AU2016364173A1

AU2016364173A1 - Absorbent article

Info

Publication number: AU2016364173A1
Application number: AU2016364173A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Masashi Nakashita; Ichiro Wada
Original assignee: Unicharm Corp
Current assignee: Unicharm Corp
Priority date: 2015-12-04
Filing date: 2016-08-12
Publication date: 2018-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-12
Also published as: CN108348364A; AU2016364173B9; WO2017094290A1; AU2016364173B2; JP2017099824A; CN108348364B; JP6415420B2

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article or non-woven fabric that contains, at a surface thereof, a gel-like composition which can exhibit an excellent emollient effect without causing stickiness as a result of having an appropriate hardness and readily releasing an oil agent even under a light load. This absorbent article or non-woven fabric contains a gel-like composition (6) at a surface thereof, and the gel-like composition (6) contains 500-4800 parts by mass of aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) having a kinematic viscosity at 37.8ºC of 5-50 mm

Description

invention is to provide an absorbent article or non-woven fabric that contains, at a surface thereof, a gel-like composition which can exhibit an excellent emollient effect without causing stickiness as a result of having an ap propriate hardness and readily releasing an oil agent even under a light load. This absorbent article or non-woven fabric contains a gel-like composition (6) at a surface thereof, and the gel-like composition (6) contains 500-4800 parts by mass of aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) having a kinematic viscosity at 37.8°C of 5-50 mm²/s and 60-1000 parts by mass of a fatty acid triglyceride (C) which is a liquid at 20°C and has 8-22 carbon atoms, relative to 100 parts by mass of a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A), which contains a low molecular weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (Al) and a high molecular weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (A2) at a (A1)/(A2) mass ratio of 95/5-50/50.

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P160499WO

DESCRIPTION

TITLE

ABSORBENT ARTICLE

FIELD [0001]

The present invention relates to an absorbent article including on the skin side surface a gelatinous composition having suitable hardness and an excellent emollient effect without producing stickiness. The invention further relates to a nonwoven fabric having such a gelatinous composition on the surface.

BACKGROUND [0002]

As the basic performance, including absorption performance, of absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners and diapers has continued to improve with technological development over many years, problems such as leakage after absorption of excreta such as menstrual blood and urine have become less frequent, and currently there is a demand for even higher performance including, for example, an underwear-like feel during wear, as well as excellent flexibility and cushioning properties.

[0003]

In PTL 1, for example, there is disclosed an absorbent article including, in at least a portion of the outer surface of the top sheet, an effective amount of a lotion coating that is semisolid or solid at 20°C and is capable of partially migrating to the skin of the wearer. According to PTL 1, the lotion coating comprises (i) 10 to 95% of an emollient including essentially no water, and having a plastic or fluid consistency at 20°C, including at least one selected from among petroleum-based emollients, fatty acid ester emollients, alkyl ethoxylate emollients, and mixtures thereof, and (ii) 5 to 90% of an immobilizing substance allowing the emollient to be immobilized on the outer surface of the top sheet, having a melting point of at least 35 °C and preferably at least 40°C, the immobilizing substance being selected from among polyhydroxy fatty acid esters, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, C14-C22 fatty alcohols, C12-C22 fatty acids, C12-C22 fatty alcohol ethoxylates, and mixtures thereof.

[0004]

The absorbent article disclosed in PTL 1 has an effect whereby the immobilizing substance having a melting point of 3 5 °C or higher crystallizes at room temperature (25 °C) in the lotion coating, increasing the viscosity of the lotion coating to immobilize the lotion coating, but when the lotion coating is given high viscosity in this way, the active ingredients that exhibit an emollient effect become trapped in the interior, and in particular when the load on the lotion coating is minimal, a sufficient amount of lubricant fails to be released and a satisfying emollient effect cannot be obtained. Moreover, such a high-viscosity lotion coating exhibits high hardness for a material that is to be applied to the top sheet of the absorbent article (i.e., a material that will directly contact the skin), and this has often impaired the feel during wear.

[0005]

In PTL 2, on the other hand, there is disclosed a gelatinous composition that exhibits delayed elasticity, for improved gel hardness and spreading. The composition disclosed in PTL 2 is a gel elastomer comprising a high-molecular-weight triblock styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer with a number-average molecular weight of 130,000 or greater, a low-molecularweight triblock styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer with a number-average molecular weight of up to 100,000, and a softening agent, the high-molecular-weight triblock styrene-based elastomer ensuring flexibility for the composition by absorbing and holding large amounts of the softening agent, and delayed elasticity being imparted by including the low-molecular-weight triblock styrene-based elastomer; however, even this type of composition has still been inadequate in terms of stickiness of the gel surface and releasability of the constituent components.

CITATION LIST PATENT LITERATURE [0006] [PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-509896 [PTL 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-151980

SUMMARY

TECHNICAL PROBLEM [0007]

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article including on the surface a gelatinous composition having suitable hardness, wherein the lubricant is easily released even with a light load, to exhibit an excellent emollient effect without producing stickiness. It is another object of the invention to provide a nonwoven fabric having on the surface a gelatinous composition having suitable hardness and exhibiting an excellent emollient effect without producing stickiness.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM [0008]

The absorbent article according to one aspect (aspect 1) of the invention is an absorbent article including a gelatinous composition on the surface that contacts with the skin of the wearer, the gelatinous composition comprising 100 parts by mass of a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A), including a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (Al) composed of a triblock or greater block copolymer with a weight-average molecular weight of 100,000 or greater and less than 180,000, and a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (A2) composed of a triblock or greater block copolymer with a weight-average molecular weight of 180,000 or greater and 300,000 or less, in a mass ratio of (A1)/(A2) = 95/5 to 50/50, with 500 to 4800 parts by mass of an aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) having a kinematic viscosity of 5 to 50 mm /s at 37.8°C and 60 to 1000 parts by mass of a fatty acid triglyceride of 8 to 22 carbon atoms (C) that is fluid at 20°C.

[0009]

In the absorbent article of aspect 1, the gelatinous composition on the surface that contacts with the skin of the wearer is composed of the specific composition mentioned above, and it therefore has suitable hardness, while the lubricant is easily released even with a light load, so that an excellent emollient effect can be exhibited without producing stickiness. The absorbent article of aspect 1 can therefore provide an excellent feel during wear and an excellent emollient effect as an absorbent article.

[0010]

The absorbent article according to another aspect (aspect 2) of the invention is the absorbent article of aspect 1 wherein the block copolymer has two or more block components composed of styrene-based hard segments in the molecular chain.

[0011]

In the absorbent article of aspect 2, the block copolymer in the gelatinous composition has two or more block components composed of styrene-based hard segments in the molecular chain, and therefore a gel with more suitable hardness can be easily obtained, and the lubricant releasability is satisfactory.

[0012]

The absorbent article according to yet another aspect (aspect 3) of the invention is the absorbent article of aspect 2 wherein the block components at least at both ends of the molecular chains of the block copolymer are block components composed of styrene-based hard segments.

