WO2013047865A1 - Absorbent article, top sheet for absorbent article and method for producing top sheet - Google Patents

Absorbent article, top sheet for absorbent article and method for producing top sheet Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2013047865A1
WO2013047865A1 PCT/JP2012/075288 JP2012075288W WO2013047865A1 WO 2013047865 A1 WO2013047865 A1 WO 2013047865A1 JP 2012075288 W JP2012075288 W JP 2012075288W WO 2013047865 A1 WO2013047865 A1 WO 2013047865A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
chain hydrocarbon
top sheet
acid
hydrocarbon moiety
group
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2012/075288
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Takashi Nomoto
Takashi Onozuka
Shinichi Ishikawa
Noritomo Kameda
Yuki Noda
Tatsuya Tamura
Original Assignee
Unicharm Corporation
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of WO2013047865A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013047865A1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
    • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
    • A61F13/51104—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin the top sheet having a three-dimensional cross-section, e.g. corrugations, embossments, recesses or projections
    • A61F13/51108—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin the top sheet having a three-dimensional cross-section, e.g. corrugations, embossments, recesses or projections the top sheet having corrugations or embossments having one axis relatively longer than the other axis, e.g. forming channels or grooves in a longitudinal direction
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/15577—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing
    • A61F13/15707—Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping
    • A61F13/15723—Partitioning batts; Cutting
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
    • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
    • A61F13/51113—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin comprising an additive, e.g. lotion or odour control
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/51—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the outer layers
    • A61F13/511—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin
    • A61F13/512—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations
    • A61F13/5121—Topsheet, i.e. the permeable cover or layer facing the skin characterised by its apertures, e.g. perforations characterised by the vertical shape of the apertures, e.g. three dimensional apertures, e.g. macro-apertures

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to absorbent article such as a disposable diaper or sanitary napkin, to a top sheet for an absorbent article, and to a method for producing the top sheet.
  • some embodiments of the invention provide an absorbent article comprising a liquid- permeable top sheet formed on the skin facing side, a liquid-impermeable back sheet formed on the non-skin facing side, and a liquid-retaining absorbent body formed between the top sheet and the back sheet.
  • the top sheet comprises a plurality of protrusions arranged in parallel and bottom sections situated between adjacent
  • Each protrusion includes a top section with a plurality of recesses arranged along the length of the protrusion and wall sections with a plurality of open holes arranged along the length of the protrusion.
  • Some embodiments of the invention also provide a liquid-permeable top sheet to be used in an absorbent article.
  • the top sheet comprises a plurality of
  • protrusions arranged in parallel and bottom sections situated between adjacent protrusions.
  • Each protrusion includes a top section with a plurality of recesses arranged along the length of the protrusion and wall sections with a plurality of open holes arranged along the length of the protrusion.
  • Some embodiments, of the invention also provide a method for producing a top sheet to be used in an
  • the method comprises a step of preparing a resin film, a step of forming a plurality of recesses in a resin film by passing the resin film between a roll having lattice-like convexities and a roll having a smooth surface, and a step of forming a
  • Each of the protrusions formed by the step of forming the protrusions includes a top section with a plurality of recesses arranged along the length of the protrusion and a wall section with a plurality of open holes arranged along the length of the protrusion.
  • Fig. 1 is a partial cutaway plan view showing an absorbent article in accordance with one or more
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-section of the absorbent article taken along line A-A in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is an illustration showing the details of a top sheet in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 4 is an illustration of a method for producing a top sheet in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 5 is set of illustrations of a recess-forming roll to be used in a method for producing a top sheet in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 6 is a pair of illustrations of a stretching gear roll to be used in a method for producing a top sheet in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention .
  • Fig. 7 is an illustration of a resin film to be stretched by a stretching gear roll.
  • Fig. 8 is a set of illustrations showing the form of the resin film as it changes in each step of a method for producing a top sheet in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.
  • Fig. 9 is a set of photomicrographs showing the results of an example.
  • Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the pitch of the recesses in the cross-machine direction.
  • Fig. 11 is a diagram showing drawing areas and non- drawing areas, and the positional relationship in the cross-machine direction between recesses with varying pitch in the cross-machine direction, for a resin film with a basis weight of 23.5 g/m 2 .
  • Fig. 12 is a diagram showing drawing areas and non- drawing areas, and the positional relationship in the cross-machine direction between recesses with varying pitch in the cross-machine direction, for a resin film with a basis weight of 35.0 g/m 2 .
  • Fig. 13 is an electron micrograph of the skin contact surface of a top sheet in a sanitary napkin wherein the top sheet comprises tri-C2L oil fatty acid glycerides .
  • Fig. 14 is a pair of photomicrographs of menstrual blood containing and not containing a blood modifying agent .
  • Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a method of measuring surface tension.
  • Fig. 1 is partial cutaway plan view showing an absorbent article in accordance with one or more
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-section of the absorbent article taken along line A-A in Fig. 1.
  • the absorbent article 1 comprises a liquid-permeable top sheet 2 provided on the skin facing side, a liquid- impermeable back sheet 3 provided on the non-skin facing side, and a liquid-retaining absorbent body 4 provided between the top sheet 2 and back sheet 3.
  • the back sheet 3 is drawn in the cross-machine direction to form a pair of wing sections 5.
  • a attachment part 6 is provided on the non-skin facing side of the wing section 5.
  • the cross- machine direction of the absorbent article 1 is the X- axial direction
  • the lengthwise direction is the Y- axial direction.
  • the planar direction of the absorbent article 1 is the XY direction.
  • the top sheet 2 transports body fluid such as urine and menstrual blood that has been excreted from a wearer into the absorbent body 4. At least a portion of the top sheet 2 is liquid-permeable and formed for example of a resin film that has numerous openings formed for
  • the resin film used as the top sheet 2 is preferably including a copolymer of an olefin and another monomer such as an acrylic acid ester or vinyl acetate, or a polyolefin, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, cellulose acetate or the like.
  • the resin film to be used as the top sheet 2 is most preferably a copolymer of an olefin and another monomer, or a polyolefin.
  • the basis weight of the top sheet 2 is preferably at least 1 g/m 2 and no greater than 40 g/m 2 , and more preferably at least 10 g/m 2 and no greater than 35 g/m 2 .
  • the thickness of the top sheet 2 is preferably at least 0.01 mm and no greater than 0.4 mm, and more preferably at least 0.1 mm and no greater than 0.35 mm. If the thickness of the top sheet 2 is less than 0.01 mm, the concealing property of the top sheet 2, described hereunder, may be too low, while if the thickness of the top sheet 2 exceeds 0.4 mm, the stiffness of the top sheet 2 may be increased and irritation by the top sheet 2 on the skin of the wearer may be too strong.
  • the top sheet 2 in accordance with the present invention may have a concealing property so that the body fluids absorbed into the absorbent body 4 cannot be seen from the exterior.
  • the concealing property of the top sheet 2 may be produced by mixing a filler such as titanium oxide in a resin.
  • the filler is titanium oxide
  • the titanium oxide content is preferably at least 1% and no greater than 50%, and more preferably at least 3% and no greater than 15%, with respect to the weight of the resin film. If the titanium oxide content is less than 1% with respect to the weight of the resin film, the concealing effect of the top sheet 2 for body fluids absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may be too small. If the titanium oxide content exceeds 50% of the weight of the resin film, it may become difficult to form a sheet from the titanium oxide-containing resin.
  • the top sheet 2 is formed such that the widthwise cross-section is essentially undulating, in order to reduce the contact area between the skin of the wearer and the top sheet 2 and obtain satisfactory feel on the skin for the top sheet 2.
  • the top sheet 2 may also be formed such that the cross-section is essentially undulating in the lengthwise direction.
  • a top sheet 2 formed such that the widthwise cross- section is essentially undulating and has a protrusions 21 extending in the lengthwise direction and bottom sections 22 arranged between adjacent protrusions 21.
  • the direction in which the protrusions 21 extend is not limited to the lengthwise direction.
  • the protrusions 21 each has a top section 23 that contacts with the skin of the wearer, and wall sections 24 on each of the sides. The height of the protrusions 21 in the thickness
  • the difference in height between the top sections 23 and bottom sections 22 in the thickness direction of the top sheet is preferably at least 0.1 mm and no greater than 5 mm. If the difference in height between the top sections 23 and bottom sections 22 in the thickness direction is less than 0.1 mm, body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may flow back through the openings (open holes) 25 of the top sheet 2, which are described hereunder. If the difference in height between the top sections 23 and bottom sections 22 in the thickness direction is greater than 5 mm, the protrusions 21 may collapse when the absorbent article 1 is worn by the wearer. [0013]
  • the wall sections 24 are preferably slanted instead of perpendicular with respect to the bottom sections 22. That is, the angle formed between the bottom sections 22 and wall sections 24 is preferably greater than 90°.
  • the angle formed between the bottom sections 22 and wall sections 24 is also preferably no greater than 165°. Forming an angle between the bottom sections 22 and wall sections 24 of 90° or smaller requires a large degree of plastic deformation of the resin film, and therefore the strength of the top sheet 2 can be severely weakened when the angle formed between the bottom sections 22 and wall sections 24 is 90° or smaller. If the angle formed between the bottom sections 22 and wall sections 24 is greater than 165°, body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may flow back through the openings 25 in the top sheet 2, which are described hereunder, or body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 through the openings 25 may become visible, thus reducing the concealing property of the top sheet 2.
  • the wall sections 24 of the top sheet 2 have a plurality of open holes (openings) 25 arranged along the length of each of the protrusions 21.
  • the openings 25 are holes passing through the top sheet 2, and body fluid of the wearer is absorbed into the absorbent body 4 through the openings 25.
  • the open area of each opening 25 is preferably at least 0.001 mm 2 and no greater than 1 mm 2 , and more preferably at least 0.01 mm 2 and no greater than 0.1 mm 2 .
  • each opening 25 is smaller than 0.001 mm 2 , body fluid of the wearer may not pass through the openings 25, and if the open area of each opening 25 is greater than 1 mm 2 , body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may flow back through the openings 25 of the top sheet 2, or body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may become visible through the openings 25, thus reducing the concealing property of the top sheet 2.
  • top sheet 2 or body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may become visible through the openings 25, thus reducing the concealing property of the top sheet 2.
  • the openings 25 are formed from the vicinity of the top sections 23 to the vicinity of the bottom sections 22.
  • the top sections 23 of the top sheet 2 each has a plurality of recesses 26 arranged along the length of each of the protrusions 21.
  • 26 in the planar direction may be rhomboid, for example, with rhomboid side lengths of 0.15 mm, for example, and a center-to-center distance between adjacent recesses 26 of
  • the shapes of the recesses 26 in the planar direction are not limited to being rhomboid, and may instead be square, rectangular, triangular, circular, star-shaped, linear (straight linear) or the like. Also, the sizes of the recesses 26 are not limited to 0.15 mm x 0.15 mm, and the center-to-center distance between adjacent recesses 26 is not limited to 0.34 mm.
  • the depths of the recesses 26 are not particularly restricted so long as they are depths such that the skin of the wearer does not contact the bottoms of the
  • top sheet 22 of the top sheet 2 may also have a plurality of recesses 26 arranged along the length of each of the protrusions 21.
  • the recesses 26 formed on the top sections 23 reduce the contact area of the top sections 23 that directly contact with the skin of the wearer, and this reduces sticking of the absorbent article 1 onto the skin during wearing, and minimizes discomfort and itching of the wearer or skin trouble such as eruptions by the wearer.
  • a blood modifying agent may also be coated on the surface of the top sheet 2 to form a blood modifying agent layer 27 on the skin facing side surface of the top sheet 2.
  • the blood modifying agent layer 27 can reduce residue of body fluids from the wearer, especially highly viscous menstrual blood, on the surface of the top sheet 2.
  • the blood modifying agent in the blood modifying agent layer 27 has an Inorganic-Organic Balance (IOB) of 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than 45°C, and a water solubility of no greater than 0.05 g at 25°C in lOOg of water.
  • IOB Inorganic-Organic Balance
  • the IOB is an indicator of the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, and as used herein, it is the value calculated by the following formula by Oda et al.:
  • IOB inorganic value/organic value.
  • the inorganic value and the organic value are based on the organic paradigm described in "Organic compound predictions and organic paradigms" by Fujita A., Kagaku no Ryoiki (Journal of Japanese Chemistry), Vol.11, No (1957) p.719-725 which is incorporated by reference herein .
  • the IOB is about 0.00- 0.60, preferably about 0.00-0.50, more preferably about 0.00-0.40 and even more preferably about 0.00-0.30. This is because a lower IOB is associated with higher
  • melting point refers to the peak top temperature for the endothermic peak during conversion from solid to liquid, upon measurement with a differential scanning calorimetry analyzer at a
  • the melting point may be measured using a Model DSC-60 DSC measuring apparatus by Shimadzu Corp., for example.
  • the blood modifying agent has a melting point of no higher than about 45°C, it may be either liquid or solid at room temperature, or in other words, the melting point may be either about 25°C or higher or below about
  • 25°C and for example, it may have a melting point of about -5°C or about -20°C.
  • the reason for a melting point of no higher than about 45°C for the blood modifying agent will be explained below.
  • the blood modifying agent does not have a lower limit for the melting point, but the vapor pressure is preferably low.
  • modifying agent is preferably about 0.00-0.01 Pa, more preferably about 0.000-0.001 Pa and even more preferably about 0.0000-0.0001 Pa, at 1 atmosphere, 25°C.
  • the vapor pressure is preferably about 0.00-0.01 Pa, more
  • vapor pressure is high, gasification may occur during storage and the amount of blood modifying agent may be reduced, and as a consequence problems, such as, odor during wear, may be created.
  • the melting point of the blood modifying agent may also differ depending on the weather or duration of wear. For example, in regions with a mean atmospheric
  • using a blood modifying agent with a melting point of no higher than about 10°C may allow the blood modifying agent to stably modify blood after excretion of menstrual blood, even if it has been cooled by the ambient temperature.
  • the melting point of the blood modifying agent is preferably at the high end of the range of no higher than about 45°C. This is because the blood modifying agent is not easily affected by sweat or friction during wearing, and will not easily migrate even during prolonged wearing.
  • the water solubility of 0.00-0.05 g may be measured by adding 0.05 g of sample to 100 g of deionized water at 25°C, allowing it to stand for 24 hours, and after 24 hours, gently stirring if necessary, and then visually evaluating whether or not the sample has dissolved.
  • solubility in regard to water solubility includes cases where the sample
  • top sheet surfaces are coated with surfactants in order to alter the surface tension of blood and promote the rapid absorption of blood, because
  • surfactants generally have high water solubility, the surfactant-coated top sheet is highly miscible with hydrophilic components (such as blood plasma) in the blood and therefore, instead, they tend to cause residue of blood on the top sheet.
  • the aforementioned blood modifying agent has low water solubility and therefore, it does not cause residue of blood on the top sheet and allows rapid migration into the absorbent body.
  • water solubility As used herein, a water solubility of water at 25°C may be simply referred to as "water solubility”.
  • the weight-average molecular weights are the values measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), based on polystyrene.
  • the GPC measuring conditions may be the following, for example.
  • weight-average molecular weights listed in the examples of the present specification were measured under the conditions described below.
  • the blood modifying agents is selected from the group consisting of the following items (i)- (iii) , and any combination thereof:
  • a hydrocarbon (i) a hydrocarbon; (ii) a compound having (ii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii-2) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (-CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the
  • hydrocarbon moiety and (iii-3) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (- COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH) substituting a hydrogen of the hydrocarbon moiety.
  • hydrocarbon refers to a compound composed of carbon and hydrogen, and it may be a chain hydrocarbon, such as a paraffinic hydrocarbon (containing no double bond or triple bond, also referred to as alkane) , an olefin-based hydrocarbon (containing one double bond, also referred to as alkene) , an acetylene- based hydrocarbon (containing one triple bond, also referred to as alkyne) , or a hydrocarbon comprising two or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of double bonds and triple bonds, and cyclic hydrocarbon, such as aromatic hydrocarbons and alicyclic hydrocarbons.
  • hydrocarbons and alicyclic hydrocarbons with chain hydrocarbons being more preferred, paraffinic
  • hydrocarbons olefin-based hydrocarbons and hydrocarbons with two or more double bonds (containing no triple bond) being more preferred, and paraffinic hydrocarbons being even more preferred.
  • Chain hydrocarbons include linear hydrocarbons and branched hydrocarbons.
  • carboxyl groups bond with metals and the like in menstrual blood, drastically increasing the inorganic value from 150 to 400 or greater, and therefore a blood modifying agent with carboxyl groups can increase the IOB value to more than about 0.6 during use, potentially lowering the affinity with blood cells.
  • the blood modifying agent is a compound selected from the group consisting of the following items (i') -(iii 1 ), and any combination
  • hydrocarbon moiety and (ii'-2) one or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO- ) , at least one ester bond (-COO-) , at least one
  • hydrocarbon moiety (iii '-2) one or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO- ), at least one ester bond (-C00-) , at least one
  • hydrocarbon and (iii '-3) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (- COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH) substituting a hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety.
  • bonds are inserted in the compound of ( ⁇ ') or (iii') i.e., when 2 or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bonds (-CO-) , ester bonds (-COO-) , carbonate bonds (- 0C00-) and ether bonds (-0-) are inserted, the bonds are not adjacent to each other, and at least one carbon atom lies between each of the bonds.
  • the blood modifying agent is more preferably a compound with no more than about 1.8 carbonyl bonds (-CO- ) , no more than 2 ester bonds (-C0O-) , no more than about
  • the blood modifying agent may also be selected from the group consisting of the
  • the (A) ester of (Al) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety includes esters of a compound with 4, 3 or 2 hydroxyl groups and a compound with 1 carboxyl group, and it is not necessary for all of the hydroxyl groups to be esterified so long as the IOB, melting point and water solubility are within the aforementioned ranges.
  • chain hydrocarbon tetraols such as alkanetetraols, including pentaerythritol
  • chain hydrocarbon triols such as alkanetriols, including glycerins
  • chain hydrocarbon diols such as alkanediols, including glycols.
  • (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as
  • compound (A2) include compounds in which one hydrogen on the hydrocarbon is substituted with one carboxyl group (-COOH) , such as fatty acids.
  • Examples for compound (A) include (ai) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid, (a 2 ) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid, and (a 3 ) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acids.
  • Examples of an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid include tetraesters of pentaerythritol and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (1) :
  • R 1 -R 4 each represent a chain
  • pentaerythritol and fatty acids are not particularly restricted as long as the pentaerythritol and fatty acid esters satisfy the
  • saturated fatty acids such as C2-C30 saturated fatty acids, including acetic acid (C2) (C2 representing the number of carbons, corresponding to the number of carbons of each of R 1 C, R 2 C, R 3 C or RC, same hereunder) , propanoic acid (C 3 ) , butanoic acid (C 4 ) and isomers thereof such as 2-methylpropanoic acid (C 4 ) , pentanoic acid (C 5 ) and isomers thereof such as 2-methylbutanoic acid (C 5 ) and
  • the fatty acid may also be an unsaturated fatty acid.
  • unsaturated fatty acids include C3-C20 unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated fatty acids including crotonic acid (C 4 ) , myristoleic acid
  • linolic acid Ci 8
  • eicosadienoic acid C 2 o
  • tri-unsaturated fatty acids including linolenic acids, such as a-linolenic acid (Ci 8 ) and ⁇ -linolenic acid (Ci 8 ) , pinolenic acid (Cie)
  • eleostearic acids such as a- eleostearic acid (Ci 8 ) and ⁇ -eleostearic acid (Ci 8 )
  • Mead acid C 2 o)
  • dihomo-y-linolenic acid C20
  • eicosatrienoic acid C 2 o
  • tetra-unsaturated fatty acids including stearidonic acid ( C20 ) / arachidonic acid ( C20 ) and eicosatetraenoic acid (C 2 o) / penta-unsaturated fatty acids including bosseopentaenoic acid (Cie) and
  • the ester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid is preferably an ester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid, which is derived from a saturated fatty acid, i.e., an ester of pentaerythritol and a saturated fatty acid.
  • the ester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid is preferably a diester, triester or tetraester, more preferably a triester or tetraester, and even more preferably a tetraester.
  • the IOB is 0.60 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the tetraester of the
  • pentaerythritol and fatty acid i.e., the total number of carbons of the R 1 C, R 2 C, R 3 C and R 4 C portions in formula (1), is 15.
  • pentaerythritol and fatty acid is approximately 15 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • tetraesters of pentaerythritol and fatty acids examples include tetraesters of pentaerythritol with
  • hexanoic acid C 6
  • heptanoic acid C 7
  • octanoic acid C 8
  • 2-ethylhexanoic acid Cs
  • nonanoic acid Cg
  • decanoic acid Ci 0
  • dodecanoic acid Ci 2
  • the IOB is 0.58 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the triester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R ⁇ , R 2 C and R 3 C portions in formula (2), is 19.
  • the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • the IOB is 0.59 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the diester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R 1 C or R 2 C portion in formula (3), is 22.
  • the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the diester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid is 22.
  • the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • the IOB is 0.60 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the monoester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R 1 C portion in formula (4), is 25.
  • the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • pentaerythritol and fatty acids include UNISTAR H-408BRS and H-2408BRS-22 (mixed product) (both products of NOF Corp. ) .
  • esters of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid examples include triesters of glycerin and fatty acids, represented by formula (5) :
  • R 5 -R 7 each represent a chain hydrocarbon.
  • the fatty acid composing the ester of glycerin and a fatty acid is not particularly restricted so long as the ester of glycerin and a fatty acid satisfies the conditions for the IOB, melting point and water solubility, and for example, there may be mentioned that the fatty acids mentioned for the " (ai)
  • Ester of chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acids namely saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, and in consideration of the potential for degradation by oxidation and the like, the ester is preferably a glycerin and fatty acid ester, which is derived from a saturated fatty acid, i.e., an ester of glycerin and a saturated fatty acid.
  • the ester of glycerin and a fatty acid is preferably a diester or triester, and more preferably a triester.
  • a triester of glycerin and a fatty acid is also known as a triglyceride, and examples include triesters of glycerin and octanoic acid (C 8 ) , triesters of glycerin and decanoic acid (Cio) , triesters of glycerin and
  • dodecanoic acid (Ci 2 ) , triesters of glycerin and 2 or more different fatty acids, and mixtures of the foregoing.
