WO2001001905A1 - Tampon with cover and nonionic surfactant - Google Patents

Abstract

An apertured film cover for a tampon is disclosed. The cover has a nonionic surfactant applied thereto. The nonionic surfactant provides improved fluid transfer across the cover, and it reduces frictional forces during processing of the tampon.

Description

Tampon With Cover and Nonionic Surfactant

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This invention is related to the following copending applications: US Ser. No. 09/343,759, filed June 30, 1999, entitled "Continuous Method of Providing Individual Sheets from a Continuous Web" (Attorney Docket, PPC-668) ; US Ser. No. 09/345,090, filed June 30, 1999, entitled "Multilayered Apertured Film Wrapping Element for Absorbent Articles" (Attorney Docket, PPC-691) ; US Ser. No. 09/345,089, filed June 30, 1999, entitled "Heterogeneous Apertured Film Wrapping Element for Absorbent Articles" (Attorney Docket, PPC-713) ; US Ser. No. 09/343,760, filed June 30, 1999, entitled "Domed Tampon with Surfactant-Treated Cover" (Attorney Docket, J&J-1810) ; US Ser. No. 60/141,688, filed June 30, 1999, entitled "Sealing Roller and Sealing Roller Element, Particularly for Producing a Tampon for Feminine Hygiene and Method Therefore" (Attorney Docket, J&J-1819) ; and US Ser. No. 60/141,690, filed June 30, 1999, entitled "Tampon for Feminine Hygiene and Process and Apparatus for its Production" (Attorney Docket, J&J-1820) .

Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a tampon having an apertured film cover. The cover has a nonionic surfactant applied thereto. The nonionic surfactant provides improved fluid transfer across the cover, and it reduces frictional forces during processing of the tampon. There are several types of covers that have been or are currently in use for tampons: woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, apertured films, reticulated films, polymer nets, and the like. While the patent literature has suggested that a progression from nonwoven fabrics to apertured films in these covers is desired, this has not yet occurred commercially. In order to commercialize this desirable tampon, several issues must be overcome. First, apertured films are generally hydrophobic in nature, and this can reduce the ease with which bodily fluids can be accepted into the absorbent structure enclosed within the covers. Second, apertured films have significantly different friction characteristics than nonwoven fabrics. This can create processing difficulties, especially in tampon presses in which compressed tampons are subjected to axial ejection forces, such as disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 3,343,225 (Hochstrasser et al . ) , 3,348,866 (Etz) , 3,422,496 (Wolff et al . ) , 3,477,102 (Etz) 3,515,138 (Hochstrasser et al . ) , 3,688,346 (Johst et al . ) , 3,852,847 (Etz ), 4,081,884 (Johst et al . ) , 4,498,218 (Friese) , and 4,453,296 (Friese), European Pat. Ap . No. 0 623 333 (Karl Ruggli AG) , European Pat. App. No. 0 639 363 (Karl Ruggli AG) , and European Pat. No. 0 422 660 (Johnson & Johnson GmbH) . Nonwoven fabric covers may be incorporated into tampons as described in Friese, US Pat. Nos. 4,816,100; 4,836,450; and 4,859,273. These tampons can then be made into tampons as described in the patents identified above. Apertured film covers have been incorporated into sanitary napkins to increase the products' ability to hide absorbed bodily fluids. An example of such an apertured film cover is disclosed in McNeil-PPC, Inc., EP 0 900 071. This advancement relates to the corona treatment of an apertured film for application thereon of a water-borne surfactant. This significant advance in the art, nonetheless requires numerous processing steps, and there sanitary napkins produced therefrom are not subjected to the high axial friction seen in the tampon manufacturing processes described above. Therefore, what is needed is a tampon having an apertured film cover that is processable in a commercially efficient manner.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to tampons having an apertured film cover that are able to be manufactured in a commercially efficient manner. In particular, the invention relates to tampons having an apertured film cover that has a nonionic surfactant coating, and to a process including applying the nonionic surfactant to the cover that results in reduced ejection forces when the substantially cylindrical, compressed tampon is ejected from a tampon forming press in an axial direction. The tampon includes an absorbent structure substantially enclosed by a cover. The cover has fluid- impervious plastic material in the form of a resilient three-dimensional web exhibiting a fiber-like appearance and tactile impression. The web has first and second surfaces, and the first surface has a multiplicity of apertures therein. Each of the apertures is defined by a multiplicity of intersecting fiber-like elements interconnected to one another substantially in the plane of the first surface. Each of the fiber-like elements exhibits a cross-section comprising a base portion in the plane of the first surface and a sidewall portion joined to each edge of the base portion. The sidewall portions extend generally in the direction of the second surface of the web. The intersecting sidewall portions are interconnected to one another intermediate the first and the second surfaces of the web, and the interconnected sidewall portions terminate substantially concurrently with one another in the plane of the second surface. The fluid-impervious plastic material is coated with about 0.5 to about 2 wt-% of a nonionic surfactant.

