CZ329399A3 - Absorption articles containing materials exhibiting high capacity of vertical capillary elevation - Google Patents

Abstract

An absorbent article having an absorbent core (28) has the crotch region where the crotch region has an absorbent area 40% of the total absorption capacity an absorbent core (28), and the crotch region comprises a material having a vertical wicking capacity of at least 15 g / g at height The invention further relates to an absorbent article having an absorbent article a core (28) having a step region where the crotch the area has an absorption capacity of less than or equal to 40% the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core (28); the crotch region contains material having a capacity vertical wicking 10 g / g at a height of 20 cm relates to an absorbent article having an absorbent core (28) having an absorbent core (28) the crotch region where the crotch region has an absorbent area capacity less than or equal to 40% of the total absorption capacity an absorbent core (28), and the crotch region comprises a material having a vertical wicking capacity of at least 5 g / g at height 25 cm In another embodiment, the absorbent article is absorbent a core (28) having a step region where the crotch the area has an absorption capacity of less than or equal to 40% the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core (28); the crotch region contains material having a capacity vertical wicking at least 0.5 g / g at a height of 30 cm In another embodiment, the absorbent article is an absorbent core (28) having a crotch face area (27) absorbent core (28) less than or equal to 1.3 cm 2, wherein the crotch region contains material having a capacity vertical wicking at least 10 g / g at a height of 20 cm.

Description

Absorbent articles containing a material with a high vertical wicking capacity

Technical field

The invention relates to absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence briefs, training pants, diaper and napkin holders, sanitary garments and the like, and more particularly to absorbent articles providing improved fit when wetted with body fluids. Improved fit is achieved by using an absorbent core material with a high vertical wicking capacity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Children and other persons suffering from incontinence wear absorbent articles such as diapers to absorb and collect urine and other body exudates. Absorbent articles act both to trap the secreted materials and to isolate these materials from the wearer ' s body and from the wearer ' s bedding and wearer ' s absorbent articles. Disposable absorbent articles having many different basic embodiments are known in the art. For example, U.S. Patent Re. No. 26,152, entitled "Disposable Diaper", issued to Duncan and Baker on January 31, 1967, describes a disposable diaper that has achieved widespread acceptance and commercial success. U.S. Patent 3,860,003, entitled "Shrinkable Side Parts of Disposable Diaper", issued to Buell on January 14, 1975, discloses a flexible leg cuff that has achieved wide acceptance and commercial success.

The diapers of many embodiments are relatively wide and bulky, in the dry state, and in particular in the wet state, in the region of the product, placed between the user's legs.

As a result, there is a certain level of discomfort to the wearer because the diapers tend to swell through the nose. In an effort to address the user's discomfort, US Patent 4,610,678 (Weisman et al.) Discloses diapers comprising densified cores that are narrower in these areas than in the prior art. However, it is precisely these products that store a significant amount of absorbed fluids in their deposition area. This deposition area is located in the portion of the article that is worn in the crotch region of the wearer when worn.

Since prior art absorbent articles do not effectively distribute fluid, these articles are typically designed to store a significant amount of fluid in the crotch region of the diaper. Thus, after each filling, the volume of this region of the product is constantly increasing, and therefore the product tends to be more user discomfort. See, for example, US Patent 5,098,423, in the name of Pieniak et al., Which is based on the disclosure of the invention of the Weisman patent, and describes a low volume disposable diaper in the dry state. The '423 patent is directed to a product having a relatively small cross-sectional area in a dry state, particularly in the " impact area " (defined in this patent as the second and third fifths of the length of the article). Indeed, an important aspect of the products described is the ability of the absorbent material to absorb fluid in this " impact area ". The patent specifically states that at least 60% of the total absorbed fluid is retained by the " impact area " of the diaper. Thus, while the patent describes the desire for improved fit of the diaper in a dry state, it fails to produce the article providing improved fit and comfort all the time at the nose. In addition, the initial consideration of improving fit is based on a thin and wide structure that folds and summarizes in use, rather than optimizing the narrow configuration and volume of the absorbent material in the crotch region, both dry and wet. Accordingly, the articles described in the '423 patent have a low total dry cross-sectional area formed by a relatively thin (i.e.,' z 'product dimension) and a relatively wide (i.e., product dimension).

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-3 "x") core, with 60% crotch absorption capacity. This results in reduced comfort when the article is wetted with body fluid.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide an absorbent article that provides better fit and comfort for the user, even when the article is wetted by body fluids. Further, it would be advantageous to provide an absorbent article having a reduced volume in the crotch region, both in the dry state and in the wet state.

Therefore, it is one object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article that provides improved user comfort by including a material having a high vertical wicking capacity in the crotch region of the article such that the material easily distributes a significant amount of fluid from the crotch region.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article with improved fit on the wearer during use, by reducing the relative amount of fluid retained in the crotch region of the article.

These and other objects of the present invention will be more readily apparent when considered in light of the following description and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides absorbent articles, such as diapers, incontinence briefs, training pants, diaper and napkin holders, feminine hygiene garments, and the like, designed to provide improved fit and comfort for the wearer while adequately receiving body exudates. Such an absorbent article has an engagement assembly (base portion) consisting of an outer cover layer, which is typically provided with a liquid pervious topsheet and a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent core bonded to the outer cover layer. The absorbent core is designed to retain small amounts of fluid in the crotch region,

- considering other regions of the core, even when the core absorbs a significant amount of fluid in use. To achieve this, the core is designed such that fluid is drained substantially from the crotch region to the front and / or rear end of the article.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to an absorbent article having an absorbent core having a crotch region, wherein (i) the crotch region has an absorbent capacity of no more than about 40% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, and (ii) a wicking of at least about 15 g / g at a height of 2 cm. The present invention further relates to an absorbent article having an absorbent core having a crotch region, wherein (i) the crotch region has an absorbent capacity of no more than about 40% of the total absorbent core absorbent capacity, and (ii) the crotch region comprises a material having a vertical wicking capacity of at least about 10 g / g at a height of 20 cm. According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to an absorbent article having an absorbent core having a crotch region, wherein (i) the crotch region has an absorption capacity of no more than about 40% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, and a wicking of at least about 5 g / g at a height of 25 cm. According to another aspect, the present invention relates to an absorbent article having an absorbent core having a crotch region, wherein (i) the stepped region has an absorbent capacity of no more than about 40% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, and a wicking of at least about 0.5 g / g at a height of 30 cm. In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to an absorbent article having an absorbent core having a cross-sectional area at the core step point not greater than about 1.3 cm ² , wherein the stepped area comprises a material having a vertical wicking capacity of at least about 10 g / g at a height of 20 cm.

Overview of the drawings

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While the description is terminated by the claims that specifically express and precisely define the essence of the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be understood from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the same designations are used to designate substantially identical elements where FIG. 1 is a plan view of an absorbent article of the present invention wherein the topsheet is transparent to illustrate the absorbent core more clearly; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent core of the present invention; 4 shows how the crotch region of the wearer, the absorbent article and the corresponding absorbent core are determined, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the multi-piece absorbent core used in the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a schematic view product filling device for explanation according to other procedures described in Test Methods.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The term "absorbent article" as used herein refers to devices that absorb and trap body exudates, and more particularly to devices that are positioned against or near the user's body for absorbing and receiving various exudates excreted from the body. Absorbent articles include devices used by people suffering from incontinence and designed to absorb urine. Such incontinence products include, but are not limited to, diapers, adult incontinence briefs, training pants, diaper holders and liners. Other absorbent articles include articles intended to absorb blood-based fluids such as menses. The term "Disposable" is used herein to describe absorbent articles that are not intended to be washed or to be restored or reused as «·

-Absorbent article (i.e., intended to be disposed of after a single use, and in particular to be recycled, composted or otherwise disposed of in a manner compatible with the environment). A "composite" absorbent article refers to absorbent articles that are formed from separate parts folded together to form a coordinated whole so that these articles no longer require separate handling parts, such as separate holders or inserts.

The term "absorbent core" as used herein refers to portions (for example, layers) of an absorbent article that serve to receive, distribute, transfer, store and / or redistribute released fluids. Acceptance materials include materials whose primary function is the uptake of released fluids. Such materials include acquisition layers, topsheet materials, transfer layers, flow control modules, packaging fabrics or nonwovens designed to prevent the migration of hydrogel-forming polymers, etc. The term "partition material" as used herein refers to the material (s). cores whose primary function is to absorb and distribute or redistribute fluids to locations remote from where the fluid was originally introduced. The term "storage material" as used herein refers to a core material that retains most of the retained fluid on a mass basis. It should be understood that the terms "partition material" and "storage material" are not mutually exclusive. In some embodiments, a single material may serve both for fluid distribution and fluid storage.

As used herein, the term "front" refers to a portion of an absorbent article or absorbent core that is intended to be positioned near the front of a user's body. The term "back" as used herein refers to a portion of an absorbent article or absorbent core that is intended to be positioned near the back of a user's body. The use of the relative term "before" means position in the article or core rather towards the front of the article or core, while "behind" means position in the article or core rather toward the back of the article or core.

The term "dimension-z" as used herein refers to a dimension perpendicular to the length and width of a member, core, or article. The "z-dimension" usually corresponds to the thickness of the member, core, or article.

"Dimensions - x and y" refer to a plane perpendicular to the thickness of the member, core, or article. The dimensions - x and y_ usually correspond to the width, respectively. the length of the member, core or article.