  • triesters of glycerin and 2 or more fatty acids include triesters of glycerin with octanoic acid (C g ) and decanoic acid (Ci 0 ) , triesters of glycerin with octanoic acid (Cg) , decanoic acid (Ci 0 ) and
  • dodecanoic acid (Ci 2 ) , and triesters of glycerin with octanoic acid (C 8 ) , decanoic acid (Cio) , dodecanoic acid (Ci 2 ) , tetradecanoic acid (C14) , hexadecanoic acid (Ci 6 ) and octadecanoic acid (Cia) - [0058]
  • preferred triesters of glycerin and fatty acids are those with no more than about 40 as the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the
  • the IOB value is 0.60 when the total . number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the triester of glycerin and the fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R 5 C, R 6 C and R 7 C portions in formula (5), is 12.
  • the total number of carbons of the fatty acid comprising the triester of the glycerin and fatty acid is 12.
  • the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • Triesters of glycerin and fatty acids being
  • triesters of glycerin and fatty acids include tri-coconut fatty acid glycerides, NA36, PANACET 800, PANACET 800B and PANACET 81OS, and tri-C2L oil fatty acid glycerides and tri-CL oil fatty acid glycerides (all products of NOF Corp. ) .
  • a diester of glycerin and a fatty acid is also known as a diglyceride, and examples include diesters of glycerin and decanoic acid (Ci 0 ) , diesters of glycerin and dodecanoic acid (C12) , diesters of glycerin and
  • hexadecanoic acid (Cie) , diesters of glycerin and 2 or more different fatty acids, and mixtures of the
  • the IOB is 0.58 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the diester of the glycerin and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R 5 C and R 6 C portions in formula (6), is 16.
  • the IOB satisfies the condition of being about
  • Monoesters of glycerin and fatty acids are also known as monoglycerides , and examples include glycerin and icosanoic acid (C20) monoester, and glycerin and docosanoic acid (C22) monoester.
  • the IOB is 0.59 if the number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the monoester of the glycerin and fatty acid,
  • the number of carbons of the R 5 C portion in formula (7) is 19.
  • the IOB satisfies the condition of being about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • Examples of an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acids include monoesters and diesters of fatty acids with C 2 -C6 chain hydrocarbon diols, such as C2-C6 glycols, including ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol and hexylene glycol .
  • examples of an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid include diesters of C 2 -C 6 glycols and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (8) :
  • k represents an integer of 2-6, and R 8 and R 9 each represent a chain hydrocarbon
  • k represents an integer of 2-6, and R 8 is a chain hydrocarbon.
  • the fatty acid to be esterified in an ester of a C 2 - C 6 glycol and a fatty acid is not particularly restricted so long as the ester of the C 2 -Ce glycol and fatty acid satisfies the conditions for the IOB, melting point and water solubility, and for example, there may be mentioned that the fatty acids mentioned for the " (ai) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid", namely saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, and in consideration of the potential for degradation by oxidation and the like, it is preferably a saturated fatty acid.
  • IOB is 0.60 when the total number of carbons of the R 8 C and R C portions is 6.
  • the IOB satisfies the condition of being about 0.00-0.60.
  • IOB is 0.57 when the number of carbons of the R 8 C portion is 12.
  • the IOB satisfies the condition of being about 0.00-0.60.
  • the ester of the C 2 -C6 glycol and fatty acid is preferably a C 2 -C 6 glycol and fatty acid ester, which is derived from a saturated fatty acid,
  • the ester of the C 2 -C 6 glycol and fatty acid is preferably a glycol and fatty acid ester derived from a glycol with a greater number of carbons, such as an ester of a glycol and a fatty acid derived from butylene glycol, pentylene glycol or hexylene glycol .
  • the ester of a C 2 -C6 glycol and fatty acid is preferably a diester.
  • Examples of commercial products of esters of C 2 -C6 glycols and fatty acids include COMPOL BL and COMPOL BS (both products of NOF Corp.) .
  • the (B) ether of (Bl) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety includes ethers of a compound with 4, 3 or 2 hydroxyl groups and a compound with 1 hydroxyl group, and it is not necessary for all of the hydroxyl groups to be etherified as long as the IOB, melting point and water solubility are within the aforementioned ranges.
  • compound (Bl) hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety
  • compound (Bl) substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety
  • hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety include compounds wherein 1 hydrogen on the hydrocarbon is substituted with 1 hydroxyl group (-0H) , such as aliphatic monohydric alcohols, including saturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols and unsaturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols.
  • saturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols include C1-C20 saturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols, such as methyl alcohol (Ci) (Ci representing the number of carbon atoms, same hereunder) , ethyl alcohol (C2) , propyl alcohol (C 3 ) and isomers thereof, including isopropyl alcohol (C 3 ) , butyl alcohol (C 4 ) and isomers thereof, including sec-butyl alcohol (C 4 ) and tert-butyl alcohol
  • C pentyl alcohol
  • C 5 pentyl alcohol
  • C 6 hexyl alcohol
  • C 7 heptyl alcohol
  • C 8 octyl alcohol
  • isomers thereof including 2-ethylhexyl alcohol (C&) , nonyl alcohol (C 9 ) , decyl alcohol (C10) , dodecyl alcohol (C12) , tetradecyl alcohol (Ci 4 ) , hexadecyl alcohol (Ci 6 ) , heptadecyl alcohol
  • Examples for compound (B) include (bi) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, such as monoethers, diethers, triethers and tetraethers, preferably diethers, triethers and tetraethers, more preferably triethers and
  • tetraethers and even more preferably tetraethers (b2) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, such as monoethers, diethers and triethers, preferably diethers and triethers and more preferably triethers, and (b3) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, such as monoethers, diethers and triethers, preferably diethers and triethers and more preferably triethers, and (b3) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one aliphatic
  • monohydric alcohols such as monoethers and diethers, and preferably diethers.
  • Examples of an ether of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols include tetraethers, triethers, diethers and monoethers of pentaerythritol and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, represented by the following formulae (10) -(13):
  • R 10 -R 13 each represent a chain hydrocarbon.
  • Examples of an ether of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol include triethers, diethers and monoethers of glycerin and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, represented by the following formulae (14)-(16) :
  • R 14 ⁇ R 16 each represent a chain hydrocarbon.
  • Examples of an ether of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol include
  • n is an integer of 2-6, and R 17 and R 18 are each a chain hydrocarbon,
  • n is an integer of 2-6, and R 17 is a chain hydrocarbon.
  • the IOB is 0.44 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the tetraether of pentaerythritol and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R 10 , R 11 , R 12 and R 13 portions in formula (10), is 4.
  • the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R 10 , R 11 , R 12 and R 13 portions in formula (10)
  • aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 4 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • the IOB is 0.57 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the triether of pentaerythritol and the
  • aliphatic monohydric alcohol i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R 10 , R 11 and R 12 portions in formula (11), is 9.
  • the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • the IOB is 0.60 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the diether of pentaerythritol and the
  • aliphatic monohydric alcohol i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R 10 and R 11 portions in formula (12).
  • the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • the IOB is 0.59 when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol
  • pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 22 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • the IOB is 0.50 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the triether of glycerin and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R 14 , R 15 and R 16 portions in formula (14), is 3.
  • the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol comprising a triether of glycerin and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is
  • the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • the IOB is 0.58 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the diether of glycerin and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R 14 and R 15 portions in formula (15), is 9.
  • the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol comprising a diether of glycerin and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is
  • the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • the IOB is 0.58 when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol
  • aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 16 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • the IOB is 0.33 when the total number of carbon atoms of the R 17 and R 18 portions is 2.
  • the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol represented by formula (17)
  • the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
  • Compound (B) may be produced by dehydrating
  • compound (C) includes esters of a compound with 4, 3 or 2 carboxyl groups and a compound with 1 hydroxyl group, and it is not necessary for all of the carboxyl groups to be esterified so long as the IOB, melting point and water solubility are within the aforementioned ranges.
  • Examples of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety include chain hydrocarbons
  • hydrocarbon carboxylic acids with 2-4 carboxyl groups such as chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acids including alkanedicarboxylic acids such as ethanedioic acid, propanedioic acid, butanedioic acid, pentanedioic acid, hexanedioic acid, heptanedioic acid, octanedioic acid, nonanedioic acid and decanedioic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acids, including alkanetricarboxylic acids such as propanetrioic acid, butanetrioic acid,
  • decanetrioic acid and chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acids, including alkanetetracarboxylic acids such as butanetetraoic acid, pentanetetraoic acid, hexanetetraoic acid, heptanetetraoic acid, octanetetraoic acid,
  • nonanetetraoic acid and decanetetraoic acid are nonanetetraoic acid and decanetetraoic acid.
  • Compound (CI) includes chain hydrocarbon hydroxy acids with 2-4 carboxyl groups, including alkoxy acids with 2-4 carboxyl groups such as malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and isocitric acid, including chain hydrocarbon alkoxy acids with 2-4 carboxyl groups, such as O-acetylcitric acid, and chain hydrocarbon oxoacids with 2-4 carboxyl groups.
  • Compounds (C2) having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety include those mentioned for “compound (B)", such as aliphatic monohydric alcohols.
  • Compound (C) may be ( ci ) an ester, for example a monoester, diester, triester or tetraester, preferably a diester, triester or tetraester, more preferably a triester or tetraester and even more preferably a
  • tetraester of a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 4 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol,
  • an ester for example, a monoester, diester or triester, preferably a diester or triester and more preferably a triester, of a chain hydrocarbon
  • tricarboxylic acid hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 3 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol
  • an ester for example, a monoester or diester, and preferably a diester, of a chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 2 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol.
  • Examples for compound (C) include dioctyl adipate and tributyl O-acetylcitrate, of which commercially available products exist.
  • the (D) compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of an ether bond (-0-) , carbonyl bond (-CO-) , ester bond (-COO- ) and carbonate bond (-OCOO-) inserted in-between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety may be (di) an ether of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (d 2 ) a dialkyl ketone, (d 3 ) an ester of a fatty acid and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, or (d 4 ) a dialkyl carbonate.
  • aliphatic monohydric alcohols include compounds having the following formula (19) :
  • R 19 and R 20 each represent a chain
  • the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the ether (corresponding to R 19 0H and R 20 OH in formula (19) ) is not particularly restricted so long as the ether satisfies the conditions for the IOB, melting point and water solubility, and for example, it may be one of the
  • the IOB is 0.50 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols composing the ether, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R 19 and R 20 portions in formula (19), is 2, and therefore when the total number of carbons of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols comprising the ether is about 2 or greater, this condition for the IOB is
  • the total number of carbons of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols comprising the ether is about 6, the water solubility is as high as about 2 g, which is problematic from the viewpoint of vapor pressure as well.
  • the total number of carbons of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols comprising the ether is preferably about 8 or greater.
  • the dialkyl ketone may be a compound of the
  • R 21 and R 22 are each an alkyl group.
  • the IOB is 0.54 when the total number of carbon atoms of R 21 and R 22 is 5, and therefore this condition for the IOB is satisfied if the total number of carbons is about 5 or greater.
  • the total number of carbons of dialkyl ketone is preferably about 8 or greater.
  • the number of carbon atoms of dialkyl ketone is preferably about 10 or greater and more preferably about 12 or greater.
  • the melting point is approximately -50°C and the vapor pressure is about 230 Pa at 20°C.
  • the dialkyl ketone may be a commercially available product, or it may be obtained by a known method, such as by oxidation of a secondary alcohol with chromic acid or the like.
  • esters of fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols include compounds having the
  • R 23 and R 24 each represent a chain
  • R 23 COOH in formula (21) include the fatty acids mentioned for the " (ai) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acids", and specifically these include saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, with saturated fatty acids being preferred in consideration of the potential for
  • the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the ester (corresponding to R 24 OH in formula (21) ) may be one of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols mentioned for "compound (B)".
  • the IOB is 0.60 when the total number of carbon atoms of the fatty acid and aliphatic monohydric alcohol.
  • the total number of carbon atoms of the R 23 C and R 24 portion in formula (21) is 5, and therefore this condition for the IOB is satisfied when the total number of carbon atoms of the R 23 C and R 24 portion is about 5 or greater.
  • the vapor pressure is high at greater than 2000 Pa. In consideration of vapor pressure, therefore, the total number of carbon atoms is preferably about 12 or greater. If the total number of carbon atoms is about 11 or greater, it will be possible to satisfy the condition of a water solubility of about 0.00-0.05 g.
  • esters of such fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols include esters of dodecanoic acid (C12) and dodecyl alcohol (C12) and esters of tetradecanoic acid (C14) and dodecyl alcohol (C12) , and examples of commercial products of esters of such fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols include ELECTOL WE20 and ELECTOL WE40 (both products of NOF Corp.).
  • the dialkyl carbonate may be a compound of the following formula (22):
  • R 25 and R 26 are each an alkyl group.
  • the IOB is 0.57 when the total number of carbon atoms of R 25 and R 26 is 6, and therefore this condition for the IOB is satisfied if the total number of carbons of R 25 and R 26 is about 6 or greater .
  • the total number of carbon atoms of R 25 and R 26 is preferably about 7 or greater and more preferably about 9 or greater.
  • the dialkyl carbonate may be a commercially
  • reaction between phosgene and an alcohol reaction between formic chloride and an alcohol or alcoholate, or reaction between silver carbonate and an alkyl iodide.
  • the (E) polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol, or alkyl ester or alkyl ether thereof (hereunder also referred to as
  • compound (E) may be (ei) a polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol, (e 2 ) an ester of a polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol and at least one fatty acid, (e 3 ) an ether of a polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (e 4 ) an ester of polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol and a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, chain
  • hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid or (es) an ether of polyoxy C 2 -6
  • alkylene glycol and chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol will now be explained.
  • the polyoxy C 2 -Ce alkylene glycol is i) a homopolymer having one backbone selected from the group consisting of polyoxy C 2 -C6 alkylene backbones, i.e., oxyethylene backbone, oxypropylene backbone, oxybutylene backbone, oxypentylene backbone and oxyhexylene backbone, and having hydroxy groups at both ends, ii) a block copolymer having a backbone of 2 or more selected from among the aforementioned group and having hydroxy groups at both ends, or iii) a random copolymer having a backbone of two or more selected from among the aforementioned group and having hydroxy groups at both ends.
  • the polyoxy C 2 -Ce alkylene backbone is preferably an oxypropylene backbone, oxybutylene backbone, oxypentylene backbone or oxyhexylene backbone and more preferably an oxybutylene backbone, oxypentylene backbone or
  • polyoxy C 2 -C 6 alkylene glycol is a homopolymer
  • poly C 3 _6 alkylene glycol is represented by the following formula (23) :
  • n is an integer of 3-6.
  • homopolymers of formula (23) may include propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol or hexylene glycol homopolymer.
  • n in formula (23) is about 3 to 6 and preferably about 4 to 6, and n is 2 or greater.
  • n in formula (23) is a value such that the polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol has an IOB of about 0.00- 0.60, a melting point of no higher than about 45°C and a water solubility of no greater than about 0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C.
  • condition for the IOB is satisfied when n is equal to or greater than about 12.
  • the weight-average molecular weight of the polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol is preferably between about
  • the weight-average molecular weight of a poly C 3 alkylene glycol is preferably between about 1,000 and about 10,000, more preferably between about 3,000 and about 8,000, and even more preferably between about 4,000 and about 5,000.
  • weight-average molecular weight is less than about 1,000, the condition for the water solubility will not be satisfied, and a larger weight- average molecular weight will particularly tend to increase the migration rate into the absorbent body and the whiteness of the top sheet.
  • alkylene glycols include UNIOLTM D-1000, D1200, D-2000, D- 3000, D-4000, PB-500 and PB-700 (both products of NOF Corp. ) .
  • Esters of such polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols and at least one fatty acid include the polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycols mentioned for " (ei) Polyoxy C 2 - alkylene glycol” in which one or both OH ends have been esterified with fatty acids, i.e., monoesters and diesters.
  • fatty acids to be esterified in the ester of a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and at least one fatty acid include the fatty acids mentioned for the " (ai)
  • Esters of chain hydrocarbon tetraols and at least one fatty acid include saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, with saturated fatty acids being preferred in consideration of the potential for degradation by oxidation and the like.
  • An example of a commercially available ester of a polyoxy C 2 - 6 alkylene glycol a fatty acid is WILLBRITE cp9 (product of NOF Corp. ) .
  • Ethers of such polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycols and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol include the polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycols mentioned for " (ei) polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol" wherein one or both OH ends have been etherified by an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., monoethers and diethers.
  • the aliphatic monohydric alcohol to be etherified may be an aliphatic monohydric alcohol among those mentioned for "compound (B)".
  • the polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol to be esterified for the aforementioned ester of a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid may be any of the polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycols mentioned above under " (ei) Polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol".
  • the chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid to be esterified may be any of those mentioned above for "compound (C)".
  • the ester of a polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol and a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid may be a commercially available product, or it may be produced by polycondensation of a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol with a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid under known conditions.
  • the polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol to be etherified for the aforementioned ether of a polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol and a chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol may be any of the polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycols mentioned above under " (ei) Polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol".
  • the chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol to be etherified may be, for example, pentaerythritol, glycerin or glycol, mentioned above for "compound (A)".
  • Examples of commercially available ethers of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols and chain hydrocarbon tetraols, chain hydrocarbon triols and chain hydrocarbon diols include UNILUBETM 5TP-300KB and UNIOLTM TG-3000 and TG-4000
  • UNILUBETM 5TP-300KB is a compound obtained by
  • UNIOLTM TG-3000 is a compound obtained by
  • UNIOLTM TG-4000 is a compound obtained by
  • the ether of a poly C 2 -6 alkylene glycol and a chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol may also be produced by polycondensation of a polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycol with a chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol under known conditions.
  • the chain hydrocarbon has an inorganic value of 0 and thus an IOB of 0.00, while the water solubility is also approximately 0 g, and therefore if the melting point is no higher than about 45°C, it may be included among the aforementioned blood modifying agents.
  • chain hydrocarbons examples include (fi) chain alkanes, such as linear alkanes and branched alkanes, and linear alkanes generally include those with no more than 22 carbons, in consideration of a melting point of no higher than about 45°C. In consideration of vapor pressure, they generally include those with 13 or more carbons. Branched alkanes generally include those with 22 or more carbons, since their melting points are often lower than linear alkanes, given the same number of carbon atoms.
  • hydrocarbon products examples include PARLEAM 6 (NOF Corp.).
  • the blood modifying agent has been found to have at least a function of lowering blood viscosity and surface tension, which will be considered in detail in the examples. Menstrual blood to be absorbed by the
  • absorbent article contains proteins of the endometrial wall, for example, unlike ordinary blood, which act to bind together blood cells, such that the blood cells form a rouleau state.
  • the menstrual blood to be absorbed by the absorbent article therefore tends to have high viscosity, and if the top sheet is a nonwoven fabric of woven fabric, the menstrual blood becomes clogged between the fibers creating a residual sticky feel for the wearer, while the menstrual blood also diffuses on the surface of the top sheet and tends to leak.
  • the blood modifying agent has a melting point of no higher than about 45°C, and therefore, whether liquid or solid at ordinary temperature (25°C) , when it contacts with body fluid at approximately 30-40°C, it liquefies (or is a liquid) and readily dissolves in the body fluid.
  • the blood modifying agent which has an IOB of about 0.00 to 0.60 has high organicity and readily infiltrates between blood cells, and it therefore
  • the blood modifying agent stabilizes blood cells and helps to prevent formation of a rouleau
  • an absorbent article comprising an acrylic super- absorbent polymer, or SAP
  • absorption of menstrual blood is known to lead to covering of the SAP surface by rouleau-formed blood cells and inhibition of the
  • the blood modifying agent which has high affinity with erythrocytes protects the erythrocyte membranes, and therefore may minimize destruction of the erythrocytes .
  • the top sheet comprises the blood modifying agent at a basis weight in the range of preferably 1-30 g/m 2 , more preferably 2-20 g/m 2 and more preferably 3-10 g/m 2 . If the basis weight of the blood modifying agent is less than about 1 g/m 2 , the blood modifying effect will tend to be insufficient, and if the basis weight of the blood modifying agent is increased, the stickiness during wearing will tend to be increased. [0123]
  • he absorbent article of the present invention may be manufactured by methods known in the art.
  • non-contact coater for example, a spiral coater, curtain coater, spray coater or dip coater, or a contact coater or the like.
  • a non-contact coater is preferred from the viewpoint of uniformly dispersing the droplet or
  • the blood modifying agent may be coated directly, if it is a liquid at room temperature, or it may be heated to lower the viscosity, and when it is a solid at room
  • control seam HMA hot melt adhesive
  • the blood modifying agent may be coated during production of the top sheet material, such as the
  • the nonwoven fabric may be coated in the manufacturing line for production of the absorbent article.
  • the blood modifying agent is preferably coated in the manufacturing line for the absorbent article, and in order to prevent shedding of the blood modifying agent which may
  • the blood modifying agent is preferably coated during a step downstream from the manufacturing line, and specifically, immediately before encapsulation of the product in an individual package.
  • the back sheet 3 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 prevents body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 from leaking to the outside.
  • a material that is impermeable to body fluids is used in the back sheet 3.
  • the material used for the back sheet 3 is, for example, a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric, a water-impermeable plastic film of polyethylene, polypropylene and the like, or a laminate sheet with a nonwoven fabric and a water- impermeable plastic film or the like.
  • the material used for the back sheet 3 may also be an SMS (spunbond- meltblown-spunbond) nonwoven fabric obtained by
  • the back sheet 3 By using a material which is permeable to air and not permeable to body fluids as the back sheet 3, it is possible to reduce mustiness during wearing.
  • the absorbent body 4 absorbs and retains body fluids.
  • the absorbent body 4 preferably has high bulk, is resistant to deformation and has low chemical
  • the absorbent body 4 may be a composite absorbent body composed of fluffy pulp or an airlaid nonwoven fabric, and a super-absorbent polymer
  • the composite absorbent body may also be covered with a liquid-permeable material such as a tissue.
  • fluffy pulp in the composite absorbent body there may be used, for example, chemical pulp, cellulose fiber, artificial cellulose fiber such as rayon and acetate.
  • the basis weight of the absorbent fiber such as pulp in the composite absorbent body is
  • the mass ratio of the super-absorbent polymer in the composite absorbent body is preferably at least 10% and no greater than 65%, with the absorbent fiber defined as 100%.
  • the basis weight of the liquid-permeable material such as a tissue covering the composite mixture is preferably at least 12 g/m 2 and no greater than 30 g/m 2 .
  • An airlaid nonwoven fabric of the composite mixture may be, for example, a nonwoven fabric comprising pulp and synthetic fiber heat sealed together, or a nonwoven fabric comprising pulp and synthetic fiber fixed with a binder.
  • absorbent body has a three-dimensional network structure with appropriate crosslinking of a water-soluble polymer.
  • the absorbent polymer absorbs 30 to 60 times the amount of water relative to the volume of the absorbent polymer before absorption of water.
  • the absorbent polymer is essentially water-insoluble. The absorbent polymer does not exude absorbed water even when a
  • the absorbent polymer used is, for example, a starch-based, acrylic acid-based or amino acid-based particulate or filamentous polymer .
  • the shape and structure of the absorbent body may be varied if necessary, but the total absorption by the absorbent body 4 must be suitable for the designed insertion volume and the desired use of the absorbent article 1.
  • the size and absorbing power of the absorbent body 4 will also vary depending on the intended use.
  • wing sections 5 are provided in the absorbent article 1 to stably anchor the absorbent article 1 to underwear. After the wing sections 5. have been folded on the outer side of the underwear, it is attached to the crotch section of the underwear through the attachment part 6 to allow the absorbent article 1 to be stably anchored to the underwear.
  • the attachment part 6 shown in the particular embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 anchors the absorbent article 1 to the crotch section of the underwear.
  • a pressure-sensitive adhesive may be used to form the attachment part 6 and is preferably, for example, one composed mainly of a styrene-based polymer, tackifier or plasticizer.
  • Styrene-based polymers include styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, styrene- butylene polymer, styrene-butylene-styrene block
  • the tackifier and plasticizer mentioned above are preferably solids at ordinary temperature, and these include tackifiers such as C5 petroleum resin, C9
  • plasticizers such as monomer plasticizers including tricresyl phosphate, dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate, and polymer plasticizers including vinyl polymers and polyesters.
  • Bonding the top sheet 2 to the back sheet 3 by heat embossing will form a seal section 7 on both sides of the absorbent article 1 in the lengthwise direction.
  • FIG. 4 is an illustration of a top sheet
  • production apparatus 100 to be used in a method for producing a top sheet 2 according to at least one
  • the top sheet production apparatus 100 comprises a recess-forming roll 120, a stretching gear roll 130 and a modifying agent-coating sprayer 140.
  • the method for producing the top sheet 2 comprises a step of preparing a resin film, a recess- forming step, a gear stretching step and a modifying agent coating step.
  • a resin film 102 supplied from a resin film roll (not shown) is fed to the recess-forming roll 120.
  • the resin film 102 (see Fig. 8(a)) is passed through the recess-forming roll 120 to create a resin film 103 with recesses 104 formed therein (see Fig. 8(b)).
  • the recess-forming roll 120 comprises a roulette roll 121 and a preheated roll 122 with a smooth surface.
  • Fig. 5(a) and (b) show examples of the roulette roll
  • Fig. 5(a) shows the entire roulette roll 121
  • Fig. 5(b) is a magnified view of section 123 of the surface of the roulette roll 121 that contacts with the resin film 102 when the resin film 102 passes between the roulette roll 121 and the roll 122 which has a smooth surface
  • Fig. 5(c) shows an example of the preheated roll 122 which has a smooth surface.
  • Convexities 124 are formed on the surface 123 of the roulette roll 121. In the specifically illustrated embodiment, the convexities 124 are arranged in a lattice and also referred to as lattice-like convexities. As a result, rhomboid recesses 125 are formed in the surface of the roulette roll 121.
  • the center line spacing between the convexities 124 extending parallel on the lattice-like convexities 124 is preferably at least 0.2 mm and no greater than 10 mm and more preferably at least 0.4 mm and no greater than 2 mm. If the pitch of the lattice-like convexities 124 is less than 0.2 mm, or greater than 10 mm, recesses may not form in the resin film.
  • the widths of the lattice-like convexities 124 are preferably at least 0.01 mm and no greater than 1 mm, and more preferably at least 0.03 mm and no greater than 0.1.
  • the lengths of the sides of the rhomboid recesses 125 are preferably at least 0.1 mm and no greater than 5 mm, and more preferably at least 0.2 mm and no greater than 1 mm. If the widths of the latticelike convexities 124 are less than 0.01 mm or greater than 1 mm, or if the lengths of the sides of the rhomboid recesses 125 are less than 0.1 mm or greater than 5 mm, recesses may not form in the resin film.
  • the preheated roll 122 with a smooth surface is kept at a temperature between 70°C and 100°C, and it heats the fed resin film 102. This softens the resin film 102 and facilitates formation.
  • the resin film 102 When the resin film 102 passes between the roulette roll 121 and the roll 122 with a smooth surface, the resin film 102 receives pressure in the thickness
  • the shapes of the recesses 125 of the roulette roll 121 are not limited to being rhomboid, and may instead be square, rectangular, parallelogram-shaped, trapezoid, triangular, hexagonal, or the like.
  • Fig. 6(a) shows the upper gear roll 131 of the stretching gear roll 130.
  • Fig. 6(b) is an illustration of the gear teeth 133 arranged on the peripheral surface of the upper gear roll 131. The gear teeth 133 extend in the circumferential direction of the upper gear roll 131.
  • the angle of the gear teeth 133 is chamfered in an R- shape in order to prevent the resin film 103 from being cut by the angle of the gear teeth 133 when the resin film 103 (see Fig. 8 (b) ) has passed through the
  • the width of the gear teeth 133 is 0.3-0.5 mm, for example, and the distance between adjacent gear teeth 133 is 1.0-1.2 mm, for example.
  • the lower gear roll 132 of the gear roll 130 has the same shape as the upper gear roll 131, and therefore the lower gear roll 132 will not be explained in detail.
  • the engagement depth is 1.25 mm, for example.
  • the gaps between the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth of the lower gear roll 132, when the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth of the lower gear roll 132 have been engaged, are 0.25- 0.45 mm, for example.
  • the resin film 103 is formed in an essentially undulating manner, creating a resin film 105 with protrusions 21 formed therein (see Fig. 8(c)).
  • the resin film 103 is stretched to a large degree at the sections 106 where the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth 134 of the lower gear roll 132 are engaged.
  • the sections where the recesses 104 have been formed in the recess-forming step are sections where the basis weight of the resin film 103 vary in an abrupt manner, and therefore the strength is low and the recesses 104 of the resin film 103 will tear when stretched (drawn) . Consequently, the recesses 104 of the resin film 103 tear at the sections 106 of the resin film 103 that have been drawn, such that the torn sections of the resin film 103 widen, forming openings 25.
  • the resin film 103 is not significantly drawn at the sections 107 where the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth 134 of the lower gear roll 132 are not engaged. Consequently, even when the resin film 103 passes through the stretching gear roll 130, the recesses 104 formed in the recess-forming step are not torn and do not become openings at the sections 107 of the resin film 103 where the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth 134 of the lower gear roll 132 are not engaged. Also, the recesses 104 formed in the recess-forming step are slightly drawn and become recesses 26 in the top sheet 2.
  • the sections 107 of the resin film 103 where the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth 134 of the lower gear roll 132 are not engaged correspond to the top sections 23 and bottom sections 22 of the protrusions 21 in the top sheet 2 (see Fig. 3) .
  • the sections 106 of the resin film 103 where the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth 134 of the lower gear roll 132 are engaged correspond to the wall sections 24 of the protrusions 21 in the top sheet 2 (see Fig. 3) . Consequently, recesses 26 are formed in the top sections 23 and bottom sections 22 of the protrusions 21 in the top sheet 2, and openings 25 are formed in the wall sections 24 of the protrusions 21 in the top sheet 2.
  • the amount of body fluid absorbed into the absorbent body 4 can be confirmed by viewing the absorbent article 1 from an oblique direction, thereby allowing the need for replacement of the absorbent article 1 to be ascertained.
  • a modifying agent-coating sprayer 140 is used to coat the modifying agent 141 onto the resin film 105 that has been gear stretched, creating a resin film 108 having a modifying agent layer 27 formed on the surface (see Fig. 8(d)).
  • the modifying agent-coating sprayer 140 coats the modifying agent 141 onto the resin film 105 by spraying in the modifying agent coating step, but the modifying agent 141 may instead be coated onto the resin film 105 by a printing method or dipping method.
  • Resin film material Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) Resin film basis weight: 23.5 g/m 2 or 35.0 g/m 2 Resin film thickness: 20 ⁇ or 30
  • LDPE Low-density polyethylene
  • Titanium oxide content of resin film 2.9% or 5%
  • Preheated roll temperature 80°C Pitch of lattice-like convexities on roulette roll: 0.4 mm
  • Gap between upper gear roll gear teeth and lower gear roll gear teeth 0.25 mm
  • Stretching gear roll engagement depth 1.25 mm
  • Fig. 9(a) shows lattice-like convexities 124 and rhomboid recesses 125 formed on the surface of a roulette roll.
  • Fig. 9(b) shows recesses 104 formed in a resin film that has passed through a recess-forming roll 120.
  • CD was 0.25 mm.
  • the pitch of the recesses 104 in the cross-machine direction (CD) was 0.70 mm.
  • the pitch of the recesses 104 in the cross-machine direction is the distance between the right sides of the recesses 104 in the cross-machine direction, which are adjacent in the cross-machine direction, as shown in Fig. 10.
  • Fig. 9(c) shows parts of openings 25 formed in the wall sections 24 of protrusions and of the recesses 26 formed in the top sections 23 of protrusions, after passing through a stretching gear roll 130.
  • Fig. 9(c) was photographed after stretching the resin film which was formed in an essentially undulating manner in order to match the focus of the microscope with the entire resin film.
  • the lengths of the drawn sections (drawing areas) of the resin film in the cross-machine direction (CD) , drawn by the stretching gear roll 130, were 0.90 mm for a resin film with a basis weight of 23.5 g/m 2 , and were 0.75 mm for a resin film with a basis weight of 35.0 g/m 2 .
  • the lengths of the sections with a relatively low degree of drawing (non-drawing areas) of the resin film in the cross-machine direction (CD) which was drawn by the stretching gear roll 130 were 0.40 mm for a resin film with a basis weight of 23.5 g/m 2 , and were 0.50 mm for a resin film with a basis weight of 35.0 g/m 2 . This indicates that appropriate selection of the basis weight of the resin film allows modification of the lengths of the drawing areas and non-drawing areas in the cross- machine direction (CD) .
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram showing drawing areas and non-drawing areas, and the positional relationship in the cross-machine direction
  • FIG. 12 is a diagram showing drawing areas and non-drawing areas, and the positional relationship in the cross-machine direction (CD) between recesses with varying pitch in the cross-machine direction, for a resin film with a basis weight of 35.0 g/m 2 .
  • the ranges of the horizontal bars with circles at both ends represent the ranges of the recesses in the cross-machine direction.
  • the pitch of the recesses in the cross-machine direction (CD) is preferably 0.3-1.00 mm and more preferably 0.35-0.80 mm.
  • the pitch of the recesses in the machine direction (MD) is preferably 0.3-1.00 mm and more preferably 0.35-
  • the pitch of the recesses in the machine direction is the distance in the machine direction between the top edges of the recesses that are adjacent in the machine direction.
  • the blood modifying agent has a mechanism of lowering the viscosity and surface tension of blood, and therefore body fluid migrates by the modifying agent layer 27 to the absorbent body 4 without remaining in the top sheet
  • the blood modifying agent was confirmed to have a mechanism of lowering the viscosity and surface tension of blood. This was confirmed using a nonwoven fabric, which more readily retains body fluid than a resin film.
  • a commercially available sanitary napkin was prepared.
  • the sanitary napkin was formed from a top sheet, formed of a hydrophilic agent-treated air-through nonwoven fabric (composite fiber composed of polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, basis weight: 35 g/m 2 ) , a second sheet, formed of an air-through nonwoven fabric
  • an absorbent body comprising pulp (basis weight: 150-450 g/m 2 , increased at the center section)
  • an acrylic super-absorbent polymer (basis weight: 15 g/m 2 ) and tissue as a core wrap
  • a water-repellent agent-treated side sheet and a back sheet composed of a polyethylene film.
  • the blood modifying agents used for the experiment are listed below.
  • Glycerin and fatty acid triester with oleic acid or stearylic acid as the fatty acid.
  • Tri-CL oil fatty acid glyceride product of NOF Corp.
  • Tri-coconut fatty acid glyceride product of NOF Corp.
  • Neopentylglycol di-2-ethylhexanoate weight-average molecular weight: approximately 360.
  • Weight-average molecular weight approximately 400
  • Weight-average molecular weight approximately 380
  • Polypropylene glycol weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,000
  • Polypropylene glycol weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,160
  • Polybutylene glycol weight-average molecular weight: approximately 500
  • Polyoxybutylenepolyoxypropylene glycol weight-average molecular weight: approximately 700
  • Polybutylene glycol weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,000
  • Polyoxyethylenepolyoxypropylene pentaerythritol ether produced by addition of 5 mol of ethylene oxide and 65 mol of propylene oxide to 1 mol of
  • Branched hydrocarbon produced by copolymerization of liquid isoparaffin, isobutene and n-butene followed by hydrogen addition, polymerization degree: approximately 5-10, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 330
  • Weight-average molecular weight approximately 230 ⁇ Diisostearyl malate
  • Weight-average molecular weight approximately 640
  • Polyethylene glycol weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,500-1,600
  • Polyoxyethylene monostearate approximately 7 repeating units, weight-average molecular weight:
  • Polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil weight-average molecular weight: approximately 3,570
  • the IOBs, melting points and water solubilities of the samples are shown in Table 2.
  • the skin contact surface of the top sheet of the sanitary napkin was coated with the aforementioned blood modifying agent.
  • Each blood modifying agent was used directly, when the blood modifying agent was liquid at room temperature, or when the blood modifying agent was solid at room temperature it was heated to its melting point of +20°C, and a control seam HMA gun was used for atomization of the blood modifying agent and coating onto the entire skin contact surface of the top sheet to a basis weight of about 5 g/m 2 .
  • Fig. 13 is an electron micrograph of the skin contact surface of a top sheet in a sanitary napkin
  • the top sheet comprises tri-C2L oil fatty acid glycerides.
  • the tri-C2L oil fatty acid glycerides are present on the fiber surfaces as fine particulates.
  • EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
  • the acrylic board was immediately removed and 10 sheets of filter paper (Advantec Toyo Kaisha, Ltd, Qualitative Filter Paper No.2, 50 mm x 35 mm) were placed on the location where the blood had been dropped, and then a weight was placed thereover to a pressure of 30 g/cm 2 . After 1 minute, the filter paper was removed and the "rewetting rate" was calculated by the following formula.
  • the "absorbent body migration rate" was also measured as the time until migration of blood from the top sheet to the absorbent body after the second dropping of blood.
  • the absorbent body migration rate is the time from
  • VG Very Good: Virtually no redness of blood remaining, and no clear delineation between areas with and without blood.
  • F (Fair) Slight redness of blood remaining, areas with blood discernible.
  • the rewetting rate was 22.7% and the absorbent body migration rate was greater than 60 seconds, but the glycerin and fatty acid triesters all produced rewetting rates of no greater than 7.0% and absorbent body migration rates of no longer than 8 seconds, and therefore significantly improved the absorption performance.
  • the glycerin and fatty acid triesters no great improvement in absorption performance was seen with NA50 which had a melting point of above 45°C.
  • the absorption performance was also significantly improved with blood modifying agents having an IOB of about 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than about 45°C and a water solubility of no greater than about 0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C. Rewetting rates of no greater than 7.9% and absorbent body migration rates of no longer than 15 seconds were achieved.
  • sanitary napkins Nos. (2-1) - (2-32) and particularly with sanitary napkins that comprised blood modifying agents Nos. (2-1) - (2-11) , (2-15) - (2-19) and (2-
  • the rewetting rate was evaluated for blood from different animals in accordance with the above
  • Defibrinated blood blood sampled and agitated together with glass beads in an Erlenmeyer flask for approximately
  • EDTA blood 65 mL of venous blood with addition of 0.5 mL of a 12% EDTA-2K isotonic sodium chloride solution.
  • Serum or blood plasma Supernatant obtained after centrifugation of defibrinated blood or EDTA blood for 10 minutes at room temperature at about 1900 G.
  • Blood cells Obtained by removing the serum from the blood, washing twice with phosphate buffered saline
  • PBS phosphate buffered saline
  • An absorbent article was produced in the same manner as Example 2, except that the tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride was coated at a basis weight of about 5 g/m 2 , and the rewetting rate of each of the aforementioned blood samples was evaluated. Measurement was performed 3 times for each blood sample, and the average value was recorded.
  • the blood retention was evaluated for a top sheet comprising a blood modifying agent and a top sheet comprising no blood modifying agent.
  • a tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride was atomized on the skin contact surface of a top sheet formed from an air-through nonwoven fabric (composite fiber composed of polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, basis weight: 35 g/m 2 ) , using a control seam HMA gun, for coating to a basis weight of about 5 g/m 2 .
  • a sheet without coating with the tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride there was also prepared a sheet without coating with the tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride.
  • both the tri ⁇ C2L oil fatty acid glyceride-coated top sheet and the non-coated top sheet were cut to a size of 0.2 g, and the mass (a) of the cell strainer + top sheet was precisely measured.
  • the cell strainer was set in a centrifuge tube, and subjected to spin-down to remove the excess horse EDTA blood.
  • the measurement was conducted 3 times, and the average value was recorded.
  • top sheets comprising blood modifying agents had low blood retentions, suggesting that blood rapidly migrated into the absorbent body after absorption.
  • the viscosity of the blood modifying agent- containing blood was measured using a Rheometric
  • the mixture was gently agitated to form a sample, the sample was placed on a 50 mm-diameter parallel plate, with a gap of 100 ⁇ , and the viscosity was measured at 37 ⁇ 0.5°C.
  • the sample was not subjected to a uniform shear rate due to the parallel plate, but the average shear rate indicated by the device was 10 s _1 .
  • the viscosity of the horse defibrinated blood containing 2 mass% PANACET 810s was 5.9 mPa-s, while the viscosity of the horse defibrinated blood containing no blood modifying agent was 50.4 mPa-s.
  • the horse defibrinated blood containing 2 mass% PANACET 810s clearly had an approximately 90% lower viscosity than the blood containing no blood modifying agent.
  • blood contains components such as blood cells and has thixotropy, and it has been found that the blood modifying agent of this disclosure can lower blood viscosity in the low viscosity range.
  • Menstrual blood was sampled from healthy volunteers onto Saran wrap, and PANACET 810s dispersed in a 10-fold mass of phosphate-buffered saline was added to a portion thereof to a PANACET 810s concentration of 1 mass%.
  • the menstrual blood was dropped onto a slide glass, a cover glass was placed thereover, and the state of the
  • erythrocytes was observed with an optical microscope.
  • a photomicrograph of menstrual blood containing no blood modifying agent is shown in Fig. 14(a), and a
  • erythrocytes formed aggregates such as rouleaux in the menstrual blood containing no blood modifying agent, while the
  • erythrocytes were stably dispersed in the menstrual blood containing PANACET 810s. This suggests that the blood modifying agent functions to stabilize erythrocytes in blood.
  • the surface tension of blood containing a blood modifying agent was measured by the pendant drop method, using a Drop Master500 contact angle meter by Kyowa
  • the surface tension was measured after adding a prescribed amount of blood modifying agent to sheep defibrinated blood, and
  • the density p was measured at the temperatures listed in Table 5, according to JIS K 2249-1995, "Densit test methods and density/mass/volume conversion tables", "5. Vibrating density test method”.
  • the measurement was accomplished using a DA-505 by Kyoto Electronics Co., Ltd.
  • Table 5 shows that the blood modifying agent can lower the surface tension of blood despite its very low solubility in water, as seen by a water solubility of about 0.00-about 0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C.
  • the present disclosure relates to the following and any combination thereof:
  • An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet formed on the skin side, a liquid-impermeable back sheet formed on the clothing side, and a liquid- retaining absorbent body formed between the top sheet and the back sheet,
  • top sheet comprises a plurality of protrusions arranged in parallel and bottom sections situated between adjacent protrusions
  • each protrusion including a top section with a plurality of recesses arranged along the length of the protrusion and wall sections with a plurality of open holes arranged along the length of the protrusion.
  • top sheet comprises a resin film having numerous
  • said resin film preferably being composed of a copolymer of an olefin and another monomer such as an acrylic acid ester or vinyl acetate, or a polyolefin, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide or cellulose acetate; more preferably a copolymer of an olefin and another monomer, or a polyolefin.
  • An absorbent article according to Jl or Jla wherein the basis weight of the top sheet is at least lg/m 2 and no greater than 40g/m 2 , preferably at least 10g/m 2 and no greater than 35g/m 2 ; and/or the thickness of the top sheet is at least 0.01mm and no greater than 0.4mm, preferably at least 0.1mm and no greater than 0.35mm.
  • top sheet has a concealing property which is produced for example by mixing a filler such as titanium oxide in a resin; where the filler is titanium oxide, the titanium oxide content is at least 1% and no greater than 50%, preferably at least 3% and no greater than 15%, with respect to the weight of the resin.
  • a filler such as titanium oxide
  • the titanium oxide content is at least 1% and no greater than 50%, preferably at least 3% and no greater than 15%, with respect to the weight of the resin.
  • An absorbent article according to any one of Jl-Jlc, wherein the difference in height between the top sections and the bottom sections in the thickness direction is at least 0.1 mm and no greater than 5 mm.
  • An absorbent article according to any one of J1-J3, wherein the open area of the openings is at least 0.001 mm 2 and no greater than 1 mm 2 .
  • top sheet further has a blood modifying agent layer on the surface of the skin side
  • the blood modifying agent of the blood modifying agent layer has an IOB of 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than 45°C and a water solubility of no greater than 0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C.
  • the absorbent article according to J6 of J6a wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (i)-(iii), and any combination thereof:
  • hydrocarbon moiety and (iii-3) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (- COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH) substituting a hydrogen of the hydrocarbon moiety;
  • ( ⁇ ') a compound having (ii'-l) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii'-2) one or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO-) , ester bond (-COO-), carbonate bond (-OCOO-) , and ether bond (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety; and
  • hydrocarbon tetraols and fatty acids (a2) esters of chain hydrocarbon triols and fatty acids, (a 3 ) esters of chain hydrocarbon diols and fatty acids, (bi) ethers of chain hydrocarbon tetraols and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (b 2 ) ethers of chain hydrocarbon triols and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (b 3 ) ethers of chain hydrocarbon diols and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (c esters of chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, alkoxy acids or oxoacids with 4 carboxyl groups, and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (c 2 ) esters of chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, alkoxy acids or oxoacids with 3 carboxyl groups, and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (c 3 ) esters of chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acids
  • alkylene glycols and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol (e 4 ) esters of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols with chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acids, chain
  • hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acids or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acids (e 5 ) ethers of polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycols with chain hydrocarbon tetraols, chain
  • hydrocarbon triols or chain hydrocarbon diols or chain hydrocarbon diols, and (fi) chain alkanes.
  • an absorbent article according to any one of Jl to J10, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of (ai) esters of chain hydrocarbon tetraols and fatty acids, (a 2 ) esters of chain hydrocarbon triols and fatty acids, (a 3 ) esters of chain hydrocarbon diols and fatty acids, (c 2 ) esters of chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, alkoxy acids or oxoacids with 3 carboxyl groups, and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (c 3 ) esters of chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, alkoxy acids or oxoacids with 2 carboxyl groups, and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (d 3 ) esters of fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (ei) polyoxy C 2 -6 alkylene glycols, (e 2 ) esters of polyoxy C 2 _6 alkylene glyco
  • Tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride Tri-CL oil fatty acid glyceride PANACET 810s
  • Tri-coconut fatty acid glyceride Caprylic acid diglyceride and/or the group consisting of

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Abstract

It is an object of the disclosure to provide an absorbent article that can inhibit sticking of the top sections of protrusions of the top sheet onto the skin of a wearer, as well as a top sheet for the absorbent article and a method for producing the top sheet. The absorbent article includes a liquid-permeable top sheet 2 formed on the skin facing side, a liquid-impermeable back sheet formed on the non-skin facing side, and a liquid-retaining absorbent body formed between the top sheet 2 and the back sheet. The top sheet 2 includes a plurality of protrusions 21 arranged in parallel and bottom sections 22 situated between adjacent protrusions 21. Each protrusion 21 includes a top section 23 with a plurality of recesses 26 arranged along the length of the protrusion 21 and wall sections 24 with a plurality of open holes 25 arranged along the length of the protrusion 21.

Description

DESCRIPTION
Absorbent Article, Top Sheet For Absorbent Article and Method For Producing Top Sheet
Technical Field
[0001]
The present disclosure relates to absorbent article such as a disposable diaper or sanitary napkin, to a top sheet for an absorbent article, and to a method for producing the top sheet.
Background Art
[0002]
Surface materials for sanitary products, which are hydrophobic films having open holes on the sides, having a smooth surface on the top sections and comprising numerous convexities, are known in the prior art (for example, in Japanese. Unexamined Patent Publication SHO No. 64-34365.. When such a surface material is used in a sanitary product, fluids excreted by the body can rapidly migrate through the open holes into the absorbent body of the sanitary product. Also, fluids absorbed into the absorbent body through the surface material can be concealed.
[0003]
However, inventors have noted that with the surface material as described above, the top sections of the convexities often stick onto the skin of the wearer. The wearer therefore feels discomfort or itching when the sanitary product is being worn, and the wearer may suffer skin trouble such as eruptions.
Solution to Problem
[0004]
Specifically, some embodiments of the invention provide an absorbent article comprising a liquid- permeable top sheet formed on the skin facing side, a liquid-impermeable back sheet formed on the non-skin facing side, and a liquid-retaining absorbent body formed between the top sheet and the back sheet. The top sheet comprises a plurality of protrusions arranged in parallel and bottom sections situated between adjacent
protrusions. Each protrusion includes a top section with a plurality of recesses arranged along the length of the protrusion and wall sections with a plurality of open holes arranged along the length of the protrusion.
Some embodiments of the invention also provide a liquid-permeable top sheet to be used in an absorbent article. The top sheet comprises a plurality of
protrusions arranged in parallel and bottom sections situated between adjacent protrusions. Each protrusion includes a top section with a plurality of recesses arranged along the length of the protrusion and wall sections with a plurality of open holes arranged along the length of the protrusion.
Some embodiments, of the invention also provide a method for producing a top sheet to be used in an
absorbent article. The method comprises a step of preparing a resin film, a step of forming a plurality of recesses in a resin film by passing the resin film between a roll having lattice-like convexities and a roll having a smooth surface, and a step of forming a
plurality of protrusions arranged in parallel in the resin film in which the plurality of recesses have been formed, by gear stretching the resin film in which the plurality of recesses have been formed. Each of the protrusions formed by the step of forming the protrusions includes a top section with a plurality of recesses arranged along the length of the protrusion and a wall section with a plurality of open holes arranged along the length of the protrusion.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[0005]
Fig. 1 is a partial cutaway plan view showing an absorbent article in accordance with one or more
embodiments of the invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-section of the absorbent article taken along line A-A in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an illustration showing the details of a top sheet in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 4 is an illustration of a method for producing a top sheet in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 5 is set of illustrations of a recess-forming roll to be used in a method for producing a top sheet in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 6 is a pair of illustrations of a stretching gear roll to be used in a method for producing a top sheet in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention .
Fig. 7 is an illustration of a resin film to be stretched by a stretching gear roll.
Fig. 8 is a set of illustrations showing the form of the resin film as it changes in each step of a method for producing a top sheet in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 9 is a set of photomicrographs showing the results of an example.
Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the pitch of the recesses in the cross-machine direction.
Fig. 11 is a diagram showing drawing areas and non- drawing areas, and the positional relationship in the cross-machine direction between recesses with varying pitch in the cross-machine direction, for a resin film with a basis weight of 23.5 g/m2.
Fig. 12 is a diagram showing drawing areas and non- drawing areas, and the positional relationship in the cross-machine direction between recesses with varying pitch in the cross-machine direction, for a resin film with a basis weight of 35.0 g/m2.
Fig. 13 is an electron micrograph of the skin contact surface of a top sheet in a sanitary napkin wherein the top sheet comprises tri-C2L oil fatty acid glycerides .
Fig. 14 is a pair of photomicrographs of menstrual blood containing and not containing a blood modifying agent .
Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a method of measuring surface tension.
Description of Embodiments
[0006]
Some embodiment of the invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, with the understanding that the invention is not limited to the examples depicted in the drawings.
[0007]
Fig. 1 is partial cutaway plan view showing an absorbent article in accordance with one or more
embodiments of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-section of the absorbent article taken along line A-A in Fig. 1. The absorbent article 1 comprises a liquid-permeable top sheet 2 provided on the skin facing side, a liquid- impermeable back sheet 3 provided on the non-skin facing side, and a liquid-retaining absorbent body 4 provided between the top sheet 2 and back sheet 3. In this particular embodiment the back sheet 3 is drawn in the cross-machine direction to form a pair of wing sections 5. A attachment part 6 is provided on the non-skin facing side of the wing section 5. In Fig. 1, the cross- machine direction of the absorbent article 1 is the X- axial direction, and the lengthwise direction is the Y- axial direction. The planar direction of the absorbent article 1 is the XY direction.
[0008]
The top sheet 2 transports body fluid such as urine and menstrual blood that has been excreted from a wearer into the absorbent body 4. At least a portion of the top sheet 2 is liquid-permeable and formed for example of a resin film that has numerous openings formed for
permeation of body fluid. The resin film used as the top sheet 2 is preferably including a copolymer of an olefin and another monomer such as an acrylic acid ester or vinyl acetate, or a polyolefin, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, cellulose acetate or the like. For high softness and reduced irritation to the skin, the resin film to be used as the top sheet 2 is most preferably a copolymer of an olefin and another monomer, or a polyolefin.
[0009]
The basis weight of the top sheet 2 is preferably at least 1 g/m2 and no greater than 40 g/m2, and more preferably at least 10 g/m2 and no greater than 35 g/m2.
Also, the thickness of the top sheet 2 is preferably at least 0.01 mm and no greater than 0.4 mm, and more preferably at least 0.1 mm and no greater than 0.35 mm. If the thickness of the top sheet 2 is less than 0.01 mm, the concealing property of the top sheet 2, described hereunder, may be too low, while if the thickness of the top sheet 2 exceeds 0.4 mm, the stiffness of the top sheet 2 may be increased and irritation by the top sheet 2 on the skin of the wearer may be too strong.
[0010]
The top sheet 2 in accordance with the present invention may have a concealing property so that the body fluids absorbed into the absorbent body 4 cannot be seen from the exterior. The concealing property of the top sheet 2 may be produced by mixing a filler such as titanium oxide in a resin. When the filler is titanium oxide, the titanium oxide content is preferably at least 1% and no greater than 50%, and more preferably at least 3% and no greater than 15%, with respect to the weight of the resin film. If the titanium oxide content is less than 1% with respect to the weight of the resin film, the concealing effect of the top sheet 2 for body fluids absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may be too small. If the titanium oxide content exceeds 50% of the weight of the resin film, it may become difficult to form a sheet from the titanium oxide-containing resin.
[0011]
The top sheet 2 is formed such that the widthwise cross-section is essentially undulating, in order to reduce the contact area between the skin of the wearer and the top sheet 2 and obtain satisfactory feel on the skin for the top sheet 2. The top sheet 2 may also be formed such that the cross-section is essentially undulating in the lengthwise direction.
[0012]
The top sheet 2 will now be explained in greater detail with reference to Fig. 3.
A top sheet 2 formed such that the widthwise cross- section is essentially undulating and has a protrusions 21 extending in the lengthwise direction and bottom sections 22 arranged between adjacent protrusions 21. The direction in which the protrusions 21 extend is not limited to the lengthwise direction. The protrusions 21 each has a top section 23 that contacts with the skin of the wearer, and wall sections 24 on each of the sides. The height of the protrusions 21 in the thickness
direction, i.e., the difference in height between the top sections 23 and bottom sections 22 in the thickness direction of the top sheet, is preferably at least 0.1 mm and no greater than 5 mm. If the difference in height between the top sections 23 and bottom sections 22 in the thickness direction is less than 0.1 mm, body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may flow back through the openings (open holes) 25 of the top sheet 2, which are described hereunder. If the difference in height between the top sections 23 and bottom sections 22 in the thickness direction is greater than 5 mm, the protrusions 21 may collapse when the absorbent article 1 is worn by the wearer. [0013]
The wall sections 24 are preferably slanted instead of perpendicular with respect to the bottom sections 22. That is, the angle formed between the bottom sections 22 and wall sections 24 is preferably greater than 90°.
However, the angle formed between the bottom sections 22 and wall sections 24 is also preferably no greater than 165°. Forming an angle between the bottom sections 22 and wall sections 24 of 90° or smaller requires a large degree of plastic deformation of the resin film, and therefore the strength of the top sheet 2 can be severely weakened when the angle formed between the bottom sections 22 and wall sections 24 is 90° or smaller. If the angle formed between the bottom sections 22 and wall sections 24 is greater than 165°, body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may flow back through the openings 25 in the top sheet 2, which are described hereunder, or body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 through the openings 25 may become visible, thus reducing the concealing property of the top sheet 2.
[0014]
The wall sections 24 of the top sheet 2 have a plurality of open holes (openings) 25 arranged along the length of each of the protrusions 21. The openings 25 are holes passing through the top sheet 2, and body fluid of the wearer is absorbed into the absorbent body 4 through the openings 25. The open area of each opening 25 is preferably at least 0.001 mm2 and no greater than 1 mm2, and more preferably at least 0.01 mm2 and no greater than 0.1 mm2. If the open area of each opening 25 is smaller than 0.001 mm2, body fluid of the wearer may not pass through the openings 25, and if the open area of each opening 25 is greater than 1 mm2, body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may flow back through the openings 25 of the top sheet 2, or body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may become visible through the openings 25, thus reducing the concealing property of the top sheet 2.
[0015]
The proportion of the total open area of all
openings 25 with respect to the entire area of the top sheet 2, i.e., the open area ratio of the top sheet 2, is preferably at least 5% and no greater than 20%. If the open area ratio of the top sheet 2 is lower than 5%, permeability of the body fluid in the top sheet 2 may be poor, and if the open area ratio of the top sheet 2 is greater than 20%, body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may flow back through the openings
25 of the top sheet 2, or body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 may become visible through the openings 25, thus reducing the concealing property of the top sheet 2.
[0016]
The openings 25 are formed from the vicinity of the top sections 23 to the vicinity of the bottom sections 22. Thus, even when a large amount of body fluid has been excreted at one time by the wearer, the absorbent article 1 can absorb the body fluid and thus prevent leakage of the body fluid from the absorbent article 1.
[0017]
The top sections 23 of the top sheet 2 each has a plurality of recesses 26 arranged along the length of each of the protrusions 21. The shapes of the recesses
26 in the planar direction may be rhomboid, for example, with rhomboid side lengths of 0.15 mm, for example, and a center-to-center distance between adjacent recesses 26 of
0.34 mm, for example. The shapes of the recesses 26 in the planar direction are not limited to being rhomboid, and may instead be square, rectangular, triangular, circular, star-shaped, linear (straight linear) or the like. Also, the sizes of the recesses 26 are not limited to 0.15 mm x 0.15 mm, and the center-to-center distance between adjacent recesses 26 is not limited to 0.34 mm. The depths of the recesses 26 are not particularly restricted so long as they are depths such that the skin of the wearer does not contact the bottoms of the
recesses 26 when the skin of the wearer has contacted the top sections 23 of the top sheet 2. The bottom sections
22 of the top sheet 2 may also have a plurality of recesses 26 arranged along the length of each of the protrusions 21.
[0018]
The recesses 26 formed on the top sections 23 reduce the contact area of the top sections 23 that directly contact with the skin of the wearer, and this reduces sticking of the absorbent article 1 onto the skin during wearing, and minimizes discomfort and itching of the wearer or skin trouble such as eruptions by the wearer.
[0019]
A blood modifying agent may also be coated on the surface of the top sheet 2 to form a blood modifying agent layer 27 on the skin facing side surface of the top sheet 2. The blood modifying agent layer 27 can reduce residue of body fluids from the wearer, especially highly viscous menstrual blood, on the surface of the top sheet 2. The blood modifying agent in the blood modifying agent layer 27 has an Inorganic-Organic Balance (IOB) of 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than 45°C, and a water solubility of no greater than 0.05 g at 25°C in lOOg of water.
[0020]
The IOB (Inorganic Organic Balance) is an indicator of the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, and as used herein, it is the value calculated by the following formula by Oda et al.:
IOB = inorganic value/organic value.
[0021]
The inorganic value and the organic value are based on the organic paradigm described in "Organic compound predictions and organic paradigms" by Fujita A., Kagaku no Ryoiki (Journal of Japanese Chemistry), Vol.11, No (1957) p.719-725 which is incorporated by reference herein .
The organic values and inorganic values of major groups, according to Fujita, are summarized in Table below .
[0022]
Table 1
Figure imgf000012_0001
[0023]
For example, in the case of an ester of
tetradecanoic acid which has 14 carbon atoms and dodecyl alcohol which has 12 carbon atoms, the organic value is 520 (CH2, 20 x 26) and the inorganic value is 60 (-COOR, 60 x 1), and therefore IOB = 0.12.
[0024]
In the blood modifying agent, the IOB is about 0.00- 0.60, preferably about 0.00-0.50, more preferably about 0.00-0.40 and even more preferably about 0.00-0.30. This is because a lower IOB is associated with higher
organicity and higher affinity with blood cells.
[0025]
As used herein, the term "melting point" refers to the peak top temperature for the endothermic peak during conversion from solid to liquid, upon measurement with a differential scanning calorimetry analyzer at a
temperature-elevating rate of 10°C/min. The melting point may be measured using a Model DSC-60 DSC measuring apparatus by Shimadzu Corp., for example.
[0026]
If the blood modifying agent has a melting point of no higher than about 45°C, it may be either liquid or solid at room temperature, or in other words, the melting point may be either about 25°C or higher or below about
25°C, and for example, it may have a melting point of about -5°C or about -20°C. The reason for a melting point of no higher than about 45°C for the blood modifying agent will be explained below.
[0027]
The blood modifying agent does not have a lower limit for the melting point, but the vapor pressure is preferably low. The vapor pressure of the blood
modifying agent is preferably about 0.00-0.01 Pa, more preferably about 0.000-0.001 Pa and even more preferably about 0.0000-0.0001 Pa, at 1 atmosphere, 25°C.
Considering that the absorbent article of this disclosure is to be used in contact with the human body, the vapor pressure is preferably about 0.00-0.01 Pa, more
preferably about 0.000-0.001 Pa and even more preferably about 0.0000-0.0001 Pa, at 1 atmosphere, 40°C. If the vapor pressure is high, gasification may occur during storage and the amount of blood modifying agent may be reduced, and as a consequence problems, such as, odor during wear, may be created.
[0028]
The melting point of the blood modifying agent may also differ depending on the weather or duration of wear. For example, in regions with a mean atmospheric
temperature of no higher than about 10°C, using a blood modifying agent with a melting point of no higher than about 10°C may allow the blood modifying agent to stably modify blood after excretion of menstrual blood, even if it has been cooled by the ambient temperature.
Also, as the absorbent article may be used for a prolonged period of time, the melting point of the blood modifying agent is preferably at the high end of the range of no higher than about 45°C. This is because the blood modifying agent is not easily affected by sweat or friction during wearing, and will not easily migrate even during prolonged wearing.
[0029]
The water solubility of 0.00-0.05 g may be measured by adding 0.05 g of sample to 100 g of deionized water at 25°C, allowing it to stand for 24 hours, and after 24 hours, gently stirring if necessary, and then visually evaluating whether or not the sample has dissolved.
As used herein, the term "solubility" in regard to water solubility includes cases where the sample
completely dissolves in deionized water to form a
homogeneous mixture, and cases where the sample is completely emulsified. As used herein, "completely" means that no mass of the sample remains in the deionized water .
[0030]
When top sheet surfaces are coated with surfactants in order to alter the surface tension of blood and promote the rapid absorption of blood, because
surfactants generally have high water solubility, the surfactant-coated top sheet is highly miscible with hydrophilic components (such as blood plasma) in the blood and therefore, instead, they tend to cause residue of blood on the top sheet. The aforementioned blood modifying agent has low water solubility and therefore, it does not cause residue of blood on the top sheet and allows rapid migration into the absorbent body.
[0031] As used herein, a water solubility of water at 25°C may be simply referred to as "water solubility".
[0032]
As used herein, "weight-average molecular weight" includes the concept of a polydisperse compound (for example, a compound produced by stepwise polymerization, an ester formed from a plurality of fatty acids and a plurality of aliphatic monohydric alcohols) , and a simple compound (for example, an ester formed from one fatty acid and one aliphatic monohydric alcohol) , and in a system comprising i molecules with molecular weight Μ± (i = 1, or i = 1, 2 . . .), it refers to Mw determined by the following formula.
Mw = ∑NiMi2/∑NiIVIi
[0033]
As used herein, the weight-average molecular weights are the values measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), based on polystyrene.
The GPC measuring conditions may be the following, for example.
Device: Lachrom Elite high-speed liquid chromatogram by Hitachi High-Technologies Corp.
Columns: SHODEX KF-801, KF-803 and KF-804, by Showa Denko K.K.
Eluent: THF
Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min
Driving volume: 100 μΐ
Detection: RI (differential refractometer)
The weight-average molecular weights listed in the examples of the present specification were measured under the conditions described below.
[0034]
Preferably, the blood modifying agents is selected from the group consisting of the following items (i)- (iii) , and any combination thereof:
(i) a hydrocarbon; (ii) a compound having (ii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii-2) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (-CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the
hydrocarbon moiety; and
(iii) a compound having (iii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii-2) one or more groups each selected from the group ' consisting of carbonyl group (-CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the
hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii-3) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (- COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH) substituting a hydrogen of the hydrocarbon moiety.
[0035]
As used herein, "hydrocarbon" refers to a compound composed of carbon and hydrogen, and it may be a chain hydrocarbon, such as a paraffinic hydrocarbon (containing no double bond or triple bond, also referred to as alkane) , an olefin-based hydrocarbon (containing one double bond, also referred to as alkene) , an acetylene- based hydrocarbon (containing one triple bond, also referred to as alkyne) , or a hydrocarbon comprising two or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of double bonds and triple bonds, and cyclic hydrocarbon, such as aromatic hydrocarbons and alicyclic hydrocarbons.
[0036]
Preferred as such hydrocarbons are chain
hydrocarbons and alicyclic hydrocarbons, with chain hydrocarbons being more preferred, paraffinic
hydrocarbons, olefin-based hydrocarbons and hydrocarbons with two or more double bonds (containing no triple bond) being more preferred, and paraffinic hydrocarbons being even more preferred.
Chain hydrocarbons include linear hydrocarbons and branched hydrocarbons.
[0037]
When two or more oxy group (-0-) are inserted in the compounds of (ii) and (iii) above, the oxy group (-0-) are not adjacent to each other. Thus, compounds (ii) and
(iii) do not include compounds with continuous oxy group
(i.e., peroxides).
[0038]
In the compounds of (iii) , compounds in which at least one hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety is
substituted with a hydroxyl group (-OH) are more
preferred than compounds in which at least one hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety is substituted with a carboxyl group (-COOH) . As shown in Table 1, the carboxyl groups bond with metals and the like in menstrual blood, drastically increasing the inorganic value from 150 to 400 or greater, and therefore a blood modifying agent with carboxyl groups can increase the IOB value to more than about 0.6 during use, potentially lowering the affinity with blood cells.
[0039]
More preferably, the blood modifying agent is a compound selected from the group consisting of the following items (i') -(iii1), and any combination
thereof :
(i1) a hydrocarbon;
(ii1) a compound having at least (ii'-l) a
hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii'-2) one or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO- ) , at least one ester bond (-COO-) , at least one
carbonate bond (-OCOO-) , and/or at least one ether bond (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the
hydrocarbon moiety; and
(iii') a compound having at least (iii'-l) a
hydrocarbon moiety, (iii '-2) one or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO- ), at least one ester bond (-C00-) , at least one
carbonate bond (-OCOO-) , and/or at least one ether bond
(-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of a
hydrocarbon, and (iii '-3) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (- COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH) substituting a hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety.
