US20030219594A1 - Meltblown absorbent fibers and composites and method for making the same - Google Patents

Meltblown absorbent fibers and composites and method for making the same Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20030219594A1
US20030219594A1 US10/154,607 US15460702A US2003219594A1 US 20030219594 A1 US20030219594 A1 US 20030219594A1 US 15460702 A US15460702 A US 15460702A US 2003219594 A1 US2003219594 A1 US 2003219594A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
polymer
absorbent
fibers
cross
absorbent composite
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/154,607
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jian Qin
James Wang
Anthony Wisneski
Fu-Jya Tsai
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
Original Assignee
Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc filed Critical Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
Priority to US10/154,607 priority Critical patent/US20030219594A1/en
Assigned to KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC. reassignment KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: WISNESKI, ANTHONY JOHN, QIN, JIAN, TSAI, FU-JYA DANIEL, WANG, JAMES HONGXUE
Priority to KR10-2004-7017960A priority patent/KR20050008710A/ko
Priority to AU2003220036A priority patent/AU2003220036A1/en
Priority to CNA038103001A priority patent/CN1652827A/zh
Priority to EP03716324A priority patent/EP1506024A1/de
Priority to PCT/US2003/006798 priority patent/WO2003099345A1/en
Priority to BR0310007-3A priority patent/BR0310007A/pt
Publication of US20030219594A1 publication Critical patent/US20030219594A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
    • A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
    • A61L15/42—Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties
    • A61L15/60—Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/29—Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
    • Y10T428/2913—Rod, strand, filament or fiber

