MXPA00004045A - Vapor swept diaper - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a personal care product having a vapor sweep comprising a material which reacts with water or urine to form vapor at a rate capable of displacing at least 5, and preferably at least 10, percent of the air volume within said product per minute. This vapor generation sweepswater vapor and humidity from the personal care product, such as a diaper, and so it's believed will contribute to skin health. Materials that, upon reaction with water or urine, produce large volumes of carbon dioxide may be incorporated into the various components of standard personal care products to achieve the objective of this invention. Such materials include leavening agents. Additionally, a seal may be added to the personal care product to encourage the generated vapor to travel a longer path prior to exiting the product in order to maximize water vapor removal.

Description

gftfiMt COM eBR >M Pg VeTO » FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to absorbent articles particularly absorbent structures that are useful for personal care products such as disposable diapers, incontinence guards, and underpants for child care and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to absorbent articles having a part designed for the release of vapor volumes with the discharge of the article, thereby driving moisture out of the article, reducing humidity and, as a result, the detrimental effect. on the skin of body exudates.

BACKGROUND s IA INVENTION Personal care products are absorbent articles that include diapers, underpants, incontinence devices, and the like. These products are designed to absorb and contain body exudates and are generally disposable or single-use items, which are discarded after a relatively short period of use - usually a period of hours - and are not intended to be washed and reuse. Such products are placed against or in proximity to the user's body to absorb and contain the various exudates discharged from the body. All such products typically include a liquid-permeable body-to-body liner cover, a bottom sheet or liquid-impervious outer cover, and an absorbent structure placed between the body-side liner and the exterior cover. The liquid-impermeable outer cover may have the ability to breathe, for example, be permeable to water vapor.

It has been found that urination can occur as high as 15 to 20 milliliters per second and speeds as high as 280 centimeters per second. The volume of urine released per occurrence may vary from about a nominal amount to about 100 ml. And it is important that the absorbent article be swallowed quickly and liquid to avoid an excessive stagnation of liquid on the surface facing the body of the liner from side to body in order to avoid runoff. Even if it is absorbed, however any liquid in the article contributes to the global humidity near the user's skin, causing discomfort and potential skin health problem. The problem of excessive moisture near the skin in an absorbent article has been examined in the art through a number of means. The patent of the United States of America No. 5,137,525 for example, uses mechanical means to increase the air flow in the article.

The outer covers with capacity to breathe allow diffusion of air and water vapor and have been previously mentioned.

Despite these attempts, there is a need for a further improvement in the reduction of moisture within the absorbent articles. In particular, there is a need for materials that can be discharged with water discharge and entrain excess moisture from the article. Ideally, this flushing or discharging with water discharge should occur after or in response to the discharge and not on a continuous basis. The present invention provides such improved moisture reduction within an absorbent article.

SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION The objects of this invention are achieved by a personal care product having a vapor entrainer comprising a material that reacts with water or urine to form steam at a rate capable of displacing at least 5%, preferably at less 10% of the volume of air within the product per minute. This steam generation draws the water vapor and moisture from the personal care product, such as a diaper and is therefore believed to contribute to the health of the skin. Materials that, when reacted with water or urine, produce large volumes of a non-toxic gas, such as carbon dioxide, can be incorporated into the various components of standard person care products to achieve the objective of this invention. Tale materials include recessing agents. Additionally, a seal may be added to the duct to provide for encouraging generated steam to move to a longer path before leaving the product in order to maximize the removal of water vapor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side view longitudinal cross sectional drawing of a personal care product having a seal against the body and directing the flow of vapor in one direction.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view longitudinal drawing of a personal care product without a seal against the body and directing steam flow in two directions.

DEFINITIONS "Disposable" includes being discarded after usually a single use and that which is not intended to be washed is reused.

"Front" and "Posterior" are used throughout the description to designate the relations relative to the prenup rather than to suggest any position that the pren assumes when it is placed on a user.

