Tagged superabsorbent polymers in a multicomponent structure

• US 20010037101A1
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David S. Allan, Joseph L. Weir, Richard M. Van Effen, Sergio S. Cutie
• Original Assignee: David S. Allan, Joseph L. Weir, Richard M. Van Effen, Sergio S. Cutie
• Inventors: Van Effen, Richard M., Cutie, Sergio S., Allan, David S., Weir, Joseph L.
• Application Number:
  US09/803,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037101A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/368
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15577 Apparatus or processes for manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/60 Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents

Abstract

The present invention is an absorbent composite that contains at least two intermixed or segregated superabsorbent polymers, at least one of which is incorporated throughout with a latent indicator that becomes manifest by a developer that is peculiar to the indicator. The invention provides a means of monitoring the performance of accuracy of superabsorbent polymer placement in absorbent structures such as diapers, adult incontinence devices, and sanitary napkins.

Claims

1. An absorbent composite comprising at least two superabsorbent polymers, either segregated or intermixed, wherein at least one of the superabsorbent polymers is incorporated throughout with a latent indicator that becomes manifest by a development method so that the incorporated superabsorbent can be distinguished from all other components upon development of the indicator.

2. The absorbent composite of

claim 1

wherein the superabsorbent polymers are segregated.

3. The absorbent composite of

claim 1

wherein the superabsorbent polymers are intermixed.

4. The absorbent composite polymer of

claim 2

wherein one of the superabsorbent polymers is incorporated throughout with the indicator selected from the group consisting of starch, iodine, an aluminum salt, an amine or ammonium salt, a magnesium or calcium salt, a fluorescent agent, and a pH sensitive indicator.

5. The absorbent composite polymer of

claim 4

wherein the absorbent composite polymer comprises two superabsorbent polymers.

6. The absorbent composite polymer of

claim 5

wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of starch and an amine or ammonium salt.

7. An absorbent composite comprising at least two segregated or intermixed superabsorbent polymer regions, wherein each superabsorbent polymer, or one less than each superabsorbent polymer, is incorporated throughout with a latent indicator peculiar to that superabsorbent polymer so that each superabsorbent polymer can be distinguished from each other upon development of the indicators.

8. A method of manifesting a superabsorbent polymer region in an absorbent composite that contains at least two segregated or intermixed superabsorbent polymers, which method comprises the steps of a) incorporating a latent indicator into a first superabsorbent polymer;

b) preparing a patterned composite of the first superabsorbent polymer and a second superabsorbent polymer so that each superabsorbent polymer defines a particular region of the patterned composite;

c) treating the patterned composite with a developer for the latent indicator so that the first superabsorbent polymer becomes manifest distinctly from the second superabsorbent polymers.

9. The method of

claim 8

wherein the composite contains two segregated superabsorbent polymers.

10. The method of

claim 8

wherein the latent indicator is selected from the groups consisting of starch, iodine, an aluminum salt, an amine or ammonium salt, a magnesium or calcium salt, a fluorescent agent, and a pH sensitive indicator.

11. The method of

claim 9

wherein the latent indicator is starch and the developer is iodine.

12. The method of

claim 9

wherein the latent indicator is iodine and the developer is starch.

13. The method of

claim 9

wherein the latent indicator is an aluminum salt and the developer is aluminon.

14. The method of

claim 9

wherein the latent indicator is an amine or ammonium salt and the developer is ninhydrin.

15. The method of

claim 9

wherein the latent indicator is a magnesium or a calcium salt and the developer is Eriochrome Black T.

16. The method of

claim 9

wherein the latent indicator is a fluorescent agent and the developer is UV light.

17. The method of

claim 9

wherein the latent indicator is a pH sensitive indicator and the developer is an acid or a base.

18. The method of

claim 8

wherein the latent indicator is incorporated in the first superabsorbent polymer by adding the indicator to a monomer precursor for the first superabsorbent polymer, then polymerizing the monomer.

19. The method of

claim 8

wherein the latent indicator is incorporated by dry-blending.

20. The method of

claim 8

wherein the latent indicator is incorporated by spraying a solution or slurry of the indicator onto the first superabsorbent polymer.

21. The method of

claim 8

wherein the latent indicator is a thermally sensitive indicator and the developer is heat.