The process for the manufacture of a tampon includes several steps. A nonionic surfactant is applied to a web of fluid-impervious plastic material. The web is in the form of a resilient three-dimensional web exhibiting a fiber-like appearance and tactile impression. The web has opposed first and second edges and a substantially infinite length and first and second surfaces. The first surface has a multiplicity of apertures therein, and each of the apertures is defined by a multiplicity of intersecting fiber-like elements interconnected to one another substantially in the plane of the first surface. Each of the fiber-like elements exhibits a cross-section comprising a base portion in the plane of the first surface and a sidewall portion joined to each edge of the base portion. The sidewall portions extend generally in the direction of the second surface of the web, and the intersecting sidewall portions are interconnected to one another intermediate the first and the second surfaces of the web. The interconnected sidewall portions terminate substantially concurrently with one another in the plane of the second surface. An individual sheet is separated from the web and attached to an absorbent structure. The absorbent structure is formed into a tampon blank wherein the individual sheet substantially encloses the tampon blank. The tampon blank is compressed in a press to form a substantially cylindrical, compressed tampon having a cover comprising the individual sheet. The compressed tampon is ejected from the press by application of an axial ejection force. The application of the nonionic surfactant is sufficient to reduce the ejection force of the compressed tampon from the press to less than about 1100 N. Brief Description of the Drawing

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tampon having an apertured film cover according to the present invention. Figs. 2A-2C are cross-sectional views illustrating the sequence of producing a tampon having an apertured film cover according to the present invention.

Fig. 3A is a longitudinal cross section of an apparatus for producing a tampon having an apertured film cover according to the present invention.

Figs. 3B and C are cross-sectional views along line 3B-3B of Fig. 3A illustrating the sequence of producing a tampon having an apertured film cover according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

As used herein, the term "apertured film" refers to a fluid-impervious plastic material in the form of a resilient three-dimensional web having first and second surfaces and exhibiting a fiber-like appearance and tactile impression. The first surface of the three- dimensional web has a multiplicity of apertures therein. Preferably, each of the apertures is defined by a multiplicity of intersecting, fiber-like elements interconnected to one another substantially in the plane of the first surface. Each of the fiber-like elements exhibits a cross-section, preferably having a base portion in the plane of the first surface and a sidewall joined to each edge of the base portion. The sidewall portions extend generally in the direction of the second surface of the three-dimensional web. Further, the intersecting sidewall portions are interconnected to one another intermediate the first and second surfaces of the web. The interconnected sidewall portions preferably terminate substantially concurrently with one another in the plane of the second surface.

The tampon 10 of the present invention comprises an apertured film cover 12, and an absorbent structure 14. The cover at least partially encloses the absorbent structure 14 that is generally designed and constructed to absorb and contain bodily exudates . The tampon 10 also includes removal means, such as a withdrawal string 16. The absorbent structure may be any absorbent means that is capable of absorbing and/or retaining liquids

(e.g., menses and/or urine) . The absorbent structure can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes and from a wide variety of liquid-absorbing materials. A representative, non-limiting list of useful materials includes cellulosic materials, such as rayon, cotton, wood pulp, creped cellulose wadding, tissue wraps and laminates, peat moss, and chemically stiffened, modified, or cross-linked cellulosic fibers; synthetic materials, such as polyester fibers, polyolefin fibers, absorbent foams, absorbent sponges, superabsorbent polymers, absorbent gelling materials; formed fibers, such as capillary channel fibers and multilimbed fibers; combinations of materials, such as synthetic fibers and wood pulp including coformed fibrous structures (e.g., those materials described in Anderson et al . , U.S. Patent No. 4,100,324); or any equivalent material or combinations of materials, or mixtures of these.