"Hydrophilic" describes fibers or fiber surfaces, which are wetted by aqueous liquids in contact with the fibers. The degree of wetting of the materials can, in turn, be described in terms of the contact angles and the surface tensions of the liquids and the materials involved. An analyzed Cahn SFA-222 surface force system, or an essentially equivalent system, can provide adequate equipment and techniques to measure the wetting of particular fibr materials. When measured with this system, fibers having contact angles of less than 90 ° are designated "wettable" or hydrophilic, while fibers having contact angles equal to or greater than 90 ° are designated "n humidifying" or hydrophobic.

"Layer" when used in the sigular, may have the dual meaning of a single element or a plurality of elements.

"Liquid" means a non-gaseous substance and / or a flowing material that can assume the form of a container into which it is poured or placed.

"Liquid Communication" means that the liquid such as urine is able to move from one place to another place.

"Longitudinal" and "transverse" have their usual meanings. The longitudinal axis lies in the plan of the article when it is placed flat and fully extended and is generally parallel to the vertical plane that divides the user standing in the left-hand body halves when the item is used. The transverse axis lies in the plane of the article generally perpendicular to the longitudinal ej.

"Particles" refers to any geometric form such as, but not limited to spherical grains, cylindrical yarns or fibers or the like.

"Spray" and variations thereof include the forcible liquid ejector, either as a current such as swirl filaments or atomized particles through orifice, nozzle or the like, by means of an applied air pressure or other gas, by force of gravity or by centrifugal force. Spraying can be continuous or non-continuous.

The phrase "spunbond fibers" refers to fibers of small diameter, which are formed by extruding the molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of usually circular fine capillary vessels of a spinner with the diameter of the filaments extruded then. being rapidly reduced as for example in US Patent No. 4,340,563 issued to Appel et al., and United States of America Patent No. 3,692,618 issued to Dorschner et al., the United States Patent. of America No. 3,802,817 granted to Matsu i and others, the United States patents of Améric Nos. 3,338,992 and 3,341,394 to Kinney, the patent of the United States of America No. 3,502,763 granted to Hartman and the patent of the United States of America No. 3,542,615 granted to Dobo others. Yarn bonded fibers are generally sticky when they are deposited on a picking surface. Spunbonded fibers are generally continuous and have average diameters (from a sample of at least 10) larger than 7 microns, more particularly d between about 10 and 20 microns. The fibers may also have shapes such as those described in United States of America patents Nos. 5,277,976 granted to Hogle other, 5,466,410 granted to Bills and 5,069,970 and 5,057.36 granted to Largman et al. conventional "Fusible blown fibers" means fiber formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of usually circular and fine matrix capillaries, such as melted threads or filaments in usually hot gas streams (e.g. high speed, which attenuate the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce its diameter, which can be a microfiber diameter. Then, the co-melt blown fibers are carried by the high velocity gas stream and deposited on a collecting surface to form a meltblown fabric of randomly disbursed melt. Such a process is discussed, for example, in the United States of America Patent No. 3,849,241. Melt blown fibers are microfibers which may be continuous or discontinuous, and are generally smaller than 10 microns in average diameter. "Conjugated fibers" refer to fibers which have been formed from at least two polymer sources extruded from separate extruders but spun together to form a fiber. Conjugated fibers are also sometimes mentioned as multicomponent or bicomponent fibers. The polymers are usually different from one another even though the conjugated fibers can be monocoquent fibers. The polymers are arranged in different areas placed in essentially constant form across the cross section of the conjugated fibers and extend continuously along the length of the conjugate fibers. The configuration of such conjugated fibr can be, for example, a sheath / core arrangement where one polymer is surrounded by another or can be a side-by-side arrangement or a cake arrangement or an arrangement of "islands on the sea". . Conjugated fibers teach in U.S. Patent No. 5,108,820 issued to Kaneko et al., In U.S. Patent No. 5,336,552 issued to Strack et al., And in the United States Patent of America. No. 5,382,400 granted to Pike and others. For fibers of two components, the fibers may be present in proportions of 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 or any other desired proportions.

