammonia, maintains skin pH, and enhances liquid acquisition and storage, reducing the likelihood of skin irritation and diaper rash.
Implementation Method 1
The acquisition and distribution system comprises one or more saturated carboxylic acids... to neutralize ammonia and maintain skin pH
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates an absorbent article and a process for making an absorbent article. The absorbent article comprises an acquisition and distribution system comprising at least one acquisition and/or distribution layer comprising one or more saturated carboxylic acids. The one or more saturated carboxylic acids are each selected from the group of monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids or tricarboxylic acids. The one or more saturated carboxylic acids each have a pKa for the first acid dissociation in water and the pKa of each carboxylic acid is from 2.5 to 5.0.