The removal means may be any element or device that is useful to remove the tampon from the bodily cavity after use. A representative, non-limiting list of useful removal means includes string, including spun fibers and monofilament line, tape, and the like. Preferable removal means include string. The cover or the present invention is tormed ot a web having first surface and second surface. The web may be formed of a homogeneous monolayer film; a heterogeneous, monolayer film, such as is described in the commonly assigned, corresponding application entitled

"Heterogeneous Apertured Film Wrapping Element For Absorbent Articles" (Attorney docket PPC-713) , the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference; or it may be formed of a laminate having a plurality of layers, such as is described in the commonly assigned, corresponding application entitled "Multilayered Apertured Film Wrapping Element For Absorbent Articles" (Attorney docket PPC-691) , the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The apertured film may be formed of a single thermoplastic polymeric material, and it may also be formed of at least one blend of at least two immiscible polymeric materials. A representative, non-limiting list of polymeric materials that may be used in the apertured film includes polyolefins, such as polypropylene and polyethylene; polyolefin copolymers, such as ethylene- vinyl acetate ("EVA"), ethylene-propylene, ethylene- acrylates, and ethylene-acrylic acid and salts thereof; halogenated polymers; polyesters and polyester copolymers; polyamides and polyamide copolymers; polyurethanes and polyurethane copolymers; polystyrenes and polystyrene copolymers; and the like. Preferred polymeric materials include polyolefins, especially polyethylene and polypropylene and ethylene copolymers, especially EVA. In a heterogeneous apertured film, either monolayer or multilayer, the film preferably includes a blend of at least two thermoplastic polymeric components. The first thermoplastic polymeric component forms a continuous phase that exhibits a first melting point temperature. In order to form the continuous phase, it is preferred that the first thermoplastic polymeric component be present at about 45 to about 95 wt-% of the layer, more preferably about 60 to about 80 wt-% of the layer. A dispersed phase comprises a second thermoplastic polymeric component that exhibits a second melting point temperature. It is preferred that the second thermoplastic polymeric component is present at about 55 to about 5 wt-% of the layer, more preferably about 80 to about 60 wt-% of the layer. In addition, the second melting point temperature is sufficiently less than the first melting point temperature to allow the film to be heated to a temperature between the first and second melting point temperatures, rendering the second thermoplastic polymeric component capable of forming an adhesive bond. This bond may be formed between different portions of the cover, or it may be between the cover and another element of the tampon. Preferably, the difference between the first melting point temperature and the second melting point temperature is greater than about 20° C, and more preferably, the difference between the first melting point temperature is greater than about 30° C. Most preferably, the difference is greater than about 40° C.

The continuous phase provides the "backbone" of the layer and contributes most of the layer's mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, stiffness, elongation at break, coefficient of friction, modulus, and the like. The first thermoplastic polymeric component substantially provides these properties. Therefore, the first thermoplastic polymeric component of the first layer will be chosen for its desirable properties. In contrast, the dispersed phase provides localized areas for thermal bonding to adjacent elements. The second thermoplastic polymeric component provides these properties, and it may also contribute to some of the mechanical properties, including coefficient of friction.

In addition, other components and further additives can be added to the polymeric material in an amount that will not hinder obtaining the object of the present invention, including, without limitation, antioxidants, UV absorbers, lubricants, antiblock and slip agents, plasticizers, nucleating agents, antistatic agents, flame retardants, pigments, dyes, and inorganic or organic fillers.

The nonionic surfactant is preferably an ethoxylate. In one embodiment of the inventive tampon said ethoxylate is an ethoxylated fatty acid polyolester. In a preferred embodiment said ethoxylate is an ethoxylated fatty acid sorbitan ester. A representative, non-limiting list of useful sorbitan esters includes polyoxyethylene sorbitan laurate (also known as Polysorbate 20 and 21) , polyoxyethylene sorbitan palmitate (also known as Polysorbate 40) , polyoxyethylene sorbitan stearate (also known as Polysorbate 60 and 61) , polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate (also known as Polysorbate 65) , polyoxyethylene sorbitan oleate (also known as Polysorbate 80 and 81) , and polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate (also known as Polysorbate 85) . Among the aforementioned ethoxylated fatty acid sorbitan esters, polyoxyethylene-20-sorbitan monolaurate is most preferred. In an alternative embodiment of the inventive tampon, the ethoxylate is a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether. A representative, non-limiting list of useful polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers includes polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl ether (also known as Steareth-2, Steareth-10, and the like), polyoxyethylene cetyl ether (also known as Ceteth-2, Ceteth-10, and the like) , and polyoxyethylene oleyl ether (also known as Oleth-2, oleth-10, and the like). Among the aforementioned polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene stearyl ether is most preferred.