The "biconstituent fibers" refer to fibers, which have been formed from at least 2 polymer extruded from the same extruder as a mixture. The term "mixture" is defined below. The biconstituent fibers n have the various polymer components arranged in different zones placed relatively constant across the cross-sectional area of the fiber and the various polymers n are usually continuous along the entire length of the fiber, instead of this, usually forming protofibril fibrils which start and end at random. Biconstituent fibers are sometimes referred to as multi-constituent fibers. Fibers of this general type are discussed in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 5,108,827 issued to Guessner. John A. Manson Leslie H. Sperling also discuss bi-constituent biconstituent fibers in the textbook Polymer Compounds and Compounds, copyright 1976, by Plenum Press, a division of Plenum Publishing Corporation, New York, IBSN 0 306- 30831-2, pages 273 to 277.

The "carded and bonded fabric" refers to fabric that are made of basic fibers which are sent through a combing or carding unit, which separates or breaks lines the basic fibers in the machine direction to form a fibrous non-woven fabric generally oriented in the direction of the machine. Such fibers are usually purchased from bales, which are placed in a shredding opener / mixer, which separates the fibers before the carding unit. Once the tissue is formed, it is then joined by one or more of the various known joining methods. One such binding method is the binding with powder, wherein a powder adhesive is distributed through the fabric and then it is activated, usually by heating the fabric and the adhesive with hot air. Another suitable joining method is that of pattern bonding, wherein heated calendering rolls or ultrasonic bonding equipment are used to join the fibers together. Usually, in a localized bonding pattern even when the tissue can be bound through its entire surface if desired. Another suitable joining method is well known, particularly when short conjugated fibers are used, it is the bonding through air.

"Air placement" is a well-known process by which a fibrous non-woven layer can be formed. The process of laying by air, the bunches of the small fibers have typical lengths ranging from about 3 to about 19 millimeters (mm) are separated and carried in an air supply and then deposited on a forming grid, usually with the help of a vacuum supply. The randomly deposited fibers are then bonded together using, for example, hot air or sprayed adhesive.

The volume of air between the skin and a liner in a personal care product, or the volume of air between the skin and the fabric of a garment is considered by the inventors to be the "air volume" of the article.

"Personal care product" means diapers, underpants, absorbent undergarments, adult incontinence products, wound care products such as bandages and other items.

DESCRIPPTO PETAIT > ftPA Traditional absorbent systems for personal care products can be generalized as they have the functions of containment and control of emergence (retention) or SC.

The emergence control materials, the "S in the control of emergence and containment, are provided to quickly accept the incoming discharge and either absorb retain, channel or otherwise handle the liquid so that it does not run out of the article The emergence layer can also be referred to as an absorption layer, a transfer layer, a similar transport layer.An emergence material should typically be capable of handling an incoming discharge of between about 60 and 10 cubic centimeters to a Volumetric flow rate of discharge from about 5 to 20 cubic centimeters for infants, for example, containment or retention materials "C in SC must absorb discharge quickly and efficiently. These are in liquid communication with the emergence layer must be able to pull the liquid from the emergence layer and absorb the liquid are significantly blocking the penetration of the liquid additionally inside the absorbent Retention materials are frequently high-rate superabsorbent materials, such as mixtures of superabsorbent polyacrylate and fluff. These materials absorb and quickly retain the liquid.

In addition to the control materials and d containment of emergence of traditional absorbent systems, a recent work has introduced another cap interposed between the layers S and C and in liquid communication with these. This new layer is a distribution layer, which produces a system with control, distribution and contention d emergence or "SDC".

The distribution materials, the "D" in SDC must be able to move the fluid from the initial depot point to where storage is desired. The distribution must take place at an acceptable rate so that the area of discharge of the target, usually the crotch area, is ready for the next discharge. By "ready for next discharge" it is meant that sufficient liquid has been moved out of the target zone so that the next discharge results in the absorption and runoff of the liquid within the acceptable volumes. The time between downloads can vary from just a few minutes to hours generally depending on the age of the user.

Absorbent products such as, for example, diapers, generally have a liner which is in the user's control and a bottom sheet which is the outermost layer. An absorbent product may also contain other layers as well.

The forro.es is sometimes referred to as a forr sideways to the body or top sheet and is adjacent to the matter of emergence. In the direction of the thickness of the article, the lining material is the layer against the wearer's skin in this way the first layer in contact with the liquid or other exudate of the wearer. The lining also serves to isolate the foot of the user from liquids maintained in an absorbent structure and must be docile, soft feeling and non-irritating.