[0013]

In the absorbent article of aspect 3, the block copolymer in the gelatinous composition is one wherein the block components at least at both ends of the molecular chain of the block copolymer are block components composed of styrene-based hard segments, and therefore a gel with even more suitable hardness can be easily obtained, and the lubricant releasability is even more satisfactory.

[0014]

The absorbent article according to yet another aspect (aspect 4) of the invention is the absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 3 wherein the hydrocarbon oil (B) is hydrogenated polyisobutene.

[0015]

In the absorbent article of aspect 4, the hydrocarbon oil (B) in the gelatinous composition is hydrogenated polyisobutene, and therefore stickiness is less likely to be produced by the lubricant released from the gel, and the aforementioned emollient effect can be more effectively exhibited.

[0016]

The absorbent article according to yet another aspect (aspect 5) of the invention is the absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 4 wherein the fatty acid triglyceride (C) comprises a saturated fatty acid triglyceride of 8 to 12 carbon atoms (cl) and an unsaturated fatty acid triglyceride of 14 to 22 carbon atoms (c2), in a mass ratio of (cl)/(c2) = 95/5 to 50/50.

[0017]

In the absorbent article of aspect 5, the fatty acid triglyceride (C) in the gelatinous composition comprises a saturated fatty acid triglyceride of 8 to 12 carbon atoms (cl) and an unsaturated fatty acid triglyceride of 14 to 22 carbon atoms (c2) in a prescribed mass ratio, and therefore a gel with more suitable hardness can be obtained and a more excellent emollient effect can be exhibited.

[0018]

The absorbent article according to another aspect (aspect 6) of the invention is the absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 5 wherein the absorbent article comprises a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, the surface that contacts with the skin of the wearer being the skin side surface of the top sheet.

[0019]

In the absorbent article of aspect 6, the gelatinous composition composed of the specific composition mentioned above is included on the skin side surface of the top sheet that is most likely to contact with the skin of the wearer, and therefore the effect of the gelatinous composition can be more reliably exhibited.

[0020]

The absorbent article according to yet another aspect (aspect 7) of the invention is the absorbent article of aspect 6 wherein the gelatinous composition is disposed in a ridged or dotted manner on the skin side surface of the top sheet, in the planar view.

[0021]

In the absorbent article of aspect 7, the gelatinous composition is disposed in a ridged or dotted manner in the planar view, and on the skin side surface of the top sheet there are formed hydrophobic regions where the gelatinous composition is present and regions where the gelatinous composition is not present, such that a synergistic effect is exhibited by the exclusionary effect of the hydrophobicity in the regions where the gelatinous composition is present and the water-absorbing effect of the hydrophilicity inside the top sheet in the regions where the gelatinous composition is not present, so that a state can be formed in which liquid excreta such as urine supplied onto the skin side surface of the top sheet is easily incorporated into the top sheet through the regions where the gelatinous composition is not present. Thus, the absorbent article of aspect 6 not only exhibits the aforementioned gel hardness and emollient effect, but can also provide excellent liquid permeability and liquid repellency as an absorbent article.

[0022]

The absorbent article according to yet another aspect (aspect 8) of the invention is the absorbent article according to any one of aspects 1 to 7 wherein the absorbent article is a sanitary napkin, panty liner, diaper or urine-absorbing pad.

[0023]

In the absorbent article of aspect 8, the absorbent article is a sanitary napkin, panty liner, diaper or urine-absorbing pad and is applied to areas of the skin surface that are particularly sensitive to irritation, whereby the effect exhibited by the gelatinous composition can be more optimally enjoyed.

[0024]

The absorbent article according to yet another aspect (aspect 9) of the invention is a nonwoven fabric having a gelatinous composition on the surface, the gelatinous composition comprising 100 parts by mass of a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A), including a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (Al) composed of a triblock or greater block copolymer with a weight-average molecular weight of 100,000 or greater and less than 180,000, and a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (A2) composed of a triblock or greater block copolymer with a weight-average molecular weight of 180,000 or greater and 300,000 or less, in a mass ratio of (A1)/(A2) = 95/5 to 50/50, with 500 to 4800 parts by mass of an aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) having a kinematic viscosity of 5 to 50 mm /s at 37.8°C and 60 to 1000 parts by mass of a fatty acid triglyceride of 8 to 22 carbon atoms (C) that is fluid at 20°C.

[0025]

In the nonwoven fabric of aspect 9, the gelatinous composition on the surface is composed of the specific composition mentioned above, and it therefore has suitable hardness, while the lubricant is easily released even with a light load, so that an excellent emollient effect can be exhibited without producing stickiness. Therefore, the nonwoven fabric of aspect 9 can provide a comfortable feel during use and feel during wear, as well as an emollient effect, for the nonwoven fabric or for a product using the nonwoven fabric.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION [0026]

According to the invention it is possible to provide an absorbent article including on the surface a gelatinous composition having suitable hardness and allowing easy release of the lubricant even with a light load, whereby an excellent emollient effect can be exhibited without producing stickiness, as well as a nonwoven fabric having the gelatinous composition on the surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0027]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sanitary napkin 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a sanitary napkin 1 ’ according to another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0028]

Preferred embodiments of the absorbent article of the invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the present description, unless otherwise specified, the concept of “viewing an object (for example, an absorbent article or nonwoven fabric) on the horizontal plane in the expanded state in the thickness direction of the object, from the upper side in the vertical direction”, will be referred to simply by the phrase “in the planar view”.

[0029]

The directions used throughout the present description are as follows, unless otherwise specified.

Throughout the present description, “widthwise direction W” refers to the “short direction of the lengths of a longitudinal object in the planar view”, “lengthwise direction L” refers to the “long direction of the lengths of a longitudinal object in the planar view”, and “thickness direction” refers to the “vertical direction of an object situated on the horizontal plane in the expanded state”, with the widthwise direction W, lengthwise direction L and thickness direction being in a mutually perpendicular relationship. Also, throughout the present description, the concept of the “relatively proximal side on the center axis line in the widthwise direction running in the lengthwise direction L, in the widthwise direction W of a longitudinal object (for example, an absorbent article or nonwoven fabric)” is referred to as the “inner side in the widthwise direction”, and the concept of the “relatively distal side on the center axis line in the widthwise direction, in the widthwise direction W of a longitudinal object” is referred to as the “outer side in the widthwise direction”.

Furthermore, throughout the present description, unless otherwise specified, the concept of the “relatively proximal side with respect to side of the wearer’s skin when the absorbent article is worn” is referred to as the “skin side”, and the concept of the “relatively distal side with respect to the side of the wearer’s skin when the absorbent article is worn” is referred to as the “non-skin side”, for the thickness direction of the absorbent article.

[0030]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of sanitary napkin 1 (absorbent article) according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the sanitary napkin 1 of this embodiment has an overall outer shape that, in the planar view, is a long longitudinal shape in the lengthwise direction L, with the outer edges of the center section in the lengthwise direction L having a shape protruding in an approximately trapezoid fashion toward the outer sides in the widthwise direction W. Also, as shown in Fig. 1, the sanitary napkin 1 comprises a side sheet 4 that extends along the lengthwise direction L on both edges in the widthwise direction, and embossed sections 5 that extend along the outer edges running in the lengthwise direction L, on both edges in the widthwise direction.

Moreover, the sanitary napkin 1 comprises, in the thickness direction, a liquid-permeable top sheet 2 disposed on the skin side, a liquid-impermeable back sheet disposed on the non-skin side (not shown), and an absorbent body 3 disposed between those two sheets, the top sheet 2 further comprising a gelatinous composition 6 in the form of a plurality of ridges running along the lengthwise direction L, on the skin side surface.

[0031]

The gelatinous composition to be used in the absorbent article of the invention will now be explained in further detail.

[0032] [Gelatinous composition]

The gelatinous composition of the invention comprises 100 parts by mass of a styrenebased thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A), having a molecular weight dispersity (Mw/Mn) of 1.25 to 1.60, and including a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (Al) composed of a triblock or greater block copolymer with a weight-average molecular weight of 100,000 or greater and less than 180,000, and a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (A2) composed of a triblock or greater block copolymer with a weight-average molecular weight of 180,000 or greater and 300,000 or less, in a mass ratio of (A1)/(A2) = 95/5 to 50/50, with 500 to 4800 parts by mass of an aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) having a kinematic viscosity of 5 to 50 mm /s at 37.8°C and 60 to 1000 parts by mass of a fatty acid triglyceride of 8 to 22 carbon atoms (C) that is fluid at 20°C. A gelatinous composition composed of this specific composition has suitable hardness, while the lubricant is easily released even with a light load, so that an excellent emollient effect can be exhibited without producing stickiness, and therefore when the gelatinous composition is present on the surface of the absorbent article that contacts with the skin of the wearer, it is possible to obtain an excellent feel during wear and an excellent emollient effect as an absorbent article.

[0033]

The styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers (Al, A2) used in the gelatinous composition are triblock or greater block copolymers comprising a polystyrene-based hard segment and soft segment; however, from the viewpoint of more easily obtaining a gel with suitable hardness and obtaining satisfactory lubricant releasability, they are preferably block copolymers having two or more block components consisting of styrene-based hard segments in the molecular chain, and more preferably block copolymers wherein the block components at least at both ends of the molecular chain are block components consisting of the aforementioned styrene-based hard segment. There are no particular restrictions on the styrene-based hard segment, and for example, it may be a styrene-based polymer such as polystyrene, poly(cc-methylstyrene), poly(omethylstyrene), poly(m-methylstyrene) or poly(p-methylstyrene). There are also no particular restrictions on the soft segment, and for example, it may be an olefin-based polymer such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, polybutadiene or polyisoprene. Throughout the present description, the term “styrene-based block component” may be used to refer to a block component comprising a styrene-based hard segment, and the term “olefin-based block component” may be used to refer to a block component comprising an olefin-based soft segment. [0034]

The copolymers used as the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers (Al, A2) are not particularly restricted so long as they are triblock or greater styrene-based block copolymers, and examples include styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS), styrene-ethylene-butylenestyrene block copolymer (SEBS), styrene-isoprene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (SIBS), styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer (SIS), styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymer (SEPS), styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymer (SEEPS), and combinations of any two or more thereof. Preferred among these are styrene-ethylene-butylenestyrene block copolymer (SEBS), styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymer (SEPS) and styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymer (SEEPS), or combinations of two or more of these, from the viewpoint of the gel hardness and spreading after application onto the top sheet. When diblock copolymers are used as the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers (Al, A2), interaction (π-π stacking) of the styrene-based hard segments is weakened, and therefore gel hardness and elasticity may not be adequately obtained (i.e., they may be too soft). Presumably, since the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer has a mesh-like network structure formed by a plurality of aggregate domains created by interaction of the styrene-based hard segments, and olefin-based soft segments linked to the plurality of aggregate domains, it exhibits a function as an elastic solid. Also, presumably such a mesh-like network structure allows suitable release of the lubricants described below (i.e., the hydrocarbon oil (B) and fatty acid triglyceride (C)), while providing a retaining function.

[0035]

The block copolymer includes preferably 10 to 50 mass% of a styrene-based block component, and approximately 50 to 90 mass% of an olefin-based block component, and more preferably 15 to 40 mass% of a styrene-based block component and 60 to 85 mass% of an olefinbased block component. If the amount of the styrene-based block component is less than 10 mass%, the amount of styrene-based block component forming the aggregate domains will be reduced, making it difficult to form the aforementioned mesh-like network structure by the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer. If the amount of the styrene-based block component is greater than 50 mass%, on the other hand, the amount of olefin-based block component that retains the lubricant will be reduced, resulting in a smaller amount of lubricant that can be retained and a larger amount of aggregate domains formed by the styrene-based hard segments, and therefore the gel applied onto the top sheet will be hard, potentially impairing the feel of the absorbent article when it is worn.

[0036]

According to the invention, the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A) comprises a mixture of two different styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers (Al, A2) with different weight-average molecular weights.

[0037]

Of the two different styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers (Al, A2), the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (Al) with the lower weight-average molecular weight (hereunder also referred to as “low-molecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (Al)”) has a weightaverage molecular weight in the range of 100,000 or greater and less than 180,000, and preferably in the range of 100,000 to 150,000. If the weight-average molecular weight is lower than 100,000, the hardness of the gel will be reduced after application to the top sheet (i.e., the gel will become too soft). Of the two different styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers (Al, A2), the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (A2) with the higher weight-average molecular weight (hereunder also referred to as “high-molecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (A2)”) has a weight-average molecular weight in the range of 180,000 or greater and 300,000 or less, and preferably in the range of 220,000 to 280,000. If the weight-average molecular weight exceeds 300,000, the hardness of the gel may be reduced (i.e., the gel may become too soft), potentially producing stickiness.

[0038]

The styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A) preferably has a dispersity (i.e., a ratio of weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and number-average molecular weight (Mn) (Mw/Mn)) in the range of 1.25 to 1.60. When the dispersity is in this range, the gel tends to have suitable hardness, and the lubricant will be more easily released in a suitable amount.

[0039]

The respective weight-average molecular weights (Mw) of the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers (Al, A2) and the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A), and the dispersity (Mw/Mn) of the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A), can be determined in terms of polystyrene, by GPC measurement under the following conditions using tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the mobile phase.

[0040] [GPC measuring conditions]

Apparatus: GPC-8220 (product of Tosoh Corp.)

Column: Shodex LF-804 (product of Showa Denko K.K.)

Temperature: 40°C

Solvent: THF

Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min

Sample concentration: 0.05 to 0.6 mass%

Injection rate: 0.1 mL

Detection: RI (differential refractometer) [0041]

As mentioned above, according to the invention the gelatinous composition comprises a mixture of two different styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers (Al, A2) with different weightaverage molecular weights, where the mixing ratio is in the range of (A1)/(A2) = 95/5 to 50/50, preferably 90/10 to 60/40 and more preferably 80/20 to 70/30, as the mass ratio of the lowmolecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (Al) and the high-molecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (A2). For the mass ratio, a mixing ratio of greater than 95 for the low-molecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (Al) will result in insufficient gel hardness after application onto the top sheet, while a mixing ratio of lower than may lower the amount of lubricant released from the gel.

[0042]

According to the invention, the gelatinous composition may further comprise an aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) having a kinematic viscosity of 5 to 50 mm /s at 37.8°C. The hydrocarbon oil (B) is not particularly restricted so long as it is an aliphatic compound composed of carbon and hydrogen, and it may be either a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon oil or an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon oil.

[0043]

Examples of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon oils include liquid paraffin, hydrogenated polyisobutene, α-olefin oligomers and squalane. Examples of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon oils include squalene and polybutene. Of these, hydrogenated polyisobutene is particularly preferred for use as the hydrocarbon oil (B), because stickiness will be less likely to be produced by the lubricant released from the gel, and the aforementioned emollient effect can be more effectively exhibited.

[0044]

The aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) has a 37.8°C kinematic viscosity in the range of 5 to 50 2 2 mm /s, preferably in the range of 10 to 30 mm /s and more preferably in the range of 10 to 20 2 2 mm /s. If the kinematic viscosity is less than 5 mm /s, the aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) will tend to volatilize off more readily during production of the gelatinous composition, and therefore variation may be produced in the physical properties of the gel after application onto the top sheet. If the kinematic viscosity exceeds 50 mm /s, on the other hand, the gel will become hard after application onto the top sheet, and the amount of release of the lubricant will be reduced. The kinematic viscosity of the aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) can be obtained by measurement according to JIS K 2283:2000, “5. Kinematic Viscosity Test Method”, using a Cannon-Fenske viscometer, at a testing temperature of 37.8°C.

[0045]

The content of the aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) is in the range of 500 to 4800 parts by mass, preferably in the range of 800 to 3000 parts by mass and even more preferably in the range of 1000 to 1500 parts by mass, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A). If the content is less than 500 parts by mass, the gel may become hard after application onto the top sheet. If the content exceeds 4800 parts by mass, on the other hand, the gel will become too soft, making it difficult to maintain the form of the gel. [0046]

According to the invention, the gelatinous composition further comprises a fatty acid triglyceride of 8 to 22 carbon atoms (C) that is a fluid at 20°C (i.e., ordinary temperature). The fatty acid triglyceride to be used for the invention can be obtained, for example, by dehydrating synthesis reaction between glycerin and one or more different fatty acids under non-catalytic conditions, or by transesterification reaction between glycerin and one or more different fatty acid alcohol esters.

[0047]

Examples of fatty acid triglycerides that may be used for the invention include saturated fatty acid triglycerides of 8 to 12 carbon atoms (cl), using saturated fatty acids such as capric acid, caprylic acid and lauric acid. Examples of specific commercial products include PANACET (trade name) by NOF Corp., COCONADO (trade name) by Kao Corp., and ODO by Nisshin OilliO Group, Ftd.

Further examples of fatty acid triglycerides that may be used for the invention include unsaturated fatty acid triglycerides of 14 to 22 carbon atoms (c2), such as oleic acid triglyceride. Examples of specific commercial products include olive oil, soybean oil, camellia oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, sesame oil, com oil, cottonseed oil, carthamus oil, jojoba oil and sunflower oil. Most preferred among these are olive oil, camellia oil and sunflower oil containing oleic acid triglyceride in a proportion of 70 mass% or greater.

[0048]

The content of the fatty acid triglyceride (C) is in the range of 60 to 1000 parts by mass, preferably in the range of 80 to 900 parts by mass and even more preferably in the range of 100 to 700 parts by mass, with respect to 100 parts by mass of the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A). If the content is less than 60 parts by mass, the amount of release of lubricant may be reduced, and if it is greater than 1000 parts by mass, the amount of release of lubricant may be too great, potentially producing stickiness.

[0049]

According to the invention, the fatty acid triglyceride (C) is preferably a mixture of two or more fatty acid triglycerides (cl, c2) with different numbers of carbon atoms. Their specific contents are preferably such that the saturated fatty acid triglyceride of 8 to 12 carbon atoms (cl) and the unsaturated fatty acid triglyceride of 14 to 28 carbon atoms (c2) are in a mass ratio in the range of (cl)/(c2) = 95/5 to 50/50, from the viewpoint of increasing the gel hardness and emollient effect. If the fatty acid triglyceride (C) comprises the saturated fatty acid triglyceride of 8 to 12 carbon atoms (cl) and the unsaturated fatty acid triglyceride of 14 to 22 carbon atoms (c2) in a mass ratio in the range specified above, a gel with more suitable hardness can be obtained and a more excellent emollient effect can be exhibited.

[0050]

According to the invention, in order to further increase the effect of the invention, the gelatinous composition may further comprise a silicone oil (D), in addition to the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A), hydrocarbon oil (B) and fatty acid triglyceride (C). The content of the silicone oil (D) is preferably in the range of 5 to 60 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A). If the silicone oil (D) content is within this range, it will be possible to release a suitable amount of lubricant even with a low content of lubricant in the gelatinous composition, and therefore a more excellent emollient effect can be exhibited without producing stickiness.

[0051]

According to the invention, the gelatinous composition may also contain other commonly used additives such as cosmetics and lotions, in ranges that do not impair the effect of the invention. Examples of such additives include antioxidants, light stabilizers, coloring agents, pigments and aromatics.

[0052]

The gelatinous composition to be used for the invention can be produced by adding the aforementioned components either simultaneously or in any desired order, and melt mixing them. There are no particular restrictions on the melt mixing means, and any known mixing means may be applied. Examples of such mixing means include means that employ mixers such as single-screw extruders, twin-screw extruders, rollers, Banbury mixers, kneaders or mixing kilns.

[0053]

The gelatinous composition to be used for the invention has excellent hardness and elongation, and also suitable releasability (sustained-release) of lubricants, and therefore desired types of coating and molding (for example, extrusion molding, injection molding and dipping molding) can be carried out while minimizing adhesion onto coating apparatuses and molding apparatuses. Furthermore, since the gelatinous composition contains more low-molecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer than high-molecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, it exhibits a suitable flow property even under temperature conditions of near 100°C, so that it can be easily layered by application or molding with various types of substrates such as nonwoven fabrics, paper, cloths, olefin-based resins, PET resins and the like.