Definitions

  • This invention relates to absorbent materials having improved absorbent properties. More specifically, this invention relates to absorbent fibers produced from a melt processable polymer and to absorbent composites containing the absorbent fibers. This invention also relates to a method for making the absorbent fibers and absorbent composites.
  • Absorbent materials are useful in disposable personal care absorbent products such as diapers, training pants, feminine pads, adult incontinence products and professional health care products for absorbing and retaining fluids.
  • Absorbent or superabsorbent materials are often combined with water-insoluble fibers to create an absorbent composite for use in an absorbent core of a disposable personal care absorbent product according to methods known in the art.
  • Particulate superabsorbents are widely used as superabsorbent material in disposable personal care absorbent products.
  • superabsorbent particles are sometimes difficult to use because they do not remain stationary during the manufacturing of the disposable personal care absorbent product and may shift position in the disposable personal care absorbent product.
  • absorbent or superabsorbent fibers instead of superabsorbent particles in disposable personal care absorbent products is potentially advantageous because fibers can provide improved product integrity, better containment, reduced product bulkiness and improved absorbent properties, such as rapid fluid absorption and fluid distribution properties. Furthermore, the use of fibers may also lead to improved product attributes, such as thinner and softer products that provide better fit, less gel migration, and potential simplification of the manufacturing process of the absorbent product.
  • melt processable Some polymers can be processed into different shapes or forms when the temperature is above a certain point and can be referred to as “melt processable.” Other polymers upon reaching a certain elevated temperature will degrade, rather than melt, and can be referred to as “non-melt processable.”
  • Fibers produced from melt processable polymers such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) are widely used in nonwoven industries at low cost. However, they cannot be used in absorbent composites of disposable personal care absorbent products due to their high hydrophobicity which causes poor fluid handling properties such as non-wetting and no wicking.
  • superabsorbent staple fibers are commerically available from Camelot Superabsorbent Ltd. in Calgary, Canada under the trade designation FIBERDRI®, an isobutylene-maleic anhydride copolymer based absorbent fiber, or from Technical Absorbents in Grimsby, United Kingdom under the trade designation OASIS® 101 , a sodium polyacrylate based absorbent fiber.
  • FIBERDRI® an isobutylene-maleic anhydride copolymer based absorbent fiber
  • OASIS® 101 a sodium polyacrylate based absorbent fiber.
  • These commerically available superabsorbent fibers are also produced by solution spinning of non-melt processable water soluble polymers.
  • These staple fibers are made from textile fiber dry spinning process. They can be incorporated into absorbent cores through an air laying process but do not form bonds with other components of the core, such as superabsorbent particles and fluff fiber. The absorbent core from the process is not a stabilized structure.
  • This invention relates to absorbent fibers produced from melt processable polymers and to absorbent composites containing the absorbent fibers. This invention also relates to a method for making the absorbent fibers and absorbent composites.
  • the absorbent fibers include a melt processable, water soluble polymer which is meltblown and then cross-linked to form the water-swellable but water insoluble absorbent fibers.
  • the resulting absorbent fibers have an absorbency under zero load value of at least about 5 grams fluid per gram fiber (g/g).
  • the melt processable, water soluble polymer may be a non-ionic homopolymer, such as for example, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, hydroxy propyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, methyethyl cellulose, polyethylene imine, polyvinyl amine, polyvinyl alcohol, poly(ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide), polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, and combinations thereof.
  • the melt processable, water soluble polymer may also be a copolymer of monomers of at least one ionic and one non-ionic monomer such as sodium acrylate (currently used in commercial superabsorbent materials) and methyl methacrylate (currently used in commercial melt processable polymers).
  • an absorbent composite in another embodiment, includes a melt processable, water soluble polymer which is meltblown with hydrophilic fibers (such as wood pulp fluff, cotton, cotton linter, other cellulose fibers, regenerated cellulose fibers, natural fibers or modified or spun staple fibers, and hydrophilic synthetic fibers, such as those available from Allied Corporation in Morristown, N.J., USA, under the trade designation HYDROFIL®, and combinations thereof) and commercially available superabsorbent material.
  • the polymer is cross-linked to form water-swellable but water insoluble absorbent fibers.
  • the resulting absorbent composite has an absorbency under zero load value of at least 5 grams fluid per gram composite (g/g) and may also be superabsorbent, exhibiting an absorbency under zero load of at least about 10 g/g or up to about 50 g/g.
  • the melt processable, water soluble polymer may be a non-ionic homopolymer, such as for example, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, hydroxy propyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, methylethyl cellulose, polyethylene imine, polyvinyl amine, polyvinyl alcohol, poly(ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide), polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, and combinations thereof, or may be a copolymer of monomers of at least one ionic and one non-ionic monomer such as sodium acrylate and methyl methacrylate.
  • a non-ionic homopolymer such as for example, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, hydroxy propyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, methylethyl cellulose, polyethylene imine, polyvinyl amine, polyvinyl alcohol, poly(ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide), polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, and combinations thereof, or may
  • the cross-linking agent can be sprayed onto the surface of the meltblown fibers.
  • the cross-linking agent must have at least two functional groups capable of reacting with the functional groups on the surface of the melt processable polymer.
  • a post treatment such as heat,treatment, microwave radiation, electron beam (e-beam) radiation, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, steam treatment or vapor treatment is required.
  • This invention also relates to a method for making absorbent fibers and absorbent composites including the steps of melting a melt processable, water soluble polymer, extruding the polymer, spinning the polymer to form fibers, adding a cross-linking agent and curing the resulting fibers.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a diaper with an absorbent core containing absorbent material
  • FIGS. 2 A- 2 C show photographs of an absorbent composite according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a method and apparatus for producing absorbent fibers and absorbent composites according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • Polymer includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers, such as for example, block, graft, random and alternating copolymers, terpolymers, etc., and blends and modifications thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term “polymer” shall include all possible geometrical configurations of the material. These configurations include, but are not limited to isotactic, syndiotactic and atactic symmetries.
  • Nonwoven fabric or web means a web having a structure of individual fibers or threads which are interlaid, but not in a regular or identifiable manner as in a knitted fabric.
  • Nonwoven fabrics or webs have been formed from many processes such as, for example, meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, air laying processes, and bonded carded web processes.
  • the basis weight of nonwoven fabrics is usually expressed in ounces of material per square yard (osy) or grams per square meter (gsm) and the fiber diameters useful are usually expressed in microns. (Note that to convert from osy to gsm, multiply osy by 33.91.).
  • spunbonded fibers refers to small diameter fibers which are formed by extruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality of fine capillaries of a spinnerette having a circular or other configuration, with the diameter of the extruded filaments then being rapidly reduced as by, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,338,992 and 3,341,394 to Kinney, U.S. Pat. No.
  • Spunbond fibers are quenched and generally not tacky when they are deposited onto a collecting surface. Spunbond fibers are generally continuous and often have average diameters larger than about 7 microns, more particularly, between about 10 and 30 microns.
  • Meltblown fibers means fibers formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into converging high velocity heated gas (e.g., air) streams which attenuate the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter, which may be to microfiber diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high velocity gas stream and are deposited on a collecting surface to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers.
  • heated gas e.g., air
  • Meltblown fibers are microfibers which may be continuous or discontinuous, are generally smaller than 10 microns in diameter, and are generally self bonding when deposited onto a collecting surface.
  • Meltblown fibers used in the present invention are preferably substantially continuous in length.
  • Coform material refers to a product produced by combining separate polymer and additive streams into a single deposition stream in forming the nonwoven webs. Such a process is taught, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,324 to Anderson et al. which is hereby incorporated by reference.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,464 to Lau discloses the introduction of superabsorbent material as well as wood pulp fluff, cellulose, or staple fibers through a centralized chute in an extrusion die for combination with resin fibers in a nonwoven web. The wood pulp fluff, staple fibers, or other material are added to vary the characteristics of the resulting web, for example, strength and absorbency.
  • Pulp fibers refers to fibers from natural sources such as woody and non-woody plants.
  • Woody plants include, for example, deciduous and coniferous trees.
  • Non-woody plants include, for instance, cotton, flax, esparto grass, milkweed, straw, jute hemp, and bagasse.
  • Cross-linked refers to any means for effectively rendering normally water-soluble materials substantially water insoluble but swellable. Such means can include, for example, physical entanglement, crystalline domains, covalent bonds, ionic complexes and associations, hydrophilic associations, such as hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic associations or Van der Waals forces.
