Absorbent articles containing interparticle crosslinked aggregates
First Claim
1. A disposable absorbent article comprising:
- a liquid pervious topsheet;
a liquid impervious backsheet joined with said topsheet; and
an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core comprising a particulate, absorbent, polymeric composition comprising interparticle covalently crosslinked aggregates, said interparticle crosslinked aggregates comprising (i) substantially dry precursor particles of substantially water-insoluble, absorbent, hydrogel-forming, polymer material;
said polymer material of said precursor particles being selected from the group consisting of hydrolyzed starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymer, partially neutralized starch-acrylonitrile acid graft copolymer, starch-acrylic acid graft copolymer, partially neutralized starch-acrylic acid graft copolymer, saponified vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymers, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile or acrylamide copolymers, slightly network crosslinked products of any of the foregoing copolymers, partially neutralized polyacrylic acid, and slightly network crosslinked products of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid; and
(ii) an interparticle crosslinking agent reacted with said polymer material of said precursor particles to form crosslink bonds between said precursor particles;
said interparticle crosslinking agent being selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohol compounds, polyglycidyl ether compounds, polyfunctional aziridine compounds, polyfunctional amine compounds, and polyfunctional isocyanate compounds;
said interparticle crosslinked aggregates being present in said polymeric composition in an amount such that said polymeric composition has a mass average particle size at least about 30% greater than the mass average particle size of said precursor particles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Absorbent articles such as diapers or sanitary napkins incorporating particulate, absorbent, polymeric compositions comprising interparticle crosslinked aggregates. The interparticle crosslinked aggregates comprise precursor particles of substantially water-insoluble, absorbent, hydrogel-forming, polymer material; and an interparticle crosslinking agent reacted with the polymer material of the precursor particles to form crosslink bonds between the precursor particles. The polymeric compositions of the present invention may be incorporated into absorbent articles as the sole absorbent material; as an absorbent core comprising a mixture of fiber material and discrete particles of the polymeric composition; or as a laminate (a layered absorbent core) containing such polymeric compositions. The performance of absorbent articles is enhanced by the use of such polymeric compositions due to the high rate of fluid uptake and minimal gel blocking properties of the interparticle crosslinked aggregates.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A disposable absorbent article comprising:
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a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet joined with said topsheet; and an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core comprising a particulate, absorbent, polymeric composition comprising interparticle covalently crosslinked aggregates, said interparticle crosslinked aggregates comprising (i) substantially dry precursor particles of substantially water-insoluble, absorbent, hydrogel-forming, polymer material;
said polymer material of said precursor particles being selected from the group consisting of hydrolyzed starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymer, partially neutralized starch-acrylonitrile acid graft copolymer, starch-acrylic acid graft copolymer, partially neutralized starch-acrylic acid graft copolymer, saponified vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymers, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile or acrylamide copolymers, slightly network crosslinked products of any of the foregoing copolymers, partially neutralized polyacrylic acid, and slightly network crosslinked products of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid; and
(ii) an interparticle crosslinking agent reacted with said polymer material of said precursor particles to form crosslink bonds between said precursor particles;
said interparticle crosslinking agent being selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohol compounds, polyglycidyl ether compounds, polyfunctional aziridine compounds, polyfunctional amine compounds, and polyfunctional isocyanate compounds;
said interparticle crosslinked aggregates being present in said polymeric composition in an amount such that said polymeric composition has a mass average particle size at least about 30% greater than the mass average particle size of said precursor particles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25)
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21. A disposable diaper comprising:
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a liquid pervious topsheet; a liquid impervious backsheet joined with said topsheet; and an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core comprising a mixture of hydrophilic fiber material and a particulate, absorbent, polymeric composition comprising interparticle covalently crosslinked aggregates, said interparticle crosslinked aggregates comprising (i) substantially dry precursor particles of substantially water-insoluble, absorbent, hydrogel-forming, polymer material, said polymer material of said precursor particles consisting essentially of slightly network crosslinked products of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid, and (ii) an interparticle crosslinking agent reacted with said polymer material of said precursor particles to form crosslink bonds between said precursor particles;
said interparticle crosslinking agent being selected from the group consisting of glycerol, trimethylol propane, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, or ethylene glycol;
said interparticle crosslinked aggregates being present in said polymeric composition in an amount such that said polymeric composition has a mass average particle size at least about 30% greater than the mass average particle size of said precursor particles. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification