Environmentally friendly absorbent structure

摘要

The present invention relates to an absorbent structure, preferably for use in absorbent articles as used in the personal hygiene industry such as feminine hygiene garments, baby diapers and pants or adult incontinence garments. The present invention also relates to an absorbent article comprising such absorbent structure and to a method of manufacturing the absorbent structure. The absorbent structures comprise a carrier layer, an auxiliary layer and an absorbent material there between wherein substantially permanent primary attachments and substantially temporary secondary attachments join the carrier layer and auxiliary layer at least partially together, whereby the substantially temporary secondary attachments are loosened as a result of exposing the absorbent structure to a liquid whereas the substantially permanent primary attachments remain substantially intact. The present invention foresees in the need for improved flexible, thin, lightweight absorbent structures for an absorbent article which overcomes the absorbency problems of the prior art during absorption, distribution and retention of liquids with optimal fit.

主权项

1. A substantially cellulose free absorbent structure for use in an absorbent article comprising a carrier layer and an auxiliary layer and an absorbent material provided there between, and attachments for intermittently joining said carrier layer and auxiliary layer together, said attachments being made up of substantially permanent primary attachment grids and substantially temporary secondary attachment patterns with secondary bonding regions which correspond with the secondary attachment pattern, so as to form a sandwich-like composite structure containing patterned absorbent particulate polymer materials provided in at least some of the unattached regions between the carrier layer and auxiliary layer forming defining an absorbent polymer material area, joining said carrier layer and said auxiliary layer at least partially together and thereby immobilising dry absorbent polymer material in a plurality of substantially temporary smaller-sized pockets comprising at least some of the substantially temporary secondary attachments wherein under the influence of liquid the absorbent composite structure is loosened at the substantially temporary secondary attachments to form substantially permanent bigger-sized compartments comprising substantially permanent primary attachments thereby immobilising the volume-expanded wetted absorbent polymer materials, wherein said attachments are at least partially formed via a thermal, mechanical, thermo-mechanical, chemical and/or ultrasonic process, wherein the secondary bonding regions consist of various sub-regions, corresponding with different separation forces, whereby the secondary bonding regions consist of weaker secondary bonding regions and stronger secondary bonding regions where weaker secondary bonding regions loosen faster than the stronger secondary bonding regions.