  • “Hydrophilic” describes fibers or the surfaces of fibers which are wettable by the 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 materials involved.
  • Equipment and techniques suitable for measuring the wettability of particular fiber materials or blends of fiber materials can be provided by a Cahn SFA-222 Surface Force Analyzer System, or a substantially equivalent system. When measured with this system, fibers having contact angles less than 90° are designated “wettable” or hydrophilic, while fibers having contact angles greater than 90° are designated “nonwettable” or hydrophobic.
  • Superabsorbent material refers to a water-swellable, water-insoluble organic or inorganic material capable, under the most favorable conditions, of absorbing at least about 10 times its weight, preferably at least about 20 times its weight in an aqueous solution containing 0.9% by weight sodium chloride.
  • Superabsorbent material can comprise a form including particles, fibers, nonwovens, films, coforms, printings, coatings, other structural forms, and combinations thereof.
  • Water-swellable, water-insoluble refers to the ability of a material to swell to a equilibrium volume in excess water but not dissolve into the water. The water-swellable, water-insoluble material generally retains its original identity or physical structure, but in a highly expanded state upon the absorption of water.
  • AZA Absorbency Under Zero Load
  • Water-soluble refers to materials which substantially dissolve in excess water to form a solution, thereby losing its initial form and becoming essentially molecularly dispersed throughout the water solution. As a general rule, a water-soluble material will be free from a substantial degree of cross-linking, as cross-linking tends to render a material water insoluble. A material that is “water insoluble” is one that is not water soluble according to this definition.
  • melt processable refers to either a crystalline or semicrystalline polymer that has a melting point or an amorphous polymer that has a softening point and, therefore, can be thermally processed into different shapes or forms, for example, meltblown fibers.
  • the crystalline or semicrystalline polymers In order to be considered as a melt processable polymer, the crystalline or semicrystalline polymers have to have a melting point as well as reasonable thermal stability and melt processability such as adequate melt rheology. For amorphous polymers, they have to have a softening point as well as reasonable thermal stability and melt processability such as adequate melt rheology.
  • solvent refers to a substance, particularly in liquid form, that is capable of dissolving a polymer used herein to form a substantially uniformly dispersed mixture at the molecular level.
  • absorbent product includes without limitation diapers, training pants, swim wear, absorbent underpants, baby wipes, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, medical garments, underpads, bandages, absorbent drapes, and medical wipes, as well as industrial work wear garments.
  • This invention relates to absorbent fibers produced from a melt processable polymer and to absorbent composites containing the absorbent fibers.
  • the absorbent composites can be used in absorbent cores for disposable personal care absorbent products.
  • the absorbent composites are useful in absorbent articles such as diapers, training pants, swim wear, adult incontinence articles, feminine care products, and medical absorbent products.
  • This invention also relates to a method for making the absorbent fibers and absorbent composites.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a disposable diaper.
  • disposable diaper 10 includes outer cover 12 , body-side liner 14 , and absorbent core 40 located between body-side liner 14 and outer cover 12 .
  • Absorbent core 40 can include the absorbent fibers or an absorbent composite according to this invention.
  • Body-side liner 14 and outer cover 12 are constructed of conventional non-absorbent materials. By “non-absorbent” it is meant that these materials, excluding the pockets filled with superabsorbent, have an absorptive capacity not exceeding 5 grams of 0.9% aqueous sodium chloride solution per gram of material.
  • Body-side liner 14 is constructed from highly liquid pervious materials. This layer functions to transfer liquid from the wearer to absorbent core 40 .
  • Suitable liquid pervious materials include porous woven materials, porous nonwoven materials, films with apertures, open-celled foams, and batting.
  • Other examples of suitable body-side liner materials include, without limitation, any flexible porous sheets of polyolefin fibers, such as polypropylene, polyethylene or polyester fibers; webs of spunbonded polypropylene, polyethylene or polyester fibers; webs of rayon fibers; bonded carded webs of synthetic or natural fibers or combinations thereof.
  • This layer may also be an apertured plastic film.
  • Suitable batting includes certain air formed thermochemical and chemithermomechanical wood pulps.
  • the various layers of article 10 have dimensions which vary depending on the size and shape of the wearer.
  • Outer cover material 12 should be breathable to water vapor. Generally outer cover 12 will have a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of at least about 300 grams/m 2 -24 hours, desirably at least about 1000 grams/m 2 -24 hours, or at least about 3000 grams/m 2 -24 hours, measured using INDA Test Method IST-70.4-99, herein incorporated by reference.
  • MVTR moisture vapor transmission rate
  • FIG. 1 Attached to outer cover 12 are waist elastics 26 , fastening tapes 28 and leg elastics 30 .
  • the leg elastics 30 typically have a carrier sheet 32 and individual elastic strands 34 .
  • the diaper of FIG. 1 is a general representation of one basic diaper embodiment. Various modifications can be made to the design and materials of diaper parts.
  • Construction methods and materials of an embodiment of a diaper such as illustrated in FIG. 1, are set forth in greater detail in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,915, issued Apr. 23, 1996 in the name of Hanson et al., incorporated herein by reference. Possible modifications to the diaper illustrated in FIG. 1 are set forth in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,915 and in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,382, issued Nov. 15, 1994 to Latimer et al.
  • the absorbent fibers comprise a melt processable, water soluble polymer which is meltblown and then cross-linked to form water-swellable but water insoluble absorbent fibers.
  • Suitable melt processable, water soluble polymers include non-ionic homopolymers such as polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, hydroxyl propyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, methylethyl cellulose, polyethylene imine, polyvinyl amine, polyvinyl alcohol, poly(ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide), polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide and combinations of the foregoing.
  • some degree of modification may be needed. These modifications include, but are not limited to, additions of low percentage of additives, blends, and/or comonomers.
  • the modified polyvinyl alcohol used herein is available commercially from Nippon Gohsei located in Osaka, Japan.
  • non-ionic water soluble and melt processable polymer is absorbent, it is not superabsorbent due to lack of ionic charge groups on its macromolecular chains.
  • Current commercial particulate superabsorbent materials are made of ionic polyacrylate.
  • pure ionic water soluble polymers in general are not melt processable.
  • Another melt processable, water soluble polymer may be a copolymer of both ionic and non-ionic monomers.
  • Suitable monomers for the copolymer include an ionic monomer, such as sodium acrylate, which is commerically available from Aldrich Chemical Co. in Milwaukee, Wis., USA, and a non-ionic monomer, such as methyl methacrylate, which is commerically available from Aldrich Chemical Co. in Milwaukee, Wis., USA.
  • the ratio of the monomers on a dry weight basis is critical.
  • the ratio of the monomers on a dry weight basis should be from about 30:70 to about 70:30.
  • Polymerization to form the copolymer can be carried out according to conventional methods known in the art. Because of the addition of an ionic comonomer, the water soluble and melt processable copolymers have a higher absorbency than the non-ionic homopolymers.
  • the molecular weight of the polymer is important.
  • the molecular weight of the polymer must be at least about 10,000 in order to have a high fluid absorbency. However, the molecular weight of the polymer cannot exceed about 1,000,000 because the meltblowing equipment can not handle too high of a viscosity.
  • Suitable polymers have a molecular weight between about 50,000 to 1,000,000, desirably between about 100,000 to 1,000,000, or between about 100,000 and 500,000.
  • the fibers are still water soluble.
  • a solution containing a cross-linking agent is sprayed onto the surface of the meltblown fibers to form water-swellable, but water insoluble fibers instantly or after the curing step depending on the nature of the cross-linking agent used.
  • the suitable cross-linking agent can be either reactive or latent.
  • the reactive cross-linking agent will cross-link the fibers in the spinning process.
  • the latent cross-linking agent does not cross-link the fibers and normally requires some activation energy to trigger cross-linking, such as heating.
  • the cross-linking agent desirably has at least two functional groups capable of reacting with the pendant functional groups on the melt processable polymer.
  • Suitable cross-linking agents include diols, polyols, diamines, polyamines, dicarboxylic acids, polycarboxylic acids, dialdehydes, polyaldehydes, butandiol, diethylene triamine, citric acid, glutaric dialdehyde and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, tri-valent or tetra-valent metal ions, and combinations of the foregoing.
  • the appropriate functional groups on the cross-linking agent depends upon the melt processable polymer.
  • suitable functional groups on the cross-linking agent include carboxylic acid groups (forming ester linkages with the hydroxyl groups on the polyvinyl alcohol), aldehyde groups (forming acetal linkages with the hydroxyl groups on the polyvinyl alcohol), or epoxy groups (forming ether linkages with the hydroxyl groups on the polyvinyl alcohol).
  • the melt processable polymers have different types of functional groups, such as amino, or carboxylic acid, or others, the appropriate functional groups on the cross-linking agent will be different.
  • suitable functional groups on the cross-linking agent include hydroxyl groups (forming ester linkages with the carboxylic acid groups on the polymer), amino groups (forming amide linkages with the carboxylic acid groups on the polymer), or tri-valent or tetra-valent metal ions (forming ionic bonds with the carboxylic acid groups on the polymer).
  • KYMENE® available from Hercules Incorporated located in Wilmington, Del.
  • KYMENE® contains functional groups which are capable of reacting with hydroxyl groups on polyvinyl alcohol.
