DISPOSABLE ABSORBENT ARTICLE HAVING A DECOUPLED, RANDOMLY ARRANGED ABSORBENT STRUCTURE

摘要

PURPOSE: An expanding absorbent material in absorbent article which is substantially flat prior to use is provided to expand substantially in only one direction upon activation by body fluids without limit of hydrogel forming material. CONSTITUTION: A disposable absorbent article (20) is substantially flat prior to use is worn adjacent a body discharge area. The disposable absorbent article (20) includes a liquid pervious top sheet (24), a back sheet (26), and an absorbent core (28) intermediate the top sheet and the back sheet. The absorbent core (28) has a body facing surface and a garment facing surface, and has an expanding layer (46) for expanding the article into a tridimensional structure while being worn by a user. The expanding layer (46) includes a number of smaller expanding elements (50) that are activated by body fluids, are decoupled from one another, and are capable of expanding substantially in only one direction upon activation by body fluids.