In a third alternative embodiment the ethoxylate is an ether of an olefinic diol . A representative, non- limiting list of such olefinic diols useful in the present invention includes the following: polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polybutylene glycol, propylene glycol, and the like. The olefinic diols are pfreferably liquid at a temperature of less than about 35° C. This weight is typically dictated by their molecular weight. As used herein in the specification and claims, the term "molecular weight" refers to the number average molecular weight of a compound. Preferably, the olefinic diol is polyethylene glycol, having a molecular weight of less than about 600, or polypropylene glycol, having a molecular weight of less than about 4,000. Most preferably, olefinic diol is polyethylene glycol, having an average molecular weight of less than about 600. Preferred esters and ethers of fatty acids and salts thereof include, without limitation, mono- and diesters of C_β-lβ fatty acids and polyhydric alcohols, such as glyceryl monolaurate, applied neat from a melt or dissolved in polyethylene glycol as described in the copending application to Yang, entitled "Process for Adding

Pharmaceutically Active Compounds to Substrates", US Ser. No. 09/109,342, filed June 30, 1998.

It is to be understood that the nonionic surfactants used in the tampon and in its manufacture as described herein may be commercially available. Examples thereof are marketed under the registered trademarks "TWEEN" and "BRIJ" of ICI, Atlas Chemical Division, Wilmington, DE, USA. The nonionic surfactant applied to the cover may serve at least two functions. First, the nonionic surfactant may render hydrophilic an apertured film that comprises generally hydrophobic polymeric materials. Second, the nonionic surfactant significantly reduces ejection forces when the tampon is ejected from a tampon forming press in an axial direction. Therefore, the nonionic surfactant has properties that improve the affinity of the apertured film for bodily fluids and reduces friction between the tampon and manufacturing equipment .

The nonionic surfactant is applied to the cover in an amount sufficient to reduce tampon press ejection forces sufficiently to prevent damage to the product during manufacture. Damage to the product includes destroying the product due to press jams in which the product stops the machine. Damage to the product also includes distortion of the cover due to friction between the cover and manufacturing equipment . This may be viewed as "shingling" of the product. Shingling of the product occurs when pleats perpendicular to the tampon's longitudinal axis are fomed. This may take the appearance of a series of rings around the products due to these circumferential pleats. Preferably, the nonionic surfactant is applied to the cover in an amount sufficient to reduce tampon press ejection forces to less than about 1100 N. More preferably, the tampon press ejection forces are reduced to less than about 1000 N.

These reduced ejection forces may be achieved by applying a coating weight of up to about 0.5 grams/meter² ("gsm"). More preferably, the coating weight is about 0.1 to about 0.4 gsm, and most preferably, it is applied at a coating weight of about 0.16 to about 0.36 gsm.. If too little nonionic surfactant is applied, the product will be damaged in cne manufacturing process, especially during its axial ejection from the tampon press. If too much nonionic surfactant is applied, the excess tends to build up on the manufacturing equipment, and extraneous material (such as dirt, fibers, and the like) can become adhered to the machine. This can also result in poor control of the cover material, misplacement of the cover, and loose ends of the cover after cover attachment .

Again, the absorbent structure can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes and from a wide variety of liquid-absorbing materials. An example of the formation of the absorbent structure is disclosed in Etz, US Pat. No. 3,477,102, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference . The nonionic surfactant may be applied to the cover in any manner that ensures sufficiently uniform coating. Many such methods are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. A representative, non-limiting list of useful methods includes spraying, extruding, slot coating, brushing, transfer coating, and the like. The apertured film cover material may be applied to an absorbent structure in the manufacture of a tampon using a cut-and- place unit to cut the material from the slit roll and to place it on the absorbent structure. Another method of applying the cover is generally described in Friese, U.S. Patent No. 4,816,100, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. While this describes the use of a nonwoven cover to a tampon, improvements necessary to achieve this are described in the commonly-assigned, copending application, US Ser. No. 09/343,759, filed June 30, 1999, entitled "Continuous Method of Providing Individual Sheets from a Continuous Web" (Attorney Docket, PPC-668) , the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. This copending application discloses a method to achieve the total separation of a section of material comprises the following steps: severing a supply material in a plurality of discrete regions along a transverse axis, scoring the material residing between the severed regions along the same transverse axis, and then applying a force sufficient to fracture the scored regions, thereby separating the section of material from its supply.