[0040]
When 2 or more same or different bonds are inserted in the compound of (ϋ') or (iii') i.e., when 2 or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bonds (-CO-) , ester bonds (-COO-) , carbonate bonds (- 0C00-) and ether bonds (-0-) are inserted, the bonds are not adjacent to each other, and at least one carbon atom lies between each of the bonds.
[0041]
The blood modifying agent is more preferably a compound with no more than about 1.8 carbonyl bonds (-CO- ) , no more than 2 ester bonds (-C0O-) , no more than about
1.5 carbonate bonds (-0C00-) , no more than about 6 ether bonds (-0-) , no more than about 0.8 carboxyl groups (- COOH) and/or no more than about 1.2 hydroxyl groups (- OH) , per 10 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon moiety.
[0042]
Even more preferably, the blood modifying agent may also be selected from the group consisting of the
following items (A) -(F), and any combination thereof:
(A) an ester of (Al) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(B) an ether of (Bl) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(C) an ester of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (C2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(D) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of ether bonds (-0-) , carbonyl bonds (-CO-) , ester bonds (-COO-) and carbonate bonds (-OCOO-) inserted in-between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(E) a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol, or alkyl ester or alkyl ether thereof; and
(F) a chain hydrocarbon.
The blood modifying agent in accordance with (A) to (F) will now be described in detail.
[0043]
[ (A) Ester of (Al) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group
substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety]
The (A) ester of (Al) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (A)") includes esters of a compound with 4, 3 or 2 hydroxyl groups and a compound with 1 carboxyl group, and it is not necessary for all of the hydroxyl groups to be esterified so long as the IOB, melting point and water solubility are within the aforementioned ranges.
[0044]
Examples of (Al) a compound having a chain
hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (Al)") include chain hydrocarbon tetraols such as alkanetetraols, including pentaerythritol, chain hydrocarbon triols such as alkanetriols, including glycerins, and chain hydrocarbon diols such as alkanediols, including glycols. Examples of (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as
"compound (A2)") include compounds in which one hydrogen on the hydrocarbon is substituted with one carboxyl group (-COOH) , such as fatty acids.
Examples for compound (A) include (ai) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid, (a2) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid, and (a3) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acids.
[0045]
[ (ai) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid]
Examples of an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid include tetraesters of pentaerythritol and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (1) :
Figure imgf000020_0001
triesters of pentaerythritol and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (2) :
Figure imgf000020_0002
diesters of pentaerythritol and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (3):
Figure imgf000021_0001
and monoesters of pentaerythritol and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (4).
Figure imgf000021_0002
In the formulae, R1-R4 each represent a chain
hydrocarbo .
[0046]
The fatty acids composing the esters of
pentaerythritol and fatty acids. (i^COOH, R2COOH, R3COOH, and R4COOH) are not particularly restricted as long as the pentaerythritol and fatty acid esters satisfy the
conditions for the IOB, melting point and water
solubility, and for example, there may be mentioned saturated fatty acids, such as C2-C30 saturated fatty acids, including acetic acid (C2) (C2 representing the number of carbons, corresponding to the number of carbons of each of R1C, R2C, R3C or RC, same hereunder) , propanoic acid (C3) , butanoic acid (C4) and isomers thereof such as 2-methylpropanoic acid (C4) , pentanoic acid (C5) and isomers thereof such as 2-methylbutanoic acid (C5) and
2, 2-dimethylpropanoic acid (C5) , hexanoic acid (C6) , heptanoic acid (C7) , octanoic acid (C8) and isomers thereof, such as 2-ethylhexanoic acid (Cg) , nonanoic acid (Cg) , decanoic acid (C10) , dodecanoic acid (Ci2) , tetradecanoic acid (Ci4) , hexadecanoic acid (Ci6) ,
heptadecanoic acid (Ci7) , octadecanoic acid (Ci8) ,
eicosanoic acid ( C20 ) docosanoic acid ( C22 ) tetracosanoic acid (C24) , hexacosanoic acid (C26) , octacosanoic acid (C28) and triacontanoic acid (C30) , as well as isomers of the foregoing (excluding those mentioned above) .
[0047]
The fatty acid may also be an unsaturated fatty acid. Examples of unsaturated fatty acids include C3-C20 unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated fatty acids including crotonic acid (C4) , myristoleic acid
(C14) , palmitoleic acid (Ci6) , oleic acid (Ci8) , elaidic acid (Cie) , vaccenic acid (Ci8) , gadoleic acid (C2o) arid eicosenoic acid (C2o) , di-unsaturated fatty acids
including linolic acid (Ci8) and eicosadienoic acid (C2o) , tri-unsaturated fatty acids including linolenic acids, such as a-linolenic acid (Ci8) and γ-linolenic acid (Ci8) , pinolenic acid (Cie) , eleostearic acids, such as a- eleostearic acid (Ci8) and β-eleostearic acid (Ci8) , Mead acid (C2o) , dihomo-y-linolenic acid ( C20 ) and
eicosatrienoic acid (C2o) , tetra-unsaturated fatty acids including stearidonic acid ( C20 ) / arachidonic acid ( C20 ) and eicosatetraenoic acid (C2o) / penta-unsaturated fatty acids including bosseopentaenoic acid (Cie) and
eicosapentaenoic acid ( C20 ) ar>d partial hydrogen adducts of the foregoing.
[0048]
Considering the potential for degradation by
oxidation and the like, the ester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid is preferably an ester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid, which is derived from a saturated fatty acid, i.e., an ester of pentaerythritol and a saturated fatty acid.
Also, in order to lower the IOB and result in greater hydrophobicity, the ester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid is preferably a diester, triester or tetraester, more preferably a triester or tetraester, and even more preferably a tetraester.
[0049]
In a tetraester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid, the IOB is 0.60 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the tetraester of the
pentaerythritol and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R1C, R2C, R3C and R4C portions in formula (1), is 15. Thus, when the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the tetraester of the
pentaerythritol and fatty acid is approximately 15 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
Examples of tetraesters of pentaerythritol and fatty acids include tetraesters of pentaerythritol with
hexanoic acid (C6) , heptanoic acid (C7) , octanoic acid (C8) such as 2-ethylhexanoic acid (Cs) , nonanoic acid (Cg) , decanoic acid (Ci0) and/or dodecanoic acid (Ci2) .
[0050]
In a triester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid, the IOB is 0.58 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the triester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R^, R2C and R3C portions in formula (2), is 19. Thus, when the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the triester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid is approximately 19 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
[0051]
In a diester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid, the IOB is 0.59 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the diester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R1C or R2C portion in formula (3), is 22. Thus, when the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the diester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid is
approximately 22 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
[0052]
In a monoester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid, the IOB is 0.60 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the monoester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R1C portion in formula (4), is 25. Thus, when the number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the monoester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid is approximately 25 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
The effects of double bonds, triple bonds, iso- branches and tert-branches are not considered in this calculation.
[0053]
Commercial products which are esters of
pentaerythritol and fatty acids include UNISTAR H-408BRS and H-2408BRS-22 (mixed product) (both products of NOF Corp. ) .
[0054]
[ (a2) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid]
Examples of esters of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid include triesters of glycerin and fatty acids, represented by formula (5) :
CH2OOCR5
I
CHOOCR6 (5)
I
CH2OOCR7 diesters of glycerin and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (6):
CH2OOCR5 CH2OOCR5
CHOH or CHOOCR6 (6)
I I CH2OOCR6 CH2OH
and monoesters of glycerin and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (7) :
CH2OOCR5 CH2OH
I I
CHOH or CHOOCR5 (7)
I I
CH2OH CH2OH
wherein R5-R7 each represent a chain hydrocarbon.
[0055]
The fatty acid composing the ester of glycerin and a fatty acid (R5COOH, R6COOH and R7COOH) is not particularly restricted so long as the ester of glycerin and a fatty acid satisfies the conditions for the IOB, melting point and water solubility, and for example, there may be mentioned that the fatty acids mentioned for the " (ai)
Ester of chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acids", namely saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, and in consideration of the potential for degradation by oxidation and the like, the ester is preferably a glycerin and fatty acid ester, which is derived from a saturated fatty acid, i.e., an ester of glycerin and a saturated fatty acid.
Also, in order to lower the IOB and result in greater hydrophobicity, the ester of glycerin and a fatty acid is preferably a diester or triester, and more preferably a triester.
[0056]
A triester of glycerin and a fatty acid is also known as a triglyceride, and examples include triesters of glycerin and octanoic acid (C8) , triesters of glycerin and decanoic acid (Cio) , triesters of glycerin and
dodecanoic acid (Ci2) , triesters of glycerin and 2 or more different fatty acids, and mixtures of the foregoing.
[0057]
Examples of triesters of glycerin and 2 or more fatty acids include triesters of glycerin with octanoic acid (Cg) and decanoic acid (Ci0) , triesters of glycerin with octanoic acid (Cg) , decanoic acid (Ci0) and
dodecanoic acid (Ci2) , and triesters of glycerin with octanoic acid (C8) , decanoic acid (Cio) , dodecanoic acid (Ci2) , tetradecanoic acid (C14) , hexadecanoic acid (Ci6) and octadecanoic acid (Cia) - [0058]
In order to obtain a melting point of no higher than about 45°C, preferred triesters of glycerin and fatty acids are those with no more than about 40 as the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the
triester of glycerin and the fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R5C, R6C and R7C portions in. formula (5) .
[0059]
In a triester of glycerin and a fatty acid, the IOB value is 0.60 when the total . number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the triester of glycerin and the fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R5C, R6C and R7C portions in formula (5), is 12. Thus, when the total number of carbons of the fatty acid comprising the triester of the glycerin and fatty acid is
approximately 12 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
Triesters of glycerin and fatty acids, being
aliphatic and therefore potential constituent components of the human body are preferred from the viewpoint of safety.
[0060]
Commercial products of triesters of glycerin and fatty acids include tri-coconut fatty acid glycerides, NA36, PANACET 800, PANACET 800B and PANACET 81OS, and tri-C2L oil fatty acid glycerides and tri-CL oil fatty acid glycerides (all products of NOF Corp. ) .
[0061]
A diester of glycerin and a fatty acid is also known as a diglyceride, and examples include diesters of glycerin and decanoic acid (Ci0) , diesters of glycerin and dodecanoic acid (C12) , diesters of glycerin and
hexadecanoic acid (Cie) , diesters of glycerin and 2 or more different fatty acids, and mixtures of the
foregoing .
In a diester of glycerin and a fatty acid, the IOB is 0.58 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the diester of the glycerin and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R5C and R6C portions in formula (6), is 16. Thus, when the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the diester of the glycerin and fatty acid is approximately 16 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being about
0.00 to 0.60.
[0062]
Monoesters of glycerin and fatty acids are also known as monoglycerides , and examples include glycerin and icosanoic acid (C20) monoester, and glycerin and docosanoic acid (C22) monoester.
In a monoester of glycerin and a fatty acid, the IOB is 0.59 if the number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the monoester of the glycerin and fatty acid,
1. e., the number of carbons of the R5C portion in formula (7), is 19. Thus, when the number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the monoester of the glycerin and fatty acid is approximately 19 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being about 0.00 to 0.60.
[0063]
[ (a3) Ester of chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid]
Examples of an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acids include monoesters and diesters of fatty acids with C2-C6 chain hydrocarbon diols, such as C2-C6 glycols, including ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol and hexylene glycol .
[0064]
Specifically, examples of an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid include diesters of C2-C6 glycols and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (8) :
R8COOCkH2kOCOR9 (8)
wherein k represents an integer of 2-6, and R8 and R9 each represent a chain hydrocarbon,
and monoesters of C2-C6 glycols and fatty acids,
represented by the following formula (9) :
R8COOCkH2kOH (9)
wherein k represents an integer of 2-6, and R8 is a chain hydrocarbon.
[0065]
The fatty acid to be esterified in an ester of a C2- C6 glycol and a fatty acid (corresponding to R8C00H and R9COOH in formula (8) and formula (9)) is not particularly restricted so long as the ester of the C2-Ce glycol and fatty acid satisfies the conditions for the IOB, melting point and water solubility, and for example, there may be mentioned that the fatty acids mentioned for the " (ai) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid", namely saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, and in consideration of the potential for degradation by oxidation and the like, it is preferably a saturated fatty acid.
[0066]
In a diester of butylene glycol (k = 4) and a fatty acid represented by formula (8), IOB is 0.60 when the total number of carbons of the R8C and R C portions is 6. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms in a diester of butylene glycol (k = 4) and a fatty acid represented by formula (8) is approximately 6 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being about 0.00-0.60. In a monoester of ethylene glycol (k = 2) and a fatty acid represented by formula (9), IOB is 0.57 when the number of carbons of the R8C portion is 12. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms in the fatty acid composing a monoester of ethylene glycol (k = 2) and a fatty acid represented by formula (9) is approximately 12 or
greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being about 0.00-0.60.
[0067]
Considering the potential for degradation by oxidation and the like, the ester of the C2-C6 glycol and fatty acid is preferably a C2-C6 glycol and fatty acid ester, which is derived from a saturated fatty acid,
1. e., an ester of a C2-Ce glycol and a saturated fatty acid.
[0068]
Also, in order to lower the IOB and result in greater hydrophobicity, the ester of the C2-C6 glycol and fatty acid is preferably a glycol and fatty acid ester derived from a glycol with a greater number of carbons, such as an ester of a glycol and a fatty acid derived from butylene glycol, pentylene glycol or hexylene glycol .
Also, in order to lower the IOB and obtain in greater hydrophobicity, the ester of a C2-C6 glycol and fatty acid is preferably a diester.
Examples of commercial products of esters of C2-C6 glycols and fatty acids include COMPOL BL and COMPOL BS (both products of NOF Corp.) .
[0069]
[ (B) Ether of (Bl) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group
substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety] The (B) ether of (Bl) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (B)") includes ethers of a compound with 4, 3 or 2 hydroxyl groups and a compound with 1 hydroxyl group, and it is not necessary for all of the hydroxyl groups to be etherified as long as the IOB, melting point and water solubility are within the aforementioned ranges.
[0070]
Examples of (Bl) a compound having a chain
hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (Bl)") include those mentioned for "compound (A)",)" as compound (Al), such as
pentaerythritol, glycerin and glycol.
Examples of (B2) a compound having a chain
hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (B2)") include compounds wherein 1 hydrogen on the hydrocarbon is substituted with 1 hydroxyl group (-0H) , such as aliphatic monohydric alcohols, including saturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols and unsaturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols.
[0071]
Examples of saturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols include C1-C20 saturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols, such as methyl alcohol (Ci) (Ci representing the number of carbon atoms, same hereunder) , ethyl alcohol (C2) , propyl alcohol (C3) and isomers thereof, including isopropyl alcohol (C3) , butyl alcohol (C4) and isomers thereof, including sec-butyl alcohol (C4) and tert-butyl alcohol
(C ) , pentyl alcohol (C5) , hexyl alcohol (C6) , heptyl alcohol (C7) , octyl alcohol (C8) and isomers thereof, including 2-ethylhexyl alcohol (C&) , nonyl alcohol (C9) , decyl alcohol (C10) , dodecyl alcohol (C12) , tetradecyl alcohol (Ci4) , hexadecyl alcohol (Ci6) , heptadecyl alcohol
(C17) , octadecyl alcohol (C18) and eicosyl alcohol (C2o) , as well as their isomers other than those mentioned.
Unsaturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols include those wherein 1 C-C single bond of a saturated aliphatic monohydric alcohol mentioned above is replaced with a C=C double bond, such as oleyl alcohol, and for example, these are commercially available by New Japan Chemical Co., Ltd. as the RIKACOL Series and UNJECOL Series.
[0072]
Examples for compound (B) include (bi) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, such as monoethers, diethers, triethers and tetraethers, preferably diethers, triethers and tetraethers, more preferably triethers and
tetraethers and even more preferably tetraethers, (b2) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, such as monoethers, diethers and triethers, preferably diethers and triethers and more preferably triethers, and (b3) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one aliphatic
monohydric alcohols, such as monoethers and diethers, and preferably diethers.
[0073]
Examples of an ether of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols include tetraethers, triethers, diethers and monoethers of pentaerythritol and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, represented by the following formulae (10) -(13):
Figure imgf000031_0001
Figure imgf000031_0002
wherein R10-R13 each represent a chain hydrocarbon.
[0074]
Examples of an ether of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol include triethers, diethers and monoethers of glycerin and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, represented by the following formulae (14)-(16) :
CH2OR14
I
CHOR15 (14)
I
CH2OR16
CH2OR14 CH2OR14
I I
CHOH or CHOR15 ( 15)
I I CH2OR15 CH2OH
CH2OR14 CH2OH
I I
CHOH or CHOR14 (16)
I I CH2OH CH2OH
wherein R14~R16 each represent a chain hydrocarbon.
[ 0075 ]
Examples of an ether of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol include
diethers of C2-C glycols and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, represented by the following formula (17) :
R17OCnH2nOR18 (17)
wherein n is an integer of 2-6, and R17 and R18 are each a chain hydrocarbon,
and monoethers of C2-C6 glycols and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, represented by the following formula (18) :
R17OCnH2nOH (18)
wherein n is an integer of 2-6, and R17 is a chain hydrocarbon.
[ 0076]
In the tetraether of pentaerythritol and an
aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.44 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the tetraether of pentaerythritol and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R10, R11, R12 and R13 portions in formula (10), is 4. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol
composing a tetraether of pentaerythritol and an
aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 4 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
[0077]
In the triether of pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.57 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the triether of pentaerythritol and the
aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R10, R11 and R12 portions in formula (11), is 9. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing a triether of pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 9 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
[0078]
In the diether of pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.60 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the diether of pentaerythritol and the
aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R10 and R11 portions in formula (12), is 15. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing a diether of pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 15 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
[0079]
In the monoether of pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.59 when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol
composing the monoether of pentaerythritol and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the number of carbon atoms of the R10 portion in formula (13), is 22. Thus, when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic
monohydric alcohol comprising a monoether of
pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 22 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
[0080]
In the triether of glycerin and an aliphatic
monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.50 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the triether of glycerin and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R14, R15 and R16 portions in formula (14), is 3. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol comprising a triether of glycerin and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is
approximately 3 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
[0081]
In the diether of glycerin and an aliphatic
monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.58 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the diether of glycerin and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R14 and R15 portions in formula (15), is 9. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol comprising a diether of glycerin and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is
approximately 9 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
[0082]
In the monoether of glycerin and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.58 when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol
composing the monoether of glycerin and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the number of carbon atoms of the R14 portion in formula (16), is 16. Thus, when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol comprising a monoether of glycerin and an
aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 16 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
[0083]
In a diether of butylene glycol (n = 4) and
aliphatic monohydric alcohol represented by formula (17), the IOB is 0.33 when the total number of carbon atoms of the R17 and R18 portions is 2. Thus, when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol
comprising a diether of butylene glycol (n = 4) and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol represented by formula (17) is approximately 2 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60. Also, in a monoether of ethylene glycol (n = 2) and aliphatic monohydric alcohol represented by formula (18), the IOB is 0.60 when the number of carbon atoms of the R17 portion is 8. Thus, when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol in a monoether of ethylene glycol (n = 2) and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol represented by formula (18) is approximately 8 or
greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.
[0084]
Compound (B) may be produced by dehydrating
condensation of a compound with 2-4 hydroxyl groups (Bl) and a compound with 1 hydroxyl group, such as an
aliphatic monohydric alcohol (B2), in the presence of an acid catalyst.
[0085]
[ (C) Ester of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (C2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group
substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety] The (C) ester of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain
hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (C2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (C)") includes esters of a compound with 4, 3 or 2 carboxyl groups and a compound with 1 hydroxyl group, and it is not necessary for all of the carboxyl groups to be esterified so long as the IOB, melting point and water solubility are within the aforementioned ranges.
[0086]
Examples of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, (hereunder also referred to as "compound (CI)") include chain hydrocarbons
hydrocarbon carboxylic acids with 2-4 carboxyl groups, such as chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acids including alkanedicarboxylic acids such as ethanedioic acid, propanedioic acid, butanedioic acid, pentanedioic acid, hexanedioic acid, heptanedioic acid, octanedioic acid, nonanedioic acid and decanedioic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acids, including alkanetricarboxylic acids such as propanetrioic acid, butanetrioic acid,
pentanetrioic acid, hexanetrioic acid, heptanetrioic acid, octanetrioic acid, nonanetrioic acid and
decanetrioic acid, and chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acids, including alkanetetracarboxylic acids such as butanetetraoic acid, pentanetetraoic acid, hexanetetraoic acid, heptanetetraoic acid, octanetetraoic acid,
nonanetetraoic acid and decanetetraoic acid.
[0087]
Compound (CI) includes chain hydrocarbon hydroxy acids with 2-4 carboxyl groups, including alkoxy acids with 2-4 carboxyl groups such as malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and isocitric acid, including chain hydrocarbon alkoxy acids with 2-4 carboxyl groups, such as O-acetylcitric acid, and chain hydrocarbon oxoacids with 2-4 carboxyl groups.
Compounds (C2) having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety include those mentioned for "compound (B)", such as aliphatic monohydric alcohols.
[0088]
Compound (C) may be ( ci ) an ester, for example a monoester, diester, triester or tetraester, preferably a diester, triester or tetraester, more preferably a triester or tetraester and even more preferably a
tetraester, of a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 4 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol,
(c2) an ester, for example, a monoester, diester or triester, preferably a diester or triester and more preferably a triester, of a chain hydrocarbon
tricarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 3 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, or (C3) an ester, for example, a monoester or diester, and preferably a diester, of a chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 2 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol.
Examples for compound (C) include dioctyl adipate and tributyl O-acetylcitrate, of which commercially available products exist.
[0089]
[ (D) Compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of an ether bond (-0-), carbonyl bond (-CO-) , ester bond (-C00-) and carbonate bond (-0C00-) inserted in a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of an ether bond (-0-) , carbonyl bond (-CO-) , ester bond (-
C00-) and carbonate bond (-0C00-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety] The (D) compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of an ether bond (-0-) , carbonyl bond (-CO-) , ester bond (-COO- ) and carbonate bond (-OCOO-) inserted in-between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (D)") may be (di) an ether of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (d2) a dialkyl ketone, (d3) an ester of a fatty acid and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, or (d4) a dialkyl carbonate.
[0090]
[ (di) Ether of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol]
Ethers of aliphatic monohydric alcohols and
aliphatic monohydric alcohols include compounds having the following formula (19) :
R19OR20 (19)
wherein R19 and R20 each represent a chain
hydrocarbon .
[0091]
The aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the ether (corresponding to R190H and R20OH in formula (19) ) is not particularly restricted so long as the ether satisfies the conditions for the IOB, melting point and water solubility, and for example, it may be one of the
aliphatic monohydric alcohols mentioned for "compound
(B) ".
[0092]
In an ether of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.50 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols composing the ether, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R19 and R20 portions in formula (19), is 2, and therefore when the total number of carbons of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols comprising the ether is about 2 or greater, this condition for the IOB is
satisfied. However, when the total number of carbons of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols comprising the ether is about 6, the water solubility is as high as about 2 g, which is problematic from the viewpoint of vapor pressure as well. In order to satisfy the condition of a water solubility of about 0.00-0.05 g, the total number of carbons of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols comprising the ether is preferably about 8 or greater.
[0093]
[ (d2) Dialkyl ketone]
The dialkyl ketone may be a compound of the
following formula (20) :
R21COR22 (20)
wherein R21 and R22 are each an alkyl group.
[0094]
In a dialkyl ketone, the IOB is 0.54 when the total number of carbon atoms of R21 and R22 is 5, and therefore this condition for the IOB is satisfied if the total number of carbons is about 5 or greater. However, when the total number of carbons of dialkyl ketone is about 5, the water solubility is as high as about 2 g. Therefore, in order to satisfy the condition of a water solubility of about 0.00-0.05 g, the total number of carbons of dialkyl ketone is preferably about 8 or greater. In consideration of vapor pressure, the number of carbon atoms of dialkyl ketone is preferably about 10 or greater and more preferably about 12 or greater.
If the total number of carbon atoms of alkyl ketone is about 8, such as in 5-nonanone, for example, the melting point is approximately -50°C and the vapor pressure is about 230 Pa at 20°C.
The dialkyl ketone may be a commercially available product, or it may be obtained by a known method, such as by oxidation of a secondary alcohol with chromic acid or the like.
[0095]
[ (d3) Ester of a fatty acid and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol] Examples of esters of fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols include compounds having the
following formula (21) :
R23COOR24 (21)
wherein R23 and R24 each represent a chain
hydrocarbon .
[0096]
Examples of fatty acids composing these esters
(corresponding to R23COOH in formula (21) ) include the fatty acids mentioned for the " (ai) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acids", and specifically these include saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, with saturated fatty acids being preferred in consideration of the potential for
degradation by oxidation and the like. The aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the ester (corresponding to R24OH in formula (21) ) may be one of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols mentioned for "compound (B)".
[0097]
In an ester of such a fatty acid and aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.60 when the total number of carbon atoms of the fatty acid and aliphatic
monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R23C and R24 portion in formula (21), is 5, and therefore this condition for the IOB is satisfied when the total number of carbon atoms of the R23C and R24 portion is about 5 or greater. However, with butyl acetate in which the total number of carbon atoms is 6, the vapor pressure is high at greater than 2000 Pa. In consideration of vapor pressure, therefore, the total number of carbon atoms is preferably about 12 or greater. If the total number of carbon atoms is about 11 or greater, it will be possible to satisfy the condition of a water solubility of about 0.00-0.05 g.
[0098]
Examples of esters of such fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols include esters of dodecanoic acid (C12) and dodecyl alcohol (C12) and esters of tetradecanoic acid (C14) and dodecyl alcohol (C12) , and examples of commercial products of esters of such fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols include ELECTOL WE20 and ELECTOL WE40 (both products of NOF Corp.).
[0099]
[ (d4) Dialkyl carbonate]
The dialkyl carbonate may be a compound of the following formula (22):
R25OC (=0) OR26 (22)
wherein R25 and R26 are each an alkyl group.
[0100]
In a dialkyl carbonate, the IOB is 0.57 when the total number of carbon atoms of R25 and R26 is 6, and therefore this condition for the IOB is satisfied if the total number of carbons of R25 and R26 is about 6 or greater .
In consideration of water solubility, the total number of carbon atoms of R25 and R26 is preferably about 7 or greater and more preferably about 9 or greater.
The dialkyl carbonate may be a commercially
available product, or it may be synthesized by reaction between phosgene and an alcohol, reaction between formic chloride and an alcohol or alcoholate, or reaction between silver carbonate and an alkyl iodide.
[0101]
[ (E) Polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol, or alkyl ester or alkyl ether thereof]
The (E) polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol, or alkyl ester or alkyl ether thereof (hereunder also referred to as
"compound (E)") may be (ei) a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol, (e2) an ester of a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and at least one fatty acid, (e3) an ether of a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (e4) an ester of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, chain
hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid, or (es) an ether of polyoxy C2-6
alkylene glycol and chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol . These will now be explained.
[0102]
[ (ei) Polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol]
The polyoxy C2-Ce alkylene glycol is i) a homopolymer having one backbone selected from the group consisting of polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene backbones, i.e., oxyethylene backbone, oxypropylene backbone, oxybutylene backbone, oxypentylene backbone and oxyhexylene backbone, and having hydroxy groups at both ends, ii) a block copolymer having a backbone of 2 or more selected from among the aforementioned group and having hydroxy groups at both ends, or iii) a random copolymer having a backbone of two or more selected from among the aforementioned group and having hydroxy groups at both ends.
[0103]
The polyoxy C2-Ce alkylene backbone is preferably an oxypropylene backbone, oxybutylene backbone, oxypentylene backbone or oxyhexylene backbone and more preferably an oxybutylene backbone, oxypentylene backbone or
oxyhexylene backbone, from the viewpoint of lowering the IOB of the polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol.
[0104]
When polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol is a homopolymer, the poly C3_6 alkylene glycol is represented by the following formula (23) :
HO-(CmH2mO)n-H (23)
wherein m is an integer of 3-6.
[0105]
The present inventors have confirmed that in
polyethylene glycol (corresponding to formula (23) where m = 2) , when n > 45 (the molecular weight exceeds about 2,000), the condition for IOB of about 0.00 to about 0.60 is satisfied, but the condition for the water solubility is not satisfied even when the molecular weight exceeds 4,000. Therefore, ethylene glycol homopolymer is not included in the (ei) polyoxy C2-e alkylene glycol, and ethylene glycol should be included in the (ei) polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol only as a copolymer or random polymer with another glycol.
[0106]
Thus, homopolymers of formula (23) may include propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol or hexylene glycol homopolymer.
For this reason, m in formula (23) is about 3 to 6 and preferably about 4 to 6, and n is 2 or greater.
[0107]
The value of n in formula (23) is a value such that the polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol has an IOB of about 0.00- 0.60, a melting point of no higher than about 45°C and a water solubility of no greater than about 0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C.
For example, when formula (23) is polypropylene glycol (m = 3), the IOB is 0.58 when n = 12. Thus, when formula (23) is polypropylene glycol (m = 3) , the
condition for the IOB is satisfied when n is equal to or greater than about 12.
Also, when formula (23) is polybutylene glycol (m =
4), the IOB is 0.57 when n = 7. Thus, when formula (23) is polybutylene glycol (m = 4), the condition for the IOB is satisfied when n is equal to or greater than about 7.
[0108]
From the viewpoint of IOB, melting point and water solubility, the weight-average molecular weight of the polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol is preferably between about
200 and about 10,000, more preferably between about 250 and about 8,000, and even more preferably in the range of about 250 to about 5,000.
Also from the viewpoint of IOB, melting point and water solubility, the weight-average molecular weight of a poly C3 alkylene glycol, i.e., polypropylene glycol, is preferably between about 1,000 and about 10,000, more preferably between about 3,000 and about 8,000, and even more preferably between about 4,000 and about 5,000.
This is because if the weight-average molecular weight is less than about 1,000, the condition for the water solubility will not be satisfied, and a larger weight- average molecular weight will particularly tend to increase the migration rate into the absorbent body and the whiteness of the top sheet.
[0109]
Examples of commercial products of polyoxy C2-6
alkylene glycols include UNIOL™ D-1000, D1200, D-2000, D- 3000, D-4000, PB-500 and PB-700 (both products of NOF Corp. ) .
[0110]
[ (e2) Ester of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and at least one fatty acid]
Esters of such polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols and at least one fatty acid include the polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols mentioned for " (ei) Polyoxy C2- alkylene glycol" in which one or both OH ends have been esterified with fatty acids, i.e., monoesters and diesters.
[0111]
Examples of fatty acids to be esterified in the ester of a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and at least one fatty acid include the fatty acids mentioned for the " (ai)
Esters of chain hydrocarbon tetraols and at least one fatty acid", and specifically these include saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, with saturated fatty acids being preferred in consideration of the potential for degradation by oxidation and the like. An example of a commercially available ester of a polyoxy C2- 6 alkylene glycol a fatty acid is WILLBRITE cp9 (product of NOF Corp. ) .
[0112]
[ (e3) Ether of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol]
Ethers of such polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol include the polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols mentioned for " (ei) polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol" wherein one or both OH ends have been etherified by an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., monoethers and diethers.
In an ether of a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the aliphatic monohydric alcohol to be etherified may be an aliphatic monohydric alcohol among those mentioned for "compound (B)".
[0113]
[ (e4) Ester of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid]
The polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol to be esterified for the aforementioned ester of a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid may be any of the polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols mentioned above under " (ei) Polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol". Also, the chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid to be esterified may be any of those mentioned above for "compound (C)".
[0114]
The ester of a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid may be a commercially available product, or it may be produced by polycondensation of a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol with a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid under known conditions.
[0115]
[ (e5) Ether of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol]
The polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol to be etherified for the aforementioned ether of a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol and a chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol may be any of the polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols mentioned above under " (ei) Polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol". Also, the chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol to be etherified may be, for example, pentaerythritol, glycerin or glycol, mentioned above for "compound (A)".
[0116]
Examples of commercially available ethers of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols and chain hydrocarbon tetraols, chain hydrocarbon triols and chain hydrocarbon diols include UNILUBE™ 5TP-300KB and UNIOL™ TG-3000 and TG-4000
(products of NOF Corp.).
UNILUBE™ 5TP-300KB is a compound obtained by
polycondensation of 65 mol of propylene glycol and 5 mol of ethylene glycol with 1 mol of pentaerythritol, and it has an IOB of 0.39, a melting point of below 45°C, and a water solubility of less than 0.05 g.
[0117]
UNIOL™ TG-3000 is a compound obtained by
polycondensation of 50 mol of propylene glycol with 1 mol of glycerin, and it has an IOB of 0.42, a melting point of below 4.5°C, a water solubility of less than 0.05 g, and a weight-average molecular weight of about 3,000.
UNIOL™ TG-4000 is a compound obtained by
polycondensation of 70 mol of propylene glycol with 1 mol of glycerin, and it has an IOB of 0.40, a melting point of below 45°C, a water solubility of less than 0.05 g, and a weight-average molecular weight of about 4,000.
[0118]
The ether of a poly C2-6 alkylene glycol and a chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol may also be produced by polycondensation of a polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycol with a chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol under known conditions.
[0119]
[(F) Chain hydrocarbon]
The chain hydrocarbon has an inorganic value of 0 and thus an IOB of 0.00, while the water solubility is also approximately 0 g, and therefore if the melting point is no higher than about 45°C, it may be included among the aforementioned blood modifying agents.
Examples of such chain hydrocarbons include (fi) chain alkanes, such as linear alkanes and branched alkanes, and linear alkanes generally include those with no more than 22 carbons, in consideration of a melting point of no higher than about 45°C. In consideration of vapor pressure, they generally include those with 13 or more carbons. Branched alkanes generally include those with 22 or more carbons, since their melting points are often lower than linear alkanes, given the same number of carbon atoms.
Examples of commercially available hydrocarbon products include PARLEAM 6 (NOF Corp.).
[0120]
The blood modifying agent has been found to have at least a function of lowering blood viscosity and surface tension, which will be considered in detail in the examples. Menstrual blood to be absorbed by the
absorbent article contains proteins of the endometrial wall, for example, unlike ordinary blood, which act to bind together blood cells, such that the blood cells form a rouleau state. The menstrual blood to be absorbed by the absorbent article therefore tends to have high viscosity, and if the top sheet is a nonwoven fabric of woven fabric, the menstrual blood becomes clogged between the fibers creating a residual sticky feel for the wearer, while the menstrual blood also diffuses on the surface of the top sheet and tends to leak. Also, in the absorbent article of this disclosure, the blood modifying agent has a melting point of no higher than about 45°C, and therefore, whether liquid or solid at ordinary temperature (25°C) , when it contacts with body fluid at approximately 30-40°C, it liquefies (or is a liquid) and readily dissolves in the body fluid.
[0121]
Also, the blood modifying agent which has an IOB of about 0.00 to 0.60 has high organicity and readily infiltrates between blood cells, and it therefore
stabilizes the blood cells and can prevent formation of a rouleau structure by the blood cells.
Since the blood modifying agent stabilizes blood cells and helps to prevent formation of a rouleau
structure by the blood cells, it facilitates absorption of menstrual blood by the absorbent body. For example, with an absorbent article comprising an acrylic super- absorbent polymer, or SAP, absorption of menstrual blood is known to lead to covering of the SAP surface by rouleau-formed blood cells and inhibition of the
absorption performance of the SAP, but presumably
stabilization of the blood cells allows the absorption performance of the SAP to be exhibited more easily. In addition, the blood modifying agent which has high affinity with erythrocytes protects the erythrocyte membranes, and therefore may minimize destruction of the erythrocytes .
[0122]
In this absorbent article, the top sheet comprises the blood modifying agent at a basis weight in the range of preferably 1-30 g/m2, more preferably 2-20 g/m2 and more preferably 3-10 g/m2. If the basis weight of the blood modifying agent is less than about 1 g/m2, the blood modifying effect will tend to be insufficient, and if the basis weight of the blood modifying agent is increased, the stickiness during wearing will tend to be increased. [0123]
he absorbent article of the present invention may be manufactured by methods known in the art.
There are no particular restrictions on the method of coating the blood modifying agent, and coating may be accomplished with heating as necessary, using a non- contact coater, for example, a spiral coater, curtain coater, spray coater or dip coater, or a contact coater or the like. A non-contact coater is preferred from the viewpoint of uniformly dispersing the droplet or
particulate modifying agent throughout, and from the viewpoint of not causing damage in the material. The blood modifying agent may be coated directly, if it is a liquid at room temperature, or it may be heated to lower the viscosity, and when it is a solid at room
temperature, it may be heated to liquefaction and coated through a control seam HMA (hot melt adhesive) gun. By increasing the air pressure of the control seam HMA gun, it is possible to coat the blood modifying agent as fine particulates.
[0124]
The blood modifying agent may be coated during production of the top sheet material, such as the
nonwoven fabric, or it may be coated in the manufacturing line for production of the absorbent article. From the viewpoint of minimizing equipment investment, the blood modifying agent is preferably coated in the manufacturing line for the absorbent article, and in order to prevent shedding of the blood modifying agent which may
contaminate the line, the blood modifying agent is preferably coated during a step downstream from the manufacturing line, and specifically, immediately before encapsulation of the product in an individual package.
[0125]
The back sheet 3 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 prevents body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 from leaking to the outside. A material that is impermeable to body fluids is used in the back sheet 3. The material used for the back sheet 3 is, for example, a hydrophobic nonwoven fabric, a water-impermeable plastic film of polyethylene, polypropylene and the like, or a laminate sheet with a nonwoven fabric and a water- impermeable plastic film or the like. The material used for the back sheet 3 may also be an SMS (spunbond- meltblown-spunbond) nonwoven fabric obtained by
sandwiching a highly water-resistant meltblown nonwoven fabric between high-strength spunbond nonwoven fabrics.
By using a material which is permeable to air and not permeable to body fluids as the back sheet 3, it is possible to reduce mustiness during wearing.
[0126]
The absorbent body 4 absorbs and retains body fluids. The absorbent body 4 preferably has high bulk, is resistant to deformation and has low chemical
irritation. For example, the absorbent body 4 may be a composite absorbent body composed of fluffy pulp or an airlaid nonwoven fabric, and a super-absorbent polymer
(SAP) . The composite absorbent body may also be covered with a liquid-permeable material such as a tissue.
[0127]
Instead of fluffy pulp in the composite absorbent body, there may be used, for example, chemical pulp, cellulose fiber, artificial cellulose fiber such as rayon and acetate. The basis weight of the absorbent fiber such as pulp in the composite absorbent body is
preferably at least 100 g/m2 and no greater than 800 g/m2, and the mass ratio of the super-absorbent polymer in the composite absorbent body is preferably at least 10% and no greater than 65%, with the absorbent fiber defined as 100%. The basis weight of the liquid-permeable material such as a tissue covering the composite mixture is preferably at least 12 g/m2 and no greater than 30 g/m2.
[0128]
An airlaid nonwoven fabric of the composite mixture may be, for example, a nonwoven fabric comprising pulp and synthetic fiber heat sealed together, or a nonwoven fabric comprising pulp and synthetic fiber fixed with a binder.
[0129]
The super-absorbent polymer of the composite
absorbent body has a three-dimensional network structure with appropriate crosslinking of a water-soluble polymer. The absorbent polymer absorbs 30 to 60 times the amount of water relative to the volume of the absorbent polymer before absorption of water. However, the absorbent polymer is essentially water-insoluble. The absorbent polymer does not exude absorbed water even when a
moderate degree of pressure is applied. The absorbent polymer used is, for example, a starch-based, acrylic acid-based or amino acid-based particulate or filamentous polymer .
[0130]
The shape and structure of the absorbent body may be varied if necessary, but the total absorption by the absorbent body 4 must be suitable for the designed insertion volume and the desired use of the absorbent article 1. The size and absorbing power of the absorbent body 4 will also vary depending on the intended use.
[0131]
In the particular embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, wing sections 5 are provided in the absorbent article 1 to stably anchor the absorbent article 1 to underwear. After the wing sections 5. have been folded on the outer side of the underwear, it is attached to the crotch section of the underwear through the attachment part 6 to allow the absorbent article 1 to be stably anchored to the underwear.
[0132]
The attachment part 6 shown in the particular embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, anchors the absorbent article 1 to the crotch section of the underwear. A pressure-sensitive adhesive may be used to form the attachment part 6 and is preferably, for example, one composed mainly of a styrene-based polymer, tackifier or plasticizer. Styrene-based polymers include styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer, styrene- butylene polymer, styrene-butylene-styrene block
copolymer and styrene-isobutylene-styrene copolymer, any of which may be used alone or a polymer blends of 2 or more. Styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer is preferred among these from the viewpoint of
satisfactory thermostability.
[0133]
The tackifier and plasticizer mentioned above are preferably solids at ordinary temperature, and these include tackifiers such as C5 petroleum resin, C9
petroleum resin, dicyclopentadiene-based petroleum resin, rosin-based petroleum resin, polyterpene resin,
terpenephenol resin and the like, and plasticizers such as monomer plasticizers including tricresyl phosphate, dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate, and polymer plasticizers including vinyl polymers and polyesters.
[0134]
Bonding the top sheet 2 to the back sheet 3 by heat embossing will form a seal section 7 on both sides of the absorbent article 1 in the lengthwise direction.
[0135]
One method for producing the top sheet 2 of the absorbent article 1 according to at least one embodiment of the invention will now be explained with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is an illustration of a top sheet
production apparatus 100 to be used in a method for producing a top sheet 2 according to at least one
embodiment of the invention. The top sheet production apparatus 100 comprises a recess-forming roll 120, a stretching gear roll 130 and a modifying agent-coating sprayer 140. The method for producing the top sheet 2 comprises a step of preparing a resin film, a recess- forming step, a gear stretching step and a modifying agent coating step.
[0136]
In the step of preparing the resin film, a resin film 102 supplied from a resin film roll (not shown) is fed to the recess-forming roll 120.
[0137]
In the recess-forming step, the resin film 102 (see Fig. 8(a)) is passed through the recess-forming roll 120 to create a resin film 103 with recesses 104 formed therein (see Fig. 8(b)). The recess-forming roll 120 comprises a roulette roll 121 and a preheated roll 122 with a smooth surface.
[0138]
Fig. 5(a) and (b) show examples of the roulette roll
121. Fig. 5(a) shows the entire roulette roll 121, and Fig. 5(b) is a magnified view of section 123 of the surface of the roulette roll 121 that contacts with the resin film 102 when the resin film 102 passes between the roulette roll 121 and the roll 122 which has a smooth surface. Fig. 5(c) shows an example of the preheated roll 122 which has a smooth surface. Convexities 124 are formed on the surface 123 of the roulette roll 121. In the specifically illustrated embodiment, the convexities 124 are arranged in a lattice and also referred to as lattice-like convexities. As a result, rhomboid recesses 125 are formed in the surface of the roulette roll 121.
[0139]
The center line spacing between the convexities 124 extending parallel on the lattice-like convexities 124, i.e., the pitch of the lattice-like convexities 124, is preferably at least 0.2 mm and no greater than 10 mm and more preferably at least 0.4 mm and no greater than 2 mm. If the pitch of the lattice-like convexities 124 is less than 0.2 mm, or greater than 10 mm, recesses may not form in the resin film. The widths of the lattice-like convexities 124 are preferably at least 0.01 mm and no greater than 1 mm, and more preferably at least 0.03 mm and no greater than 0.1. The lengths of the sides of the rhomboid recesses 125 are preferably at least 0.1 mm and no greater than 5 mm, and more preferably at least 0.2 mm and no greater than 1 mm. If the widths of the latticelike convexities 124 are less than 0.01 mm or greater than 1 mm, or if the lengths of the sides of the rhomboid recesses 125 are less than 0.1 mm or greater than 5 mm, recesses may not form in the resin film.
[0140]
The preheated roll 122 with a smooth surface is kept at a temperature between 70°C and 100°C, and it heats the fed resin film 102. This softens the resin film 102 and facilitates formation.
[0141]
When the resin film 102 passes between the roulette roll 121 and the roll 122 with a smooth surface, the resin film 102 receives pressure in the thickness
direction at the sections in contact with the lattice- like convexities 124, and roughly rectangular recesses
104 as shown in Fig. 8 (b) are formed in the resin film 102. The shapes of the recesses 125 of the roulette roll 121 are not limited to being rhomboid, and may instead be square, rectangular, parallelogram-shaped, trapezoid, triangular, hexagonal, or the like.