Various materials can be used to form the body side liner of the present invention, including perforated plastic films, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, porous foams, and similar crosslinked foams. Non-woven materials have been found to be particularly suitable for use in shaping the forr from body to body. These include fabrics bonded with spunbond or blown with polyolefin, polyester, polyamide (another fiber-forming polymer) filaments or bonded carded fabrics of natural polymer fibers (eg, rayon or cotton fibers) and / or polymers synthetic (for example, polypropylene or polyester). The non-woven fabric can be treated on the surface with a treated amount of surfactant such as about 0.28% Triton X-102 surfactant, or processed in another way to impart the desired level of wettability and hydrophilicity and a surfactant is used, it can be an internal additive that migrates to the surface or is applied to the fabric by any conventional means, such as spraying, printing, embedding, brush coating and the like.

The emergence layer is more typically interposed between and in intimate liquid communication contact with the side-to-body liner and another layer such as the distribution or retention layer. The emergence layer is generally underlying the unexposed lower surface of lining from side to body. To further increase the transfer of the liquid, it may be desirable to hold the upper and / or lower surface of the emergence layer to the liner and distribution layer, respectively. Suitable conventional clamping techniques can be used including limiting, adhesive bonding (using solvent-based and thermally active water-based adhesives) thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, perforation and bolt opening, as well as combinations of the previous methods of subjection or other appropriate. If, for example, the emergence layer is adhesively bonded to the liner from side to body, the amount of adhesive added should be sufficient to provide the desired level of bonding, without excessive restriction of liquid flow from the liner into the layer of emergence. Various woven and non-woven fabrics and foams can be used to build an emergence layer. For example, the emergence layer may be a layer of non-woven fabric, composed of meltblown or bonded fabric with polyolefin filament bond. Such nonwoven fabric layers may include conjugate fibers of biconstituent and homopolymer of basic length or other mixtures of such fibers with other types of fibers. The emergence layer can also be a carded and bound fabric or an air-laid fabric composed of natural and / or synthetic fibers. The carded and bonded fabric may, for example, be carded and bonded fabric, a carded and infrared fabric, or a carded and bonded fabric through air. Additional examples of the materials of emergence can be found and in the patents of the United States of America No. 5,490,846 granted to Ellis and others and in the patent of the United States of America No. 5,364,382 granted to Latimer. The emergence layers may be composed of an essentially hydrophobic material and the hydrophobic material may optionally be treated with a surfactant or otherwise processed to impart a level of hydrophilic wetting. The emergence layers may have a generally uniform thickness and a cross-sectional area.

A distribution layer, if present, should be able to move the fluid from the initial point of storage to where storage is desired. The distribution must take place at an acceptable rate so that the target discharge area, usually the crotch area, is ready for the next discharge. The time between downloads can vary from just a few minutes to hours, generally depending on the age of the user. The materials from which the distribution layer can be made include woven fabrics and non-woven fabrics. For example, the distribution layer may be a layer of non-woven fabric composed of a spunbonded knitted fabric with melting of polyolefin filaments, polyester, polyamide (or other tissue-forming polymer). Tale layers of non-woven fabric may include biconstitute fibers and a polymer of basic or other lengths and mixtures of such fibers or other types of fibers. The distribution layer may also be a bonded and carded fabric, an air-laid fabric or a wet-laid pulp structure composed of natural and / or synthetic fibers or a combination thereof.

The retention materials are typically cellulosic or superabsorbent materials or mixtures thereof. Such materials are usually designed to rapidly absorb liquids and retain them, usually without release. The superabsorbents are commercially available from a number of manufacturers including Dow Chemical Company, of Midland Michigan and Stockhauser Corporation of Greensboro, North Carolina. The retention materials can be zoned and their compositions can be chosen to move liquids out of the target area to more remote storage locations. Such a design more efficiently uses the complete absorbent article. The retention component of a personal care product is also called the "absorbent core".

