Spacer Woven Fluid Management Layer for Fast-Dry Absorbent Articles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Absorbent articles face challenges in achieving rapid fluid acquisition speed without compromising dry sensory feel or increasing the risk of rewet, and in maintaining a clean surface while handling large fluid volumes efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The absorbent article incorporates a hydrophobic nonwoven topsheet with a wearer-facing surface and a fluid management layer comprising a spacer woven fabric, which includes a top face, a bottom face, and interconnecting yarns, to enhance fluid distribution and absorption without rewet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a hydrophobic topsheet is used, then dryness feel and blurring benefits are improved, but acquisition speed decreases and fluid leakage problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The topsheet is constructed as a composite material combining hydrophobic fibers (for dryness feel and staining prevention) with hydrophilic fibers (for rapid fluid acquisition). This composite structure allows the material to simultaneously exhibit both hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics, resolving the contradiction between dryness feel and acquisition speed.
2Ease of operation
If a fluid management layer with small pore sizes is used, then wicking property and capillary force are improved, but flow resistance increases and acquisition speed slows
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid management layer incorporates a three-dimensional spacer fabric structure that introduces a vertical dimension (z-direction) for fluid transport. The spacer yarns create channels that allow fluid to move rapidly in the vertical direction while the fabric surface maintains small pores for effective wicking and capillary action in the horizontal plane, thus resolving the contradiction between wicking property and acquisition speed.
3Quantity of substance
If superabsorbent polymers are used in high amount, then fluid storage capacity is improved, but absorption speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid management layer is positioned above the absorbent core to perform preliminary fluid acquisition and distribution. It quickly captures fluid from the topsheet and distributes it across the absorbent core surface before the fluid reaches the superabsorbent polymers. This preliminary action allows the SAPs to absorb fluid more efficiently at multiple locations simultaneously, maintaining high absorption speed while utilizing the high storage capacity of SAPs.
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 combination provides fast liquid acquisition speed, maintains a dry sensory feel, and reduces rewet, ensuring a clean surface by effectively managing fluid flow and distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid permeable topsheet having a wearer facing surface and an opposite garment facing surface, wherein the topsheet comprises a nonwoven comprising a plurality of apertures... the first surface having a first contact angle of no lower than about 90 degrees
Implementation Method 2
a fluid management layer disposed between the topsheet and the absorbent core, the fluid management layer comprising a spacer woven fabric... quickly receive large amounts of fluid from a topsheet and transfer it to the absorbent core
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an absorbent article comprising a liquid permeable topsheet comprising a wearer facing surface and an opposite garment facing surface and a nonwoven, the nonwoven comprising a plurality of apertures, a liquid impermeable backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet; and a fluid management layer disposed between the topsheet and the absorbent core, the fluid management layer comprising a spacer woven fabric, wherein the nonwoven comprises a first surface forming the wearer facing surface of the topsheet, and a second surface forming the garment facing surface of the topsheet, the first surface having a first contact angle of no lower than about 90 degrees, and wherein the spacer woven fabric comprises a top face, a bottom face, and a plurality of yarns interconnecting the first and second faces, wherein the first and second faces are spaced apart from each other.