[0054]

The gelatinous composition composed of the specific composition described above is disposed on the surface of the absorbent article that contacts with the skin of the wearer. According to the invention, the surface that contacts with the skin of the wearer may include the surface that actually contacts with the skin of the wearer when the wearer has worn the absorbent article of the invention, or it may also include a surface that contacts when the wearer moves or applies bodily pressure. The surface may be, in addition to the skin side surface of the top sheet, the skin side surface of the side sheet (refer to the side sheet 4 of the sanitary napkin 1 of the embodiment described above) or a three-dimensional gather sheet.

In the sanitary napkin 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, the gelatinous composition 6 is disposed on the skin side surface of the top sheet 2. When the gelatinous composition is thus disposed on the skin side surface of the top sheet that is most likely to contact with the skin of the wearer, the effect of the gelatinous composition can be more reliably exhibited.

[0055]

In the sanitary napkin 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, the gelatinous composition 6 is disposed on the skin side surface of the top sheet 2, in the form of a plurality of ridges extending continuously along the lengthwise direction L of the sanitary napkin 1, in the planar view, and spaced with prescribed intervals in the widthwise direction W (see Fig. 1). In the absorbent article of the invention, the form in which the gelatinous composition is disposed is not particularly restricted, and for example, the gelatinous composition may be disposed in a discontinuous (intermittent) manner over the entire region in the lengthwise direction L of the absorbent article (i.e., across both edges in the lengthwise direction L), or it may be disposed in a continuous or discontinuous manner in partial regions in the lengthwise direction L of the absorbent article.

[0056]

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a sanitary napkin 1 ’ (absorbent article) according to another embodiment of the invention. In Fig. 2, the members identical to those of the sanitary napkin 1 in Fig. 1 (for example, the top sheet 2 and absorbent body 3) are indicated by like reference numerals. In the sanitary napkin 1’ of this embodiment, the gelatinous composition 6’ is disposed in the form of a plurality of dots arranged in a zigzag fashion, in the planar view, on the skin side surface of the top sheet 2.

[0057]

When the gelatinous composition is disposed in a ridged or dotted manner in the planar view, as in the embodiments described above, hydrophobic regions where the gelatinous composition is present and regions where the gelatinous composition is not present are formed on the skin side surface of the top sheet, and therefore a synergistic effect is exhibited by the exclusionary effect on water (liquid excreta such as urine) due to the hydrophobicity in the regions where the gelatinous composition is present, and the water-absorbing effect due to the hydrophilicity inside the top sheet in the regions where the gelatinous composition is not present, whereby a state can be formed in which liquid excreta such as urine supplied onto the skin side surface of the top sheet are easily incorporated into the top sheet through the regions where the gelatinous composition is not present. Thus, in an absorbent article in which the gelatinous composition is disposed in the manner of the embodiments described above, it is possible to exhibit not only the aforementioned gel hardness and emollient effect, but also excellent liquid permeability and liquid repellency as an absorbent article.

[0058]

The gelatinous composition is disposed in the region where the top sheet and the absorbent body overlap in the planar view (i.e., the region of overlap in the thickness direction), preferably at an area ratio of 1 to 50% of the region, more preferably it is disposed at an area ratio of 3 to 40% of the region, and most preferably it is disposed at an area ratio of 5 to 30% of the region. If the gelatinous composition is disposed at an area ratio of less than 1% of the region, the amount of gelatinous composition on the top sheet will be too low, making it impossible to adequately exhibit the effect provided by the gelatinous composition. If the gelatinous composition is disposed at an area ratio exceeding 50% of the region, on the other hand, the region on the top sheet where the gelatinous composition is disposed will not absorb liquid excreta, and therefore the region of the top sheet that can absorb liquid excreta will be too small and the absorption performance of the absorbent article may be lowered.

[0059]

Moreover, according to the invention, the top sheet comprises the gelatinous composition 2 2 at a content of preferably 1 to 30 g/m , more preferably 2 to 20 g/m and even more preferably 3 2 to 10 g/m . Incidentally, throughout the present description, the content of the gelatinous composition is that which can be determined by the following measuring method.

[Method of measuring gelatinous composition content in top sheet] (1) A prescribed region to be measured on the top sheet on which the gelatinous composition is disposed, is cut out using a sharp blade such as a cutter replacement blade, while avoiding any alteration in thickness, to obtain a sample for measurement of the content.

(2) The area: SA (m ) and the mass: SMo (g) of the cut out sample are measured.

(3) The measured sample is dipped in a solvent in which the gelatinous composition is soluble, such as an aromatic solvent (for example, xylene) and stirred for at least 3 minutes for elution of the gelatinous composition into the solvent.

(4) The sample in the solvent is filtered using mass-measured filter paper, and the sample is thoroughly rinsed with the solvent on the filter paper. Each rinsed sample filter paper sheet is thoroughly dried in an oven at 100°C.

(5) The masses of the dried filter paper and the sample are measured, and the premeasured mass of the filter paper is subtracted from that value to calculate the dry sample mass: SMi (g).

(6) The gelatinous composition content GbS (g/m ) is calculated by the following formula (1).

[Mathematical Formula 1]

G_8S (g/m²) = [SM₀ (g) -SM, (g) ] /SA (m²) (1) [0060]

In order to reduce measurement error for the gelatinous composition content, multiple samples are cut out from multiple absorbent articles, so that the total area of the sample exceeds

100 cm , and each sample is measured according to (2) to (6) above, employing the average value for the content GbS obtained from the measuring operations.

[0061]

According to the invention, there are no particular restrictions on the method of disposing the gelatinous composition on the surface of the absorbent article (for example, the skin side surface of the top sheet), and any known coating method may be employed. For example, the gelatinous composition may be applied onto the surface of the absorbent article using an extrusion device comprising a discharge nozzle; or a coating applicator such as a non-contact coater, such as spiral coater, curtain coater, spray coater or dip coater; or a contact coater.

[0062]

The gelatinous composition may be coated during production of the material for the top sheet, such as the nonwoven fabric, or it may be coated onto the top sheet in the manufacturing line for the absorbent article, but from the viewpoint of minimizing equipment investment, the gelatinous composition is preferably coated on the top sheet in the manufacturing line for the absorbent article, and particularly from the viewpoint of minimizing contamination by shedding of the lubricant, it is preferably coated on the top sheet during a downstream step of the manufacturing line (for example, just before the step of separately packaging the product).

[0063]

The members composing the absorbent article of the invention will now be explained in further detail.

[0064] [Top sheet]

The liquid-permeable top sheet used for the absorbent article of the invention may be a sheet-like fiber structure such as a nonwoven fabric or woven fabric, for example. When a nonwoven fabric or woven fabric is to be used as the top sheet, the fibers composing the woven fabric or nonwoven fabric may be natural fibers or chemical fibers, for example, and specifically these include cellulose fibers such as ground pulp and cotton; regenerated cellulose such as rayon and fibril rayon; semi-synthetic cellulose such as acetate and triacetate, thermoplastic hydrophobic chemical fibers, and hydrophilicized thermoplastic hydrophobic chemical fibers. Also, examples of thermoplastic hydrophobic chemical fibers include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers, and fibers composed of PE and PP graft polymers.

[0065]

Examples of nonwoven fabrics include air-through nonwoven fabrics, spunbond nonwoven fabrics, point bond nonwoven fabrics, spunlace nonwoven fabrics, needle punching nonwoven fabrics and meltblown nonwoven fabrics, as well as combinations thereof (such as SMS and the like).

[0066]

The nonwoven fabric or woven fabric is preferably subjected to hydrophilicizing treatment. The method for hydrophilicizing treatment is not particularly restricted, and it may be a method of coating the hydrophilic agent on the surface of a nonwoven fabric or woven fabric, a method of coating the hydrophilic agent on the surfaces of the fibers composing the nonwoven fabric or woven fabric, or a method of adding a hydrophilic agent to the synthetic resin as the starting material for the fibers composing the nonwoven fabric or woven fabric.

[0067] [Back sheet]

In the absorbent article of the invention, the liquid-impermeable back sheet used may be a film comprising PE, PP or the like, an air-permeable resin film, a multilayer article formed by attaching an air-permeable resin film to a spunbond or spunlace nonwoven fabric, a multilayer nonwoven fabric such as SMS, or the like. In consideration of flexibility of the absorbent article, a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film with a basis weight of about 15 to about 30 g/m , for example, is preferred.

[0068]

Also according to the invention, the absorbent article may include an interlayer sheet having fluid diffusibility in the in-plane direction (especially the lengthwise direction L), between the top sheet and the absorbent body and/or between the back sheet and the absorbent body. Such an interlayer sheet that is used may be the same type as a sheet-like fiber structure forming the top sheet.

[0069] [Absorbent body]

The absorbent body in the absorbent article of the invention is not particularly restricted, and any absorbent body known in the relevant field may be used. Examples of absorbent bodies that may be used in the absorbent article of the invention include those having an absorbent core formed of an absorbent material, covered with a hydrophilic core wrap sheet. The absorbent material composing the absorbent core may be, for example, hydrophilic fibers or a superabsorbent polymer, and specifically, cellulose such as ground pulp or cotton; regenerated cellulose such as rayon or fibril rayon; semi-synthetic cellulose such as acetate or triacetate; hydrophilicized thermoplastic hydrophobic chemical fibers; granules composed of a superabsorbent polymer such as sodium acrylate copolymer; or a combination of any two or more of these.

[0070]

The core wrap sheet is not particularly restricted so long as it has sufficient liquid permeability to allow permeation of liquid excreta such as body fluids discharged from the human body, and has a sufficient barrier property to prevent permeation of the absorbent material of the absorbent core enclosed in the sheet, and examples include sheet-like fiber structures such as tissues, woven fabrics and nonwoven fabrics.

[0071]

Another example of an absorbent body that may be used in the absorbent article of the invention is an absorbent sheet composed of absorbent fibers and/or an absorbent polymer, and while its thickness is not particularly restricted it is preferably in the range of 0.3 to 5.0 mm.

Such an absorbent sheet may be used without any particular restrictions so long as it is one that can be used in a common absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin.

[0072]

The present invention can be applied not only to a sanitary napkin as with this embodiment, but also to various types of absorbent articles such as panty liners, diapers and (light) incontinence pads. Since an absorbent article of such a type as a sanitary napkin, panty liner, diaper or urine-absorbing pad is applied to areas of the skin surface that are particularly sensitive to irritation, the effect exhibited by the gelatinous composition can be more optimally enjoyed.

[0073]

The present invention can also be applied for nonwoven fabrics instead of the aforementioned absorbent article. The nonwoven fabric of the invention has a gelatinous composition composed of the composition specified above, in at least a portion of the regions of the nonwoven fabric, or the product using the nonwoven fabric, that may directly contact with the skin of the user.

The gelatinous composition composed of the composition specified above has suitable hardness, while the lubricant is easily released even with a light load, so that an excellent emollient effect can be exhibited without producing stickiness, and the nonwoven fabric of the invention having the gelatinous composition on the surface can provide a comfortable feel during use and feel during wear, as well as an emollient effect, to the nonwoven fabric or to a product using the nonwoven fabric.

[0074]

In such nonwoven fabrics as well, the gelatinous composition may be disposed in the same form as the embodiment of the sanitary napkin described above (i.e., in a ridged or dotted manner) in at least portions of the regions that may directly contact with the skin of the user. Products employing the nonwoven fabric may be, for example, masks, wet tissues or the like.

EXAMPLES [0075]

Examples and comparative examples of the invention will now be described for more concrete explanation of the invention, with the understanding that the invention is not limited only to the examples.

[0076]

The following commercial products were used as different compounding ingredients for production of the gelatinous compositions in the absorbent articles of the examples and comparative examples of the invention.

[0077]

1) Styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers (Al, A2)

a) Low-molecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (Al) • SEPTON 8004 (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) with Mw of 110,000, product of Kuraray Co., Ltd.)

b) Low-molecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (Al’) • KRATON G1652 (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) with Mw of 80,000, product of Kraton Polymer) [0078]

c) High-molecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (A2) • KRATON G1654 (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) with Mw of 200,000, product of Kraton Polymer) • SEPTON 2005 (styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymer (SEPS) with Mw of 260,000, product of Kuraray Co., Ltd.) [0079]

2) Lubricants

a) Aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) • PARLEAM EX (hydrogenated polyisobutene with 37.8°C kinematic viscosity of 10 mm /s, product of NOF Corp.) • PARLEAM 6 (hydrogenated polyisobutene with 37.8°C kinematic viscosity of 20 mm /s, product of NOF Corp.)

b) Aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B’)

Liquid paraffin (liquid paraffin with 37.8°C kinematic viscosity of 75 mm /s, product of Moresco Corp.) [0080]

c) Fatty acid triglyceride (C)

PANACET 810S (Fatty acid triglyceride of capric acid and caprylic acid, product of NOF Corp.)

Olive oil, refined (olive oil, product of DSP Gokyo Food & Chemical Co., Ltd.)

Rapeseed/white shark oil (rapeseed oil, product of Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd.) [0081]

d) Other ester oil (C’)

SARASKO 816T (cetyl 2-ethylhexanoate, product of Nisshin OilliO Group, Ltd.) [0082]

3) Other lubricant (D)

SH200-100cs (dimethylpolysiloxane with 25°C kinematic viscosity of 100 mm /s, product of Dow Corning Toray) [0083]

1. Production of gelatinous compositions

The compounding ingredients listed above were charged into a separable flask with the contents shown in Table 1 below, and after melt mixing at 130°C for 5 hours while stirring the contents, the mixture was cooled to obtain gel composition Nos. 1-1 to 1-9 and 2-1 to 2-6. The physical properties of each of the obtained gelatinous compositions were evaluated by the following test methods. The compositions and physical properties (weight-average molecular weights and dispersities) of each of the gelatinous compositions are shown in Table 1, and the evaluation results for each test method are shown in Table 2.

[0084]

2, Evaluation of gelatinous compositions [Physical property tests] (1) Hardness

The gelatinous composition obtained as described above was used to produce a test piece comprising a cylindrical gel with a diameter of 40 mm and a thickness of 8 mm. The test piece was set in an EzTest desktop tester (product of Shimadzu Corp.) on which was mounted a stainless steel compression jig with a diameter of 120 mm, and the test force (N) was measured with the test piece compressed 4 mm at a rate of 5 mm/min. The measured value was evaluated based on the following scale. The measurement results and evaluation results are shown in Table

2.

G: >10N and <40N P: <10N or greater than 40N [0085| (2) Releasability

The obtained gelatinous composition was used to produce a test piece comprising a cylindrical gel with a diameter of 40 mm and a thickness of 8 mm. A commercially available tissue paper (2-ply) whose mass (W |) had been measured in advance was placed on the top side of a fabricated test piece, and a 10 g load was set on the tissue paper and allowed to stand at room temperature (23 °C) for 24 hours, after which the tissue paper was removed and the mass (W2) was measured. Also, the rate of mass increase (%) of the tissue paper was calculated based on the following formula (2), from the previously measured tissue paper mass (Wl) and the tissue paper mass measured after 24 hours (W2), and it was evaluated on the following scale, with the rate of mass increase (%) as the amount of release. The measurement results and evaluation results are shown in Table 2.

[Mathematical Formula 2]

Rate of mass increase (%) (Wj -W, ) /W, χ 1 0 0 (2)

G: Rate of mass increase (release amount) of >2% and <10%

P: Rate of mass increase (release amount) of <2% or greater than 10% [0086| [Table 1]

Table 1

1 Gelatinous Composition No. \|	© 1	© 00	1	1	20	\| 1200 1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	\| 80/20 I	140,000	1.40
1 SY 1	© 00	1	1	20	\| 1200 1	1	1	1	1	1	©	1	\| 80/20 \|	140,000	1.40
tT 1	1	60	1	40	\| 1300 1	1	1	\| 300 1	©	1	I	1	\| 60/40 \|	150,000	1.66
1 vz \|	©	1	1	70	\| 3200 1	1	1	\| 300 1	©	1	I	1	\| 33/67 \|	240,000	1.24
1	© 00	1	1	20	1	1	1200	1	I	1	1	1	\| 80/20 \|	140,000	1.40
1	100	1	1	1	\| 006 1	1	1	\| 300 1	©	1	1	1	© © ©	100,000	Γ4
1	© 00	1	1	20	1	\| 1200 1	1	1 OS! 1	1 oz 1	1	1	1 op \|	\| 80/20 I	140,000	1.40
00 1	© 00	1	1	20	1	\| 1200 1	1	\| 300 1	©	1	1	1 op \|	\| 80/20 \|	140,000	1.40
1	© 00	1	1	20	1	\| 1200 1	1	\| 200 1	1 οει \|	1	1	1	\| 80/20 \|	140,000	1.40
© 1	© 00	1	1 oz \|	1	\| 1200 1	1	1	\| 300 1	©	1	1	1	\| 80/20 \|	120,000	1.27
IT) 1	© 00	1	1	20	1	\| 1200 1	1	\| 300 1	©	1	1	1	\| 80/20 \|	140,000	1.40
tT 1	© 00	1	1	20	\| 1200 1	1	1	\| 300 1	©	1	1	1	\| 80/20 \|	140,000	1.40
1	© 00	1	1	20	1	\| 1200 1	1	1	I	©	1	1	\| 80/20 \|	140,000	1.40
1	© 00	1	1	20	1	\| 1200 1	1	1	©	1	1	1	\| 80/20 \|	140,000	1.40
1	© 00	1	1	20	1	\| 1200 1	1	©	I	1	1	1	\| 80/20 \|	140,000	1.40
Mw	110,000	80,000	\|200,000\|	260,000	1	1	1	I	I	1	1	1
Product name	SEPTON 8004	KRATON G1652	\| KRATON G1654 \|	SEPTON 2005	\| PARLEAMEX \|	\| PARLEAM 6 \|	Liquid paraffin	1 PANACET 810S 1	Olive oil \|	Rapeseed oil \|	\| SARASKO 816Τ I	\| SH200-100CS 1		Weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of mixture (A) of (Al) and (A2)	Dispersity (Mw/Mn) of mixture (A) of (Al) and (A2)
Compounding ingredient	Styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer(Al)	Styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer(Al’)	Styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer/A2)	Aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B)	Aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B’)	Fatty acid triglyceride (C)	\| Other ester oil (C’) \|	\| Other lubricant (D) \|	\| (A1)/(A2) mass ratio \|

[0087]

3. Production of absorbent articles

The gelatinous composition Nos. 1-1 to 1-9 and 2-1 to 2-6, obtained as described above, were each coated onto the skin side surface of the top sheet of a commercially available sanitary napkin in the form of a plurality of ridges running in the lengthwise direction, to obtain absorbent articles (sanitary napkins) for Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6.

[0088]

4, Evaluation of absorbent articles [Organoleptic test]

After allowing the absorbent articles of Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6, obtained as described above, to stand overnight at 23 °C, the skin side surface of the top sheet of the absorbent article was stroked 10 times right and left with the finger, and evaluation was made from the viewpoint of “softness” and “stickiness”. Also, the skin side surface of the top sheet (i.e., the surface on which the gelatinous composition was coated) was adhered to the back of the hand and left for 15 minutes, after which the state of the skin was confirmed and the “emollient effect” was evaluated. The evaluation was carried out with 10 participants, and a questionnaire was filled out based on the following evaluation scale. The results of the questionnaire were evaluated as the total points from the 10 participants.

For evaluation of the emollient effect, it was explained to the participants beforehand that the emollient effect was “the effect of softening the skin by reducing transpiration of moisture from the skin due to the action of an oily film”.

[0089] (i) Softness points: Elastic and soft points: Elastic but hard point: Non-elastic and hard, or non-elastic and soft [0090] (ii) Stickiness points: No sticking of finger with lubricant points: Sticking of finger with lubricant point: Finger not wetted [0091] (iii) Emollient effect points: Emollient effect sensed points: Little emollient effect sensed point: Absolutely no emollient effect sensed [0092]

The total points for each of the organoleptic tests (i) to (iii) were judged on the following scale. The total points and evaluation results of the organoleptic tests are shown in Table 2 below (the numbers in parentheses in the table indicate the total points for each test).