The lower sheet is sometimes referred to as the outer cover and is the layer furthest away from the user. The outer cover is typically formed of a thin thermoplastic film such as a polyethylene film, which is essentially permeable to liquid. The outer cover functions to prevent exudates from the body contained in the absorbent structure to prevent wetting or soiling of the wearer's clothing, bedding or other materials in contact with the diaper. The outer cover may be, for example, a polyethylene film having an initial thickness of from about 0.5 mils (0.012 millimeters) to about 5.0 mils (0.12 millimeters). The outer cover of the polymer film can be etched and / or matte finished to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Other alternate constructions for the outer cover include woven or non-woven fibrous fabrics that have been constructed or treated to impart the desired level of liquid impermeability, or laminates formed of a woven or non-woven fabric and thermoplastic film. The other cover can optionally be composed of a vapor or gas permeable material, "breathable" micropores that are permeable to vapors or gas, but essentially impermeable to liquid. The backrests also serve the function of a member that matches mechanical fasteners, in the case, for example, where a non-woven tel is the outer surface.

Despite the advantages of modern emergence, distribution and retention materials, it has been found that a small amount of liquid may still remain in contact with the skin for some time after urinating on a personal care product. Even in the absence of skin wetness, however, a higher level of moisture persists in the product for some time after urination. This exposure to higher moisture levels in a personal care product is also believed to have detrimental to the skin. A personal care product that actively drains or drags water vapor out of the skin refers to this issue and is believed to help keep skin healthy.

The inventors have found that incorporating a personal care product with various materials that react with urine to generate steam can help target a positive entrainment of water vapor from the article. These materials can be incorporated into any of the components of the article, even though they will most likely be incorporated into the lining, the emergence, distribution and retention layers.

A method for incorporating the vapor inhaler materials into a component can be by using fibers made from or containing such materials. If the lining, for example, were a non-woven fabric made of fibers d steam-generating materials, the generation of vap would begin immediately with urination. The incorporation of such fibers into the innermost layers will result in some delay of time as the urine of the insult gradually advances within the article. Alternatively, such fiber may be made of vapor permeable polymers and the vapor generating material may be contained therein. In this configuration, the water vapor in the urine will diffuse through the fiber to the interior where it will react with the steam generating materials. The steam produced in this way will then melt out from the fiber and sweep away the extra water vapor from the article.

Another method of incorporating the steam generators into the personal care product and placing it in a bag made of, for example, blown fiber or other non-woven fibers. Such a bag may be placed between the lining and emergence layers, between the emergence and retention distribution layers, or in other places or may be of any convenient shape. The water vapor can then diffuse into the bag and react with the steam generating materials.

It is important that steam entrainment is moved through the personal care product and thus carry the maximum amount of water vapor possible from the product. Steam generation, which then immediately escapes from the product will have little effectiveness. One way to maximize the trajectory of the generated vapor will be to seal part of the article against the wearer's skin in an area thereby directing the flow of vapor in the opposite direction. The seal does not need to be absolute; it should merely encourage most of the steam generated to move in another direction.

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a personal care product having a seal placed for contact against the body and directing the flow of steam in one direction. In Figure 1, the personal care product 1 has been incorporated into a steam generating material 2 and a seal 3 which will go against the user's body on the front or back. Opposite part 4 to seal 3 allows steam to pass from product 1. Arrows 5 illustrate the steam flow inside the product.

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a person care product 1 without a seal against the body but with a steam generating material 2 located so that the vapor s will move upwards from the front and the back of the product and it will pass from the product 1. The arrow 5 illustrates the flow of steam inside the product 1.

It should be noted that Figures 1 and 2 are for illustrative purposes only and that the placement of the steam generating materials is limited to only the imagination. The steam generating materials can, of course, also be located in multiple places within the product. In addition, seals may be placed on a product in the leg and crotch opening area, particularly with the configuration of FIG. 2 to encourage water vapor to travel to the longer route.

In addition to the seal, another method to direct the flow of steam within a personal care product is to generate channels within the product. A channel in the center of an article in the longitudinal direction, for example, will direct more of the volume of steam swept through the most feasible area to receive a urine discharge and therefore will probably be more effective. It is also possible to incorporate a breathable hydrophobic barrier layer or "spacer layer" (as described in United States Patent Application No. 08 / 994,530) into a personal care product. The spacer layer is placed between the absorbent layer and the outer cover to reduce or eliminate the wet or sticky feeling that may develop on the outside of a personal care product due to condensation.