The "crotch point" of the article and the absorbent core of the article is determined by placing the article on the user's body while the user is standing and placing the extensible fiber around the user's legs in an octal configuration (see Figure 4). The point at both the article and the absorbent core corresponding to the intersection of the fiber is considered to be the crotch of the article or absorbent core. Obviously, the crotch point is determined by placing the absolation article on the body of the wearer in a determined manner and determining where the crossed fiber should come into contact with the article or core.

As noted herein, the "crotch region" of the absorbent core corresponds to 50% of the total length of the absorbent core (i.e., in the -y direction) where the crotch point is located in the longitudinal center of the crotch region. That is, the crotch region is determined by the beer location of the crotch point of the absorbent core, and then measuring the distance of 25% of the total length of the absorbent core forward and backward.

The term "crotch width" as used herein refers to the crotch region width of the absorbent core layer that retains most of the fluid when the article is filled to 70% of the total capacity of the article by the fluid receiving method described below. When this layer consists of a plurality of individual layers, the layer of the smallest width is the width of the layer, and hence the crotch width of the absorbent core. If the layer is profiled in the transverse dimension (x), the width of the layer is determined by the width of the region of greatest surface weight of the profile. The method of determining the crotch width is further described in the Test Methods section.

The term "crotch cross-sectional area" as used herein refers to the crotch area cross-sectional area of the absorbent core layer in the dry state that retains most of the fluid when the product is filled to 70% of the total product capacity by the fluid receiving method as further described. When this layer consists of a series of individual layers, the width and thickness of each layer are measured and the sum of their individual cross-sectional areas is the cross-sectional area of the crotch region. The method of determining the crotch section area is further described in the Test Methods section.

The term "layers" as used herein refers to the identified components of the absorbent structure, and any structure referred to as a "layer" may indeed consist of a layered structure or a combination of several layers or webs of the desired types of materials as described below. The term "layer" as used herein includes the terms "layers" and "layered". For the purposes of the present invention, it should also be understood that the term " upper " refers to the absorbent core layer closest to and facing the topsheet of the article; conversely, the term " lower " refers to the absorbent core layer that is closest to and facing the backsheet. It should be noted that the various members, layers and structures of the absorbent articles of the present invention may or may not be generally planar, and may be shaped or profiled in any desired configuration.

One embodiment of an absorbent article in the form of a diaper 20 comprising such an absorbent core of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. In Figure 2, a diaper 20 is shown in plan view in a flat, non-contracted state (ie without any shrinkage caused by a resilient element) having an upper layer 22. The backsheet 24 and the absorbent core, generally designated 28, are disposed between the topsheet 22 and the backsheet 24. The topsheet 22 is shown transparent to better illustrate the absorbent core 28.

As also shown in Fig. 1, the diaper 20 has a front waist region 32, a rear waist region 34, a central region 36, and a peripheral portion 38 that is · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

The longitudinal axis of the diaper 20 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges 40, and is indicated as the longitudinal centerline 67 (and corresponds to the y or longitudinal direction), while the longitudinal centerline of the diaper 20 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges. the transverse axis extends substantially parallel to the leading edges 42, and is indicated as the transverse centerline 66 (and corresponds to the x or width direction). The waist regions 32 and 34 consist of upper portions of the diaper 20 which, when worn, surround the waistband of the wearer. The central region 36 is a portion of the diaper between the waist region 32 and 34 and consists of a portion of the diaper 20 which, when worn, is positioned between the legs of the wearer and covers the lower portion of the wearer's torso. Thus, the central region 36 defines an area of typical fluid storage on the diaper 20 or other disposable absorbent article.

The topsheet 22 and the backsheet 24 may be joined in any suitable manner. The term "bonded" as used herein includes arrangements wherein the topsheet 22 is directly attached to the backsheet 24 by directly attaching the topsheet 22 to the backsheet 24, and an arrangement wherein the topsheet 22 is indirectly attached to the backsheet 24 The topsheet 22 and the backsheet 24 are in particular directly attached to one another by non-illustrated fasteners, such as an adhesive, or by any other fasteners known in the art. For example, an even continuous adhesive layer, an adhesive layer arranged in a pattern, or a series of separate adhesive lines or points may be used to attach the topsheet 22 to the backsheet 24. As shown in Fig. 1, the topsheet 22 has a somewhat smaller dimension than the backsheet 24. However, the topsheet 22 and the backsheet 24 may have the same dimensional arrangement (i.e., have the same extent) so that they are joined together in the diaper periphery 38 20. The size of the backsheet 24 is partially determined by the size of the absorbent core and the selected diaper design. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the backsheet 24 is hourglass-shaped. However, other shapes such as rectangular shape, "I" shape and the like are also suitable.

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Although not shown, the diaper 20 may have resilient members that apply shrinkage force to the diaper, such that the diaper is formed more tightly and more comfortably on the body of the wearer. These resilient members may be assembled in a wide variety of well known arrangements, such as generally described in U.S. Patent 3,860,003 (Buell), issued Jan. 14, 1975, which is incorporated herein by reference. The resilient members may be disposed close to the peripheral portion 38 of the diaper 20, particularly along each longitudinal edge 40, such that the resilient members tend to contract and hold the diaper against the wearer's legs. Alternatively, the resilient members may be disposed close to one or both of the front edges 42 of the diaper 20 to form a sewn web, like or rather than a leg cuff. See, for example, US Patent 4,515,595 (Kievit et al.), Issued May 7, 1985, which is incorporated herein by reference. The resilient members are affixed to the diaper 20 in a resilient contraction condition, so that in a loose configuration, the resilient members effectively contract or fold the diaper 20. Resilient members may be resiliently contracted in at least two ways. For example, the resilient members may be stretched and secured when the diaper 20 is in a non-contracted state. The diaper 20 may alternatively be shrunk, for example, by pleating, and the resilient members may be attached or attached to the diaper 20 when they are in their relaxed or unstretched condition. The resilient members may extend substantially the entire length of the diaper 20 in the central region 36, or alternatively may extend the entire length of the diaper 20 or any other length suitable to form a resiliently shrinkable row. The length of these resilient members is typically determined by the diaper design.

Referring to FIG. 1, the absorbent core 28 is shown as "I". As mentioned above, the absorbent core comprises a front and a back region as well as a crotch region. These areas are delimited by determining the crotch point of the core 28, in accordance with the present disclosure. As noted above, the crotch point is determined by the anatomy of the wearer of the absorbent article. For illustration purposes only, ·

The crotch point 27 is shown in position on the longitudinal centerline 67 of the diaper 20 and the absorbent core 28. In general, this would be true regardless of the shape of the diaper or absorbent core. However, as noted, the crotch point 27 is not located on the transverse centerline 66 in this special embodiment, although it may be located therein in another diaper or core design. As noted above, when the crotch point of the absorbent core 28 has been determined, the crotch region is determined by measuring the distance of 25% of the total length of the absorbent core (cross-line 61) forward of the crotch point and measuring 25% of the total length of the absorbent core. with a cross-line designation 63), rearward of the crotch point. In this illustration, the crotch region is the core region located between the transverse lines 61 and 63. As shown in FIG. 1, the absorbent core 28 is shown to have a front region 52, a rear region 54 and a crotch region 56. The crotch region 56 of the absorbent The core 28 is again determined by placing the crotch point in the core.

The topsheet 22 is compliant, provides a feeling of softness and does not irritate the user's skin. The topsheet 22 is further permeable to fluids (e.g., urine) and allows fluid to readily penetrate through its thickness. A suitable topsheet may be made of a wide range of materials such as porous foams, netting foams, perforated plastic film, or woven or nonwoven webs of natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester or polypropylene fibers), or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. In particular, the topsheet is made of a hydrophobic material to isolate the wearer ' s skin from the liquids contained in the absorbent core, which is at least on one side treated with a surfactant to allow fluid to readily penetrate through its thickness.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the topsheet is

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-12 exposed to mechanical tensioning to form a " zero strain " stretch laminate structure forming flexible side panels. Thus, the topsheet is particularly extensible, more preferably extensible, but is not necessarily elastomeric, so that the topsheet will be permanently elongated at least to some degree after mechanical tensioning so that it does not fully return to its original shape. In a preferred embodiment, the topsheet may be subjected to mechanical stresses without undue cracking or tearing of the topsheet. Therefore, it is preferred that the topsheet has a low conventional yield strength in the transverse machine direction (in the side direction).

A number of manufacturing methods are available for producing the topsheet. For example, the topsheet may be a nonwoven fiber web. When the topsheet consists of a nonwoven web, the web may be nonwoven, carded, wet laid, melt blown, hydraulically plaited, or made by a combination of the methods, or the like. The topsheet is preferably carded and thermally bonded by means well known to those skilled in the art of textiles. The topsheet preferably comprises staple length polypropylene fibers having a denier (weight unit) of about 2.2. As used herein, the term "staple-length fibers" refers to fibers having a length of at least about 15.9 mm (0.625 inches). In particular, the topsheet has a basis weight of about 18 to about 25 g / m ² . A suitable topsheet is manufactured by Veratec, Inc., a division of the International Paper Company, Walpole, Massachusetts, under the designation P-8.

The topsheet 22 is positioned above the body facing surface of the absorbent core 28. In a preferred embodiment, the acquisition material is disposed between the absorbent core 28 and the topsheet 22. The topsheet 22 is particularly associated with the core and the backsheet 24 by connection means (not shown) well known in the art. Suitable fasteners are described below with respect to the bonding of the backsheet 24 to the absorbent core 28. The term " bonded ", as used herein, " 44 " 4 4 4

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13, comprises an arrangement in which one element is directly attached to the other element by directly attaching the element to the other beer, and an arrangement in which the element is indirectly attached to the other element by attaching the element to an intermediate element which is further attached to the other element. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the topsheet and backsheet are directly bonded to one another in the peripheral portion of the diaper and are indirectly bonded to each other by direct bonding to the absorbent core (not shown). In an alternative embodiment, the absorbent core (or preferred acquisition material) need not be attached to either the topsheet or the backsheet, so that the absorbent core is "floating" therebetween.

The backsheet 24 is impervious to liquids (e.g., urine) and is mainly made of a thin plastic film, although flexible other liquid impervious materials may also be used. The term "flexible" as used herein refers to materials that are compliant and easily conform to the general shape and contour of the human body. The backsheet 24 prevents absorbed and deposited exudate in the absorbent core from wetting articles that are in contact with the diaper, such as bed linen and underwear. Thus, the backsheet may consist of woven or nonwoven materials, polymeric films, such as thermoplastic films of polyethylene or polypropylene, or composite materials, such as a non-woven film-coated material. In particular, the backsheet is a thermoplastic film having a thickness of about 0.012 mm (0.5 mils) to about 0.051 mm (2.0 mils).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the backsheet is subjected to mechanical tensioning to form both a " zero strain " stretch laminate structure forming resilient side panels and, if required, to bias the portion of the backsheet coexisting with resilient properties belt or any other elastic grease. Thus, the time layer is particularly extensible, in a more preferred embodiment it is extensible, but not necessarily

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14elastomene, so that the backsheet will be permanently elongated at least to some degree after mechanical stretching, so that it will not fully return to its original untwisted shape. In a preferred embodiment, the backsheet may be subjected to mechanical tensioning without undue cracking or tearing of the backsheet. It is therefore preferred that the backsheet have a final elongation before rupture of at least about 400% to about 700% in the transverse machine direction when measured using the method of ASTM D-638. Thus, the polymeric film in a preferred embodiment for use in the backsheet comprises a high content of linear low density polyethylene. Particularly preferred backsheet materials include blends comprised of about 45 to 90% low density linear polyethylene and about 10 to 55% polypropylene. Exemplary films for use as the backsheet of the present invention are manufactured by Tredegar Industries, Inc., Texte Haute, Indiana under the designation X8323, RR8220, as a blend for certain blown films, and RR5475, as a blend of a particular cast film.

In particular, relief is embossed on the backsheet 24 (typically to a thickness of about 0.127 mm (5.5 mils)) and a finishing is performed to produce a fabric appearance. The backsheet may further allow the penetration of the tape from the absorbent core (i.e., is breathable) while still preventing exudates from passing through the backsheet.

The backsheet 24 is disposed close to the bottom surface of the absorbent core 28, and is attached thereto by non-illustrated fasteners well known in the art. Alternatively, an additive material (e.g., a receiving material) may be placed between the backsheet 24 and the absorbent core 28. The backsheet 24 may be secured to the absorbent core 28 or any of the intervening material by a uniform continuous adhesive layer, an adhesive layer arranged in a particular pattern, or by a series of separate lines, spirals or dots of adhesive. It has been found that satisfactory adhesives are manufactured by Centuxy Adhesives, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, with Centuxy 5227, and by Fuller Company, St. Petersburg. Paul,

Minnesota, designated HL-1258. In particular, the fasteners will consist of an open-pattern adhesive network of fibers as disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,573,986 entitled "Disposable Waist-Containment Garmen", issued to Minetola and Tucker on March 4, 1986. Exemplary fasteners of adhesive fiber network the open pattern consists of several lines of glue fibers twisted into a spiral pattern as shown in the apparatus and method shown in U.S. Patent 3,911,173 issued to Sprague, Jr. on October 7, 1975, U.S. Patent 4,785,996 issued to Ziecker; on Nov. 22, 1978, and U.S. Patent 4,842,666 issued to Werenicz on June 27, 1989. Alternatively, the fasteners may be a thermal bond, a press bond, an ultrasonic bond, a dynamic mechanical bond, or any other fastener or combination of these. fasteners known in the art.

The absorbent core 28 will consist of any absorbent means that is capable of absorbing and retaining fluids such as urine and other certain body exudates and which is capable of generating fluid distribution and storage properties as defined by the present invention. While the absorbent core 28 shown in FIG. 1 has the "J" shape, any shape can be used. For example, Figure 2 shows an hourglass absorbent core 128, which core has curved cutouts at its longitudinal edges, generally designated 142. For purposes of illustration, the crotch point is generally indicated by item 127. (as described above, the crotch point As shown, the crotch point 127 generally lies on the longitudinal centerline 167 and the transverse line 168 (although not in this embodiment, the transverse centerline). The crotch region is determined by measuring a distance of 25% of the total length of the absorbent core (indicated by a cross-line 161). forward of the crotch point, and measuring distances of 25% of the total absorbent length

Φ φ Φ φ φ φ φ φ · · · · · φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ

-16 core (indicated by cross line 163), backward from the crotch point. In this illustration, the crotch region 156 is the core region located between the foam lines 161 and 163. In addition to the crotch region 156, the absorbent core 128 has a front region 152 and a rear region 154.

FIG. 3 shows another diaper and the corresponding shape of the absorbent core. In particular, the diaper 220 is configured to be placed in a low movement area of the user. (Descriptions of low-motion products and corresponding absorbent cores are detailed in U.S. Patent No. 5,358,500 issued to LaVon et al., The disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference). The absorbent core, generally designated 228, is also configured to be placed in a low movement area of the user.

Giant. 4 illustrates means for determining the crotch point of an article and its absorbent core. Referring to FIG. 4, the legs of a user of the absorbent article are shown in cross-section, at positions 301 and 302. The continuous material 303 (e.g., cord or rubber band) is twisted once and positioned around the user's legs at a point sufficiently close to the user's torso so 303 can be extrapolated to the article when worn. Thus, the crotch point of the absorbent article core is determined, and the crotch region of the core is determined as described above.

The crotch width of the absorbent core, in the dry state and in the wet state, is also important in providing improved fit of the article to the user's body. It is preferred that the crotch width be small, just when wetted by the fluid, so that the absorbent core is exposed to minimal cats when the user's legs are together. In this regard, the absorbent cores which are suitable for the present invention have, in particular, a crotch width in dry and wet not more than about 7 cm. The crotch width in the dry and wet state will preferably not be greater than about 6 cm, and more preferably will not be greater than about 5 cm. The means for measuring the crotch width is described in the paragraph, Test Methods, infra. It is further preferred that:

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17 at the crotch point of the absorbent core, the core had a relatively small cross-sectional area (dimension x times dimension z). In this regard, the absorbent cores which are suitable for the present invention will in particular have a dry crotch cross-sectional area of no more than about 2.6 cm ² . In particular, in a preferred embodiment, the crotch cross-sectional area will be no greater than about 1.8 cm ² , more preferably no greater than about 1 cm ² , and even more preferably no greater than about 0.6 cm ² , and most preferably greater than about 0.4 cm ² . The means for measuring the cross-sectional area is described in the Test Methods, infra.

Accordingly, reducing the cross-sectional area and / or crotch width of the absorbent core with uniform capacity per unit area of the surface area necessarily reduces the amount of material usable in a typical fluid storage area. Previous efforts to improve product placement on the user's body by reducing the width in the crotch region have been driven by increasing the capacity per unit area of the surface to maintain the necessary capacity in the crotch region. These earlier efforts have been demonstrated by the use of additional fibers in the crotch region to absorb fluid, and in some cases by using additional hydrogel-forming polymers to store fluid. This approach therefore resulted in a negative effect on volume, both in dry and wet conditions. The present invention is in direct contrast based on draining fluid stored in the crotch region away from that region. This is reflected in a reduced amount of fluid storage in the crotch region of the absorbent core. As such, the crotch region of the absorbent article will consist of a material that serves to distribute fluids from the crotch region. (While the distribution of fluids is an important function of the crotch region material of the core, it is within the scope of the invention to exist in the crotch region, the primary function of which is to store fluids until the desired properties of the invention are achieved.). In particular, the absorbent core of the article will consist of a material that has a high vertical wicking capacity. Vertical wicking ability, i.e., wicking ability

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4 4 • 44

Liquids upstream of the gravitational forces, since the absorbent cores are used in absorbent articles such that the fluid to be absorbed must be moved in the article from a relatively lower position to a relatively higher position within the absorbent article core. This ability to move the fluid against gravity is particularly important to the present invention, due to the relatively small amount of fluid to be stored in the crotch region of the core.

In this regard, the absorbent cores will comprise a material having a vertical wicking capacity of at least about 15 g / g, preferably at least about 25 g / g, and even more preferably at least about 40 g / g at a height of 2 cm. Alternatively, the absorbent core will comprise a material having a vertical wicking capacity at a height of 20 cm of at least about 10 g / g, preferably at least about 20 g / g, more preferably at least about 30 g / g, and even more preferably at least about 40 g /G. Alternatively, the material will have a vertical wicking capacity at a height of 25 cm of at least about 5 g / g, preferably about 15 g / g, more preferably at least about 20 g / g, and even more preferably at least about 30 g / g . Alternatively, the material will have a vertical wicking capacity at a height of 30 cm of at least about 0.5 g / g, preferably about 10 g / g, more preferably at least about 20 g / g, and even more preferably at least about 30 g / g. G. It should be understood that although the above definitions are made in these alternatives, a single material may have more than one of these properties.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to an absorbent article having an absorbent core having a crotch region, wherein (i) the crotch region has an absorbent capacity of no more than about 40% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, and a wicking of at least about 5 g / g at a height of 25 cm. In another aspect, the present invention relates to an absorbent article having an absorbent core having a crotch region, wherein (i) the crotch region has an absorbent capacity of no more than about 40% of the total absorbent core.