  • KYMENE® is widely used to cross-link cellulose fibers.
  • the chemical composition is proprietary.
  • a posttreatment process is required.
  • post treatment processes include heat treatment, microwave radiation, e-beam radiation, UV radiation, steam treatment or vapor treatment.
  • the absorbent composite includes a melt processable, water soluble polymer which is meltblown with hydrophilic fibers and commercially available superabsorbent material to form a coform material.
  • the polymer is cross-linked to form water-swellable but water insoluble absorbent fibers.
  • any of the previously described homopolymers or copolymers with a molecular weight between about 10,000 to 1,000,000 can be suitable for the melt processable, water soluble polymer for this embodiment of the invention.
  • the superabsorbent material can be any commercially available superabsorbent material, such as superabsorbent particles or superabsorbent fibers.
  • suitable superabsorbent fibers include SANWET® IM 3900 and SANWET® IM-5000P, available from Hoescht Celanese located in Portsmouth, Va., DRYTECH® 2035 available from Dow Chemical Co. located in Midland, Mich., and FAVOR® SXM 880, SXM 9543, available from Stockhausen, located in Greensboro, N.C.
  • Any of the previously described commercially available superabsorbent staple fibers can be suitable superabsorbent fibers.
  • the hydrophilic fibers are preferably wood pulp fluff commerically available from US Alliance Forest Products Corporation in Coosa Pine, Ala., USA, under the trade designation Coosa CR 1654.
  • the resulting absorbent composite which is a coform material, as shown in FIGS. 2 A- 2 C, includes the absorbent fibers 36 made in this instance from polyvinyl alcohol, hydrophilic fibers in this instance wood pulp fluff 38 , and superabsorbent material 39 in this instance superabsorbent particles.
  • the invention also includes a method for making absorbent fibers and an absorbent composite.
  • a hopper 50 contains pellets of a melt processable, water soluble polymer.
  • a single or twin screw extruder 52 melts the pellets by a conventional heating arrangement to form a molten extrudable composition which is extruded through a melt-blowing die 54 by the action of a turning extruder screw (not shown) located within the extruder 52 .
  • the extrudable composition is fed through the die 54 .
  • the die 54 and the gas supply fed therethrough are heated by a conventional arrangement (not shown). Besides the spinning die diameter, the air velocity can also be adjusted to control fiber diameter.
  • a solution containing the cross-linking agent is sprayed onto the gas borne stream of fibers 56 by a sprayer represented by stream 60 .
  • the absorbent fibers are then directed onto a forming wire 64 including a belt 66 and rollers 68 by vacuum 67 to air form the nonwoven material which may then be dried and treated by a post treatment process to initiate the cross-linking reaction.
  • Use of the vacuum box 67 underneath the forming wire 64 can help the fibers form a uniform web onto the forming wire 64 .
  • the post treatment may be heat treatment, microwave treatment, e-beam radiation, UV radiation, steam treatment or vapor treatment.
  • the nonwoven material is then wound and collected onto a winder 70 .
  • the gas borne stream of fibers 56 is merged with a secondary gas stream 58 containing individualized hydrophilic fibers, preferably wood pulp fibers, so as to integrate the different fibrous materials in a single step.
  • a solution containing the cross-linking agent is sprayed onto the gas borne stream of fibers 56 by a sprayer represented by stream 60 .
  • the superabsorbent material may be added simultaneously with the hydrophilic fibers and cross-linking agent via an additional gas stream 62 .
  • the integrated air stream is then directed onto a forming wire 64 including a belt 66 and rollers 68 by vacuum 67 to air form the coform material.
  • the air may be supplied by any conventional means as, for example, a blower (not shown).
  • melt processable polymers any of the previously described melt processable polymers, superabsorbent materials, hydrophilic fibers and cross-linking agents can be used to make the absorbent fibers and/or absorbent composites.
  • the coform material is dried and then treated by a post treatment process in order to initiate the cross-linking reaction.
  • a post treatment process is sometimes referred to as “curing.”
  • Such treatment may be any one of heat treatment, microwave treatment, e-beam radiation, UV radiation treatment, steam treatment or vapor treatment.
  • the coform material is then wound and collected onto a winder 70 .
  • Effective ways to minimize or eliminate the discoloration include, but are not limited to: (1) reducing the curing temperature by using catalysts or a low temperature curable cross-linking agent; (2) curing the coform material using a different curing method, such as microwave radiation or e-beam radiation; (3) using different types of melt processable polymers, such as hydroxy propyl cellulose; (4) using a self-cross-linkable polymer, such as silane grafted polyethylene oxide, which is capable of cross-linking itself induced by moisture; and (5) using an antioxidant.
  • the concentration of the cross-linking agent can play a role in controlling the structure and integrity of absorbent composites. If more water is needed, a more dilute solution of cross-linking agent can be prepared, or vice versa. On the other hand, the concentration of the cross-linking agent affects the shell thickness of the surface of the cross-linked fiber with more dilute concentrations resulting in a thicker cross-linked surface shell layer.
  • the Absorbency Under Zero Load is a test which measures the ability of an absorbent material to absorb a liquid (such as a 0.9 weight percent solution of sodium chloride in distilled water) while under a negligible load or restraining force.
  • a liquid such as a 0.9 weight percent solution of sodium chloride in distilled water
  • About 0.16 g of meltblown web or coform discs (about 1 inch in diameter) of each sample were weighed and placed into a plastic sample cup.
  • the sample cup consists of a plastic cylinder having a 1 inch inside diameter and an outside diameter of 1.25 inches.
  • the bottom of the sample cup is formed by adhering a 100 mesh metal screen having 150 micron openings to the end of the cylinder by heating the screen above the melting point of the plastic and pressing the plastic cylinder against the hot screen to melt the plastic and bond the screen to the plastic cylinder.
  • the sample is then covered with a plastic spacer disc, weighing 4.4 grams, which generated a pressure of about 0.01 pound per square inch.
  • the sample cup is placed in a Petri dish which contains about 25 ml of 0.9% by weight sodium chloride solution. After one hour, the cup was taken out and placed on multiple layers of paper towels to blot the interstitial fluid of the web or coform. The blotting is continued by moving the cup to the area with dry paper towel until there is no fluid mark visible on the paper towel. The weight difference of the cup between wet and dry presents total amount of fluid absorbed by the web or coform and is used to calculate AUZL.
  • the nonwoven was still water soluble and dipped into a solution of 86.5% methanol, 12.3% water, and 1.2% ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether at a weight ratio of 1 g of fiber to 30 g of solution. The nonwoven was then removed out of the solution and blotted by paper towel. The wet nonwoven was dried at 80° C. and then cured at 130° C. for 20 hours. The cured nonwoven was water-swellable but water-insoluble and exhibited an Absorbency Under Zero Load (AUZL) value in 0.9% NaCl saline of about 7.5 g/g. TABLE 1 Heat 1 Barrel Die Extruder Temp. Heat 2 Temp. Heat 3 Temp. Die Temp. Pressure Pressure Screw (° F.) (° F.) (° F.) (° F.) (psi) (psi) Speed (rpm) 269 304 410 412 1020 340 11
  • Polyvinyl alcohol was melt blown into continuous filaments using the Killion line. Solutions including 1.25%, 2.5% or 5% citric acid or KYMENE® were separately sprayed onto the surface of the fibers at a location near the die tip. A coform material with wood pulp fluff CR 1654 at a ratio of 50% polyvinyl alcohol and 50% wood pulp fluff was also prepared. The polyvinyl alcohol fiber spinning throughput was about 30 grams per minute (gpm), and the solution spraying throughput was about 10 gpm. Process conditions are listed in Table 3. Air pressure was in a range from 4 to 8 psi. Air temperature was controlled to as close to the die temperature as possible so that no effect of cooling off or heating up on die tip occurred.
  • Vacuum was about 8 inch water.
  • the nonwovens obtained were heated in a 130° C. oven for up to 4 days.
  • the cured nonwovens were completely cross-linked and become water insoluble. Again discoloration was found in all the cured nonwovens.
  • AUZL values of the treated nonwovens were around 7 to 8 g/g.
  • the uncured nonwovens surface sprayed by either 5% citric acid or KYMENE® solution and prepared from Example 3 were treated in a microwave oven (GE Model JE125OGW, 1.5 kW, Vac/Hz 120/60) at an intensity level of 1 (lowest of the machine) for at least 10 hours.
  • the intensity level of the microwave oven could not be greater than 1, otherwise the nonwoven fibers would be molten due to too high temperature reached locally.
  • the microwave treated nonwovens were completely white (no discoloration) and water-swellable, water-insoluble.
  • Polyvinyl alcohol was melt blown into continuous filaments using the Killion line.
  • a solution including 5% KYMENE® and 0.5% surfactant Rhodamox LO, available from Rhone-Poulenc Inc. was sprayed onto the surface of fibers at a location near the die tip.
  • a solution including 5% KYMENE® and 0.5% surfactant Rhodamox LO was sprayed onto the surface of the coform material at a location near the tie tip.
  • the coform material was heat cured at 150 ° C. for 3 hours. Surprisingly, the cured coform material had almost no discoloration probably due to the presence of Rhodamox LO surfactant.
  • the coform material exhibited an AUZL value in 0.9% NaCl saline as high as 23 g/g.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
  • Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
  • Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)
  • Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
  • Reinforced Plastic Materials (AREA)
US10/154,607 2002-05-23 2002-05-23 Meltblown absorbent fibers and composites and method for making the same Abandoned US20030219594A1 (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/154,607 US20030219594A1 (en) 2002-05-23 2002-05-23 Meltblown absorbent fibers and composites and method for making the same
KR10-2004-7017960A KR20050008710A (ko) 2002-05-23 2003-03-05 멜트블로운 흡수 섬유 및 복합재
AU2003220036A AU2003220036A1 (en) 2002-05-23 2003-03-05 Meltblown absorbent fibers and composites
CNA038103001A CN1652827A (zh) 2002-05-23 2003-03-05 熔喷的吸收性纤维和复合材料及其制备方法
EP03716324A EP1506024A1 (de) 2002-05-23 2003-03-05 Schmelzgeblasene absorbierende fasern und verbundkörper
PCT/US2003/006798 WO2003099345A1 (en) 2002-05-23 2003-03-05 Meltblown absorbent fibers and composites
BR0310007-3A BR0310007A (pt) 2002-05-23 2003-03-05 Fibras e compósitos absorventes fundidos a sopro e método para fabricação dos mesmos

