Elastic Web Material for Absorbent Articles with High Opacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Absorbent articles with elastic web materials face challenges in achieving a comfortable fit, soft cloth-like appearance, and cost-effectiveness while maintaining adequate opacity and breathability.
Innovation Solution
The development of an elastic laminate comprising fibrous layers with an elastic film in between, incorporating opacifying fillers and breathable materials, which provides high opacity, elasticity, and water vapor transmission rate, while being lightweight and soft, to form the outer coversheet of absorbent articles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If an elastic laminate with high opacity is used to achieve a cloth-like appearance, then the aesthetic quality improves, but the basis weight increases reducing cost-effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining an elastic film layer with non-elastic fibrous layers to create an elastic laminate. This composite structure achieves the desired opacity and cloth-like appearance while maintaining a low basis weight (no more than 100 g/m2), resolving the contradiction between aesthetic quality and cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating opacifying fillers specifically in the elastic film layer rather than throughout the entire laminate. This localized approach achieves the required opacity (at least 40%) while minimizing the overall material quantity and basis weight, improving cost-effectiveness.
2Strength
If a heavier elastic laminate is used to improve opacity and durability, then the structural strength improves, but the comfort and soft feel deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials combining elastic film layers with non-elastic fibrous layers. This structure provides adequate puncture resistance and durability while the fibrous layers contribute to a soft, cloth-like feel, resolving the contradiction between strength and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous or nonwoven fibrous layers in the elastic laminate construction. These porous materials provide both mechanical strength and a soft, breathable texture that enhances wearer comfort, allowing the product to achieve durability without increasing basis weight.
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 solution enhances the comfort and fit of absorbent articles by providing a soft, cloth-like feel and improved opacity, while maintaining cost-effectiveness and breathability, thus addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a water vapor transmission rate through the elastic web material of at least 1500 g/m2 24 h
Implementation Method 2
said elastic web material having an opacity of at least 40%
Data Source
AI summary
A pant type absorbent article such as a pant diaper, a sanitary pant or incontinence pant, said article having a core region (3) comprising an absorbent core (2) and a chassis region (4) surrounding the core region. The chassis comprises front, back and waist regions (5, 6 and 7). The article in at least a part of the chassis region (4) comprises an outer coversheet (10) in the form of an elastic web material (11) constituting the sole component of the chassis (4) in at least 20% of the total surface area of the article (1), said elastic laminate having an opacity of at least 40% and a basis weight of no more than 100 g/m2.