And - (ii) the crotch region comprises a material having a vertical wicking capacity of at least about 0.5 g / g at a height of 30 cm. In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to an absorbent article having an absorbent core having a cross-sectional area at the crotch point of the core not greater than about 1.3 cm ² , wherein the crotch region comprises a material having a vertical wicking capacity of at least about 10 g / g at 20 cm. .

The absorbent articles of the present invention will also include an absorbent core that retains less than about 40% of the total absorbent capacity in the crotch region of the core at equilibrium. Of course, storing smaller amounts of fluids in the crotch region of the core relative to the front or rear region of the core is a reflection of the ability of the core materials to drain fluid from the crotch region while wearing the absorbent article, thereby improving product storage and user comfort. In this regard, the absorbent core of the invention preferably retains less than about 25%, more preferably less than about 15%, and even more preferably 0 to 10% of the total capacity of the core at equilibrium in the crotch region of the core.

As described above, the absorbent core will comprise a material that serves to distribute fluid from the crotch region of the core. In one embodiment, the absorbent core will comprise in the front and rear regions of the core the same material as that present in its crotch region. That is, the distribution material will also be suitable for storing fluid. Alternatively, the core may comprise a different deposition material, with higher capillary suction, in the front and / or rear region of the core. This storage material will then desorb the distribution materials with relatively lower capillary suction.

A preferred absorbent material to produce the desired wicking properties is an open-cell polymeric foam absorbent material derived from the polymerization of a high internal water phase in an oil emulsion (hereinafter referred to as HIPE). Such polymer foams can be made to produce the desired deposition layers.

-20 properties, as well as the desired distribution properties. When different materials are present in the front and rear regions of the absorbent core, the polymeric foam distributors will preferably exhibit desorption properties that will allow these additional components (having higher absorbent pressures than the desorption pressure of the foam distributor) to separate fluid. It is desirable that these components keep the user's absorbent article skin dry, even during " excretion " and even when subjected to compression. They are soft, flexible and pleasing to the wearer of the absorbent article and have a relatively high liquid capacity, as well as to create diapers and other absorbent articles that effectively utilize the absorbent core components.

HIPE-derived foams producing the desired partition properties for use in the present invention are described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08 / 563,866 (Des Marais et al.) Filed Nov. 25, 1995 (hereinafter '866'). U.S. Patent No. 5,387,207 to Dyer et al., issued Feb. 7, 1995; and U.S. Patent No. 5,260,345 to Des Marais et al., issued November 9, 1993, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Polymemic foams which are suitable for the present invention are foams having relatively open pores. That is, the individual cells of the foam are interconnected with adjacent cells. Cells in such foam structures, essentially with open pores, have intercellular openings or "windows" that are large enough to allow fluid to be easily transferred from one cell to another within the foam structure.

These structures, essentially with open pores, will have a generally networked character with individual cells delimited by a plurality of interconnected three-dimensional branched nonwovens. The strips of polymeric material forming these branched webs may be referred to as " buckles ". Open pore foams having a typical strut structure are illustrated by way of example in the micrographs of Figs. The expression used that the foam material is • ·

-21 “open-cell” material, provided that at least 80% of the cells in the foam structure, which have a dimension of at least 1 µm, are in a hydraulic connection with at least one adjacent cell.

In addition to being open-pore polymeric foams, the polymeric foams are sufficiently hydrophilic to allow the foam to absorb aqueous liquids in an amount to be further specified. The inner surfaces of these foam structures become hydrophilic by means of residual hydrophilizing surfactants remaining in the foam structure after polymerization or by selected post-polymerization processes of the foam.

The polymeric foams can be prepared in the form of warped (i.e., unexpanded) polymeric foams which, upon contact with aqueous liquids, expand and absorb these liquids. See, for example, co-pending US-866 patent and US-5,387,207. These warped polymer foams are usually obtained by extruding the aqueous phase from the polymerized HIPE foam by compressive force, and / or by heat drying and / or vacuum dewatering. After compression and / or hot drying or vacuum dewatering, the polymeric foam is in a collapsed or unexpanded state. Non-collapsible foams, such as those described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 542,497 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,345, are also suitable as distribution material.

An important parameter of these foams is their glass transition temperature Tg. This Tg represents the center of the transition between the glassy and rubbery state of the polymer. Foams having a Tg higher than the temperature of their use may be very strong, but may also be very stiff and potentially prone to breakage. When such foams are collapsing, they also need a lot of time to return to the expanded state when wetted with aqueous liquids, colder than the Tg of the polymer, after being stored in the collapsed state for an extended period of time. The required combination of mechanical grease, specifically strength and bulk elasticity, typically requires literally • · · ·· · ···

-22selective range of monomer types and levels to achieve these desired properties.

It has been found that the specific surface area per foam volume of the polymeric foam is particularly suitable for empirically delimiting the foam structures that remain in the collapsed state. This property is further important for the ability of the material to produce the vertical wicking absorbent capacities described herein. See U.S. Patent 5,387,207 for a specific area of foam volume described in detail. "Specific surface area per foam volume" refers to the specific surface area of the capillary suction of the foam structure multiplied by the foam density in the expanded state. It has been found that polymer foams having specific surface area values per foam volume of at least 0.025 m ² / cc, more preferably of at least 0.05 m ² / cc, and most preferably of at least 0.07 m ² / cc, remain in the collapsed state. condition and are therefore very suitable for this purpose.

Another important property of absorbent polymer foams suitable for this purpose is their free absorbent capacity. 'Free absorbent capacity' is the total amount of test fluid (synthetic urine) that a given foam sample absorbs into its cellular structure per unit mass of solid material in that sample. In order to be particularly suitable for the absorbent articles of the present invention, the absorbent foams should have a free absorbent capacity of about 55 to about 100 ml, preferably about 55 to about 75 ml of synthetic urine per gram of dry foam material. The method of determining the free absorbent capacity of the foam is described in the Test Methods section of ‘866.

Upon exposure to aqueous fluids, collapsible foams suitable for this purpose expand and absorb fluids. When these foams are dewatered under pressure to a thickness of about 1/6 (17%) or less of their fully expanded thickness, they remain in a very thin state, with concomitant increase in storage efficiency and flexibility. This is characteristic of the low density of expanded foams. The "expansion factor" for these foams

-23 is at least 4X. i.e., the thickness of the foam in the expanded state is at least about four times the thickness of the foam in the collapsed state. The warped foams of the present invention have an expansion factor in the range of about 4X to 10X. For comparison, the higher density foams of the prior art have an expansion factor in the range of only 4X to 5X.

For the purposes of this invention, the ratio between expanded and collapsed thickness of the dewatered under pressure can be empirically approximated by the following equation:

thickness = tioušťka collapsed x 0.133 x the ratio of W: O where "thick expanded", i ^e the thickness of the foam in its expanded state, "thickness sagging" i ^e the thickness of the foam in its collapsed state, and the ratio of W: O ratio is the water-to-oil emulsion the high inner phase from which the foam is made. Thus, a typical foam made from a 60: 1 water ratio emulsion should have a predetermined expansion factor of 8.0, ie, the expanded thickness is eight times the collapsed thickness of the foam. The method of measuring the expansion factor is described in the Test Methods section of the '866 Application.

An important mechanical feature of absorbent polymeric foams suitable for the present invention is their expanded strength as determined by their compression deflection resistance (RTCD). The RTCD resistance represented by these foams is a function of the polymer modulus as well as the density and foam network. The polymer modulus is again determined by: a) polymer composition; b) the conditions under which the foam is polymerized (for example, by completeness of the polymerization obtained, in particular with respect to crosslinking); and c) the extent to which the polymer is plasticized by residual material, for example emulsifiers that remain in the foam structure after processing.

In order to be suitable as absorbents in absorbent articles such as diapers, the foams of the present invention must be suitably resistant to deformation or compression by the forces occurring in their use when the absorbent materials act in the absorbent article.

-24absorb and fluid retention. Foams which do not have sufficient strength in the sense of RTDC may have the ability to receive and store acceptable amounts of body fluids under no-load conditions, but will very easily get rid of these fluids when compressed by movement and operation of the wearer ' s absorbent article.

The RTCD resistance represented by the polymeric foams of the present invention can be quantified by determining the amount of stress generated in a saturated foam sample maintained under a certain limited pressure at a specified temperature and time period. The method for performing this particular type of test is described in the Test Methods section of ‘866. Foams suitable as absorbents are those having RTCD resistance such that a limited pressure of 5.1 kPa produces a tension typically about 40% or less than compressing the foam structure upon saturation to its free absorbent capacity with synthetic urine having a surface urine. tension 65 + 5 dynes / cm. The voltage generated under these conditions will preferably be in the range of about 2 to about 25%, more preferably 2 to 15%, and most preferably about 2 to about 10%.

Foam cells, and in particular cells formed by polymerizing oil phase-containing monomers that surround relatively monomer-free aqueous phase droplets, will often have a substantially spherical shape. The size or "diameter" of such spherical cells is a commonly used parameter for generating foam designations. Since the cells in the example will not necessarily have approximately the same size, the average cell size, i.e. the average cell diameter, will often be specified.