[0142]
In the gear stretching step, passing the recess- formed resin film 103 through the stretching gear roll 130 shown in Fig. 4 creates a resin film 105 having protrusions 21 and openings 25 formed therein (see Fig.
8(c)). Fig. 6(a) shows the upper gear roll 131 of the stretching gear roll 130. Fig. 6(b) is an illustration of the gear teeth 133 arranged on the peripheral surface of the upper gear roll 131. The gear teeth 133 extend in the circumferential direction of the upper gear roll 131.
The angle of the gear teeth 133 is chamfered in an R- shape in order to prevent the resin film 103 from being cut by the angle of the gear teeth 133 when the resin film 103 (see Fig. 8 (b) ) has passed through the
stretching gear roll 130.
[0143]
The width of the gear teeth 133 is 0.3-0.5 mm, for example, and the distance between adjacent gear teeth 133 is 1.0-1.2 mm, for example. The lower gear roll 132 of the gear roll 130 has the same shape as the upper gear roll 131, and therefore the lower gear roll 132 will not be explained in detail. The length of the upper gear roll 131 in the radial direction at the section where the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 engage with the gear teeth of the lower gear roll 132, i.e., the
engagement depth, is 1.25 mm, for example. The gaps between the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth of the lower gear roll 132, when the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth of the lower gear roll 132 have been engaged, are 0.25- 0.45 mm, for example.
[0144]
When the resin film 103 passes through the
stretching gear roll 130, the resin film 103 is formed in an essentially undulating manner, creating a resin film 105 with protrusions 21 formed therein (see Fig. 8(c)).
[0145]
The principle by which openings 25 are formed in the resin film 103 after the resin film 103 has passed through the stretching gear roll 130 will now be
explained with reference to Fig. 7. The explanation of this principle is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
[0146]
The resin film 103 is stretched to a large degree at the sections 106 where the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth 134 of the lower gear roll 132 are engaged. The sections where the recesses 104 have been formed in the recess-forming step are sections where the basis weight of the resin film 103 vary in an abrupt manner, and therefore the strength is low and the recesses 104 of the resin film 103 will tear when stretched (drawn) . Consequently, the recesses 104 of the resin film 103 tear at the sections 106 of the resin film 103 that have been drawn, such that the torn sections of the resin film 103 widen, forming openings 25.
[0147]
The resin film 103 is not significantly drawn at the sections 107 where the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth 134 of the lower gear roll 132 are not engaged. Consequently, even when the resin film 103 passes through the stretching gear roll 130, the recesses 104 formed in the recess-forming step are not torn and do not become openings at the sections 107 of the resin film 103 where the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth 134 of the lower gear roll 132 are not engaged. Also, the recesses 104 formed in the recess-forming step are slightly drawn and become recesses 26 in the top sheet 2.
[0148]
The sections 107 of the resin film 103 where the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth 134 of the lower gear roll 132 are not engaged correspond to the top sections 23 and bottom sections 22 of the protrusions 21 in the top sheet 2 (see Fig. 3) . The sections 106 of the resin film 103 where the gear teeth 133 of the upper gear roll 131 and the gear teeth 134 of the lower gear roll 132 are engaged correspond to the wall sections 24 of the protrusions 21 in the top sheet 2 (see Fig. 3) . Consequently, recesses 26 are formed in the top sections 23 and bottom sections 22 of the protrusions 21 in the top sheet 2, and openings 25 are formed in the wall sections 24 of the protrusions 21 in the top sheet 2.
[0149] When the resin film used for the top sheet 2 is drawn, it is decreased in thickness and has a lower concealing property. Therefore, when the absorbent article 1 is viewed from above the skin facing side, body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 2 is hidden from sight at the bottom sections 22 and the top sections 23 of the protrusions 21 in the top sheet 2, but when the absorbent article 1 is viewed from an oblique direction, body fluid that has been absorbed into the absorbent body 4 can be seen through the wall sections 24 of the protrusions 21 in the top sheet 2 and through the openings 25 of the wall sections 24. Therefore, when the user wishes to determine whether the absorbent article 1 needs replacement, the amount of body fluid absorbed into the absorbent body 4 can be confirmed by viewing the absorbent article 1 from an oblique direction, thereby allowing the need for replacement of the absorbent article 1 to be ascertained.
[0150]
In the modifying agent coating step, a modifying agent-coating sprayer 140 is used to coat the modifying agent 141 onto the resin film 105 that has been gear stretched, creating a resin film 108 having a modifying agent layer 27 formed on the surface (see Fig. 8(d)). Here, the modifying agent-coating sprayer 140 coats the modifying agent 141 onto the resin film 105 by spraying in the modifying agent coating step, but the modifying agent 141 may instead be coated onto the resin film 105 by a printing method or dipping method.
[0151]
An example of conditions for forming a top sheet are shown below.
Resin film material: Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) Resin film basis weight: 23.5 g/m2 or 35.0 g/m2 Resin film thickness: 20 μια or 30
Figure imgf000057_0001
Titanium oxide content of resin film: 2.9% or 5% Preheated roll temperature: 80°C Pitch of lattice-like convexities on roulette roll: 0.4 mm
Gear tooth width: 0.5 mm
Distance between adjacent gear teeth: 1.0 mm
Gap between upper gear roll gear teeth and lower gear roll gear teeth: 0.25 mm
Stretching gear roll engagement depth: 1.25 mm
[0152]
Fig. 9(a) shows lattice-like convexities 124 and rhomboid recesses 125 formed on the surface of a roulette roll.
[0153]
Fig. 9(b) shows recesses 104 formed in a resin film that has passed through a recess-forming roll 120. The length of the recesses 104 in the cross-machine direction
(CD) was 0.25 mm. The pitch of the recesses 104 in the cross-machine direction (CD) was 0.70 mm. Here, the pitch of the recesses 104 in the cross-machine direction is the distance between the right sides of the recesses 104 in the cross-machine direction, which are adjacent in the cross-machine direction, as shown in Fig. 10.
[0154]
Fig. 9(c) shows parts of openings 25 formed in the wall sections 24 of protrusions and of the recesses 26 formed in the top sections 23 of protrusions, after passing through a stretching gear roll 130. Fig. 9(c) was photographed after stretching the resin film which was formed in an essentially undulating manner in order to match the focus of the microscope with the entire resin film.
[0155]
The lengths of the drawn sections (drawing areas) of the resin film in the cross-machine direction (CD) , drawn by the stretching gear roll 130, were 0.90 mm for a resin film with a basis weight of 23.5 g/m2, and were 0.75 mm for a resin film with a basis weight of 35.0 g/m2. The lengths of the sections with a relatively low degree of drawing (non-drawing areas) of the resin film in the cross-machine direction (CD) which was drawn by the stretching gear roll 130, were 0.40 mm for a resin film with a basis weight of 23.5 g/m2, and were 0.50 mm for a resin film with a basis weight of 35.0 g/m2. This indicates that appropriate selection of the basis weight of the resin film allows modification of the lengths of the drawing areas and non-drawing areas in the cross- machine direction (CD) .
[0156]
From Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 it is seen that varying the pitch of the recesses 104 in the cross-machine direction
(CD) allows recesses to be reliably formed in the drawing areas and non-drawing areas of the resin film. The lengths of the recesses 104 in the cross-machine
direction (CD) were 0.25 mm. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing drawing areas and non-drawing areas, and the positional relationship in the cross-machine direction
(CD) between recesses with varying pitch in the cross- machine direction, for a resin film with a basis weight of 23.5 g/m2. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing drawing areas and non-drawing areas, and the positional relationship in the cross-machine direction (CD) between recesses with varying pitch in the cross-machine direction, for a resin film with a basis weight of 35.0 g/m2. In Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, the ranges of the horizontal bars with circles at both ends represent the ranges of the recesses in the cross-machine direction.
[0157]
In order to ensure that recesses are formed in the drawing areas and non-drawing areas of the resin film, if the lengths of the recesses 104 in the cross-machine direction (CD) are 0.25 mm, when the lengths of the drawing areas in the cross-machine direction (CD) are 0.90 mm and the lengths of the non-drawing areas in the cross-machine direction (CD) are 0.75 mm, or when the lengths of the drawing areas in the cross-machine direction (CD) are 0.75 mm and the lengths of the non- drawing areas in the cross-machine direction (CD) are 0.50 mm, the pitch of the recesses in the cross-machine direction (CD) is preferably 0.3-1.00 mm and more preferably 0.35-0.80 mm. By varying the crossing angle between the convexities extending in one direction and the convexities extending in the other direction in the lattice-like convexities 124 of the roulette roll 121, it is possible to change the pitch of the recesses of the resin film in the cross-machine direction (CD) without changing the lengths of the recesses of the resin film in the cross-machine direction (CD) .
[0158]
The pitch of the recesses in the machine direction (MD) is preferably 0.3-1.00 mm and more preferably 0.35-
0.80 mm. Here, the pitch of the recesses in the machine direction (MD) is the distance in the machine direction between the top edges of the recesses that are adjacent in the machine direction.
[0159]
According to some embodiments of the invention, the blood modifying agent has a mechanism of lowering the viscosity and surface tension of blood, and therefore body fluid migrates by the modifying agent layer 27 to the absorbent body 4 without remaining in the top sheet
2, allowing it to be absorbed into the absorbent body 4. In the following examples, the blood modifying agent was confirmed to have a mechanism of lowering the viscosity and surface tension of blood. This was confirmed using a nonwoven fabric, which more readily retains body fluid than a resin film.
[0160]
[Example 1]
[Evaluation of rewetting rate and absorbent body
migration rate]
[Data of blood modifying agents]
A commercially available sanitary napkin was prepared. The sanitary napkin was formed from a top sheet, formed of a hydrophilic agent-treated air-through nonwoven fabric (composite fiber composed of polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, basis weight: 35 g/m2) , a second sheet, formed of an air-through nonwoven fabric
(composite fiber composed of polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, basis weight: 30 g/m2), an absorbent body comprising pulp (basis weight: 150-450 g/m2, increased at the center section) , an acrylic super-absorbent polymer (basis weight: 15 g/m2) and tissue as a core wrap, a water-repellent agent-treated side sheet, and a back sheet composed of a polyethylene film.
[0161]
The blood modifying agents used for the experiment are listed below.
[ (ai) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid]
• UNISTAR H-408BRS, product of NOF Corp.
Tetrapentaerythritol 2-ethylhexanoate, weight- average molecular weight: approximately 640
• UNISTAR H-2408BRS-22, product of NOF Corp.
Mixture of tetrapentaerythritol 2-ethylhexanoate and di-neopentyl 2-ethylhexanoate glycol (58:42, mass ratio), weight-average molecular weight: approximately 520
[0162]
[ (a2) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid]
• Cetiol SB45DEO, Cognis Japan
Glycerin and fatty acid triester, with oleic acid or stearylic acid as the fatty acid.
• SOY42, product of NOF Corp.
Glycerin and fatty acid triester with Ci4 fatty acid:Ci6 fatty acid:Cie fatty acid:C2o fatty acid
(including both saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids) at a mass ratio of about 0.2:11:88:0.8, weight-average molecular weight: 880
[0163] • Tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride, product of NOF Corp.
Glycerin and fatty acid triester with C8 fatty acid:Cio fatty acid:Ci2 fatty acid at a mass ratio of about 37:7:56, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 570
• Tri-CL oil fatty acid glyceride, product of NOF Corp.
Glycerin and fatty acid triester with C8 fatty
acid:Ci2 fatty acid at a mass ratio of about 44:56, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 570
[0164]
• PAN7ACET 810s, product of NOF Corp.
Glycerin and fatty acid triester with C8 fatty acid:Cio fatty acid at a mass ratio of about 85:15, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 480
· PANACET 800, product of NOF Corp.
Glycerin and fatty acid triester with octanoic acid (C8) as the entire fatty acid portion, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 470
[0165]
· PANACET 800B, product of NOF Corp.
Glycerin and fatty acid triester with 2- ethylhexanoic acid (C8) as the entire fatty acid portion, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 470
• NA36, product of NOF Corp.
Glycerin and fatty acid triester with Ci6 fatty acid:C18 fatty acid:C2o fatty acid (including both
saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids) at a mass ratio of about 5:92:3, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 880
[0166]
• Tri-coconut fatty acid glyceride, product of NOF Corp.
Glycerin and fatty acid triester with C8 fatty acid:Cio fatty acid:Ci2 fatty acid:Ci4 fatty acid:Ci6 fatty acid (including both saturated fatty acids and
unsaturated fatty acids) at a mass ratio of about
4:8:60:25:3, weight-average molecular weight: 670
[0167] • Caprylic acid diglyceride, product of NOF Corp.
Glycerin and fatty acid diester with octanoic acid as the fatty acid, weight-average molecular weight:
approximately 340
[0168]
[ (83) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid]
• COMPOL BL, product of NOF Corp.
Dodecanoic acid (C12) monoester of butylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 270
• COMPOL BS, product of NOF Corp.
Octadecanoic acid (Ci8) monoester of butylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 350
• U ISTAR H-208BRS, product of NOF Corp.
Neopentylglycol di-2-ethylhexanoate, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 360.
[0169]
[ (C2) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 3 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol]
■ Tributyl O-acetylcitrate, product of Tokyo Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Weight-average molecular weight: approximately 400
[0170]
[ (c3) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 2 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol]
• Dioctyl adipate, product of Wako Pure Chemical
Industries, Ltd.
Weight-average molecular weight: approximately 380
[0171]
[ (d3) Ester of a fatty acid and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol]
• ELECTOL WE20, product of NOF Corp.
Ester of dodecanoic acid (C12) and dodecyl alcohol
(C12) , weight-average molecular weight: approximately 360
■ ELECTOL WE40, product of NOF Corp. Ester of tetradecanoic acid (Ci4) and dodecyl alcohol (Ci2) , weight-average molecular weight: approximately 390
[0172]
[ (ei) Polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol]
· UNIOL D-1000, product of NOF Corp.
Polypropylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,000
• UNIOL D-1200, product of NOF Corp.
Polypropylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,160
• UNIOL D-3000, product of NOF Corp.
Polypropylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 3,000
[0173]
· UNIOL D-4000, product of NOF Corp.
Polypropylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 4,000
• UNIOL PB500, product of NOF Corp.
Polybutylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 500
• UNIOL PB700, product of NOF Corp.
Polyoxybutylenepolyoxypropylene glycol, weight- average molecular weight: approximately 700
[0174]
· UNIOL PB1000R, product of NOF Corp.
Polybutylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,000
[ (e2) Ester of a polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol and at least one fatty acid]
· WILBRITE cp9, product of NOF Corp.
Polybutylene glycol compound with OH groups at both ends esterified by hexadecanoic acid (Ci6) , weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,150
[ (e3) Ether of polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol and at least one fatty acid]
• UNILUBE MS-70K, product of NOF Corp.
Stearyl ether of polypropylene glycol, approximately 15 repeating units, weight-average molecular weight:
approximately 1,140
[0175]
[ (e5) Ether of a polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol with chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol]
• UNILUBE 5TP-300KB
Polyoxyethylenepolyoxypropylene pentaerythritol ether, produced by addition of 5 mol of ethylene oxide and 65 mol of propylene oxide to 1 mol of
pentaerythritol, weight-average molecular weight: 4,130
[0176]
• UNIOL TG-3000, product of NOF Corp.
Glyceryl ether of polypropylene glycol,
approximately 16 repeating units, weight-average
molecular weight: approximately 3,000
• UNIOL TG-4000, product of NOF Corp.
Glyceryl ether of polypropylene glycol,
approximately 16 repeating units, weight-average
molecular weight: approximately 4,000
[0177]
[ ( fi ) Chain alkane]
• PARLEAM 6, product of NOF Corp.
Branched hydrocarbon, produced by copolymerization of liquid isoparaffin, isobutene and n-butene followed by hydrogen addition, polymerization degree: approximately 5-10, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 330
[0178]
[Other components]
· NA50, product of NOF Corp.
Glycerin and fatty acid triester obtained by
addition of hydrogen to NA36 for reduced proportion of double bonds from unsaturated fatty acid starting
material, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 880
• (Caprylic acid/capric acid) monoglyceride, product of NOF Corp. Glycerin and fatty acid monoester, with octanoic acid (C8) and decanoic acid (Ci0) at a mass ratio of about 85:15, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 220
• Monomuls 90-L2 lauric acid monoglyceride, product of Cognis Japan
[0179]
• Isopropyl citrate, product of Tokyo Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Weight-average molecular weight: approximately 230 · Diisostearyl malate
Weight-average molecular weight: approximately 640
• UNIOL D-400, product of NOF Corp.
Polypropylene glycol-, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 400
[0180]
• PEG1500, product of NOF Corp.
Polyethylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,500-1,600
• NONION S-6, product of NOF Corp.
Polyoxyethylene monostearate, approximately 7 repeating units, weight-average molecular weight:
approximately 880
• WILBRITE s753, product of NOF Corp.
Polyoxyethylenepolyoxypropylene polyoxybutylene glycerin, weight-average molecular weight: approximately
960
[0181]
• UNIOL TG-330, product of NOF Corp.
Glyceryl ether of polypropylene glycol,
approximately 6 repeating units, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 330
• UNIOL TG-1000, product of NOF Corp.
Glyceryl ether of polypropylene glycol,
approximately 16 repeating units, weight-average
molecular weight: approximately 1,000
[0182]
• UNILUBE DGP-700, product of NOF Corp. Diglyceryl ether of polypropylene glycol,
approximately 9 repeating units, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 700
• UNIOX HC60, product of NOF Corp.
Polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, weight- average molecular weight: approximately 3,570
• Vaseline, product of Cognis Japan
Petroleum-derived hydrocarbon, semi-solid
[0183]
The IOBs, melting points and water solubilities of the samples are shown in Table 2.
The water solubility was measured by the method described above, and samples that dissolved 24 hours after addition of 20.0 g to 100 g of desalted water were evaluated as "20 g<", and samples of which 0.05 g
dissolved in 100 g of desalted water but 1.00 g did not dissolve were evaluated as 0.05-1.00 g.
For the melting point, "<45" indicates a melting point of below 45°C.
[0184]
The skin contact surface of the top sheet of the sanitary napkin was coated with the aforementioned blood modifying agent. Each blood modifying agent was used directly, when the blood modifying agent was liquid at room temperature, or when the blood modifying agent was solid at room temperature it was heated to its melting point of +20°C, and a control seam HMA gun was used for atomization of the blood modifying agent and coating onto the entire skin contact surface of the top sheet to a basis weight of about 5 g/m2.
[0185]
Fig. 13 is an electron micrograph of the skin contact surface of a top sheet in a sanitary napkin
(No.2-5) wherein the top sheet comprises tri-C2L oil fatty acid glycerides. As clearly seen in Fig. 13, the tri-C2L oil fatty acid glycerides are present on the fiber surfaces as fine particulates. In accordance with the above procedures, the
rewetting rate and absorber migration rate were measured. The results are shown below in Table 2.
[0186]
[Test methods]
An acrylic board with an opened hole (200 mm x 100 mm, 125 g, with a 40 mm x 10 mm hole opened at the center) was placed on a top sheet comprising each blood modifying agent, and 3 g of horse EDTA blood at 37±1°C (obtained by adding appropriate amount of
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (hereunder, "EDTA") to horse blood to prevent coagulation) was dropped through the hole using a pipette (once) , and after 1 minute, 3 g of horse EDTA blood at 37±1°C was again added dropwise through the acrylic board hole with a pipette (twice) .
[0187]
After the second dropping of blood, the acrylic board was immediately removed and 10 sheets of filter paper (Advantec Toyo Kaisha, Ltd, Qualitative Filter Paper No.2, 50 mm x 35 mm) were placed on the location where the blood had been dropped, and then a weight was placed thereover to a pressure of 30 g/cm2. After 1 minute, the filter paper was removed and the "rewetting rate" was calculated by the following formula.
Rewetting rate (%)
= 100 x (filter paper mass after test - initial filter paper mass) /6
[0188]
In addition to the rewetting rate evaluation, the "absorbent body migration rate" was also measured as the time until migration of blood from the top sheet to the absorbent body after the second dropping of blood. The absorbent body migration rate is the time from
introducing the blood onto the top sheet, until the redness of the blood could be seen on the surface and in the interior of the top sheet. The results for the rewetting rate and absorbent body migration rate are shown below in Table 2.
[0189]
Then the whiteness of the skin contact surface of the top sheet after the absorbent body migration rate test was visually evaluated on the following scale.
VG (Very Good) : Virtually no redness of blood remaining, and no clear delineation between areas with and without blood.
G (Good) : Slight redness of blood remaining, but difficult to delineate between areas with and without blood.
F (Fair) : Slight redness of blood remaining, areas with blood discernible.
P (Poor): Redness of blood completely remaining.
The results are summarized below in Table 2.
[0190]
Table 2
Figure imgf000070_0001
[0191]
Table 2 (cont . )
Figure imgf000071_0001
[0192]
In the absence of a blood modifying agent, the rewetting rate was 22.7% and the absorbent body migration rate was greater than 60 seconds, but the glycerin and fatty acid triesters all produced rewetting rates of no greater than 7.0% and absorbent body migration rates of no longer than 8 seconds, and therefore significantly improved the absorption performance. Of the glycerin and fatty acid triesters, however, no great improvement in absorption performance was seen with NA50 which had a melting point of above 45°C.
[0193]
Similarly, the absorption performance was also significantly improved with blood modifying agents having an IOB of about 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than about 45°C and a water solubility of no greater than about 0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C. Rewetting rates of no greater than 7.9% and absorbent body migration rates of no longer than 15 seconds were achieved.
[0194]
Next, several volunteer subjects were asked to wear sanitary napkins Nos . (2-1) - (2-47) , and the obtained responses indicated that with the sanitary napkins comprising blood modifying agents Nos. ( 2-1 )-( 2-32 ) , the top sheets had no sticky feel and the top sheets were smooth, even after absorption of menstrual blood
[0195]
Also, with sanitary napkins Nos. (2-1) - (2-32) , and particularly with sanitary napkins that comprised blood modifying agents Nos. (2-1) - (2-11) , (2-15) - (2-19) and (2-
32) , the skin contact surfaces of the top sheets after absorption of menstrual blood had not been reddened by the blood and the unpleasantness was minimal.
