Nonwoven Webs With Hydrophobic And Hydrophilic Layers

• US 20200129345A1
• Filed: 12/17/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Hammons, John Lee, Arora, Kelyn Anne, DuVal, Dean Larry, Niezgoda, Stephanie Michelle, Chhabra, Rajeev
• Granted Patent: US 11,110,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/511 Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51113 comprising an additive, e.g. lotion or odour control A61F13/51108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5116 being formed of multiple layers A61F13/5123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/512 characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5123 the apertures being formed on a multilayer top sheet
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5125 the apertures not being formed through the complete thickness of the topsheet, e.g. blind holes blind holes in a single layered topsheet A61F13/51104
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/8405 Additives, e.g. for odour, disinfectant or pH control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51178 with the combination of nonwoven webs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51338 having improved touch or feeling, e.g. smooth film
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51366 with hydrophilic lower face
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8432 with glycerine polyol
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/02 2 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/24 All layers being polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0253 Polyolefin fibres vinyl or acrylic copolymers B32B2262/0223 or B32B2262/0246
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/04 Cellulosic plastic fibres, e.g. rayon
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/12 Conjugate fibres, e.g. core/sheath or side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/20 in the form of a non-woven mat
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/4026 within the layer by addition of a colorant, e.g. pigments, dyes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/404 Multi-coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/728 Hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/73 : Hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2555/02 : Diapers or napkins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/02 : in the form of fibres or filaments not used
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/16 : specially treated, e.g. irradiated
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/18 : characterised by the use of special additives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 : comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/266 : characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/30 : characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 : Non-woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 : another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/02 : Physical, chemical or physicochemical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/04 : Interconnection of layers
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4374 : using different kinds of webs, e.g. by layering webs
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 11/08 : formed by creation of a pile on at least one surface of a non-woven fabric without addition of pile-forming material, e.g. by needling, by differential shrinking needling machines D04H18/00
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/005 : Synthetic yarns or filaments D04H3/013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/007 : Addition polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/11 : by fluid jet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/23914 : Interlaminar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2395 : Nap type surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24182 : Inward from edge of web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24289 : Embedded or interlocked
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 : Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24331 : including nonapertured component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 : including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 : Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/638 : Side-by-side multicomponent strand or fiber material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/641 : Sheath-core multicomponent strand or fiber material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/642 : Strand or fiber material is a blend of polymeric material and a filler material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/659 : Including an additional nonwoven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/66 : Additional nonwoven fabric is a spun-bonded fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/666 : Mechanically interengaged by needling or impingement of fluid [e.g., gas or liquid stream, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/668 : Separate nonwoven fabric layers comprise chemically different strand or fiber material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/681 : Spun-bonded nonwoven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/689 : Hydroentangled nonwoven fabric

Abstract

A nonwoven web for use in an absorbent article is described. The nonwoven web has first and second nonwoven layers. The first nonwoven layer has a first plurality of fibers, an additive disposed, at least in part, on a portion of the first plurality of fibers, a first side and an opposing second side, wherein second side has a plurality of discontinuities. The second nonwoven layer has a second plurality of fibers, a first surface and an opposing second surface, and a plurality of tufts extending through at least a portion of the discontinuities in the first nonwoven layer, wherein the second nonwoven layer is attached to the first nonwoven layer such that at least a portion of the second plurality of fibers are in liquid communication with the first nonwoven layer, wherein the first nonwoven layer is hydrophobic and the second nonwoven layer is hydrophilic.

Claims

1. A nonwoven web for use in an absorbent article, the nonwoven web comprising:

a first nonwoven layer comprising a first plurality of fibers, a first side and a second side opposed to the first side, wherein second side comprises a plurality of discontinuities, wherein the first nonwoven layer comprises an additive which is disposed, at least in part, on at least a portion of the first plurality of fibers; and

a second nonwoven layer comprising a second plurality of fibers, a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface and a plurality of tufts extending through at least a portion of the discontinuities in the first nonwoven layer, wherein the second nonwoven layer is attached to the first nonwoven layer such that at least a portion of the second plurality of fibers are in liquid communication with the first nonwoven layer, wherein the first nonwoven layer is hydrophobic and the second nonwoven layer is hydrophilic.

2. The nonwoven web of claim 1, wherein the first nonwoven layer comprises a first plurality of apertures, and wherein the second nonwoven layer comprises a second plurality of apertures which are substantially aligned with the first plurality of apertures of the first nonwoven layer.

3. The nonwoven web of claim 1, wherein the additive comprises a hydrophobic material with HLB value between 0 and 4.

4. The nonwoven web of claim 3, wherein the additive has a melting point in the range of about 40 degrees C. to about 80 degrees C.

5. The nonwoven web of claim 4, wherein the additive comprises glycerol tristearate.

6. The nonwoven web of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of fibers comprises bi-component fibers.

7. The nonwoven web of claim 6, wherein the additive is present in the first nonwoven layer at from between about 1 percent to about 15 percent by weight.

8. The nonwoven web of claim 6, wherein the bi-component fibers comprise a first polypropylene and a second polypropylene arranged in a side by side configuration and are crimped.

9. The nonwoven web of claim 8, wherein the additive is applied to the first nonwoven layer at from between about 0.1 gsm to about 10 gsm.

10. The nonwoven web of claim 8, wherein the additive is provided at different levels in each component.

11. The nonwoven web of claim 9, wherein the additive is provided at different levels in each component.

12. The nonwoven web of claim 1, wherein the first nonwoven layer further comprises a plurality of caps, wherein each of the plurality of caps is positioned above the first surface of the first nonwoven layer and each of the plurality of caps at least partially overlies an opening of the plurality of discontinuities.

13. The nonwoven web of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of fibers comprises bi-component fibers comprising polyethylene and polypropylene arranged in a sheath/core configuration.