Starch foams for absorbent articles

• US 5,506,277 A
• Filed: 06/30/1994
• Issued: 04/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Inventors: Griesbach, Henry L. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Foelak, Morton
• Application Number:
  US08/268,681
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 521/84.1, 521/149
• US Class Current: 521/84.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15252 compostable or biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53 characterised by the absorbing medium A61F13/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2303/00 Characterised by the use of starch, amylose or amylopectin or of their derivatives or degradation products
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2400/14 Water soluble or water swellable polymers, e.g. aqueous gels
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/0061 characterized by the use of several polymeric components

Abstract

The present invention provides a resilient absorbent foam containing starch, a superabsorbent material and a plasticizer. The absorbent foam is highly absorbent, dimensionally stable, resilient and flexible as well as biodegradable and flushable. Additionally provided is an absorbent foam comprising starch and a plasticizer, which is highly resilient and flexible. The present invention also provides an absorbent article containing the resilient absorbent foam.

Claims

1. A resilient absorbent foam comprising starch, a superabsorbent material selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamides, polyacrylic acids, metal salts of polyacrylic acid, polyacrylates, grafted starches, polyvinyl ethers, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sulfonated polystyrene, polysulfoethyl acrylate, carboxymethyl starch, carboxymethyl cellulose and saponified starch-polyacrylonitrile graft copolymers and a polymeric plasticizer.

2. The absorbent foam of claim 1 wherein said starch comprises, based on the total weight of the foam, from about 20 wt % to about 80 wt %.

3. The absorbent foam of claim 1 wherein said superabsorbent comprises, based on the total weight of the foam, up to about 70 wt %.

4. The absorbent foam of claim 1 wherein said plasticizing agent comprises, based on the total weight of the foam, from about 5 wt % to about 40 wt %.

5. The absorbent foam of claim 1 wherein said superabsorbent is selected from the group consisting of metal salts of polyacrylic acid.

6. The absorbent foam of claim 1 wherein said plasticizing agent is selected from group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate and blends thereof.

7. The absorbent foam of claim 1 wherein said plasticizing agent is polyvinyl alcohol.

8. The absorbent foam of claim 1 further comprising a processing aid.