The steam generating materials that are to be used in the practice of this invention will be able to produce significant volumes of vapor with the reaction with the water. If one presumes, for example, that the volume of air between the skin of a liner in a typical diaper is around 150 cubic centimeters and that it is desired to sweep 10% (by volume) of the air from the product per minute to around of 15 cubic centimeters per minute will be necessary for them to be generated. In a period of two hours, it will be necessary to generate around 1800 cubic centimeters.

Numerous vapors can be produced with the reaction with water, water vapor and / or urine which can produce the volumes necessary for the practice of this invention. Obviously, it is critical, however, that any of the steam generated within the product is safe, non-irritating and non-toxic to the user to be exposed. One such material to be generated within a personal care product at such low volumes is carbon dioxide and this is the preferred vapor for the practice of the invention. Since a carbon anhydride mold (C02) weighs about 44 grams and occupies about 22.4 liters of standard temperature and standard pressure, about 3.5 grams of carbon dioxide will be needed to produce 180 cubic inches. The amount of material needed to generate this volume of carbon dioxide will depend on the chemical chosen and is within the ability of an expert in the art to do the calculation.

Chemicals that generate steam suitable for the generation of carbon dioxide in sufficient amounts include the dewatering agents. The leaving agents, for example a combination of sodium bicarbonate with a weak acid ta as cream of tartar, which is very stable. Another example of a weak acid is citric acid. Other bridging agents react more slowly and include those made with sodium aluminum sulfat. Examples of the commercially available thickeners include bicarbonate of soda rexa and bicarbonate of soda ARM & HAMMER®. Sodium bicarbonate rexal contains sodium bicarbonate, sodium aluminum sulfate, corn starch, calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, monocalcium acid phosphate. The coated loosening agents react more slowly also are suitable and may be desirable to produce a long-term entrainment effect. Combinations of the steam generating agents can also be used to produce, for example, high volume rapid trawling with the discharge, followed by a low volume long term drag.

It is also possible to use the steam generator system of this invention to help reduce moisture in work clothes such as NOMEX * clothing or clothing used for handling hazardous material as well as surgical clothing. Any article of clothing which has a poor capacity for respiration resulting in aspiration and an alt moisture within the garment will benefit from the application of this invention.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the embodiments, without departing materially from the teachings and novel advantages of this invention. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the following clauses. In the claims the media clauses plus function is intended to cover the structures described here as carrying out the recited function and not only the structural equivalents without also the equivalent structures. Therefore, even when a screw of a nail may not be structural equivalent in the sense that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure the wooden parts together, while a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of the fastening Wood parts, a screw and a nail can be equivalent structures.

Claims (13)

R E I V I N D I C A C I ON E S

1. A personal care product that has a volume of air and a vapor drag that comprises or material that reacts with water to form steam to a gas capable of displacing at least 5% of the volume of air inside said product per minute. .

2. The personal care product as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said vapor is formed at a rate capable of displacing at least 10 percent of the volume of air within said product per minute.

3. The personal care product as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said material is a leaving agent.

4. The personal care product as claimed in clause 3, characterized in that said leaving agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, sodium aluminum sulfate and calcium sulfate.

5. The personal care product as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it is selected from the group consisting of diapers, training underpants, absorbent undergarments, adult incontinence products and wound care products.

6. The product for personal care as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that said product for personal care is a product for adult incontinence.

7. The product for personal care as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that said product for personal care is a diaper.

8. The personal care product as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that it comprises a seal placed to make contact with a user.

9. The personal care product as claimed in clause 8, characterized in that said seal is placed on the front of said product.

10. The personal care product as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said seal is placed on the back of said product.

11. A steam entrainment system comprising a chemical that will react with water to release steam at a rate of at least 15 cubic centimeters / minute, and which is located within an article selected from the group consisting of products consisting of for personal care items of clothing.

12. The steam drag system as claimed in clause 11, characterized in that said chemical is located within the fibers.

13. The steam drag system as claimed in clause 11, characterized in that said chemical is located within at least one bag.