METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING AN ABSORBENT ARTICLE WITH CROSSLINKED ELASTIC COMPONENTS

摘要

Generally, a method and apparatus for forming an elastic portion of an absorbent article is disclosed. An elastic material web having at least one crosslinkable elastic styrenic block copolymer sized to correspond to at least one discrete elasticized portion of the absorbent article is provided. The elastic material web may be unwound or otherwise supplied and then attached to a continuous moving web to form at least one discrete elasticized portion of the absorbent article. The elastic material web is crosslinked by subjecting the elastic material web to electromagnetic radiation with an electron beam processing unit sufficient to provide a crosslinked elastic styrenic block copolymer. The electromagnetic radiation is sized to correspond to at least one discrete elasticized portion of the absorbent article. A variety of absorbent article components may possess elastic characteristics, including waistbands, leg/cuff gasketing, side panels, and outer covers.