A number of methods are available to determine the average cell size. However, the most suitable method for determining the average cell size in the foam involves a simple measurement based on scanning the electron micrographs of the foam sample. The cell size measurements given are based on a number of average sizes

»· · ·

I · · · · · · · · · · ·

-25 foam cells in expanded state. Foams suitable as absorbents for aqueous liquids of the present invention preferably have an average size number of about 50 µm or less, and typically about 5 to about 35 µχη.

The "foam density" (i.e., in grams per cubic centimeter of foam volume in air) is specified here on a dry basis. The amount of absorbed residual water-soluble materials, for example residual salts or fluid remaining in the foam, for example after HIPE polymerization, washing and / or hydrophilization, is not taken into account in calculating and expressing the foam density. However, the foam density includes other water-soluble residual materials, such as emulsifiers, present in the polymerized foam. Such residual materials may in fact make a significant contribution to the weight of the foam material.

Any suitable gravimetric methods can be used to measure the density of the foam, which results in the determination of the weight of the solid foam per unit volume of the foam structure. For example, the ASTM gravimetric method, which is described in more detail in the Test Methods section of U.S. Pat. The polymer foams of the present invention, in their collapsed state, which are useful as absorbents, have bulk density values in the range of about 0.1 to about 0.2 g / cc, preferably about 0.11 to about 0, 15 g / cc and most preferably about 0.12 to about 0.14 g / cc. The polymer foams of the present invention, in their expanded state, which are suitable as absorbents, have dry bulk density values in the range of about 0.010 to about 0.018 g / cc, preferably about 0.013 to about 0.018 g ^/ cc.

Suitable absorbent foams will generally have specially desirable and suitable aqueous fluid handling properties and absorbent properties. In particular, when the foam is used as a base distribution material in the absorbent core of the present invention, the ability to drain fluid from the crotch region of the core is important.

-26k front and / or rear core area. The fluid handling properties and absorbent properties, in particular related to the fluid distribution foams, are: A) the rate of vertical wicking of the fluid through the foam structure; and B) foam absorption capacity at specifically given wicking heights. Another important property of foams is their ability to drain (separate) the fluid from the respective absorbent structures with which the foam may be in contact.

Vertical wicking, i.e. wicking of fluid in the opposite direction against gravity, is a particularly desirable characteristic for absorbent foams for this purpose. These foams will often be used in absorbent articles such that the fluid to be absorbed must move in the article from a relatively lower position to a relatively higher position within the absorbent core of the article. Therefore, the ability of these foams to raise the fluid against gravity particularly relates to their action as absorbent materials in the present invention.

The Vertical Wicking Absorption Capacity Test measures the amount of test fluid per gram of absorbent foam that is maintained per inch (2.54 cm) of the vertical portion of the same normalized foam sample used in the Vertical Wicking Test. Such a tent is performed when the test fluid is allowed to rise vertically until equilibrium is reached (e.g. after 18 hours). The vertical wicking absorption capacity test is described in more detail in the Test Methods section of U.S. Patent No. 5,387,207.

Another important property of the absorbent foams in the cores of the present invention is their capillary absorption pressure. Capillary absorption pressure refers to the ability of the foam to vertically wick the fluid. [See P.K. Chatterjee and H.V.Nguyen in "Absorbemcy," Textile Science and Technology, Vol. 7; P. K. Chatteijee, Ed .; Elsevier: Amstredam 1985; Chapter 2.] For the purposes of the present invention, the respective capillary absorption pressure is a hydrostatic pressure at which the loading of the vertically rising fluid is 50% of the free absorption capacity under equilibrium conditions at

-π 31 ^Q C. The hydrostatic pressure is represented by a column of fluid (e.g., synthetic urine) of height h. To be especially useful for absoipčm products, preferred absorbent foams for this purpose will generally have a capillary absorption pressure of at least about 24 cm. (The foams of the invention preferably have an absorption pressure of at least about 30 cm, and more preferably at least about 40 cm).

In those embodiments where the distributor material is not particularly suitable for storing the absorbed fluid, the absorbent core will also include a material, or combination of materials, the primary function of which is to absorb the absorbed fluid. The fluid storage material displaces the body exudates outside the user's body so that the user feels dry. The storage materials are maintained in hydraulic communication with the distribution material so that urine or other aqueous body fluids absorbed by the distribution material can be desorbed by the fluid storage material. When the storage materials are located in the front and / or rear region of the absorbent core, the core provides the advantage of depositing the absorbent article on the user's body by storing most of the absorbed fluid outside the crotch region of the article.

Any material capable of desorbing the partitioning material can be used as a storage material. For example, the storage material may comprise hydrogel-forming polymers that are water-insoluble but are water-swellable, and are capable of absorbing large quantities of liquids. Such polymers are commonly referred to as "hydrocolloid" or "superabsorbent" materials, and may contain polysaccharides such as starch carboxymethyl derivatives, carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl cellulose; nonionic types such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl esters; cationic types such as polyvinyl pyridine, polyvinylmorpholinion, and Ν, Ν-dimethylaminoethyl or N, N-diethylaminopropylakiylates and methakiylates, and quaternary salts thereof, respectively. Absorbent hydrogel-forming polymers suitable for use herein typically have

A series of anionic functional groups such as sulfo groups, and in particular carboxyl groups. Examples of polymers suitable for use herein include polymers prepared from polymerizable, unsaturated acid-containing monomers. Such monomers thus contain olefinically unsaturated acids and anhydrides which contain at least one olefinic double bond. In particular, these monomers may be selected from olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids and acid anhydrides, olefinically unsaturated sulfonic acids and mixtures thereof.

Certain acid-free monomers, usually in minor amounts, may also be included to prepare hydrogel-forming absorbent polymers. Such acid-free monomers may also be, for example, water-soluble or dispersible esters of acid-containing monomers, as well as monomers which do not at all contain carboxylic or sulfonic groups. Thus, the optional acid-free monomers may be monomers containing the following types of functional groups: carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid esters, hydroxyl groups, amide groups, amino groups, nitrile groups, quaternary ammonium salt groups, aryl groups (e.g. phenyl groups such as phenyl groups) derived from styrene monomers). These acid-free monomers are well known and are described in more detail, for example, in U.S. Patent 4,076,663 (Masuda et al.), Issued February 28, 1978 and U.S. Patent 4,062,817 (Westerman), issued December 13, 1977, both of which are herein incorporated by reference. by reference.

Monomers which are olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids and carboxylic acid anhydrides are acrylic acids represented by acrylic acid alone, methacrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, achloracrylic acid, α-cynoacetic acid, β-methylacrylic acid (crotonic acid), α-phenylacrylic acid, β-acryloxypropio-

* 99 99 999

9 · 9 9

-29 new acid, sorbic acid, α-chlorosorbic acid, angelic acid, cinnamic acid, p-chloroscinnamic acid, β-sterylakiylic acid, itaconic acid, citroconic acid, mesaconic acid, glutacocic acid, aconitic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tricarboxylene and maleic anhydride.

Monomers which are olefinically unsaturated sulfonic acids include aliphatic or aromatic vinyl sulfonic acids such as vinyl sulfonic acid, allylsulfonic acid, vinyltoluenesulfonic acid and styrene sulfonic acid and acrylic such as sulfoethyl acrylate, sulfoethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxy-3-methakiyloxy acid and 2-hydroxy-3-methakiyloxy methylpropanesulfonic acid.

Preferred hydrogel-forming absorbent polymers for use in the present invention include carboxyl groups. These polymers are hydrolyzed acrylonitrile-starch graft copolymers, partially neutralized hydrolyzed acrylonitrile-starch graft copolymers, starch-acrylic acid graft copolymers, partially neutralized starch-acrylic acid graft copolymers, saponified copolymers of vinyl acetate-acrylesters, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile or acrylonitrile copolymers, from any of the preceding copolymers, partially neutralized polyactylic acid, and weakly crosslinked polymers of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid. These polymers may be used either alone or in the form of a mixture of two or more different polymers. Examples of these polymeric materials are disclosed in US Patents 3,661,875, US 4,076,663, US 4,093,776, US 4,666,983 and US 4,734,478.

The most preferred polymeric materials for use herein are poorly crosslinked polymers of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid and starch derivatives thereof. Most preferred hydrogel-forming absorbent polymers comprise about 50 to about 95%, in particular about 75%, neutralized weakly crosslinked polyacrylic acids.

9 9

9 · 9 ·

-30 (i.e., sodium salts of acrylic acid-acrylic acid copolymers). Crosslinking renders the polymer substantially water insoluble and partially determines the absorbent capacity and extractable polymer content of the hydrogel-forming absorbent polymers. Methods for crosslinking these polymers and typical reagents used for crosslinking are described in more detail in US Patent 4,076,663.