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/154,607 US20030219594A1 (en) 2002-05-23 2002-05-23 Meltblown absorbent fibers and composites and method for making the same

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20030219594A1 true US20030219594A1 (en) 2003-11-27

Family

ID=29548915

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/154,607 Abandoned US20030219594A1 (en) 2002-05-23 2002-05-23 Meltblown absorbent fibers and composites and method for making the same

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20030219594A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1506024A1 (de)
KR (1) KR20050008710A (de)
CN (1) CN1652827A (de)
AU (1) AU2003220036A1 (de)
BR (1) BR0310007A (de)
WO (1) WO2003099345A1 (de)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050090788A1 (en) * 2003-10-24 2005-04-28 Uni-Charm Corporation Disposable wearing article
US20050235336A1 (en) * 2004-04-15 2005-10-20 Kenneth Ma Data storage system and method that supports personal video recorder functionality
US20060173431A1 (en) * 2005-02-01 2006-08-03 Laumer Jason M Absorbent articles comprising polyamine-coated superabsorbent polymers
US20060206092A1 (en) * 2002-03-22 2006-09-14 Uni-Charm Co., Ltd. Disposable wearing article and process for making the same
WO2006132973A3 (en) * 2005-06-03 2007-04-05 Procter & Gamble Fibrous structures comprising a polymer structure
US20070129495A1 (en) * 1999-03-05 2007-06-07 Stockhausen Gmbh Powdery, cross-linked absorbent polymers, method for the production thereof, and their use
US20080234645A1 (en) * 2007-03-23 2008-09-25 Dodge Richard N Absorbent articles comprising high permeability superabsorbent polymer compositions
US20120128930A1 (en) * 2005-09-15 2012-05-24 United States Air Force Method for Attachment of Silicon-Containing Compounds to a Surface and for Synthesis of Hypervalent Silicon-Compounds
US8236884B2 (en) 2007-03-23 2012-08-07 Evonik Stockhausen, Llc High permeability superabsorbent polymer compositions
CN103422257A (zh) * 2012-05-25 2013-12-04 财团法人纺织产业综合研究所 无纺布及其制造方法与制造设备
US8691340B2 (en) 2008-12-31 2014-04-08 Apinee, Inc. Preservation of wood, compositions and methods thereof
US20140315005A1 (en) * 2011-12-23 2014-10-23 Sca Hygiene Products Ab Double- or multiply fibrous sheet material containing superabsorbent material and a method for producing it
US9878464B1 (en) 2011-06-30 2018-01-30 Apinee, Inc. Preservation of cellulosic materials, compositions and methods thereof
CN108219165A (zh) * 2018-01-15 2018-06-29 思必康（厦门）新材料有限公司 一种聚乙烯醇组合物及制备方法及用途
US10760184B2 (en) 2016-03-24 2020-09-01 Lg Chem, Ltd. Preparation method of superabsorbent polymer fiber

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101036664B1 (ko) * 2009-02-19 2011-05-25 웅진케미칼 주식회사 고흡수성 구조체 및 그의 제조방법

