Porous, nonwoven liquid-activated barrier

摘要

A porous, nonwoven liquid-activated barrier which includes a fibrous nonwoven web in which at least about 50 percent by weight of the fibers constituting the fibrous nonwoven web are prepared from a liquid-swellable polymer which is not significantly soluble in the liquid. In addition, the fibers of the fibrous nonwoven web have diameters in a range of from about 0.1 to about 100 micrometers. The pores of the fibrous nonwoven web have a longest dimension in a range of from about 0.3 to about 300 micrometers. In the presence of liquid, the fibers swell to an extent sufficient to substantially block the passage of liquid through the fibrous nonwoven web. In many instances, the liquid will be water.