The hydrogel-forming absorbent polymers may optionally be combined with fibrous materials to form the deposition material. The fibrous materials facilitate, among other things, the absorption of fluids by hydrogel-forming polymers. However, it may be advantageous to use relatively high concentrations of hydrogel-forming polymers, while avoiding the gel-blocking phenomenon that occurs in many hydrogel-forming polymers. The use of high concentrations of hydrogel-forming polymers is described in detail in U.S. Patent No. 5,599,335 to Goldman et al. And U.S. Patent No. 5,562,646 to Goldman et al., Both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Layer materials containing hydrogel-forming polymers may also comprise fibrous materials to form fibrous webs or fibrous matrices. Fibers suitable for this purpose include natural fibers (modified or unmodified) as well as synthetic fibers. Examples of suitable unmodified or modified natural fibers include cotton, flax, pressed sugarcane, textile sponges, flax, silk, wool, pulp, chemically modified pulp, jute, rayon, ethylcellulose and cellulose acetate. Suitable synthetic fibers can be made of polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride, polytertr fluoroethylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyacrylic polymers such as ORLON ®, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene vinyl acetate, insoluble or soluble polyvinyl alcohol, polyolefins such as polyethylene (for example, PULPEX®) , polyesters such asDACRON® or KODEL®, polyurethanes, polystyrenes and the like.

• 4 4 • 4 44 4 4 • • 4 4 4 4 4 • 4 4 4 4 4 • • 4 4 4 »4 4 444 4 4 ·

4 4 •

-31 similar. The fibers used may comprise only natural fibers, only synthetic fibers or any combination of natural or synthetic fibers.

The fibers used may be hydrophilic, hydrophobic or a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers. As used herein, the term "hydrophilic" describes fibers or fiber surfaces that are wettable with aqueous fluids (e.g., aqueous body fluids) deposited on the fibers. Hydrophilia and wettability are typically defined in terms of contact angle and surface tension of fluids and solids involved. This is described in detail in the publication by the American Chemical Society entitled Contact Angle, Wettability and Adhesion, published by Robert F. Gould (copyrigt 1964). The fiber or fiber surface is considered to be wetted by the fluid (i.e., is hydrophilic) when the contact angle between the fluid and the fiber or its surface is less than 90 ° or when the fluid tends to spontaneously spread over the entire fiber surface, both states normally exist simultaneously. Conversely, the fiber or fiber surface is considered hydrophobic when the contact angle is greater than 90 ° and when the fluid does not spontaneously spread over the fiber surface.

In particular, hydrophilic fibers are used for the storage material suitable for this purpose. Suitable hydrophilic fibers for use in the present invention include cellulose fibers, modified cellulose fibers, rayon, polyester fibers such as polyethylene terephthalate (e.g., DACRON®) hydrophilic nylon (HYDROFIL®) and the like. Suitable hydrophilic fibers can also be obtained by hydrophilizing hydrophobic fibers, such as thermoplastic fibers, treated with surfactants or silica, derived, for example, from polyolefins such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyacrylic polymers, polyamides, polystyrenes, polyurethanes and the like. For reasons of availability and cost considerations, cellulose fibers, especially pulp, are preferred when used in the present invention.

Suitable cellulosic fibers can be obtained by well-known chemical fibers.

9 · · 9 ···

9 9 t ·· <···· # • 9 9 9 9 9

999 9900 99 · 999 ·· 99

-32 production processes such as the Kraft process and the sulfite process. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the pulp fibers are derived from southern softwoods due to their excellent absorbency properties. These pulp fibers can also be obtained from mechanical processes such as pulp processing from wood pulp and from mechanical, thermomechanical, chemical-mechanical and chemical thermomechanical cleaning. Recycled or secondary pulp fibers can be used as well as bleached and / or unbleached pulp fibers.

A desirable source of hydrophilic fibers for use in the present invention is chemically reinforced cellulose fibers. The term "chemically reinforced cellulose fibers" as used herein means cellulose fibers that have been reinforced by chemical means to increase the stiffness of these fibers in both dry and wet conditions. These methods may include adding chemical reinforcing agents, for example, coatings and / or impregnating fibers. These methods may also include stiffening the fibers by modifying the chemical structure, for example, by strengthening the polymer chains.

Polymeric reinforcing agents with which cellulose fibers can flow or impregnate include: cationic modified starches having nitrogen-containing groups (e.g., amino groups), as available from National Starch and Chemical Corp., Bridgewater, NJ, USA; latexy; wet strength resins such as polyamide epichlorohydrin resin (e.g., Kymene® 557H, Hercules, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, USA); commercially available polyakiylamides sold by American Cyanamid Co., Stamford, CT, USA under the tradename Parez® 631 NC; urea formaldehyde and melamine formaldehyde resins and polyethyleneimine resins. A general discussion of the wet strength resins used in the papim art, and generally applicable for this purpose, can be found.

44 ·

• 4 44

4 4 4 ·· ·

449 444

4 • 4 · 4

-33 in the TAPPI monograph, No.29, "Paper and Cardboard Wet Strength", Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industiy (New York, 1965).

These fibers can also be stiffened by a chemical reaction. For example, crosslinking agents may be applied to the fibers so that, after application, they cause the chemical form of the cross-linked crosslink. This crosslinking may increase the stiffness of the fibers. While it is preferred to use a bond with the cross-linked fibers to chemical stiffen the fibers, this does not mean that other types of chemical stiffening reactions are excluded.

Crosslinked reinforced fibers in an individualized shape (i.e., individually reinforced fibers, as well as methods for preparing them) are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent 3,224,926 (Bemardin), issued December 21, 1965; U.S. Patent 3,440,135 (Chung), issued April 22, 1969; U.S. Patent 3,932,209 (Chatterjee), issued January 13, 1976; and US Patent 4,035,147 (Sangenis et al.), issued July 12, 1977. More preferred stiffened fibers are disclosed in US Patent 4,822,453 (Dean et al.) issued April 18, 1989; U.S. Patent 4,888,093 issued to Dean et al. on Dec. 19, 1989; in U.S. Patent 4,898,642 (Moore et al.), issued February 6, 1990; and U.S. Patent 5,137,537 (Herrow et al.), issued August 11, 1992, which are incorporated herein by reference.

In the most preferred stiffened fibers, the chemical treatment involves cross-linking the fibers with the crosslinking agents, such fibers being in a relatively dehydrated, fibrillated (i.e., individualized), twisted, and crimped shape. Suitable chemical stiffening agents are typically monomeric crosslinking agents including, but are not limited to, C ₂ -C _g dialdehyde, C ₂ -C _g monoaldehydes having an acid functionality, and especially C ₂ -C <polycarboxylic acids. These compounds have the ability to react with at least two hydroxyl groups in a single cellulose chain or on closely spaced cellulose chains in a single fiber. Specific examples

• ·· • 0 00 • 0 0 0 0 0 0 • • · 0 0 «*« · • • • 0 0 • 0 0 «0« 0 «

Such cross-linking agents are, but are not limited to, glutaraldehyde, glyoxal, formaldehyde, glyoxylic acid, oxydiananatric acid, and citric acid. Due to the crosslinking under these conditions, fibers are formed which are stiffened and tend to retain their twisted and curled configuration during use in thermally bonded absorbent structures for this purpose. Such fibers and methods for their production are described in the aforementioned patents.

Fibers in a preferred configuration that are curled crimped can be measured by indicating both the "number of twists" of the fiber and the "curl factor" of the fiber. The term "number of twists" as used herein refers to the number of knots that occur over a certain length of fiber. The number of twists is used as a means of measuring the degree to which the fibers are twisted about their longitudinal axis. The term "twisted knot" refers to a substantially axial rotation of the fiber 180 ° about its longitudinal axis, with a portion of the fiber (i.e., "knot") appearing dark relative to the rest of the fiber when viewed under a transmitted light microscope. The twisted knot appears dark at the point where the emitted light passes through an additional fiber wall caused by said twist. The distance between nodes corresponds to an axial twist of 180 °. The number of twisted nodes in a certain fiber length (i.e., the number of twists) directly determines the degree of twist of the fibers, which is the physical parameter of the fiber. A procedure for determining twisted knots and total twists is described in US Patent 4,898,642.

The fibers in the preferred arrangement will have an average dry twist of at least about 2.7, in particular at least about 4.5 twisted knots per millimeter. Further, the average number of twists of these fibers in the wet state should in particular be at least about 1.8, in particular at least about 3.0, and also in particular be at least about 0.5 twisted knots per millimeter less than the average number of twists in the dry state . Even in a more preferred embodiment, the average number of twists would be dry

• fe fe · fe fe

-35 should be at least about 5.5 twisted knots per millimeter, and the average number of twists in the wet state should be at least about 4.0 twists), knots per millimeter, and should also be at least 1.0 twisted knots per millimeter less than the average number of twists in the dry state. In a most preferred embodiment, the average number of twists in the dry state should be at least about 6.5 twisted knots per millimeter, and the average number of twists in the wet state should be at least about 5.0 twisted knots per millimeter, and should also be at least 1, 0 Twisted knot per millimeter less than the average number of twists when dry.

In addition to the twist, the stiffened fibers are preferably crimped. Fiber curl may be described as partial fiber shortening due to kinking, twisting and / or bending of the fiber. For the purposes of the present invention, the curl of a fiber of currencies in terms of a two-dimensional plane. Range of fiber curl in

can be measured by reference to the fiber curl factor. The curl factor, a two-dimensional curl measurement, is determined by observing the fiber in a two-dimensional plane. To determine the curl factor, both the projected fiber length, the longest dimension of the two-dimensional rectangle containing the fiber, L _R , and the actual fiber length, L _A , are measured. The curl factor can then be calculated from the following equation:

Curl factor = (L _A / L _R ) - 1

A method of imaging analysis that can be used to measure L _R and L _A is described in US Patent 4,898,642. The stiffened fibers preferably have a curl factor of at least about 0.30, and more preferably have a curl factor of at least about 0.50.

These chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers have certain properties which make them particularly suitable for certain absorbent members of the present invention relative to the non-stiffened cellulosic fibers. In addition to being hydrophilic, these stiffened fibers have a unique combination of stiffness and bulk elasticity. This will allow φ

φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ φ

The thermally bonded absorbent structures made with these fibers maintained a high level of absorbency and exhibited a high level of bulk resilience and expansion wetting sensitivity. In particular, the volumetric resilience of these stiffened fibers allows the absorbent member to better maintain its capillary structure under the action of both the fluid and the compressive forces normally occurring during use, thereby making it more resistant to collapse.

The laying material in a preferred embodiment for practical use in the present invention comprises a polymeric foam material derived from HIPE. In a preferred embodiment, these materials will have sufficient absorption pressures to desorb the distribution material, thereby creating a reduced fluid deposition in the crotch region of the article. However, as noted, a single material in this article can act both as a distribution material and as a storage material.

The foams described above with respect to the distribution component of the present invention are also suitable as a storage component for such products. Particularly preferred are collapsible polymeric foam materials which, upon contact with aqueous liquids (particularly aqueous body fluids such as urine), can expand and absorb these fluids. These absorbent polymeric storage foam materials include a hydrophilic, resilient, nonionic, interconnected open cell polymeric foam structure as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,387,207 to Dyer et al., Issued Feb. 7, 1995, and co-pending patent application Ser. / 563,866, filed Nov. 25, 1995, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The storage foam material suitable for the present invention produces a very low density absorbent foam. For a given expanded thickness, these lower density foams effectively utilize the available polymeric material. As a result, these lower density absorbent foams provide an economically attractive means of achieving a thinner absorbent core for absorbent articles such as diapers,

• · «φ · #

-37 adult incontinence protectors or briefs, hygienic Brains and the like. This is achieved while providing the required absorbent and mechanical grease.

The materials used in the absorbent core of the present invention can be arranged in a variety of ways as long as the desired distribution material is contained in the crotch region. As described above, it is preferred that relatively little fluid storage occurs in the crotch region. Thus, while the non-fluid dispensing storage material may be contained within the crotch region of the absorbent core, the crotch region base material will be a distribution or redistribution and storage material.

Absorbent cores suitable for this purpose may contain separate components for use in the crotch, anterior and posterior regions of the absorbent core. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the absorbent core 428 showing its individual elements. As shown in Fig. 5, the absorbent core 428 consists of a front panel 420 and a rear panel 430, both of which are made of an absorbent material, particularly a fluid storage material. FIG. 5 further illustrates a central portion 451 consisting of an absorbent material and an overlapping front panel 420 and a rear panel 430. The material of this central portion 451 comprises a fluid dispensing material having the absorbent capacities for vertical wicking described above, or a material having required properties for distribution and storage of fluids.

The central portion 451 may comprise a plurality of strips of absorbent material, each having an individual shape, width, length and thickness. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the relatively thin, flexible, resilient, polymeric strip of the central portion 451 is preferably made of the same fluid distribution and storage material as the front panel 420 and the rear panel 430. In FIG.

»9

999

999 ··

METHODS OF TESTING

A. TOTAL ABSORPTION CAPACITY OF THE PRODUCT AND PERCENTAGE

STRAP CAPACITY

The following protocol is intended to determine the total absorption capacity ('TAC') and the percentage crotch area ('CRC') of the product. The protocol uses data determined from the testing of test products used by test participants.

Allocation of Test Participants * Test participants should be selected by weight within the range of products tested. The following are the current product sizes and baby weights for Pampers, Luvs and Huggies (dated March 25, 1997):

Diaper size newborn small small / medium medium big zvi. big Pampers up to 10 pounds 8-14 lb 12-18 lb 16-28 lb over 22 lb over 27 lb Luvs useless 8-15 lb 12-18 lb 16-28 lb 21-37 lb over 30 lb Huggies up to 10 pounds 8-14 lb 12-18 lb 16-28 lb 21-37 lb over 30 lb

* A group of 100 test participants should be selected evenly over the appropriate weight range relative to the size of the test product and the intended user group. Note: The sizes given are for products currently being sold and may vary when design or product size is modified.

* Depending on the selection operation, 30 participants are randomly selected from the group.

«9« • ·· · ♦

• · · «· · ··· ·· ♦

Product Preparation * Test products are weighed to determine the dry weight of the product. * A test team member takes the product, puts it on the child at the start of the test, i.e. puts it in the normal way.

* Once the test article has been deployed, a member of the test team places the child (user of the article) in a standing position and the crotch point is determined as described above in this application.

* The crotch point is then permanently marked on the outside of the test product.

* The filling area is then determined by measuring from the crotch point forward to the respective genital point, taking into account the sex and size of the user of the article. For girls, the distance from the crotch point is 1.25 inches on average. The distance from the crotch point forward is 2.5 inches for boys.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that these distances may increase or decrease according to the size of the user of the article. Therefore, this distance for other sizes can be determined by placing the user of the article in a standing position and determining the crotch point, as previously specified, and further measuring the distance from the crotch point to the urethra or the lower part of the penis.

* When the feed area is determined, the distance from the front waist portion to the feed area is measured, and this distance is used to determine the length of the feed tube to be introduced into the product during full synthetic urine.

Synthetic urine * The test fluid to use with this test is synthetic urine (syn-urine). This aqueous compound consists of the following components dissolved in distilled water:

• · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

3 · «<< ··

··

Component Percentage composition KC1 2,0 gd Na ₂ SO ₄ 2,0 gd (ΝΗ ₄ ) Η ₂ ΡΟ ₅ 0.85 gd ( ₄ ) _{2 4} 0.15 gd CaCl ₂ 0.19 gd MgCl ₂ 0,23 gd

* The temperature in the synthetic urine bath is maintained at 37 C. A suitable heated bath is Lauda M20-B, commercially available from VWR Scientific Products.

* Feed pumps are used to pump synthetic urine from the heated bath to the product. The volume and feed rate should be 75 ml at 15 mls / sec. Suitable pumps are the Masterflex model 7500-60 or 7524-00 commercially available from Cole Partner Instrument Company. The inner diameter of the feed tube should be 0.125 inches.

Protocol * Once the products are deployed and labeled as described above, loose fitting blue cotton pants are weighed to determine the weight of the dry pants, and these pants are stretched over the test article so that leakage can be easily identified and measured.

The test articles are then filled by inserting the feed tube at a predetermined distance measured from the waist, and performing the specified filling at the specified speed.

* Between filling, users of absorbent articles return to normal activities.

* The products are filled at the specified fill rate at the specified rate every 10 minutes, i.e. at 10 minute intervals between fillings. Before each filling, the cotton pants are checked for leakage.

0

-41 * These fillings are continued until 1 gram of liquid from the cotton pants product has soaked. This can be determined by removing the pants and weighing them.

* When 1 gram of liquid has leaked onto the pants, the test product is removed immediately weighed.

Total and crotch area capacity * The total capacity for a given test product is determined by subtracting the dry weight of the product from the wet weight of the product.

* The total capacity for a product group is given by the average of the total capacities of each product.

* The crotch area capacity is determined by placing the filled product flat and cutting the crotch area from the product. (The crotch area is determined with respect to the crotch point that has been previously identified for this product). This area is then weighed. This procedure should be performed within 15 minutes after removal of the article from the user of the absorbent article.

* The appropriate crotch area is cut from the dry product to determine the crotch area weight.

* The crotch area capacity is determined by subtracting the dry crotch area weight from the wet crotch area weight. This determines the crotch area capacity for the product.

* The crotch area capacity for the product group is given by the average crotch capacity of each product.

* The percentage of crotch capacity to total capacity is determined by dividing the average crotch area capacity by the average total capacity for a given product family.

• ·

-42B. Fluid intake

The fluid receiving method provides a method for supplying fluid to an absorbent article that simulates operating conditions. The product shall be filled to 70% of its total absorption capacity (determined in accordance with paragraph A). One of the following testing methods described below uses a wetted article of the method to characterize it according to the present invention.

PRINCIPLE

This test simulates the supply of urine to a product under the following conditions:

1) A 0.4 psi (about 28 g / cm ² ) pressure is applied to the product sample.

2) Synthetic urine is fed into the product in increments of 50 ml at a rate of 10 ml / sec, with a 5 minute period (equilibrium time) between each filling. The number of fillings will be determined by the total absorption capacity of the product.

Tester

Modified ambient conditions: Temperature and humidity are controlled within the following limits: temperature: 88 ± 2 ° F relative humidity: 50 ± 2%

Reception Tester: Obtained from Concord - Renn Co., 6315 Warrick St.

Cincinnati, OH. 45227 Test bench parts (plexiglass) foam pad - 6 "x 20 χ 1 foam covered with polyethylene backsheet foam type: density 1.0 lb / ft ³ . IDL 24 psi nozzle cover plate ·· · · · · · · · · ·

Reward the cylinders:

(100 ml) (1000 ml) Erlenmeyer: (6000 ml)

Digital pump:

-43VWR Scientific, (100 ml), catalog number:

24711-310 (1000 ml) catalog, No. 24711-364 or eq. VWR Scientific, catalog number: 29135-307 or eq.

Cole-Parmer Instrument Co., tel. (800) 323-4340 Catalog number: G-07523-20 Low-pressure pump head: Cole-Parmer Instr. Co., cat.no .: g-07518-02 Distilled water: normal source

Synthetic urine: SynUrine, prepared according to Test Method, paragraph A.

ASSEMBLY OF THE TEST INSTRUMENT

The tester should be assembled as shown in FIG. 6. The tester is indicated by the reference numeral 520. The tester 520 is located on a suitable table or worktop. The tester 520 includes a synthetic urine supply 524, a pump 528, a pair of electrical connectors or sensors 536, and a sample holder 546.

Pump 528 is a positive displacement pump equipped with a pump head 530 and a digital timer 532. Electrical sensors 536 are connected to pump 528 with electrical wires 538. Tygon tubes 540 run from synthetic urine supply 524 to pump 528 and from pump 528 to sample holder 546. ®. The Tygon® tubes 540 from the pump 528 to the sample holder 546 are preferably maintained above the sample holder 546 by a ring stand (not shown). The end of the Tygon® tubes 540 leading to the sample holder 546 also includes a nozzle 542 for controlling the delivery of synthetic urine to the test sample.

The sample holder 546 consists of a plexiglass test station, a foam pad 550, and a cover plate 552. The test station 548 is schematically shown in FIG. 6 as it comprises, for simplicity, a plexiglass base plate.

• · · · ·

The test station 548 should also include four plexiglass walls arranged vertically from the base and surrounding the diaper sample 510. This prevents synthetic power from leaking out of Test Stand 548 during testing. The foam pad 550 is located at the top of the Plexiglas test station 548 so that pressure on the sample is equalized during testing. The diaper sample 510 is placed on the foam base, with the topsheet facing up. A cover plate 552 is then placed on top of the diaper sample such that the fluid directing column 556 and the aperture 558 in the cap plate 552 are at the foam center of the diaper sample. Thereafter, weights 560 are applied to the diaphragm plate 552 to exert a pressure of 0.4 psi (about 28 g / cm ² ) on the diaper sample.

The electrical sensors 536 are arranged to just touch the topsheet of the diaper sample in the synthetic urine storage area. The electrical sensors 536 are located outside, and on opposite sides of, the cylindrical fluid directing column 556. The electrical sensors 536 record the presence of synthetic urine on the chase layer of the diaper sample. When the entire amount of synthetic urine is received by the diaper sample, the electrical connection between the electrical sensors 536 is broken.

METHOD

1) Cut off all elastic elements from the diaper under test so that the diaper is flat. Place the diaper on the hunt part of the foam piece on the base of the intake tester. The diaper should be positioned with its uppermost topsheet so that synthetic urine is fed to the topsheet. The diaper should be positioned so that the urine delivery nozzle is approximately 3 inches from the front edge of the diaper.

2) Place the assembly plate on the diaper.

3) Gently place the appropriate weights on the end plate so that the diaper is subjected to a pressure of 0.4 psi (about 28 g / cm ² ).

-454) Slide the annular stand so that the nozzle is directly above the center of the fluid directing column. Lower the ring stand until the nozzle extends 2 ”(about 5 cm) above the diaper surface. Pull the nozzle so that it is perpendicular to the worktop.

5) Start the pump.

6) The pump starts delivering a specific volume of synthetic urine and the timer will run until absorbed by the diaper.

7) After absorbing the fluid, release the restraining pressure, leaving the cover plate in place for 5 minutes. The pressure is then re-applied for the remaining 10 minutes of equilibrium time.

8) After 15 minutes of equilibrium time, the test cycle is automatically repeated. The test cycle will run as required until a specific volume of synthetic urine is applied to the diaper sample.

9) After all tests have been completed, rinse the tube with distilled water. Clean the surface of the small sensor contacts located inside the base of the top plate tube daily with a small brush. If the tester is used for 24 hours and it is not possible to flush the synthetic urine from the tube, replace the tubes every month. Replace the foam pad every 3 months to maintain the strength of the bracket.

C. STRAP WIDTH FOR WET AND SECTION AREA FOR

DRY

The crotch width of the absorbent core of the absorbent article is first measured by determining the crotch point of the absorbent article. The article is then wetted to 70% of its total capacity according to the fluid acquisition method. The product is removed from the instrument and allowed to equilibrate for 1 hour. Upon reaching equilibrium, the article is cut transversely across its entire thickness to form two 2-inch (about 5 cm) long sections, with the crotch point at the transverse and longitudinal center of this.

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

-46section. Thereafter, each wetted layer of the sample divided into sections is weighed. The width of the layer containing most of the absorbed fluid corresponds to the crotch width of the absorbent article.

When the aforementioned determination of the most liquid-retaining layer of the absorbent article has been made, the cross-dry article of the previous paragraph is cut. The layer, previously determined to retain most of the fluid, is separated from the other components of the absorbent core and the dry thickness and width are determined. (The thickness is measured under a limiting pressure of 0.2 psi (about 14 g / cm ² )). When the layer consists of a plurality of individual layers, the width and thickness of each layer are measured and the sum of their individual cross-sectional areas corresponds to the cross-sectional area of the crotch region of the absorbent core.

D. VERTICAL DROP SPEED AND ABSORPTION CAPACITY

VERTICAL WILDING

The vertical wicking rate in the material at 5 cm and the vertical wicking absorption capacity for a given height are measured using the Vertical Wicking Rate and Vertical Wicking Absolation Capacity Test described in the Test Methods section of U.S. Patent No. 5,387,207 to Dyer et al. herein incorporated by reference, except that it is measured at 31 ° C, rather than at 37 ° C. For materials that lack sufficient consistency to withstand the test protocol, a hydrophobic grid may be used to support the material which does not affect the capillary action. Finally, the washing and re-drying operation is not performed as in ‘207.

Claims (14)

PATENT CLAIMS An absorbent core having a crotch region, characterized in that (i) the crotch region has an absorption capacity of not more than 40% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, wherein (ii) the crotch region comprises a material having a vertical wicking capacity of at least 15 g / g, at a height of 2 cm. An absorbent core according to claim 1, characterized in that (i) the crotch region of the absorbent core has an absorbent capacity of not more than 25% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, in particular not more than 15% % of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, and in particular 0 to 10% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, wherein (ii) the material has a vertical wicking capacity of at least 25 g / g, at a height of 2 cm, particularly at least 40 g / g, cm. An absorbent core having a crotch region, wherein (i) the crotch region has an absorption capacity of no more than 40% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, wherein (ii) the crotch region comprises a material having a vertical wicking capacity of at least 10 g / g, at a height of 20 cm. An absorbent core according to claim 3, characterized in that (i) the crotch region of the absorbent core has an absorbent capacity of not more than 25% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, in particular not more than 15%% of the total the absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, and in particular 0-10% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, wherein (ii) the material has a vertical wicking capacity of at least 20 g / g, at a height of 20 cm, particularly at least 30 g / g, at a height of 20 cm; and in particular at least 40 g / g, at a height of 20 cm. Fefe fefe fefe fefe fefe -485. An absorbent core having a crotch region, characterized in that (i) the crotch region has an absorption capacity of no more than 40% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, wherein (ii) the crotch region comprises a material having a vertical wicking capacity of 25 cm. 5 g / g. Absorbent core according to claim 5, characterized in that the crotch region of the absorbent core has an absorption capacity of not more than 25% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, in particular not more than 15% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, and in particular 0 to 10 % of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, wherein the material has a vertical wicking capacity of at least 15 g / g, at a height of 25 cm, in particular at least 20 g / g, at a height of 25 cm, and particularly at least 30 g / g, at a height of 25 cm. An absorbent core having a cross-sectional area at the crotch point of the core not greater than 2.6 cm ² , characterized in that the crotch region comprises a material having a vertical wicking capacity of at least 10 g / g at a height of 20 cm. Absorbent core according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has a crotch cross-sectional area at the crotch point of the core of not more than 1.8 cm ² , in particular not more than 1 cm ² . An absorbent core having a crotch region, characterized in that (i) the crotch region has an absorption capacity of no more than 40% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, wherein (ii) the crotch region comprises a material having a vertical wicking capacity of 30 cm , at least 0.5 g / g. An absorbent core according to claim 9, wherein (i) the crotch region has an absorbent capacity of no more than 25% of the total absorbent core. ·· ·· -49 the capacity of the absorbent core, particularly not more than 15% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, and in particular 0 to 10%% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, wherein (ii) the material has a vertical wicking capacity of at least 10 g / g. in particular at least 20 g / g at a height of 30 cm, and in particular _t of at least 30 g / g at a height of 25 cm. Λ í 11. An absorbent core according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the crotch region comprises an open-cell absorbent polymeric foam material having a specific surface area per foam volume of at least 0.025 m ² / cc, and a compression deflection resistance. 40% or less when measured at a limiting pressure of 0.74 psi, in particular 2% to 25%, when measured at a limiting pressure of 0.74 psi. 12. An absorbent core having a crotch region, wherein the crotch region has an absorbent capacity of no more than 40% of the total absorbent capacity of the absorbent core, the core comprising an absorbent, open-ended, absorbent, semi-dimensional foam material having specific surface area values per foam. a volume of at least 0.025 m ² / cc, in particular at least 0.05 m ² / cc, and in particular at least 0.07 m ² / cc. 13. The absorbent core of claim 12, wherein the absorbent core of the absorbent body of the The open-cell polymeric foam material has a compression deflection resistance of 40% or less when measured at a limiting pressure of 0.74 psi, in particular 2% to 25%, when measured at a limiting pressure of 0.74 psi, and in particular 2 to 15. % when measured at a limiting pressure of 0.74 psi. An absorbent article comprising the absorbent core of claims 1 to 13.