NONWOVEN MATERIALS COMPRISING LOW DENSITY FIBERS AND ABSORBENT ARTICLES COMPRISING SUCH FIBERS

摘要

Low density fibers and nonwoven materials comprising such fibers suitable for use in absorbent articles are disclosed. The nonwoven materials are in the form of a fibrous web and the fibers are made up of struts which define open and closed cells. The fibers have a fiber density that is less than the density of the polymer composition that is extruded to form the fibers. Depending on their final use in an absorbent article, the material can be either hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Hydrophilic materials, are suitable for topsheets and core components and have desirable fluid handling properties such as a liquid strike-through time of less than about 10 seconds, an absorptive capacity greater than about 4 grams per gram and a medium capillary desorption height of less than about 150 cm. The preferred materials for backsheets and cuffs are hydrophobic and have a repellency greater than 0 cm.