The covered tampon blank can then be formed into a tampon using a tampon press. One method is described in Fig. 2A-2C. In this method, a tampon blank 200a comprising the absorbent structure substantially enclosed by the apertured film cover is compressed by the movement of a plurality of jaw members 210 and 212 in a tampon press 214. This procedure is described in detail in Wolff et al . , US Pat. No. 3,422,496, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. There are two distinct types of jaw members 210 and 212. The pointed jaws 210 serve to radially compress the tampon blank 200 along peripheral contact 216 lines lying on radial planes symmetrically disposed about a predetermined longitudinal press axis X, representing the central longitudinal axis intended for the compressed tampon 200c. The concave jaws 212 are constructed with concave cylindrical segment surface pressing portions 218. The jaws 210 and 212 are disposed for reciprocal movement radial paths converging to the central longitudinal axis X. The pointed jaws 210 and concave jaws 212 are arranged in a circumferential alternating sequence around the press axis X. To compress the tampon blank 200a, it is placed in the center of the tampon press 214 with the central longitudinal axis of the tampon blank 200a substantially corresponding to the press axis X. The tampon blank 200a may be centered by the partial movement of all jaw members 210 and 212 as shown in Fig. 2a. The pointed jaws 210 move radially inwards toward the press axis X to a radial distance from the press axis X substantially corresponding to the radius of the compressed tampon 200c. The result of this movement is shown in Fig. 2b. Next, the concave jaws 212 move radially inwards to a radial distance from the press axis X substantially corresponding to the radius of the compressed tampon 200c as shown in Fig. 2c. Finally, the compressed tampon 200c is expelled out of the press (e.g., out of the plane of Figs 2A-2C) along the direction of the press axis X by means of a ram (not shown) . This expulsion is axial or along the direction of the press axis, and it can be seen that expulsion forces can be quite high due to frictional forces between the compressed tampon 200c and the jaw members 210 and 212. While it may be possible to reduce the frictional forces by withdrawing the jaw members 210 and 212 slightly away from the press axis X, the radial expulsion of the compressed tampon 200c still provides significantly a high expulsion force.

Another method is described in Fig. 3A-3C. In this method, a tampon blank 200 comprising the absorbent structure substantially enclosed by the apertured film cover is compressed by the movement of a plurality of jaw members 210' and 212' in a tampon press 214'. This procedure is described in detail in Friese et al . US Pat. Serial No. 07/596,454, filed October 12, 1990, and EP-B- 0 422 660, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. The jaw members 210 and 212 of Figs. 2A-2C are modified in this method to incorporate press cutters or fingers 220. The press cutters 220 serve to radially compress the core 22 of the tampon blank 200 along peripheral contact strips 224 lying on radial planes symmetrically disposed about a predetermined longitudinal press axis X, representing the central longitudinal axis intended for the compressed tampon 200. The jaw members 210' and 212' are disposed for reciprocal movement radial paths converging to the central longitudinal axis X. The jaw memberss 210' and 212' are arranged in a circumferential alternating sequence around the press axis X.

To compress the tampon blank 200, it is placed in the center of the tampon press 214' with the central longitudinal axis of the tampon blank 200 substantially corresponding to the press axis X. The tampon blank 200a may again be centered by the partial movement of all jaw members 210' and 212' . The jaw members 210' and 212' may move as described above for Figs. 2A-2C, or they may all move radially inwards toward the press axis X simultaneously. This latter movement is shown in Figs. 3B and 3C. In contrast to the method of Figs. 2A-2C, the distal ends of the press cutters 220 extend into the compressed tampon 200 between adjacent ribs 226. Finally, the compressed tampon 200 is expelled out of the press (as shown in Fig. 3A) along the direction of the press axis X by means of a ram 228. The outer portion of the ribs of the expelled tampon 200 may be further smoothed by means of a reducing bushing 230. This expulsion is axial or along the direction of the press axis, and it can be seen that expulsion forces can be quite high due to frictional forces between the compressed tampon 200 and the jaw members 210' and 212'. While it may be possible to reduce the frictional forces by withdrawing the jaw members 210' and 212' slightly away from the press axis X, the radial expulsion of the compressed tampon 200 still provides significantly a high expulsion force. This is especially true with the increased surface area of contact between the press cutters 220 and the compressed tampon 200. Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that it is helpful to use highly polished tools in the tampon presses of Figs. 2 and 3. In addition, it may be beneficial to treat the press surfaces with appropriate friction-reducing coatings.

