Extensible absorbent core and absorbent article

摘要

The present invention provides an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin or catamenial napkin, wherein the absorbent article has a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, the absorbent article has: a) a liquid-permeable top layer, wherein the top layer has an extensibility in lateral direction of at least 30% to 70% at 4N/50 mm, b) a liquid-impermeable backing layer laminated to the top layer, wherein the backing layer has a higher extensibility in lateral direction than in longitudinal direction and the extensibility in lateral direction is at least between 5% and 40% at 4N/50 mm, and c) an absorbent core positioned between the top layer and the backing layer, wherein the absorbent core has a plurality of non-linear slits and/or linear slits at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal direction through the absorbent core. The absorbent core may be a variety of materials, however one particular example is an absorbent core with a layer of material having a basis weight of between 20 g/m² to 1000 g/m² and is an airlaid fiber layers, coform fiber layers, meltblown fiber layers or laminates thereof and laminates of airlaid fiber layers, coform fiber layers or meltblown fiber layers or laminates thereof with a nonwoven support. The absorbent core generally will have a ratio of tensile strength in longitudinal direction and resistance to tear in lateral direction has a value in the range from 3.5:1 to 6:1. The invention further provides a punching die for forming slits in an nonwoven absorbent core material and a process for forming an absorbent article using said punching die.