VG: Total of >26 points

G: Total of >21 points and <26 points

F: Total of >15 points and <21 points

P: Total of <15 points [0093] [Table 2]

Table 2

Comparative Example		oo CH	d	O	Ph	O §	O P > P	fc Ξ
UP	r-	co o	O	Ph	o §	o g	fc s
TT	co	14.4	o	Ph	O	fc S	fc g
co	tT	UO	Ph	Ph	Ph g	fc g	fc s
	o TT	uo	Ph	Ph	fc g	fc S	fc s
-	uo	2.9	Ph	O	fc S'	[-►j m fc cs	fc g
Example	o	OO	4.4	O	O	O oo > Γ4,	O oo > Γ4,	O oo > Γ4,
00	Γ4	d	O	O	O P >	O P >	O oo >
r-	co CH	TJ-*	O	O	ΓΗ) P fc	o g	o p > Γ4,
	UO	4.7	o	o	fc cs	o g	o p > Γ4,
UO	Γ4 Γ4	uo tJ-*	o	o	O P >	o g	ο P >
TT	<o	4.8	o	o	O oo > Γ4,	fc cs	ο P > Γ4,
co	o Γ4	2.7	o	o	O CS	ΓΗ) p fc cs	O CS
Γ4	uo CH	3.4	o	o	o g	O	ΓΗ) P fc c\|
-	oo	4.8	o	o	o g	ΓΗ) P fc cs	fc cs
	Hardness (N)	Release amount (%)	Hardness	Releasability	Softness	Stickiness	Emollient effect
Measurement results	Physical property evaluation	Organoleptic evaluation
Physical property test	Organoleptic test

[0094]

As shown in Table 2, the absorbent articles of Examples 1 to 9 exhibited satisfactory results for all of the evaluations in the physical property tests and organoleptic tests for gelatinous composition Nos. 1-1 to 1-9. For the absorbent article of Example 8, in particular, the gelatinous composition No. 1-8 that was used had superior lubricant releasability, and high evaluation results for the emollient effect were also obtained in the organoleptic evaluation of the absorbent article. In the absorbent article of Example 9, despite the low content of the fatty acid triglyceride (C) in the gelatinous composition No. 1-9 that was used, it had superior lubricant releasability, and high evaluation results for the emollient effect were also obtained in the organoleptic evaluation of the absorbent article.

[0095]

On the other hand, in the absorbent article of Comparative Example 1, since the gelatinous composition No. 2-1 that was used contained only a low-molecular-weight styrenebased thermoplastic elastomer (Al) as the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, the gel hardness was high, and inadequate evaluation results were obtained for the softness and emollient effect in the organoleptic evaluation of the absorbent article as well.

With the absorbent article of Comparative Example 2, since the gelatinous composition No. 2-2 that was used had a viscosity for the hydrocarbon oil (B) that was outside of the range of to 50 mm /s, and contained no fatty acid triglyceride (C), the gel hardness was high and the amount of lubricant release was too low, while in the organoleptic evaluation of the absorbent article as well, the gel hardness was high and no emollient effect was sensed.

With the absorbent article of Comparative Example 3, since the gelatinous composition No. 2-3 that was used had a mass ratio of low-molecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (Al) and high-molecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (A2) outside of the range of (A1)/(A2) = 95/5 to 50/50, the gel hardness was too soft, and in the organoleptic evaluation of the absorbent article as well, the evaluation results obtained were inadequate for softness, stickiness and emollient effect.

With the absorbent article of Comparative Example 4, since the gelatinous composition No. 2-4 that was used had a weight-average molecular weight outside of the range of 100,000 or greater and less than 180,000 for the low-molecular-weight styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (Al ’), the gel hardness was too soft and the amount of lubricant release was too large, while stickiness was also sensed in the organoleptic evaluation of the absorbent article.

With the absorbent article of Comparative Example 5, since the gelatinous composition No. 2-5 that was used contained an ester oil instead of a fatty acid triglyceride (C), the lubricant releasability was poor and no emollient effect was sensed in the organoleptic evaluation of the absorbent article.

Moreover, with the absorbent article of Comparative Example 6, since the gelatinous composition No. 2-6 that was used did not include a fatty acid triglyceride (C) (i.e., it did not contain a component other than the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A) and hydrocarbon oil (B)), no lubricant releasability was observed, and no emollient effect was sensed in the organoleptic evaluation of the absorbent article.

REFERENCE SIGNS FIST [0096]

Sanitary napkin 10 2 Top sheet

Absorbent body

Side sheet

Embossed section

Gelatinous composition

Claims

1. An absorbent article including a gelatinous composition on a surface that contacts with the skin of a wearer, the gelatinous composition comprising a composition containing 100 parts by mass of a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A), including a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (Al) composed of a triblock or greater block copolymer with a weightaverage molecular weight of 100,000 or greater and less than 180,000, and a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (A2) composed of a triblock or greater block copolymer with a weightaverage molecular weight of 180,000 or greater and 300,000 or less, in a mass ratio of (A1)/(A2) = 95/5 to 50/50, with 500 to 4800 parts by mass of an aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) having 2 a kinematic viscosity of 5 to 50 mm /s at 37.8°C and 60 to 1000 parts by mass of a fatty acid triglyceride of 8 to 22 carbon atoms (C) that is fluid at 20°C.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the block copolymer has two or more block components composed of styrene-based hard segments in a molecular chain.

3. The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the block components at least at both ends of the molecular chain of the block copolymer are block components composed of styrene-based hard segments.

4. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hydrocarbon oil (B) is hydrogenated polyisobutene.

5. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fatty acid triglyceride (C) comprises a saturated fatty acid triglyceride of 8 to 12 carbon atoms (cl) and an unsaturated fatty acid triglyceride of 14 to 22 carbon atoms (c2), in a mass ratio of (cl)/(c2) = 95/5 to 50/50.

6. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the absorbent article comprises a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquidimpermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, and the surface that contacts with the skin of the wearer is a skin side surface of the top sheet.

7. The absorbent article according to claim 6, wherein the gelatinous composition is disposed in a ridged or dotted manner on the skin side surface of the top sheet, in a planar view.

8. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the absorbent

5 article is a sanitary napkin, panty liner, diaper or urine-absorbing pad.

9. A nonwoven fabric having a gelatinous composition on a surface, the gelatinous composition comprising a composition containing 100 parts by mass of a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer mixture (A), including a styrene-based

10 thermoplastic elastomer (Al) composed of a triblock or greater block copolymer with a weightaverage molecular weight of 100,000 or greater and less than 180,000, and a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (A2) composed of a triblock or greater block copolymer with a weightaverage molecular weight of 180,000 or greater and 300,000 or less, in a mass ratio of (A1)/(A2) = 95/5 to 50/50,

15 with 500 to 4800 parts by mass of an aliphatic hydrocarbon oil (B) having a kinematic viscosity of 5 to 50 mm /s at 37.8°C and 60 to 1000 parts by mass of a fatty acid triglyceride of 8 to 22 carbon atoms (C) that is fluid at 20°C.

P160499W0

FIG. 1

FIG. 2