Superabsorbent-containing composites

• US 6,387,495 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Sorebo, Heather A., Hamilton, Wendy L., Reeves, William G., Lindon, Jack N., Damay, Emmanuelle C., Hansen, Patsy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KILIMAN, LESZEK B
• Application Number:
  US09/545,156
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 428/402, 428/403, 428/404, 428/405, 604/358, 604/367, 604/368, 604/372, 604/374
• US Class Current: 428/402
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15544 Permeability
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530481 having superabsorbent materials, i.e. highly absorbent polymer gel materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530671 being mixed with mineral or inert material, e.g. "introfying particles"
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/530788 characterized by the gel layer permeability
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/60 Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2991 Coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2993 Silicic or refractory material containing [e.g., tungsten oxide, glass, cement, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2995 Silane, siloxane or silicone coating

Abstract

Superabsorbent-containing composites containing at least one particle of a superabsorbent material covered with at least a first layer of at least one particle of at least one coating material. The superabsorbent materials are desirably stiff-gelling superabsorbent materials. The superabsorbent-containing composites of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in sanitary napkins, diapers and other disposable absorbent articles that handle complex fluids.

Claims

1. A superabsorbent-containing composite comprising at least one particle of a stiff-gelling superabsorbent material covered with at least a first layer of at least one particle of at least one coating material, the first layer of the coating material being in intimate association with and covering the surface of the superabsorbent material, the superabsorbent material being capable of selectively removing at least a portion of an amount of at least one specific component of a complex fluid and the coating material being capable of selectively removing at least a portion of an amount of at least one other specific component of the complex fluid.

2. The composite of claim 1, wherein the intimate association of the coating material with the superabsorbent material is achieved with the use of an association agent.

3. The composite of claim 1, wherein the coating material comprises a hydrophilic material.

4. The composite of claim 3, wherein the coating material comprises a cellulosic material.

5. The composite of claim 1, wherein the coating material comprises a silicate.

6. The composite of claim 5, wherein the coating material is selected from the group consisting of precipitated silica, fumed silica, silicon dioxide, zeolites, clays, vermiculite, perlite and mixtures thereof.

7. The composite of claim 1, wherein the coating material comprises insoluble proteins.

8. The composite of claim 7, wherein the coating material is selected from among the group consisting of zein, texturized vegetable proteins and mixtures thereof.

9. The composite of claim 7, wherein the coating material comprises soy protein.

10. The composite of claim 2, wherein the association agent is selected from the group consisting of water, volatile organic solvents, aqueous solutions of film-forming materials, synthetic adhesives and mixtures thereof.

11. The composite of claim 2, wherein the association agent is selected from the group consisting of water, dried milk, lactose, soy protein, casein, polyvinyl alcohol and mixtures thereof.

12. The composite of claim 2, wherein the association agent comprises water and dried milk.

13. The composite of claim 2, wherein the association agent comprises water.

14. The composite of claim 1, wherein the superabsorbent-containing composite has a complex fluid retention capacity of between 0 and about 20 g/g.

15. The composite of claim 1, wherein the superabsorbent-containing composite has a complex fluid retention capacity of at least about 13 g/g.

16. A superabsorbent-containing composite comprising at least one particle of a stiff-gelling superabsorbent material covered with at least a first layer of at least one particle of at least one coating material, the first layer of the coating material being in intimate association with and covering the surface of the superabsorbent material, the superabsorbent material being capable of selectively removing at least a portion of an amount of at least one specific component of a complex fluid and the coating material being capable of selectively removing at least a portion of an amount of at least one specific component of the complex fluid, wherein the coating material is chemically modified.

17. The composite of claim 16, wherein the intimate association of the coating material with the superabsorbent material is achieved with the use of an association agent.

18. The composite of claim 16, wherein the coating material is chemically modified by adsorption.

19. The composite of claim 18, wherein the coating material is chemically modified by use of a cationic debonder.

20. The composite of claim 16, wherein the coating material is chemically modified by derivatization.

21. The composite of claim 20, wherein the coating material is chemically modified by conversion to diethylamino cellulose.

22. The composite of claim 17, wherein the association agent comprises water.

23. The composite of claim 16, wherein the superabsorbent-containing composite has a complex fluid retention capacity of between 0 and about 20 g/g.

24. The composite of claim 16, wherein the superabsorbent-containing composite has a complex fluid retention capacity of at least about 13 g/g.

25. The composite of claim 16, wherein the coating material is capable of selectively removing at least a portion of an amount of at least one other specific component of the complex fluid.

26. A superabsorbent-containing composite comprising at least one particle of a stiff-gelling superabsorbent material covered with at least a first layer of at least one particle of at least one coating material, the first layer of the coating material being in intimate association with and covering the surface of the superabsorbent material, the superabsorbent material being capable of selectively removing at least a portion of an amount of at least one specific component of a complex fluid, wherein the coating material substantially inhibits those components of a complex fluid having a diameter of greater than about five microns from being adsorbed onto the surface of the superabsorbent material of the composite.

27. The composite of claim 26, wherein the intimate association of the coating material with the superabsorbent material is achieved with the use of an association agent.

28. The composite of claim 26, wherein the coating material comprises a hydrophilic material.

29. The composite of claim 28, wherein the coating material comprises a cellulosic material.

30. The composite of claim 26, wherein the coating material comprises a silicate.

31. The composite of claim 30, wherein the coating material is selected from the group consisting of precipitated silica, fumed silica, silicon dioxide, zeolites, clays, vermiculite, perlite and mixtures thereof.

32. The composite of claim 26, wherein the coating material comprises insoluble proteins.

33. The composite of claim 32, wherein the coating material is selected from among the group consisting of zein, texturized vegetable proteins and mixtures thereof.

34. The composite of claim 32, wherein the coating material comprises soy protein.

35. The composite of claim 27, wherein the association agent comprises water.

36. The composite of claim 26, wherein the superabsorbent-containing composite has a complex fluid retention capacity of between 0 and about 20 g/g.

37. The composite of claim 26, wherein the superabsorbent-containing composite has a complex fluid retention capacity of at least about 13 g/g.

38. A superabsorbent-containing composite comprising at least one particle of a stiff-gelling superabsorbent material covered with at least a first layer of at least one particle of at least one coating material, the first layer of the coating material being in intimate association with and covering the surface of the superabsorbent material, the superabsorbent material being capable of selectively removing at least a portion of an amount of at least one specific component of a complex fluid and the coating material being capable of selectively removing at least a portion of an amount of at least one specific component of the complex fluid.

39. The composite of claim 38, wherein the intimate association of the coating material with the superabsorbent material is achieved with the use of an association agent.

40. The composite of claim 38, wherein the coating material comprises a hydrophilic material.

41. The composite of claim 40, wherein the coating material comprises a cellulosic material.

42. The composite of claim 38, wherein the coating material comprises a silicate.

43. The composite of claim 42, wherein the coating material is selected from the group consisting of precipitated silica, fumed silica, silicon dioxide, zeolites, clays, vermiculite, perlite and mixtures thereof.

44. The composite of claim 38, wherein the coating material comprises insoluble proteins.

45. The composite of claim 44, wherein the coating material is selected from among the group consisting of zein, texturized vegetable proteins and mixtures thereof.

46. The composite of claim 44, wherein the coating material comprises soy protein.

47. The composite of claim 39, wherein the association agent comprises water.

48. The composite of claim 38, wherein the superabsorbent-containing composite has a complex fluid retention capacity of between 0 and about 20 g/g.

49. The composite of claim 38, wherein the superabsorbent-containing composite has a complex fluid retention capacity of at least about 13 g/g.

50. The composite of claim 38, wherein the coating material is capable of selectively removing at least a portion of an amount of at least one other specific component of the complex fluid.