Examples

Example 1 A series of trials was run to determine the effect of nonionic surfactant coatings of apertured film covers on tampon press ejection forces. Two polymeric blends were coextruded through multiple extruders. The two melt streams entered a feed block that split the outside layer polymer blend into two streams, leaving the intermediate layer intact. The outer layers thus enclosed or "sandwiched" the intermediate layer to produce an A-B-A film. 50 wt-% of the film was an immiscible blend of polypropylene and low density polyethylene ("LDPE") evenly distributed in the two A layers, and 50 wt-% of the film was an immiscible blend of linear low density polyethylene ("LLDPE") and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (8 wt-% vinyl acetate) in the intermediate B layer. The A layers were formed of 70 wt-% of the polypropylene in the continuous phase and 30 wt-% of the LDPE in the dispersed phase. This film was provided as P18-3964 by Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc., of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, and it had an average basis weight of 20 gsm, a nominal thickness of 8 mils (0.2 mm), and a titanium dioxide pigment loading of about 6.5 wt-%.

The A-B-A film was then apertured by applying jets of hot air and vacuum at about 330 C while being supported by a cylindrical forming surface substantially as described in James et al . , US Pat. No. 5,916,462, and immeni, us Far.. No. 3,054,148. Tne ditlerences between the disclosures therein and the process used herein would not be expected to change the results described hereinbelow. The resulting apertured film had a repeating pattern of substantially uniform, round apertures having a diameter of about 0.75 mm, an open area of about 32%, and an equivalent hydraulic diameter ("EHD"), as measured by the formula EHD = 4 * area/perimeter, of about 26 mils (0.65 mm) . Open area may be determined by using image analysis to measure the relative percentages of apertured and unapertured, or land, areas. Essentially image analysis converts an optical image from a light microscope into an electronic signal suitable for processing. An electronic beam scans the image, line-by-line. As each line is scanned, an output signal changes according to illumination. White areas produce a relatively high voltage and black areas a relatively low voltage. An image of the apertured formed film is produced and, in that image, the holes are white, while the solid areas of thermoplastic material are at various levels of gray. The more dense the solid area, the darker the gray area produced. Each line of the image that is measured is divided into sampling points or pixels. The following equipment can be used to carry out the analysis described above: a Quantimet Q520 Image Analyzer (with v. 5.02B software and Grey Store Option) , sold by LEICA/Cambridge Instruments Ltd., in conjunction with an Olympus SZH Microscope with a transmitted light base, a plan 1. Ox objective, and a 2.50x eyepiece. The image can be produced with a DAGE MTI CCD72 video camera.

A representative piece of each material to be analyzed is placed on the microscope stage and sharply imaged on the video screen at a microscope zoom setting of lOx. the open area is determined from field measurements of representative areas. The Quantimet program output reports mean value and standard deviation for each sample. EHD was measured according to the procedure disclosed in Turi et al . , US Pat. No. 5,567,376. However, the image was acquired using a ScanJet 4c scanner from Hewlett- Packard, Palo Alto, California, USA, and analyzed using Image-Pro software from Media Cybernetics, Silver Springs, Maryland, USA. These changes do not significantly alter any results.

The apertured film was coated with polysorbate 20 (TWEEN 20, available from ICI, Atlas Chemical Division, of Wilmington, Delaware, USA, by applying a fine spray of a solution formed of 1 part TWEEN 20 dissolved in 2 parts (v/v) isopropyl alcohol, and it was slit to a width of about 47 mm. TWEEN 20 was applied to the film substrate at ambient temperature of about 20 C at the target coating weights listed below in Table 1. The coating weight is measured based upon the TWEEN 20 as the alcohol solvent volatilizes.

The slit film was cut to form a cover having a length of about 125 mm. The cover is applied to an absorbent web comprising 75 wt-% rayon and 25 wt-% cotton having a length of about 235 mm, a width of about 50 mm and a target weight of about 2.5 g. The cover was heat sealed to one end of the absorbent web in a manner generally described in Friese, US Pat. No. 4,816,100, and copending application US Ser. No. 09/343,759, filed June 30, 1999, entitled "Continuous Method of Providing Individual Sheets from a Continuous Web" (Attorney Docket, PPC-668) . The covered web was then compressed in a tampon press, as generally described in Friese et al . , US Ser. No. 07/596,454, filed October 12, 1990, and EP-B-0 422 660. The resulting tampons had a weight of between 2.55 and 3.2 g. The ejection ram of this press was fitted with a strain gauge to determine the ejection force required to eject the compressed tampon out of the press and through the reducing bushing. The ejection force was also recorded in Table 1.

Table 1

*Add-on Category defined as Low, 0.3-0.6 wt-%; Target, about 1 wt-%.

The trial illustrates that it was possible to form tampons using an average ejection force of about 1200 N, or less. This was made possible by applying at least 0.3 wt-% TWEEN-20 to the cover material. However, about 1 wt- % provided a lower ejection force. Without any TWEEN-20, the ejection forces were measured as high as about 1800N before the products jammed in the press. Addition of low coating weights of TWEEN-20 provided an ejection force of about 60-70% of that measured for the uncoated product.

Addition of target coating weights of TWEEN-20 provided an ejection force of about 50-55% of that measured for the uncoated product. These reductions are significant.

Example 2 ;

A second trial was run to determine the effect of other nonionic surfactants. The samples were prepared as above for Example 1 with the following exceptions: various nonionic surfactants were applied as shown below in Table 2; the coating level was maintained at a target of 1 wt-%, and the coating was applied by kiss-coating. The line speed was varied while holding kiss roller speed at 18.4 ft/minute (5.6 m/min.) to provide the desired add-on level. While the coating temperature was varied to allow the nonionic surfactant to flow appropriately onto the substrate, ambient conditions were 72 °F (22 °C and 65% relative humidity. The nonionic surfactant, add-on level, and ejection forces are shown below in Table 2. Solid GML and BRIJ-76 (Steareth 10) were heated separately overnight in an oven at 150°F (65°C) to melt them, and they were applied from a Kiss Roller Pan, maintained at 150°F (65°C) . The TWEEN-20 was applied from a Kiss Roller Pan, maintained at about 95°F (35°C) .

Table 2

The trial illustrates that other nonionic surfactants were also acceptable as the coating for the apertured film cover. All of the nonionic surfactants processed at about 800 N or less. This represents an ejection force of less than about 50% of the uncoated tampons of Example 1. Again, these reductions are significant.

The disclosures of all US patents and patent applications, as well as any corresponding published foreign patent applications, mentioned throughout this patent application are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The specification and embodiments above are presented to aid in the complete and non-limiting understanding of the invention disclosed herein. Since many variations and embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS;

1. A tampon comprising an absorbent structure substantially enclosed by a cover wherein the cover has less than about 0.5 gsm of a nonionic surfactant applied thereto and comprises fluid-impervious plastic material in the form of a resilient three-dimensional web exhibiting a fiber-like appearance and tactile impression, the web has first and second surfaces, the first surface having a multiplicity of apertures therein, each of the apertures being defined by a multiplicity of intersecting fiber-like elements interconnected to one another substantially in the plane of the first surface, each of the fiber-like elements exhibiting a cross-section comprising a base portion in the plane of the first surface and a sidewall portion joined to each edge of the base portion, the sidewall portions extending generally in the direction of the second surface of the web, the intersecting sidewall portions being interconnected to one another intermediate the first and the second surfaces of the web, the interconnected sidewall portions terminating substantially concurrently with one another in the plane of the second surface.

2. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the fluid- impervious plastic material comprises a blend of at least two thermoplastic polymeric components, a continuous phase of a first thermoplastic polymeric component that exhibits a first melting point temperature and a dispersed phase of an immiscible, second thermoplastic polymeric component that exhibits a second melting point temperature, less than the first melting point temperature, such that when the web is heated to a temperature between the first melting point temperature and the second melting point temperature, the second thermoplastic polymeric component is capable of forming an adhesive bond.

3. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the cover is thermally bonded to the absorbent structure.

4. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the cover conducts fluid to the absorbent structure enclosed therein.