[0196]
[Example 2]
The rewetting rate was evaluated for blood from different animals in accordance with the above
procedures. The following blood was used for the test. [Animal species]
( 1 ) Human
(2) Horse
(3) Sheep
[0197]
[Types of blood]
• Defibrinated blood: blood sampled and agitated together with glass beads in an Erlenmeyer flask for approximately
5 minutes.
• EDTA blood: 65 mL of venous blood with addition of 0.5 mL of a 12% EDTA-2K isotonic sodium chloride solution.
[0198]
[Fractionation]
Serum or blood plasma: Supernatant obtained after centrifugation of defibrinated blood or EDTA blood for 10 minutes at room temperature at about 1900 G.
Blood cells: Obtained by removing the serum from the blood, washing twice with phosphate buffered saline
(PBS) , and adding phosphate buffered saline to the removed serum portion.
[0199]
An absorbent article was produced in the same manner as Example 2, except that the tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride was coated at a basis weight of about 5 g/m2, and the rewetting rate of each of the aforementioned blood samples was evaluated. Measurement was performed 3 times for each blood sample, and the average value was recorded.
The results are shown in Table 3 below.
[0200] Table 3
Figure imgf000074_0001
[0201]
The same trend was seen with human and sheep blood as with the horse EDTA blood, as obtained in Example 2.
A similar trend was also observed with defibrinated blood and EDTA blood.
[0202]
[Example 3]
[Evaluation of blood retention]
The blood retention was evaluated for a top sheet comprising a blood modifying agent and a top sheet comprising no blood modifying agent.
[0203]
[Test methods]
(1) A tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride was atomized on the skin contact surface of a top sheet formed from an air-through nonwoven fabric (composite fiber composed of polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, basis weight: 35 g/m2) , using a control seam HMA gun, for coating to a basis weight of about 5 g/m2. For comparison, there was also prepared a sheet without coating with the tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride. Next, both the tri^C2L oil fatty acid glyceride-coated top sheet and the non-coated top sheet were cut to a size of 0.2 g, and the mass (a) of the cell strainer + top sheet was precisely measured.
[0204]
(2) After adding about 2 mL of horse EDTA blood from the skin contact surface side, it was allowed to stand for 1 minute.
(3) The cell strainer was set in a centrifuge tube, and subjected to spin-down to remove the excess horse EDTA blood.
(4) The mass (b) of the top sheet containing the cell strainer + horse EDTA blood was measured.
(5) The initial absorption (g) per 1 g of top sheet was calculated by the following formula.
Initial absorption = [mass (b) - mass (a)]/0.2
(6) The cell strainer was again set in the
centrifuge tube and centrifuged at room temperature for 1 minute at approximately 1,200 G.
[0205]
(7) The mass (c) of the top sheet containing the cell strainer + horse EDTA blood was measured.
(8) The post-test absorption (g) per 1 g of top sheet was calculated by the following formula.
Post-test absorption = [mass (c) - mass (a)]/0.2
(9) The blood retention (%) was calculated according to the following formula.
Blood retention (%) = 100 x post-test
absorption/initial absorption
The measurement was conducted 3 times, and the average value was recorded.
The results are shown in Table 4 below.
[0206] Table 4
Figure imgf000076_0001
[0207]
The top sheets comprising blood modifying agents had low blood retentions, suggesting that blood rapidly migrated into the absorbent body after absorption.
[0208]
[Example 4]
[Viscosity of blood containing blood modifying agent]
The viscosity of the blood modifying agent- containing blood was measured using a Rheometric
Expansion System ARES (Rheometric Scientific, Inc.).
After adding 2 mass% of PANACET 810s to horse
defibrinated blood, the mixture was gently agitated to form a sample, the sample was placed on a 50 mm-diameter parallel plate, with a gap of 100 μπι, and the viscosity was measured at 37±0.5°C. The sample was not subjected to a uniform shear rate due to the parallel plate, but the average shear rate indicated by the device was 10 s_1.
[0209]
The viscosity of the horse defibrinated blood containing 2 mass% PANACET 810s was 5.9 mPa-s, while the viscosity of the horse defibrinated blood containing no blood modifying agent was 50.4 mPa-s. Thus, the horse defibrinated blood containing 2 mass% PANACET 810s clearly had an approximately 90% lower viscosity than the blood containing no blood modifying agent.
It is known that blood contains components such as blood cells and has thixotropy, and it has been found that the blood modifying agent of this disclosure can lower blood viscosity in the low viscosity range.
Lowering the blood viscosity presumably allows absorbed menstrual blood to rapidly migrate from the top sheet to the absorbent body.
[0210]
[Example 5]
[Photomicrograph of blood modifying agent-containing blood]
Menstrual blood was sampled from healthy volunteers onto Saran wrap, and PANACET 810s dispersed in a 10-fold mass of phosphate-buffered saline was added to a portion thereof to a PANACET 810s concentration of 1 mass%. The menstrual blood was dropped onto a slide glass, a cover glass was placed thereover, and the state of the
erythrocytes was observed with an optical microscope. A photomicrograph of menstrual blood containing no blood modifying agent is shown in Fig. 14(a), and a
photomicrograph of menstrual blood containing PANACET
810s is shown in Fig. 14(b).
[0211]
As shown Fig. 14, it is seen that the erythrocytes formed aggregates such as rouleaux in the menstrual blood containing no blood modifying agent, while the
erythrocytes were stably dispersed in the menstrual blood containing PANACET 810s. This suggests that the blood modifying agent functions to stabilize erythrocytes in blood.
[0212]
[Example 6]
[Surface tension of blood containing blood modifying agent]
The surface tension of blood containing a blood modifying agent was measured by the pendant drop method, using a Drop Master500 contact angle meter by Kyowa
Interface Science Co., Ltd. The surface tension was measured after adding a prescribed amount of blood modifying agent to sheep defibrinated blood, and
thoroughly shaking.
The measurement was accomplished automatically with a device, and the surface tension γ was determined by the following formula (see Fig. 15).
[0213]
γ = g x p x (de)2 x l/H
g: Gravitational constant
1/H: Correction factor determined from ds/de
p : Density
de: Maximum diameter
ds : Diameter at location of increase by de from dropping edge
[0214]
The density p was measured at the temperatures listed in Table 5, according to JIS K 2249-1995, "Densit test methods and density/mass/volume conversion tables", "5. Vibrating density test method".
The measurement was accomplished using a DA-505 by Kyoto Electronics Co., Ltd.
The results are shown in Table 5 below.
[0215]
Table 5
Figure imgf000078_0001
[0216]
Table 5 shows that the blood modifying agent can lower the surface tension of blood despite its very low solubility in water, as seen by a water solubility of about 0.00-about 0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C.
Lowering the surface tension of blood presumably allows absorbed blood to rapidly migrate from the top sheet to the absorbent body, without being retained between the top sheet fibers . [0217]
The explanation above is merely an example, and the invention is in no way restricted by the described embodiment .
[0218]
The present disclosure relates to the following and any combination thereof:
[Jl]
An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet formed on the skin side, a liquid-impermeable back sheet formed on the clothing side, and a liquid- retaining absorbent body formed between the top sheet and the back sheet,
wherein the top sheet comprises a plurality of protrusions arranged in parallel and bottom sections situated between adjacent protrusions,
each protrusion including a top section with a plurality of recesses arranged along the length of the protrusion and wall sections with a plurality of open holes arranged along the length of the protrusion.
[Jla]
An absorbent article according to Jl, wherein the top sheet comprises a resin film having numerous
openings, said resin film preferably being composed of a copolymer of an olefin and another monomer such as an acrylic acid ester or vinyl acetate, or a polyolefin, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide or cellulose acetate; more preferably a copolymer of an olefin and another monomer, or a polyolefin.
[Jib]
An absorbent article according to Jl or Jla, wherein the basis weight of the top sheet is at least lg/m2 and no greater than 40g/m2, preferably at least 10g/m2 and no greater than 35g/m2; and/or the thickness of the top sheet is at least 0.01mm and no greater than 0.4mm, preferably at least 0.1mm and no greater than 0.35mm. [Jlc]
An absorbent article according to any of Jl-Jlb, wherein the top sheet has a concealing property which is produced for example by mixing a filler such as titanium oxide in a resin; where the filler is titanium oxide, the titanium oxide content is at least 1% and no greater than 50%, preferably at least 3% and no greater than 15%, with respect to the weight of the resin.
[J2]
An absorbent article according to any one of Jl-Jlc, wherein the difference in height between the top sections and the bottom sections in the thickness direction is at least 0.1 mm and no greater than 5 mm.
[J3]
An absorbent article according to any one of J1-J2, wherein the angle formed between the wall sections and bottom sections is greater than 90° and no greater than 165°.
[J4]
An absorbent article according to any one of J1-J3, wherein the open area of the openings is at least 0.001 mm2 and no greater than 1 mm2.
[J4a]
An absorbent article according to J4, wherein the the open area of the openings is at least 0.01 mm2 and no greater than 0.1 mm2.
[J5]
An absorbent article according to any one of J1-J4, wherein the open area ratio of the top sheet is at least 5% and no greater than 20%.
[J6]
An absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
wherein the top sheet further has a blood modifying agent layer on the surface of the skin side, and
the blood modifying agent of the blood modifying agent layer has an IOB of 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than 45°C and a water solubility of no greater than 0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C.
[J6a]
An absorbent article according to J6, wherein the vapor pressure of the blood modifying agent is about 0.00-0.01 Pa, preferably about 0.000-0.001 Pa and more preferably about 0.0000-0.0001 Pa, at 1 atmosphere, 25°C, or at 1 atmosphere, 40°C.
[J7]
The absorbent article according to J6 of J6a, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (i)-(iii), and any combination thereof:
(i) a hydrocarbon;
(ii) a compound having (ii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii-2) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (-CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the
hydrocarbon moiety; and
(iii) a compound having (iii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii-2) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (-CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the
hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii-3) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (- COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH) substituting a hydrogen of the hydrocarbon moiety;
with the proviso that when 2 or more oxy groups are inserted in the compound of (ii) or (iii) , the oxy groups are not adjacent.
[J8]
The absorbent article according to J6 or 7, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (i')-(iii'), and any combination thereof: (ί') a hydrocarbon;
(ϋ') a compound having (ii'-l) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii'-2) one or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO-) , ester bond (-COO-), carbonate bond (-OCOO-) , and ether bond (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety; and
(iii') a compound having (iii'-l) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii '-2) one or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO-), ester bond (-
COO-) , carbonate bond (-OCOO-) , and ether bond (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii '-3) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (-COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH) substituting a hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety;
with the proviso that when 2 or more same or different bonds are inserted in the compound of (ii1) or (iii1)/ the bonds are not adjacent.
[J9]
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (A) -(F), and any combination thereof:
(A) an ester of (Al) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(B) an ether of (Bl) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(C) an ester of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain
hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (C2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(D) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of an ether bond (-0-), carbonyl bond (-CO-), ester bond (-COO-) and carbonate bond (-OCOO-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(E) a polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol, or alkyl ester or alkyl ether thereof; and
(F) a chain hydrocarbon.
[J10]
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of (ai) esters of chain
hydrocarbon tetraols and fatty acids, (a2) esters of chain hydrocarbon triols and fatty acids, (a3) esters of chain hydrocarbon diols and fatty acids, (bi) ethers of chain hydrocarbon tetraols and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (b2) ethers of chain hydrocarbon triols and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (b3) ethers of chain hydrocarbon diols and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (c esters of chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, alkoxy acids or oxoacids with 4 carboxyl groups, and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (c2) esters of chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, alkoxy acids or oxoacids with 3 carboxyl groups, and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (c3) esters of chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, alkoxy acids or oxoacids with 2 carboxyl groups, and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (di) ethers of aliphatic monohydric alcohols and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (d2) dialkyl ketones, (d3) esters of fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (d4) dialkyl carbonates, (ei) polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols, (e2) esters of polyoxy C2_6 alkylene glycols and at least one fatty acid, (e3) ethers of polyoxy C2-6
alkylene glycols and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (e4) esters of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols with chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acids, chain
hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acids or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acids, (e5) ethers of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols with chain hydrocarbon tetraols, chain
hydrocarbon triols or chain hydrocarbon diols, and (fi) chain alkanes.
[JlOa]
An absorbent article according to any one of Jl to J10, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of (ai) esters of chain hydrocarbon tetraols and fatty acids, (a2) esters of chain hydrocarbon triols and fatty acids, (a3) esters of chain hydrocarbon diols and fatty acids, (c2) esters of chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, alkoxy acids or oxoacids with 3 carboxyl groups, and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (c3) esters of chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, alkoxy acids or oxoacids with 2 carboxyl groups, and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (d3) esters of fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (ei) polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols, (e2) esters of polyoxy C2_6 alkylene glycols and at least one fatty acid, (e3) ethers of polyoxy C2-e alkylene glycols and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (e5) ethers of polyoxy C2_6 alkylene glycols with chain hydrocarbon tetraols, chain hydrocarbon triols or chain hydrocarbon diols, and (fi) chain alkanes.
[JlOb]
The absorbent article according to any one of Jl to JlOa, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of:
UNISTAR H-408BRS
UNISTAR H-2408BRS-22
and/or the group consisting of Cetiol SB45DEO
Soy 42
Tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride Tri-CL oil fatty acid glyceride PANACET 810s
PANACET 800
PANACET 800B
NA36
Tri-coconut fatty acid glyceride Caprylic acid diglyceride and/or the group consisting of
COMPOL BL
• COMPOL BS
UNISTAR H-208BRS
and/or the group consisting of
Tributyl O-acetylcitrate and/or the group consisting of
Dioctyl adipate
and/or the group consisting of
ELECTOL WE20
ELECTOL E40
and/or the group consisting of
UNIOL D-1000
UNIOL D-1200
UNIOL D-3000
UNIOL D-4000
UNIOL PB500
UNIOL PB700
UNIOL PB1000R
and/or the group consisting of
ILBRITE cp9
and/or the group consisting of
UNILUBE MS-70K
and/or the group consisting of
UNILUBE 5TP-300KB
UNIOL TG-3000
UNIOL TG-4000 and/or the group consisting of
PARLEAM 6
all as described hereinabove.
[Jll]
A liquid-permeable top sheet to be used in an absorbent article, wherein the top sheet is as described in any one of Jl-JlOb.
[J12]
A method for producing a top sheet to be used in an absorbent article, the method comprising:
a step of preparing a resin film,
a step of forming a plurality of recesses in a resin film by passing the resin film between a roll having lattice-like convexities and a roll having a smooth surface, and
a step of forming a plurality of protrusions arranged in parallel in the resin film in which the plurality of recesses have been formed, by gear
stretching the resin film in which the plurality of recesses have been formed,
wherein each of the protrusions formed by the step of forming the protrusions includes a top section with a plurality of recesses arranged along the length of the protrusion and a wall section with a plurality of open holes arranged along the length of the protrusion.
[J13]
The method for producing a top sheet according to J12, wherein the pitch of the lattice-like convexities on the roll having lattice-like convexities is at least 0.2 mm and no greater than 10 mm.
[J14]
The method for producing a top sheet according to J12 or 13, which further comprises:
a step of coating a blood modifying agent on the resin film in which protrusions have been formed by the step of forming protrusions,
the blood modifying agent having an IOB of 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than 45°C and a water solubility of no greater than 0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C.
[0219]
The absorbent article according to J14, wherein the blood modifying agent is as described in any one of J7- J10.
[0220]
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2011-218474 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Claims

[CLAIM 1]
An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet formed on a skin facing side, a liquid- impermeable back sheet formed on a non-skin facing side, and a liquid-retaining absorbent body formed between the top sheet and the back sheet,
wherein the top sheet comprises a plurality of protrusions arranged in parallel and bottom sections situated between adjacent protrusions,
each protrusion including a top section with a plurality of recesses arranged along the length of the protrusion and wall sections with a plurality of open holes arranged along the length of the protrusion.
[CLAIM 2]
The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein a difference in height between the top sections and the bottom sections in a thickness direction of the top sheet is at least 0.1 mm and no greater than 5 mm.
[CLAIM 3]
The absorbent article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an angle formed between the wall sections and bottom sections is greater than 90° and no greater than 165°.
[CLAIM 4]
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an open area of each open hole is at least 0.001 mm2 and no greater than 1 mm2.
[CLAIM 5]
The absorbent article according to any one of claims
1 to 4, wherein an open area ratio of the top sheet is at least 5% and no greater than 20%.
[CLAIM 6]
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
wherein the top sheet further has a blood modifying agent layer on a surface on the skin facing side, and
the blood modifying agent of the blood modifying agent layer has an Inorganic-Organic Balance of 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than 45°C and a water solubility of no greater than 0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C.
[CLAIM 7]
The absorbent article according to claim 6, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of the following items (i)-(iii), and any combination thereof:
(i) a hydrocarbon;
(ii) a compound having (ii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii-2) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (-CO-) and oxy group
(-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the
hydrocarbon moiety; and
(iii) a compound having (iii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii-2) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (-CO-) and oxy group
(-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the
hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii-3) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (- COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH) substituting a hydrogen of the hydrocarbon moiety;
wherein when 2 or more oxy groups are inserted in the compound of (ii) or (iii), the oxy groups are not adj acent .
[CLAIM 8]
The absorbent article according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of the following items (i')-(iii'), and any combination thereof:
(i1) a hydrocarbon;
(ϋ') a compound having at least (ii'-l) a
hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii'-2) one or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO- ), at least one ester bond (-COO-), at least one
carbonate bond (-OCOO-), and at least one ether bond (-0- ) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety; and
(iii1) a compound having at least (iii'-l) a
hydrocarbon moiety, (iii '-2) one or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO- ) , at least one ester bond (-C00-) , at least one
carbonate bond (-OCOO-) , and at least one ether bond (-0- ) inserted between a C-C single bond of a hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii '-3) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (-COOH) and hydroxyl group (-0H) substituting a hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety;
wherein when 2 or more same or different bonds are inserted in the compound of (ii1) or (iii'), the bonds are not adjacent.
[CLAIM 9]
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of the following items (A) -(F), and any combination thereof:
(A) an ester of (Al) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(B) an ether of (Bl) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(C) an ester of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain
hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (C2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(D) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of an ether bond (-0-) , carbonyl bond (-CO-) , ester bond (-COO-) and carbonate bond (-OCOO-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(E) a polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol, or alkyl ester or alkyl ether thereof; and
(F) a chain hydrocarbon.
[CLAIM 10]
The absorbent article according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of (ai) esters of chain
hydrocarbon tetraols and at least one fatty acid, (a2) esters of chain hydrocarbon triols and at least one fatty acid, (a3) esters of chain hydrocarbon diols and at least one fatty acid, (bi) ethers of chain hydrocarbon tetraols and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (b2) ethers of chain hydrocarbon triols and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (b3) ethers of chain hydrocarbon diols and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (ci) esters of chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, alkoxy acids or oxoacids with 4 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (C2) esters of chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, alkoxy acids or oxoacids with 3 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (c3) esters of chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acids, hydroxy acids, alkoxy acids or oxoacids with 2 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (di) ethers of aliphatic monohydric alcohols and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (d2) dialkyl ketones, (d3) esters of fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (d4) dialkyl
carbonates, (ei) polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols, (e2) esters of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols and at least one fatty acid, (e3) ethers of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (e4) esters of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols with chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acids, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acids or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acids, (e5) ethers of polyoxy C2-6 alkylene glycols with chain hydrocarbon tetraols, chain hydrocarbon triols or chain hydrocarbon diols, and (fi) chain alkanes.
[CLAIM 11]
A liquid-permeable top sheet to be used in an absorbent article, wherein the top sheet is as described in any one of claims 1-10.
[CLAIM 12]
A method for producing a top sheet to be used in an absorbent article, the method comprising:
a step of preparing a resin film,
a step of forming a plurality of recesses in a resin film by passing the resin film between a roll having convexities and a roll having a smooth surface, and
a step of forming a plurality of protrusions arranged in parallel in the resin film in which the plurality of recesses have been formed, by gear
stretching the resin film in which the plurality of recesses have been formed,
wherein each of the protrusions formed by the step of forming the protrusions includes a top section with a plurality of said recesses arranged along the length of the protrusion and a wall section with a plurality of open holes arranged along the length of the protrusion.
[CLAIM 13]
The method according to claim 12, wherein the pitch of the lattice-like convexities on the roll having lattice-like convexities is at least 0.2 mm and no greater than 10 mm.
[CLAIM 14]
The method according to claim 12 or 13, which further comprises:
a step of coating a blood modifying agent on the resin film in which protrusions have been formed by the step of forming protrusions,
the blood modifying agent having an Inorganic- Organic Balance of 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than 45°C and a water solubility of no greater than 0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C.
[CLAIM 15]
The method for producing a top sheet according to claim 14, wherein the blood modifying agent is as
described in any one of claims 7-10.
PCT/JP2012/075288 2011-09-30 2012-09-25 Absorbent article, top sheet for absorbent article and method for producing top sheet WO2013047865A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2011218474A JP6037606B2 (en) 2011-09-30 2011-09-30 Absorbent article, top sheet of absorbent article, and method for producing the top sheet
JP2011-218474 2011-09-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2013047865A1 true WO2013047865A1 (en) 2013-04-04

Family

ID=47995888

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Country Status (4)

Country Link
JP (1) JP6037606B2 (en)
AR (1) AR088030A1 (en)
TW (1) TWI581773B (en)
WO (1) WO2013047865A1 (en)

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US9415538B2 (en) 2010-09-10 2016-08-16 The Procter & Gamble Company Method for deforming a web
US10279535B2 (en) 2011-04-26 2019-05-07 The Procter & Gamble Company Method and apparatus for deforming a web
US10633775B2 (en) 2010-09-10 2020-04-28 The Procter & Gamble Company Deformed web materials
US11925539B2 (en) 2018-08-22 2024-03-12 The Procter & Gamble Company Disposable absorbent article

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JP6484417B2 (en) * 2014-09-03 2019-03-13 大王製紙株式会社 Absorbent articles
CN105636566B (en) * 2014-12-26 2017-10-10 尤妮佳股份有限公司 Absorbent commodity non-woven fabrics
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US9415538B2 (en) 2010-09-10 2016-08-16 The Procter & Gamble Company Method for deforming a web
US10633775B2 (en) 2010-09-10 2020-04-28 The Procter & Gamble Company Deformed web materials
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JP2013078362A (en) 2013-05-02
AR088030A1 (en) 2014-05-07
TW201328675A (en) 2013-07-16
JP6037606B2 (en) 2016-12-07

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