Citations (55)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3338992A (en) * 1959-12-15 1967-08-29 Du Pont Process for forming non-woven filamentary structures from fiber-forming synthetic organic polymers
US3341394A (en) * 1966-12-21 1967-09-12 Du Pont Sheets of randomly distributed continuous filaments
US3502538A (en) * 1964-08-17 1970-03-24 Du Pont Bonded nonwoven sheets with a defined distribution of bond strengths
US3502763A (en) * 1962-02-03 1970-03-24 Freudenberg Carl Kg Process of producing non-woven fabric fleece
US3542615A (en) * 1967-06-16 1970-11-24 Monsanto Co Process for producing a nylon non-woven fabric
US3692618A (en) * 1969-10-08 1972-09-19 Metallgesellschaft Ag Continuous filament nonwoven web
US3802817A (en) * 1969-10-01 1974-04-09 Asahi Chemical Ind Apparatus for producing non-woven fleeces
US3849241A (en) * 1968-12-23 1974-11-19 Exxon Research Engineering Co Non-woven mats by melt blowing
US3887417A (en) * 1968-04-25 1975-06-03 Ici Ltd Non-woven fabrics
US3887231A (en) * 1974-01-28 1975-06-03 Byke Co Backrest for wheeled vehicles
US4100324A (en) * 1974-03-26 1978-07-11 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Nonwoven fabric and method of producing same
US4340563A (en) * 1980-05-05 1982-07-20 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Method for forming nonwoven webs
US4783231A (en) * 1985-10-07 1988-11-08 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Method of making a fibrous web comprising differentially cooled/thermally relaxed fibers
US4818464A (en) * 1984-08-30 1989-04-04 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Extrusion process using a central air jet
US4820577A (en) * 1986-12-22 1989-04-11 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Meltblown superabsorbent thermoplastic compositions
US4855179A (en) * 1987-07-29 1989-08-08 Arco Chemical Technology, Inc. Production of nonwoven fibrous articles
US4880868A (en) * 1986-10-06 1989-11-14 Arco Chemical Technology, Inc. Extended shelf life water-absorbing composition which facilitates fiber formation
US4919997A (en) * 1987-11-06 1990-04-24 Allied-Signal Inc. Melt-blown water-absorbing tissues and matts
US4962172A (en) * 1986-11-20 1990-10-09 Allied Colloids Ltd. Absorbent products and their manufacture
US4963638A (en) * 1988-02-26 1990-10-16 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Superabsorbent thermoplastic compositions and nonwoven webs prepared therefrom
US5006742A (en) * 1988-09-22 1991-04-09 Johnson Electric S.A. Splashproof cover for an electric motor
US5047456A (en) * 1989-04-21 1991-09-10 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Thermally reversible superabsorbent polymers
US5066742A (en) * 1990-08-06 1991-11-19 Arco Chemical Technology, Inc. Manufacture of C2-C8 olefin/maleic anhydride copolymers
US5147956A (en) * 1989-05-10 1992-09-15 Allied Colloids Ltd. Absorbent products and their manufacture
US5151465A (en) * 1990-01-04 1992-09-29 Arco Chemical Technology, L.P. Polymer compositions and absorbent fibers produced therefrom
US5280079A (en) * 1986-11-20 1994-01-18 Allied Colloids Limited Absorbent products and their manufacture
US5324575A (en) * 1991-03-07 1994-06-28 Weyerhaeuser Company A densified absorbent web of cross-linked high-bulk fiber
US5364382A (en) * 1989-05-08 1994-11-15 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Absorbent structure having improved fluid surge management and product incorporating same
US5409765A (en) * 1993-08-04 1995-04-25 Fiberweb North America, Inc. Nonwoven webs made from ionomers
US5509915A (en) * 1991-09-11 1996-04-23 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Thin absorbent article having rapid uptake of liquid
US5575874A (en) * 1993-04-29 1996-11-19 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Method for making shaped nonwoven fabric
US5582904A (en) * 1989-06-01 1996-12-10 Hercules Incorporated Rewettable polyolefin fiber and corresponding nonwovens
US5652048A (en) * 1995-08-02 1997-07-29 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. High bulk nonwoven sorbent
US5720832A (en) * 1981-11-24 1998-02-24 Kimberly-Clark Ltd. Method of making a meltblown nonwoven web containing absorbent particles
US5853628A (en) * 1996-09-12 1998-12-29 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method of forming nonwoven fabric having a pore size gradient
US5904675A (en) * 1995-12-18 1999-05-18 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Absorbent article with improved elastic margins and containment system
US5922163A (en) * 1995-03-01 1999-07-13 Yhtyneet Paperitehtaat Oy Method for manufacturing an absorbent composite in a sanitary product, and an absorbent composite manufactured with the method
US5948710A (en) * 1995-06-30 1999-09-07 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Water-dispersible fibrous nonwoven coform composites
US6010588A (en) * 1993-05-25 2000-01-04 Exxon Chemical Patents Inc. Polyolefin fibers and their fabrics
US6020278A (en) * 1995-12-15 2000-02-01 Gatenholm; Paul Method for the production of highly absorbent hybrid fibers by ozoning and graft polymerizing and hybrid fibers produced through the method
US6040255A (en) * 1996-06-25 2000-03-21 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Photostabilization package usable in nonwoven fabrics and nonwoven fabrics containing same
US6054002A (en) * 1996-06-27 2000-04-25 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method of making a seamless tubular band
USH1909H (en) * 1994-12-09 2000-11-07 The Procter & Gamble Company Method of making an absorbent composite
US6203905B1 (en) * 1995-08-30 2001-03-20 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Crimped conjugate fibers containing a nucleating agent
US20010008824A1 (en) * 1997-12-23 2001-07-19 Hannong Rhim Compressed absorbent composites
US6274238B1 (en) * 1994-04-12 2001-08-14 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Strength improved single polymer conjugate fiber webs
US20010014395A1 (en) * 1997-09-30 2001-08-16 Mark M. Mleziva Crimped multicomponent filaments and spunbond webs made therefrom
US6319342B1 (en) * 1998-12-31 2001-11-20 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method of forming meltblown webs containing particles
US20010054777A1 (en) * 2000-03-30 2001-12-27 White Edward Jason Materials having z-direction fibers and folds and method for producing same
US6338814B1 (en) * 1999-02-02 2002-01-15 Hills, Inc. Spunbond web formation
US20020009940A1 (en) * 2000-05-15 2002-01-24 May Raymond Jeffrey Targeted elastic laminate having zones of different polymer materials
US6342298B1 (en) * 1997-11-19 2002-01-29 Basf Aktiengesellschaft Multicomponent superabsorbent fibers
US6469130B1 (en) * 1998-12-24 2002-10-22 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Synthetic fiber nonwoven web and method
US6605552B2 (en) * 2000-12-01 2003-08-12 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Superabsorbent composites with stretch
US6620503B2 (en) * 2000-07-26 2003-09-16 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Synthetic fiber nonwoven web and method

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
MXPA03001103A (es) * 2000-09-01 2003-05-27 Kimberly Clark Co Productos para el cuidado personal altamente conformables.