5. The tampon of claim 1 wherein the nonionic surfactant is an ethoxylate.

6. The tampon of claim 5 wherein the ethoxylate is selected from the group consisting of ethyxylated fatty acids, polyolesters, polyoxyethylene alkyl esters and polyethylene glycol .

7. A process for the manufacture of a tampon comprising: a) applying about 0.1 to about 0.4 gsm of a nonionic surfactant to a web of fluid-impervious plastic material, the web being in the form of a resilient three-dimensional web exhibiting a fiberlike appearance and tactile impression, the web having opposed first and second edges and a substantially infinite length and first and second surfaces, the first surface having a multiplicity of apertures therein, each of the apertures being defined by a multiplicity of intersecting fiber-like elements interconnected to one another substantially in the plane of the first surface, each of the fiberlike elements exhibiting a cross-section comprising a base portion in the plane of the first surface and a sidewall portion joined to each edge of the base portion, the sidewall portions extending generally in the direction of the second surface of the web, the intersecting sidewall portions being interconnected to one another intermediate the first and the second surfaces of the web, the interconnected sidewall portions terminating substantially concurrently with one another in the plane of the second surface; b) separating an individual sheet from the web; c) attaching the individual sheet to an absorbent sliver; d) forming the absorbent sliver into a tampon blank wherein the individual sheet substantially encloses the tampon blank; e) compressing the tampon blank in a press to form a substantially cylindrical, compressed tampon having a cover comprising the individual sheet; and f) applying an ejection force to the compressed tampon in an axial direction to eject the tampon from the press; and wherein the ejection force is less than about 80 % of the ejection force required in the absence of the surfactant .

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the nonionic surfactant is an ethoxylate.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the ethoxylate is selected from the group consisting of ethyxylated fatty acids, polyolesters, polyoxyethylene alkyl esters and polyethylene glycol .

10. A process for the manufacture of a tampon comprising: a) coating a web of fluid- impervious plastic material with a surfactant, the web being in the form of a resilient three-dimensional web exhibiting a fiber-like appearance and tactile impression, the web having opposed first and second edges and a substantially infinite length and first and second surfaces, the first surface having a multiplicity of apertures therein, each of the apertures being defined by a multiplicity of intersecting fiber-like elements interconnected to one another substantially in the plane of the first surface, each of the fiber- like elements exhibiting a cross-section comprising a base portion in the plane of the first surface and a sidewall portion joined to each edge of the base portion, the sidewall portions extending generally in the direction of the second surface of the web, the intersecting sidewall portions being interconnected to one another intermediate the first and the second surfaces of the web, the interconnected sidewall portions terminating substantially concurrently with one another in the plane of the second surface; b) separating an individual sheet from the web; c) attaching the individual sheet to an absorbent sliver; d) forming the absorbent sliver into a tampon blank wherein the individual sheet substantially encloses the tampon blank; e) compressing the tampon blank in a press to form a substantially cylindrical, compressed tampon having a cover comprising the individual sheet; and f) applying an ejection force to the compressed tampon in an axial direction to eject the tampon from the press; and wherein a sufficient amount of the surfactant is applied to reduce the ejection force to less than about 80 % compared with the ejection force of an uncoated tampon.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the nonionic surfactant is applied in an amount sufficient to reduce the ejection force to less than about 1100 N.

12. The process of claim 10 wherein the nonionic surfactant is applied at about 0.1 to about 0.4 gsm.

13. The process of claim 12 wherein the nonionic surfactant is applied at about 0.16 to about 0.38 gsm.

14. The process of claim 10 wherein the fluid- impervious plastic material comprises a blend of at least two thermoplastic polymeric components, a continuous phase of a first thermoplastic polymeric component that exhibits a first melting point temperature and a dispersed phase of an immiscible, second thermoplastic polymeric component that exhibits a second melting point temperature, less than the first melting point temperature, such that when the web is heated to a temperature between the first melting point temperature and the second melting point temperature, the second thermoplastic polymeric component is capable of forming an adhesive bond.

15. The process of claim 14 wherein the step of attaching the individual sheet comprises applying heat and pressure to thermally bond the sheet to the absorbent sliver.

16. The process of claim 10 wherein the nonionic surfactant is an ethoxylate.

17. The process of claim 16 wherein the ethoxylate is selected from the group consisting of ethyxylated fatty acids, polyolesters, polyoxyethylene alkyl esters and polyethylene glycol .