Articles comprising transparent/translucent polymer composition

• US 7,619,131 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Scott J., Ahmed, Iqbal, Lang, Angela Jones, Soerens, Dave Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephens; Jacqueline F.
• Application Number:
  US11/292,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20070129696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 604/366, 604/375, 604/368, 604/367, 526/218.1, 526/319, 526/279, 526/317.1
• US Class Current: 604/366
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15203 Properties of the article, e.g. stiffness or absorbency chemical aspects A61L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/531 having a homogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/534 having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad A61F13/538, A61F13/539 take precedence; homogeneous cores with tissue wrapping A61F13/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/24 Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/42 Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties liquid bandages A61L26/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a translucent absorbent composite having a substrate with a light transmittance of at least about 60% and a flexible superabsorbent binder polymer composition applied to the substrate. The polymer composition may be prepared from the reaction product of a monomer solution including at least 15% by mass monoethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid salts, sulphonic acid, sulphonic acid salts, phosphoric acid, or phosphoric acid salts; an acrylate or methacrylate ester that contains an alkoxysilane functionality; a copolymerizable hydrophilic glycol containing an ester monomer; an initiator system; and a neutralizing agent. The unsaturated monomer is neutralized to at least 25 mol % and the flexible superabsorbent binder polymer composition has a residual monoethylenically unsaturated monomer content of less than about 1000 ppm. The absorbent composite has a light transmittance of at least 45%. Also provided are absorbent articles containing the absorbent composite.

Claims

1. A translucent absorbent article comprising a backing layer and an absorbent layer;

wherein the absorbent layer is positioned adjacent the backing layer;

wherein the absorbent layer comprises a substrate and a flexible superabsorbent binder polymer composition applied to the substrate;

wherein the flexible superabsorbent binder polymer composition comprises the reaction product of;

at least 15% by mass monoethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid salts, sulphonic acid, sulphonic acid salts, phosphoric acid, and phosphoric acid salts;

a plasticizer;

an acrylate or methacrylate ester that contains an alkoxysilane functionality;

a chain transfer agent;

a transition metal salt;

an initiator system; and

a neutralizing agent;

wherein the flexible superabsorbent binder polymer composition has a weight average molecular weight of from about 100,000 to about 650,000 g/mole;

wherein the flexible superabsorbent binder polymer composition has a viscosity after 16 hours of less than about 10,000 cps;

wherein the flexible superabsorbent binder polymer composition has a residual monoethylenically unsaturated monomer content of less than about 1000 ppm;

wherein the absorbent layer has a light transmittance of at least 45% and the backing layer has a light transmittance of at least 60%; and

wherein in the absorbent article has a minimum light transmittance of at least 45%.

2. The translucent absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is a polyethylene glycol.

3. The translucent absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent article has a perimeter region and a central region, the backing layer is present in both the perimeter region and the central region, and the absorbent layer is positioned on the backing layer and in the central region of the absorbent article.

4. The translucent absorbent article of claim 3, wherein the perimeter region of the absorbent article has a light transmittance of at least 60% and the central region of the absorbent article has a light transmittance of at least 45%.

5. The translucent absorbent article of claim 4, wherein the perimeter region of the absorbent article has a light transmittance of at least 80% and the central region of the absorbent article has a light transmittance of between about 55% and about 79%.

6. The translucent absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising a liner layer, wherein the liner layer is positioned in the absorbent article such that the absorbent layer is positioned between the liner layer and the backing layer, wherein the liner layer has a light transmittance of at least 60%.

7. The translucent absorbent article of claim 6, wherein the absorbent article has a perimeter region and a central region, the backing layer and the bodyside liner are each present in both the perimeter region and the central region, and the absorbent layer is positioned between the bodyside liner and the backing layer only in the central region of the absorbent article.

8. The translucent absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent layer has an overall thickness of between about 0.25 mm to about 5.0 mm.

9. The translucent absorbent article of claim 8, wherein the absorbent layer has an overall thickness of between about 0.25 mm to about 1.5 mm.

10. The translucent absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising a garment attachment adhesive applied to a side of the backing layer opposite the absorbent layer, wherein the garment attachment adhesive has a light transmittance of at least 60%.

11. The translucent absorbent article of claim 10, wherein the garment attachment adhesive has a light transmittance of at least 80%.

12. The translucent absorbent article of claim 10, further comprising a peel strip attached to the garment adhesive, wherein the peel strip has a light transmittance of at least 60%.

13. The translucent absorbent article of claim 12, wherein the peel strip has a light transmittance of at least 80%.

14. The translucent absorbent article of claim 1 further comprising flaps, wherein the flaps have a light transmittance of at least 45%.

15. The translucent absorbent article of claim 14 further comprising a body contacting surface, a surface opposed the body contacting surface, and longitudinal edges extending along an edge of the absorbent article, wherein the absorbent layer is positioned between the body contacting surface and the surface opposed the body contacting surface, and wherein the flaps extend from the longitudinal edges of the absorbent article.