Patent Citations (57)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3338992A (en) * 1959-12-15 1967-08-29 Du Pont Process for forming non-woven filamentary structures from fiber-forming synthetic organic polymers
US3502763A (en) * 1962-02-03 1970-03-24 Freudenberg Carl Kg Process of producing non-woven fabric fleece
US3502538A (en) * 1964-08-17 1970-03-24 Du Pont Bonded nonwoven sheets with a defined distribution of bond strengths
US3341394A (en) * 1966-12-21 1967-09-12 Du Pont Sheets of randomly distributed continuous filaments
US3542615A (en) * 1967-06-16 1970-11-24 Monsanto Co Process for producing a nylon non-woven fabric
US3887417A (en) * 1968-04-25 1975-06-03 Ici Ltd Non-woven fabrics
US3849241A (en) * 1968-12-23 1974-11-19 Exxon Research Engineering Co Non-woven mats by melt blowing
US3802817A (en) * 1969-10-01 1974-04-09 Asahi Chemical Ind Apparatus for producing non-woven fleeces
US3692618A (en) * 1969-10-08 1972-09-19 Metallgesellschaft Ag Continuous filament nonwoven web
US3887231A (en) * 1974-01-28 1975-06-03 Byke Co Backrest for wheeled vehicles
US4100324A (en) * 1974-03-26 1978-07-11 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Nonwoven fabric and method of producing same
US4340563A (en) * 1980-05-05 1982-07-20 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Method for forming nonwoven webs
US5720832A (en) * 1981-11-24 1998-02-24 Kimberly-Clark Ltd. Method of making a meltblown nonwoven web containing absorbent particles
US4818464A (en) * 1984-08-30 1989-04-04 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Extrusion process using a central air jet
US4783231A (en) * 1985-10-07 1988-11-08 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Method of making a fibrous web comprising differentially cooled/thermally relaxed fibers
US4880868A (en) * 1986-10-06 1989-11-14 Arco Chemical Technology, Inc. Extended shelf life water-absorbing composition which facilitates fiber formation
US4962172A (en) * 1986-11-20 1990-10-09 Allied Colloids Ltd. Absorbent products and their manufacture
US5280079A (en) * 1986-11-20 1994-01-18 Allied Colloids Limited Absorbent products and their manufacture
US4820577A (en) * 1986-12-22 1989-04-11 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Meltblown superabsorbent thermoplastic compositions
US4855179A (en) * 1987-07-29 1989-08-08 Arco Chemical Technology, Inc. Production of nonwoven fibrous articles
US4919997A (en) * 1987-11-06 1990-04-24 Allied-Signal Inc. Melt-blown water-absorbing tissues and matts
US4963638A (en) * 1988-02-26 1990-10-16 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Superabsorbent thermoplastic compositions and nonwoven webs prepared therefrom
US5006742A (en) * 1988-09-22 1991-04-09 Johnson Electric S.A. Splashproof cover for an electric motor
US5047456A (en) * 1989-04-21 1991-09-10 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Thermally reversible superabsorbent polymers
US5364382A (en) * 1989-05-08 1994-11-15 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Absorbent structure having improved fluid surge management and product incorporating same
US5147956A (en) * 1989-05-10 1992-09-15 Allied Colloids Ltd. Absorbent products and their manufacture
US5582904A (en) * 1989-06-01 1996-12-10 Hercules Incorporated Rewettable polyolefin fiber and corresponding nonwovens
US5151465A (en) * 1990-01-04 1992-09-29 Arco Chemical Technology, L.P. Polymer compositions and absorbent fibers produced therefrom
US5066742A (en) * 1990-08-06 1991-11-19 Arco Chemical Technology, Inc. Manufacture of C2-C8 olefin/maleic anhydride copolymers
US5324575A (en) * 1991-03-07 1994-06-28 Weyerhaeuser Company A densified absorbent web of cross-linked high-bulk fiber
US5509915A (en) * 1991-09-11 1996-04-23 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Thin absorbent article having rapid uptake of liquid
US5575874A (en) * 1993-04-29 1996-11-19 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Method for making shaped nonwoven fabric
US6010588A (en) * 1993-05-25 2000-01-04 Exxon Chemical Patents Inc. Polyolefin fibers and their fabrics
US5409765A (en) * 1993-08-04 1995-04-25 Fiberweb North America, Inc. Nonwoven webs made from ionomers
US6274238B1 (en) * 1994-04-12 2001-08-14 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Strength improved single polymer conjugate fiber webs
USH1909H (en) * 1994-12-09 2000-11-07 The Procter & Gamble Company Method of making an absorbent composite
US5922163A (en) * 1995-03-01 1999-07-13 Yhtyneet Paperitehtaat Oy Method for manufacturing an absorbent composite in a sanitary product, and an absorbent composite manufactured with the method
US5948710A (en) * 1995-06-30 1999-09-07 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Water-dispersible fibrous nonwoven coform composites
US5652048A (en) * 1995-08-02 1997-07-29 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. High bulk nonwoven sorbent
US6203905B1 (en) * 1995-08-30 2001-03-20 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Crimped conjugate fibers containing a nucleating agent
US6020278A (en) * 1995-12-15 2000-02-01 Gatenholm; Paul Method for the production of highly absorbent hybrid fibers by ozoning and graft polymerizing and hybrid fibers produced through the method
US5904675A (en) * 1995-12-18 1999-05-18 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Absorbent article with improved elastic margins and containment system
US6040255A (en) * 1996-06-25 2000-03-21 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Photostabilization package usable in nonwoven fabrics and nonwoven fabrics containing same
US6054002A (en) * 1996-06-27 2000-04-25 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method of making a seamless tubular band
US5853628A (en) * 1996-09-12 1998-12-29 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method of forming nonwoven fabric having a pore size gradient
US20010014395A1 (en) * 1997-09-30 2001-08-16 Mark M. Mleziva Crimped multicomponent filaments and spunbond webs made therefrom
US6342298B1 (en) * 1997-11-19 2002-01-29 Basf Aktiengesellschaft Multicomponent superabsorbent fibers
US20010008824A1 (en) * 1997-12-23 2001-07-19 Hannong Rhim Compressed absorbent composites
US6469130B1 (en) * 1998-12-24 2002-10-22 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Synthetic fiber nonwoven web and method
US6319342B1 (en) * 1998-12-31 2001-11-20 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method of forming meltblown webs containing particles
US6338814B1 (en) * 1999-02-02 2002-01-15 Hills, Inc. Spunbond web formation
US20010054777A1 (en) * 2000-03-30 2001-12-27 White Edward Jason Materials having z-direction fibers and folds and method for producing same
US20020009940A1 (en) * 2000-05-15 2002-01-24 May Raymond Jeffrey Targeted elastic laminate having zones of different polymer materials
US6620503B2 (en) * 2000-07-26 2003-09-16 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Synthetic fiber nonwoven web and method
US6692825B2 (en) * 2000-07-26 2004-02-17 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Synthetic fiber nonwoven web and method
US6824729B2 (en) * 2000-07-26 2004-11-30 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process of making a nonwoven web
US6605552B2 (en) * 2000-12-01 2003-08-12 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Superabsorbent composites with stretch

