Fluid acquisition and distribution member for absorbent core

• US 5,716,703 A
• Filed: 07/11/1996
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Payne, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): MERRIAM, ANDREW EDWIN
• Application Number:
  US08/678,149
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 525/54.21, 536/56, 524/35, 524/321, 524/377, 428/378, 428/393, 604/378, 162/157.6
• US Class Current: 428/378
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15203 Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency chemical aspects A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/53747 the layer is facing the topsheet layer is part of the topsheet A61F13/511
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5376 characterised by the performance of the layer, e.g. acquisition rate, distribution time, transfer time
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15422 Density
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530051 being made in cross-linked cellulosic fibres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2938 Coating on discrete and individual rods, strands or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2965 Cellulosic

Abstract

Skin wetness is minimized on overnight usage of a disposable absorbent article containing an acquisition and distribution member consisting essentially of C₂ -C₉ polycarboxylic acid crosslinked cellulosic fibers prepared in the presence of surfactant.

Claims

1. A fluid acquisition and distribution member for use in a disposable, absorbent article, said member having a dry density ranging from 0.03 to 0.20 g/cc and consisting essentially of C₂ -C₉ polycarboxylic acid crosslink cellulosic fibers, said fibers having substantially intra-fiber crosslinks, said fibers having an amount of a C₂ -C₉ polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent reacted therein in an intrafiber ester crosslink bond providing a water-retention volume from about 25 to 60 and having distributed thereon from about 0.005% to 1%, by weight, on the dry-fiber basis, of a surface-active agent.

2. The fluid acquisition and distribution member of claim 1, wherein the surface active agent is present on the fibers in an amount up to about 0.15%, by weight, on a dry fiber basis.

3. The fluid acquisition and distribution member of claim 1, wherein the individualized, crosslinked cellulosic fibers with the surface active agent thereon are prepared in a process comprising heating uncrosslinked cellulosic fibers with from 1% to 15% of the C₂ -C₉ polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent, by weight, on a citric acid basis, applied on a dry fiber basis, thereon, and from 0.005% to 1% of the surface active agent, by weight, applied on a dry fiber basis, thereon, to cause the polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent to react with the cellulosic fibers and form ester crosslinks between cellulose molecules, and to form said crosslinked cellulosic fibers with the surface active agent thereon, without washing or bleaching and washing of the crosslinked fibers.

4. The fluid acquisition and distribution member of claim 3 wherein the surface active agent is a nonionic surfactant.

5. The fluid acquisition and distribution member of claim 4, wherein the non-ionic surfactant is one formed by condensing ethylene oxide with a base formed by condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol.

6. The fluid acquisition and distribution member of claim 5 wherein the non-ionic surfactant has a number average molecular weight ranging from about 1,000 to 5,000 grams/mole, the molecular weight of the poly(oxypropylene) unit ranges from 900 to 2,000 grams/mole, and contains from 10% to 80% of the poly(oxyethylene) unit by weight in the total molecule.

7. The fluid acquisition and distribution member of claim 6, wherein the non-ionic surfactant has a number average molecular weight of 1,900 grams/mole, the molecular weight of the poly(oxypropylene) unit is 950 grams/mole, and contains 50% of the poly(oxyethylene) unit by weight in the total molecule.