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070129495A1 (en) * 1999-03-05 2007-06-07 Stockhausen Gmbh Powdery, cross-linked absorbent polymers, method for the production thereof, and their use
US8445596B2 (en) 1999-03-05 2013-05-21 Evonik Stockhausen Gmbh Powdery, cross-linked absorbent polymers, method for the production thereof, and their use
US20060206092A1 (en) * 2002-03-22 2006-09-14 Uni-Charm Co., Ltd. Disposable wearing article and process for making the same
US20090062759A1 (en) * 2003-10-24 2009-03-05 Uni-Charm Corporation Disposable wearing article
US7527617B2 (en) * 2003-10-24 2009-05-05 Uni-Charm Corporation Disposable wearing article
US7915477B2 (en) 2003-10-24 2011-03-29 Uni-Charm Corporation Disposable wearing article
US20050090788A1 (en) * 2003-10-24 2005-04-28 Uni-Charm Corporation Disposable wearing article
US20050235336A1 (en) * 2004-04-15 2005-10-20 Kenneth Ma Data storage system and method that supports personal video recorder functionality
US20060173431A1 (en) * 2005-02-01 2006-08-03 Laumer Jason M Absorbent articles comprising polyamine-coated superabsorbent polymers
WO2006132973A3 (en) * 2005-06-03 2007-04-05 Procter & Gamble Fibrous structures comprising a polymer structure
JP2008542568A (ja) * 2005-06-03 2008-11-27 ザ プロクター アンド ギャンブル カンパニー ポリマー構造体を含む繊維構造体
AU2006255284B2 (en) * 2005-06-03 2009-10-29 The Procter & Gamble Company Fibrous structures comprising a polymer structure
US20120128930A1 (en) * 2005-09-15 2012-05-24 United States Air Force Method for Attachment of Silicon-Containing Compounds to a Surface and for Synthesis of Hypervalent Silicon-Compounds
US7935860B2 (en) 2007-03-23 2011-05-03 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Absorbent articles comprising high permeability superabsorbent polymer compositions
US8236884B2 (en) 2007-03-23 2012-08-07 Evonik Stockhausen, Llc High permeability superabsorbent polymer compositions
US20080234645A1 (en) * 2007-03-23 2008-09-25 Dodge Richard N Absorbent articles comprising high permeability superabsorbent polymer compositions
US8519041B2 (en) 2007-03-23 2013-08-27 Evonik Stockhausen, Llc High permeability superabsorbent polymer compositions
US8822582B2 (en) 2007-03-23 2014-09-02 Evonik Corporation High permeability superabsorbent polymer compositions
US8691340B2 (en) 2008-12-31 2014-04-08 Apinee, Inc. Preservation of wood, compositions and methods thereof
US9314938B2 (en) 2008-12-31 2016-04-19 Apinee, Inc. Preservation of wood, compositions and methods thereof
US9878464B1 (en) 2011-06-30 2018-01-30 Apinee, Inc. Preservation of cellulosic materials, compositions and methods thereof
US20140315005A1 (en) * 2011-12-23 2014-10-23 Sca Hygiene Products Ab Double- or multiply fibrous sheet material containing superabsorbent material and a method for producing it
CN103422257A (zh) * 2012-05-25 2013-12-04 财团法人纺织产业综合研究所 无纺布及其制造方法与制造设备
US10760184B2 (en) 2016-03-24 2020-09-01 Lg Chem, Ltd. Preparation method of superabsorbent polymer fiber
CN108219165A (zh) * 2018-01-15 2018-06-29 思必康（厦门）新材料有限公司 一种聚乙烯醇组合物及制备方法及用途
US11572456B2 (en) 2018-01-15 2023-02-07 Xiamen Sibikon New Material Co., Ltd. Polyvinyl alcohol composition, preparation method thereof, and polyvinyl alcohol medical catheter containing thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2003220036A1 (en) 2003-12-12
WO2003099345A1 (en) 2003-12-04
KR20050008710A (ko) 2005-01-21
BR0310007A (pt) 2005-02-15
EP1506024A1 (de) 2005-02-16
WO2003099345A9 (en) 2004-09-02
CN1652827A (zh) 2005-08-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20030219594A1 (en) Meltblown absorbent fibers and composites and method for making the same
EP1453451B1 (de) Verfahren zur herstellung von saugfähigem material enthaltend in-situ polymerisierte superabsorbierende polymere
EP1453873B1 (de) Verfahren zur zuführung von vorgeformten faserstoffbahnen durch in situ polymerisation
KR100345269B1 (ko) 초흡수체, 스테이플 섬유 및 결합제 섬유를 포함하는 흡수구조체
AU764373B2 (en) Layer materials treated with surfactant-modified hydrophobic odor control agents
US6417425B1 (en) Absorbent article and process for preparing an absorbent article
JP5940051B2 (ja) 超薄型流体吸収性コア
JP4701180B2 (ja) 吸収性構造体の製造方法
EP0800411A1 (de) Elastomerische absorbierende struktur
US7700500B2 (en) Durable hydrophilic treatment for a biodegradable polymeric substrate
JP3692486B2 (ja) 高吸水性シート及びその製造方法
EP0730438A1 (de) Absorbierende struktur aus superabsorber, stapelfasern und bindefasern
WO2003051416A1 (en) Process for adding superabsorbent to a pre-formed fibrous web using two polymer precursor streams
US20030111758A1 (en) Fully activated bicomponent web with absorbents
JPH08289903A (ja) 吸収性物品
KR101633848B1 (ko) 고흡수성 수지 복합체
KR20210149558A (ko) 멜트블로운 흡수 섬유 및 복합재
KR20040104449A (ko) 이중 입도 분포를 갖는 초흡수성 물질을 포함하는 물품
JP2584504B2 (ja) 高吸水性繊維圧縮成形体の製造法
KR102433347B1 (ko) 전이 안정성이 우수한 친수성 장섬유 스펀본드 부직포 및 그 제조방법
JP4255561B2 (ja) 親水性積層シートの製造方法
JPH01239101A (ja) 吸収材の製造方法
JP2682576B2 (ja) 吸収材
MXPA01008661A (en) Layer materials treated with surfactant-modified hydrophobic odor control agents

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC., WISCONSIN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:QIN, JIAN;WANG, JAMES HONGXUE;WISNESKI, ANTHONY JOHN;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012938/0159;SIGNING DATES FROM 20020515 TO 20020516

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION