BR112020016192B1 - ABSORBENT BODY - Google Patents

Abstract

Absorbent cores comprising a layered structure and manufacturing methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an absorbent body may comprise a top layer comprising a liquid-permeable batt material, a bottom layer comprising a batt material, and a reinforcing layer disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer. The absorbent body may further comprise a first absorbent layer disposed between the reinforcing layer and the back layer, the first absorbent layer comprising absorbent material comprising substantially only superabsorbent material, and a second absorbent layer disposed between the top layer and the backing layer, the second absorbent layer comprising absorbent material comprising absorbent material. The body may also comprise adhesive disposed between the top layer and the second absorbent layer, between the second absorbent layer and the reinforcing layer and between the first absorbent layer and the bottom layer.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present disclosure is directed to absorbent bodies and, more particularly, to layered absorbent cores for use in absorbent articles.

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCLOSURE

[002] People rely on disposable absorbent products in their everyday life, including items such as adult incontinence products, bedwetting pants, training diapers, and diapers. Many manufacturers seek to better meet the needs of users of these products. For example, fit, stealth and leak protection need to be further improved for many products.

[003] An important component of many absorbent articles are the absorbent cores contained in these articles. These absorbent cores are generally responsible for capturing and retaining liquid bodily exudates, preventing the exudates from leaking out of the absorbent article and further retaining liquid from the user's skin, which helps promote skin health. Advances in the structure and performance of absorbent cores to produce thinner products that absorb liquids more quickly and leak less are an important and continued area of market desire.

DISCLOSURE SUMMARY

[004] The present disclosure is directed to absorbent bodies and, more particularly, to layered absorbent cores for use in absorbent articles.

[005] In a first embodiment, an absorbent body may comprise an upper layer comprising a liquid-permeable blanket material, a lower layer comprising a blanket material, a reinforcing layer disposed between the upper layer and the lower layer, a first absorbent layer disposed between the reinforcing layer and the back layer, the first absorbent layer comprising absorbent material comprising substantially only superabsorbent material and a second absorbent layer disposed between the top layer and the backing layer, the second absorbent layer comprising absorbent material which comprises absorbent material. The body may further comprise adhesive disposed between the top layer and the second absorbent layer, between the second absorbent layer and the reinforcing layer and between the first absorbent layer and the bottom layer.

[006] In a second embodiment, the absorbent material of the second absorbent layer of the first embodiment may comprise substantially only fibrous absorbent material.

[007] In a third embodiment, the absorbent material of the second absorbent layer of the first embodiment may substantially comprise only superabsorbent material.

[008] In a fourth embodiment, the absorbent material disposed within the second absorbent layer of the first embodiment may comprise between about 50% and about 80%, by weight, of superabsorbent material.

[009] In a fifth embodiment, the absorbent material disposed within the second absorbent layer of the first embodiment may comprise a mixture of superabsorbent material and fibrous absorbent material, and the mixture may comprise a substantially uniform distribution of the superabsorbent material and the fibrous absorbent material.

[0010] In a sixth embodiment, the absorbent body of any of the first through fifth embodiments may further comprise superabsorbent material incorporated within the reinforcing layer.

[0011] In a seventh embodiment, the superabsorbent material incorporated within the reinforcement layer of the sixth embodiment may comprise between about 50% and about 80%, by weight, of the superabsorbent material incorporated within the reinforcement layer and the superabsorbent material disposed inside the first absorbent layer.

[0012] In an eighth embodiment, the superabsorbent material incorporated within the reinforcing layer of any of the sixth and seventh embodiments may comprise between about 50% and about 65%, by weight, of the superabsorbent material incorporated within the layer reinforcement and superabsorbent material disposed within the first absorbent layer.

[0013] In a ninth embodiment, a total weight of absorbent material disposed within the second absorbent layer of any of the first to eighth embodiments may be between about 5.5 g and about 8.5 g.

[0014] In a tenth embodiment, a total weight of absorbent material incorporated within the reinforcing layer and disposed within the first absorbent layer of any of the first through ninth embodiments may be between about 5.5 g and about 10.5 g.

[0015] In an eleventh embodiment, the total amount of absorbent material incorporated within the reinforcing layer and disposed within the first absorbent layer of any of the sixth through tenth embodiments may be between about 50% and about 60%, by weight, of the total amount of absorbent material disposed within the first absorbent layer, the second absorbent layer and incorporated within the reinforcing layer.

[0016] In a twelfth embodiment, the absorbent body of any of the first to eleventh embodiments may further comprise an air-deposited paper layer disposed between the second absorbent layer and the upper liquid-permeable layer.

[0017] In a thirteenth embodiment, the absorbent body of any of the first through twelfth embodiments may further comprise an air-deposited paper layer disposed between the first absorbent layer and the bottom layer.

[0018] In a fourteenth embodiment, the absorbent body of any of the first through thirteenth embodiments may further comprise a third absorbent layer, wherein the third absorbent layer may be disposed between the second absorbent layer and the top layer, and wherein the third absorbent layer may comprise absorbent material comprising substantially only superabsorbent material.

[0019] In a fifteenth embodiment, the first absorbent layer of any one of the first through fourteenth embodiments may comprise at least one channel region and a plurality of non-channel regions, and wherein an absorbent material content of the regions of non-channel may be greater than an absorbent material content of at least one channel region.

[0020] In a sixteenth embodiment, an absorbent body may comprise a top layer comprising a liquid-permeable batt material, a bottom layer comprising a batt material, and a reinforcing layer comprising a non-woven batt material disposed between the layer upper layer and the lower layer, the reinforcing layer further comprising superabsorbent material incorporated into the non-woven batt material. The body may further comprise a first absorbent layer disposed between the reinforcement layer and the back layer, the first absorbent layer comprising absorbent material comprising substantially only superabsorbent material, a second absorbent layer disposed between the top layer and the reinforcement layer, the second absorbent layer comprising absorbent material comprising a substantially uniform mixture of superabsorbent material and fibrous and adhesive absorbent material disposed between the first air-deposited paper layer and the second absorbent layer, between the second absorbent layer and the reinforcing layer and between the first absorbent layer and the second air-deposited paper layer. In some additional embodiments, the first absorbent layer may comprise at least one channel region and a plurality of non-channel regions, and wherein an absorbent material content of the non-channel regions may be greater than a fur absorbent material content. least one channel region.

[0021] In a seventeenth embodiment, the absorbent body of the sixteenth embodiment may further comprise an air-deposited paper layer disposed between the second absorbent layer and the upper liquid-permeable layer.

[0022] In an eighteenth embodiment, the absorbent body of any of the sixteenth and seventeenth embodiments may further comprise an air-deposited paper layer disposed between the first absorbent layer and the bottom layer.

[0023] In a nineteenth embodiment, the absorbent body of any of the sixteenth and eighteenth embodiments may further comprise a third absorbent layer, wherein the third absorbent layer may be disposed between the second absorbent layer and the top layer , and wherein the third absorbent layer may comprise absorbent material comprising substantially only superabsorbent material.

[0024] In a twentieth embodiment, the amount of superabsorbent material, by weight, embedded in the reinforcing layer and disposed within the first absorbent layer of any of the sixteenth through nineteenth embodiments, may be between about two times and about of three times the amount of superabsorbent material disposed within the second absorbent layer.

[0025] The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or each implementation of the present invention. Advantages and achievements, together with a more complete understanding of the disclosure, will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary absorbent article in a closed configuration, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 1 in an open, flat lay configuration; FIG. 3 is a cross-section of an exemplary absorbent body for use in an absorbent article, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a cross-section of another exemplary absorbent body for use in an absorbent article, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a cross-section of yet another exemplary absorbent body for use in an absorbent article, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is a cross-section of yet another exemplary absorbent body for use in an absorbent article, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 is a cross-section of yet another exemplary absorbent body for use in an absorbent article, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 8 is a cross-section of yet another exemplary absorbent body for use in an absorbent article, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 is a cross-section of yet another exemplary absorbent body for use in an absorbent article, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 10 is a cross-section of yet another exemplary absorbent body for use in an absorbent article, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 11 is a cross-section of yet another exemplary absorbent body for use in an absorbent article, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 12 is a cross-section of yet another exemplary absorbent body for use in an absorbent article, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of an exemplary method for forming absorbent bodies of the present disclosure; and FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of another exemplary method for forming absorbent bodies of the present disclosure.

[0027] Although the disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit aspects of the disclosure to the specific illustrative modalities described. Rather, the intent is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives that are within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0028] The following description should be read with reference to drawings in which similar elements in different drawings are numbered in the same way. The description and drawings, which are not necessarily scalable, represent illustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0029] Within the context of this specification, each term or phrase below will include the following meaning or meanings. Additional terms are defined elsewhere in the specification.

[0030] "Absorbent article" herein refers to an article that can be placed against or near the body (i.e., contiguous to the body) of the user to absorb and contain various liquid, solid and semisolid exudates discharged from the body. Such absorbent articles, as described herein, are intended to be discarded after a limited period of use rather than being washed or otherwise restored for reuse. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is applicable to various disposable absorbent articles, including, but not limited to, diapers, training diapers, full-grown baby diapers, swim trunks and incontinence products, and the like, without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0031] "Air deposited" refers here to a network manufactured by an air transport process. In the air laying process, bundles of small fibers having typical lengths ranging from about 3 to about 52 mm are separated and contained in an air supply, and then deposited onto a forming screen, generally with the assistance of a vacuum supply. The randomly deposited fibers are then bonded together using, for example, hot air to activate a binder component or a latex adhesive. Air deposition is set forth, for example, in US Patent No. 4,640,810 to Laursen et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

[0032] “Linked” refers to the connection, adhesion, connection, union, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered linked when they are joined, adhered, connected, fixed, or similar, directly or indirectly to each other, for example, when linked to an intermediate element. Bonding can occur by adhesives, pressure bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, joining, sewing, suturing and/or welding.

[0033] "Bound carded batt" refers here to batts made from staple fibers that are sent through a combing or carding unit that separates or breaks and aligns the staple fibers in the machine direction to form an oriented fibrous non-woven batt. stops in general machine direction. This material can be joined using methods that may include spot bonding, airflow bonding, ultrasonic bonding, adhesive bonding, etc.

[0034] "Conformal" refers here to composite materials comprising a mixture or stabilized matrix of thermoplastic fibers and a second non-thermoplastic material. As an example, co-formed materials can be manufactured by a process in which at least one melt blowing die head is disposed near a trough through which other materials are added to the blanket as it is formed. Such other materials may include, but are not limited to, organic fibrous materials such as wood or non-wood pulp such as cotton, rayon, recycled paper, pulp fluff and also superabsorbent particles, inorganic and/or organic absorbent materials, staple fibers treated polymers and so on. Some examples of such conformal materials are disclosed in Patent Nos. 4,100,324 to Anderson, et al., 4,818,464 to Lau, 5,284,703 to Everhart, et al. and 5,350,624 to Georger, et al., each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference to the same for all purposes.

[0035] “Connected” refers to the union, adhesion, connection, fixation, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered connected when they are directly connected to each other or indirectly connected to each other, such as when each is directly connected to intermediate elements.

[0036] "Disposable" refers to articles designed to be discarded after limited use, rather than being washed or otherwise restored for reuse.

[0037] The terms “arranged”, “arranged in relation to” and variations thereof are intended to mean that an element may be an integral part of another element, or that an element may be a separate structure attached or placed with or disposed near to another element.

[0038] “Elastic”, “stretched” and “elasticity” means the property of a material or composite by virtue of which it tends to recover its original size and shape after the removal of a force that causes a deformation.

[0039] "Elastomeric" refers to a material or composite that can be elongated by at least 50% of its relaxed length and that will recover, upon release of the applied force, at least 20% of its elongation. It is generally preferred that the elastomeric material or composite is capable of being elongated by at least 50 percent, more preferably by at least 100 percent, and even more preferably by at least 300 percent of its relaxed length and recovering, upon release. of an applied force, at least 50% of its elongation.

[0040] "Fibrous absorbent material" or "absorbent fibers" refers here to natural fibers, cellulosic fibers, synthetic fibers composed of cellulose or cellulose derivatives, such as rayon fibers; inorganic fibers composed of an inherently wettable material, such as glass fibers; synthetic fibers made from intrinsically wettable thermoplastic polymers, such as particular polyester or polyamide fibers, or composed of non-wettable thermoplastic polymers, such as polyolefin fibers that have been hydrophilized by suitable means. Fibers can be hydrophilized, for example, by treatment with a surfactant, treatment with silica, treatment with a material that has a suitable hydrophilic portion and is not easily removed from the fiber, or by lining the non-wettable hydrophobic fiber with a hydrophilic polymer for a period of time. or after fiber formation.

[0041] "Integral" is used to refer to multiple parts of a single unitary element, rather than separate structures linked or placed or placed next to each other.

[0042] “Layer”, when used in the singular, can have the double meaning of a single element or a plurality of elements.

[0043] “Machine direction” (MD) refers to the length of a fabric in the direction in which it is produced, as opposed to a “counter machine direction” (CD) which refers to the width of a fabric in one direction generally perpendicular to the machine direction.

[0044] “Element” when used in the singular, can have the double meaning of a single element or a plurality of elements.

[0045] "Non-woven fabric" or "non-woven blanket" refers here to a blanket that has a structure of individual fibers or threads that are interwoven, but not in an identifiable manner as in a knitted fabric. Non-woven fabrics or webs have been formed from many processes, such as meltblown processes, spinbond processes, air-bonded carded web processes (also known as BCW and TABCW), etc.

[0046] "Spunbond blanket" refers here to a blanket that contains substantially continuous fibers of small diameter. Fibers are formed by extrusion of a molten thermoplastic material from a plurality of fine, generally circular capillaries of a spinneret with the diameter of the extruded fibers then being rapidly reduced through, for example, tensile extrusion and/or other well-known mechanisms of performing spunbond. The production of spinbound blankets is described and illustrated, for example, in US Patent Nos. 4,340,563 to Appel, et al., 3,692,618 to Dorschner, et al., 3,802,817 to Matsuki, et al. al., 3,338,992 to Kinney, 3,341,394 to Kinney, 3,502,763 to Hartman, 3,502,538 to Levy, 3,542,615 to Dobo, et al. and 5,382,400 to Pike, et al., which are each incorporated in their entirety herein by reference for all purposes. Spunbond fibers are generally non-sticky when deposited on a collecting surface. Spinbound fibers can sometimes have diameters of less than about 40 microns and often between about 5 to about 20 microns.

[0047] "Superabsorbent polymer", "superabsorbent material" "SAP" or "SAM" should be used interchangeably and should refer to polymers that can absorb and retain extremely large quantities of a liquid relative to their own mass. Water-absorbing polymers, which are classified as hydrogels, which can be cross-linked, absorb aqueous solutions through hydrogen bonds and other polar forces with water molecules. The ability of a SAP to absorb water is based in part on ionicity (a factor of the ionic concentration of the aqueous solution) and the polar functional groups of the SAP that have an affinity for water. SAPs are typically made from the polymerization of acrylic acid mixed with sodium hydroxide in the presence of an initiator to form a sodium salt of polyacrylic acid (sometimes referred to as sodium polyacrylate). Other materials are also used to produce a superabsorbent polymer, such as polyacrylamide copolymer, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer, cross-linked carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, cross-linked polyethylene oxide and polyacrylonitrile starch-grafted copolymer. SAP may be present in absorbent articles in particle or fibrous form, or as a coating on another material or fiber.

[0048] “Particle”, “particulate” and the like, when used with the term “superabsorbent polymer”, refer to the form of discrete units. The units may comprise flakes, fibers, agglomerates, granules, powders, spheres, pulverized materials or similar, as well as combinations thereof. The particles may be of any desired shape, for example, cubic, rod-like, polyhedral, spherical or semi-spherical, round or rounded, angular, irregular, etc.

[0049] "Particulate superabsorbent polymer" and "particulate superabsorbent polymer composition" refer to the form of superabsorbent polymer and superabsorbent polymer compositions in discrete form, wherein the "particulate superabsorbent polymer" and "particulate superabsorbent polymer compositions" may have a particle size of less than 1000μm or from about 150μm to about 850μm.

[0050] "Centrifugal Retention Capacity (CRC)", as used herein, refers to the ability of the particulate superabsorbent polymer to retain liquid therein after being saturated and subjected to centrifugation under controlled conditions and is indicated as grams of liquid retained per gram of sample weight (g/g) as measured by the Centrifuge Retention Capacity Test set forth herein.

[0051] "Gel permeability" is a property of the particle mass as a whole and is related to particle size distribution, particle shape and the connection of open pores between particles, shear modulus and modification of the gel surface swollen. In practical terms, the gel permeability of the superabsorbent polymeric composition is a measure of the flow rate of liquid through the mass of swollen particles. Low permeability in gel indicates that liquid cannot easily flow through the superabsorbent polymeric composition, which is often called gel blockage, and that any forced liquid flow (such as a second application of urine during diaper use) must adopt an alternative path (e.g. diaper leak).

[0052] "Polymer" includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, beakerpolymers, for example, block, graft, random and alternating beakerpolymers, terpolymers, etc., and mixtures and modifications thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the term “polymer” shall include all possible isomers of material configuration. These configurations include, but are not limited to, isotactic, syndiotactic, and atactic symmetries.

[0053] "Vortex time" measures the amount of time in seconds required for 2 grams of a SAP to close a vortex created by stirring 50 milliliters of saline at 600 rotations per minute on a magnetic stir plate. The time required for the vortex to close is an indication of the free swelling absorption rate of the SAP.

[0054] "Percentage (%) by weight" or "% by weight", as used herein and referring to components of the dry particle superabsorbent polymer composition, should be interpreted as based on the weight of the dry superabsorbent polymer composition, the unless otherwise specified herein.

[0055] These terms may be defined with additional meanings in other portions of this specification.

[0056] With reference to FIGS. 1-2, a garment 20 extends along a longitudinal direction 23 and a lateral direction 22 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 23. As used in describing various embodiments of the garment 20, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the terms "longitudinal " and "side" have their usual meaning as indicated by the central longitudinal axis 24 and the central lateral axis 25. The central longitudinal axis 24 lies in the plane of the article when the article is in a fully stretched and flat condition, while the front panels and rear are separated and is generally parallel to a vertical plane that cuts a standing user to the left and the right body falls in half when the article is used. The central lateral axis 25 lies in the plane of the article and is generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis 24. The garment 20 has a front region 30 defining a front edge of the waist 32, a rear region 34 defining a rear edge of the waist 36, and a region crotch region 38 positioned longitudinally between the front region 30 and the back region 34. The crotch region 38 defines two laterally opposed side edges of the crotch 39. The garment 20 defines a length of clothing 21 that extends from the front edge of the waist 32 to the edge back waist 36.

[0057] Garment 20 includes a front panel 40 that defines a leg edge of the front panel 44 spaced longitudinally inwardly from the front edge of the waist end 32, and the first and second side edges of the front panel laterally opposed 46 , 48. The garment 20 also includes a back panel 41 that defines a leg edge of the back panel 45 spaced longitudinally inwardly from the rear end edge of the waist 36 and the first and second side edges of the back panel laterally opposed 47. 49. "Longitudinally inward (or inward)," as used to describe clothing embodiments herein, means in a direction longitudinally toward the central lateral axis 25. Likewise, "laterally inward (or inward)" , as used to describe clothing embodiments herein, means a lateral direction toward the central longitudinal axis 24. The front panel 40 is longitudinally spaced from the back panel 41. The specific structures of the front and back panels 40, 41 are described below in with respect to FIGS. 3A-11B.

[0058] A pair of side seams 84, 84 connect the front region 30 to the back region 34, so that the garment 20 defines a waist opening 27 and a pair of leg openings 28. The side seams may be permanent, but tearable, such as through adhesive, thermal, pressure, or ultrasonic bonds, or may be more readily releasable and readjustable, such as through the use of mechanical fasteners.

[0059] The garment 20 may further include at least one front leg elastic element 70 disposed adjacent to the front panel leg edge 44 and/or at least one rear leg elastic element 75 disposed adjacent to the rear panel leg edge 44 45. These elastic leg elements 70 and/or 75 help provide additional elastic support around the leg openings 28 to improve fit and leak protection of clothing 20. Each elastic leg element 70, 75 may comprise a single tape , thread or cord (or the like) of elastic material, or each may comprise two, three or more ribbons, threads or cords (or the like) of elastic material. Tapes, threads, elastic cords and the like suitable for use in disposable absorbent clothing are known in the art, an example being LYCRA brand elastic filaments available from Dupont Corporation. In particular embodiments, the rear leg elastic element 75 and/or the front leg elastic element 70 extends laterally across the entire width of the garment. In other embodiments, such as that representatively illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear leg elastic member 75 may comprise a pair of rear leg elastic members, such as the first and second rear leg elastic members 76, 77 positioned on opposite sides of the absorbent composite 50. Likewise, the front leg elastic element 70 may comprise a pair of front leg elastic elements, such as first and second front leg elastic elements 71, 72 positioned on opposite sides of the absorbent composite 50. In preferred embodiments, such as representatively illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each elastic element of the rear leg 75 may comprise a plurality of elastomeric threads and/or each elastic element of the front leg 70 may comprise a plurality of elastomeric threads.

[0060] In particular embodiments, an absorbent composite 50 is connected to and between the front panel 40 and the back panel 41. The absorbent composite 50 may comprise a composite structure formed by a liquid-impermeable barrier layer 52 that defines a width 53 and a length 51, an absorbent body 54 comprising absorbent material, a liquid-permeable coating 55 and/or elastic crotch elements 56. As used herein, the term "absorbent material" may mean fibrous absorbent material, superabsorbent material (SAM) or a combination of fibrous absorbent material and SAM. The absorbent body 54, in some embodiments, may comprise a layered structure that includes several regions of liquid absorbent materials, such as fibrous absorbent material and/or SAM. The absorbent body 54 defines a length 61 and a width 63. A further description of exemplary absorbent bodies 54 of the present disclosure is set forth below in connection with FIGS. 3-12.

[0061] It should be understood that the exemplary pant-like garment 20 is only one possible example of an absorbent article that can be used with the described absorbent bodies 54 of the present disclosure. Garments 20 such as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can generally be described as garments formed using a counter-machine direction (CD) manufacturing process. Alternative exemplary garments that may be used with the described absorbent bodies 54 may include garments formed by a machine direction (MD) manufacturing process. In general, the present disclosure is not limited to the specifically disclosed absorbent clothing. Instead, the described absorbent bodies 54 may be utilized within any chassis structure suitable for retaining the described absorbent bodies 54 on a user. In still other contemplated embodiments, the described absorbent bodies 54 may not be used with any chassis structure. Instead, the absorbent bodies 54 may be constructed so that they can be placed directly in contact with a user's body - for example, using body adhesive disposed on a side surface of the body of the absorbent bodies 54.

[0062] FIGS. 3-12 illustrate exemplary cross-sections of the absorbent body 54 as seen along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, in accordance with aspects of this disclosure. In general, the absorbent bodies 54 of the present disclosure may comprise multiple layers, including several separate layers of absorbent material.

[0063] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the exemplary absorbent body comprises a lower core wrap sheet 101 and an upper core wrap sheet 103. The upper core wrap sheet 103 can be glued to the lower core wrap sheet 101 by means of sewing beads adhesive 106. Although the upper core wrap sheet 103 is shown as generally wrapping around the body 54 to attach to the lower core wrap sheet 101, other embodiments may comprise different configurations of the core wrap sheet 106. lower core wrap sheet 101 and the upper core wrap sheet 103. For example, in some embodiments, both the lower core wrap sheet 101 and the upper core wrap sheet 103 may partially wrap around the body 54, or the lower core wrap sheet 101 may wrap around the majority of the body 54 to attach to the upper core wrap sheet 103. In still other embodiments, the body 54 may comprise only a single core wrap sheet. In such embodiments, the single core wrap sheet may wrap around the body 54 and be bonded to itself by a single adhesive seam bead 106. In still other embodiments, instead of being glued to itself, the core wrap sheet A single core may wrap around the body 54, but there may be a space between the ends of the core sheet thus leaving a portion of the body 54 uncovered by the single core wrap sheet (sometimes called the C-ply).

[0064] The lower core wrap sheet 101 and the upper core wrap sheet 103 may be formed from any suitable materials. At least the upper core wrap sheet 103 may be permeable to liquid and may perform well in capturing and absorbing fluid. In some embodiments, the lower core wrap sheet 101 may also be liquid permeable and perform well in capturing and absorbing fluid. Although, in other embodiments, the lower core wrap sheet 101 may be liquid impermeable to help prevent liquid from leaking out of the body 54 and/or clothing 20.

[0065] Wrap sheets 101 and/or 103 may include natural and synthetic fibers, such as, but not limited to, polyester, polypropylene, acetate, nylon, polymeric materials, cellulosic materials and combinations thereof. In various embodiments, the fluid transfer layer 84 may be hydrophilic. In various embodiments, the wrap sheets 101 and/or 103 may be hydrophobic and may be treated in any manner known in the art to be hydrophilic. Some examples of suitable materials include fabric materials, spunbond and/or meltblown materials (e.g. spunbond-meltblown materials and spunbond-meltblown-spunbond materials), woven materials, HYDROKNIT® materials, which are a class of materials commercially available from Kimberly -Clark World Wide, Inc., air deposited materials and conformal materials. More specifically, the wrap sheets 101, 103 may be composed of fabric materials having a weight of between about 10 g/m2 and about 30 g/m2, spunlace materials having a weight of between about 20 g/m2 and about 50 g/m2, Hydroknit® materials with a basis weight of between about 20 g/m2 and about 50 g/m2, air-laid materials with a basis weight of between about 30 g/m2 and about 50 g/m2 and conformal materials with a grammage between approximately 35 g/m2 and approximately 60 g/m2. Although, these are just a few examples. Other suitable materials and/or materials with weights different from the ranges identified above can be used in other modalities. For example, any suitable material known to one skilled in the art can be used, and the basis weight of any material used for the wrapping weight 101, 103 can be in the range of about 6 g/m2 to about 60 g/m2.

[0066] The absorbent body 54 may be structured into a number of layers, such as layers 120, 122 and/or 124. The layer 120 may be an absorbent layer and may comprise at least a portion of a first absorbent region 132 of the body 54. Layer 122 may comprise a reinforcing material 116 disposed within the absorbent body 54 and in some embodiments may also comprise a portion of the first absorbent region 132. Layer 124 may be a second absorbent layer and may comprise at least a portion of a second absorbent region 134 of the absorbent body 54. These different layers 120, 122 and 124 are described in more detail below.

[0067] Layer 120 may contain absorbent material to provide the absorbent body with beneficial fluid absorption and storage qualities. In some embodiments, layer 120 may be composed of substantially only absorbent material and substantially only SAM in other embodiments. In the present disclosure, the phrase "substantially only" means that the described material may comprise greater than or equal to 90% of the total weight of the entire material of the layer or region. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, layer 120 may comprise absorbent materials which, when combined, is equal to or greater than 90% of the total weight of all material within layer 120. Where layer 120 comprises substantially only SAM, layer 120 may comprise an amount of SAM weighing greater than or equal to 90% of the total weight of the entire material of layer 120. In the example of FIG. 3, layer 120 is depicted as comprising SAM particles 115, but in other embodiments layer 120 may also comprise fibrous absorbent material such as cellulose fluff and the like.

[0068] The absorbent body 54 may comprise an adhesive layer 105 disposed between the lower core wrap sheet 101 and the layer 120. This adhesive layer 105 may help to stabilize the absorbent material in the layer 120. That is, the adhesive layer 105 may help to keep the absorbent material within the layer 120 in position within the body 54. The adhesive layer 105 may be applied according to any suitable adhesive application method known in the art, such as by means of a spray or an extrusion coating. or similar. Furthermore, the adhesive layer can be applied according to any suitable adhesive pattern. For example, the adhesive within the adhesive layer 105 may be applied as lines, swirls, spirals, dots, as a mesh, or as any other suitable pattern. The sticky layer adhesive 105 may be applied at a density of between about 1.0 g/m2 and about 7.0 g/m2, or between about 2.0 g/m2 and about 6.0 g/m2 , or between about 3.0 g/m2 and about 5.0 g/m2, or between about 3.0 g/m2 and about 4.0 g/m2, or between about 3.15 g/m2 m2 and about 3.85 g/m2, or between about 3.25 g/m2 and about 3.75 g/m2, or between about 3.4 g/m2 and about 3.6 g/m2 , or any other suitable density.

[0069] Layer 122 is disposed adjacent to layer 120 and may be disposed directly adjacent to layer 120 without any material between layers 120, 122 (such as an adhesive layer). In other embodiments, however, there may be an adhesive layer disposed between layers 120, 122. In general, layer 122 may comprise one or more reinforcing materials. In some embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 3, the reinforcing material 116 may comprise a non-woven material composed of multiple individual fibers 117, such as a spunbond material or a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) material. In other embodiments, the non-woven material may be a porous non-woven material, such as a carded air-bonded batt (TABCW) or chemically-bonded non-woven materials or the like. The reinforcing material 116 may have a basis weight of from about 30 g/m2 to about 120 g/m2, or from about 35 g/m2 to about 110 g/m2, or from about 40 g/m2 to about from 100 g/m2, or from about 40 g/m2 to about 90 g/m2, or from about 40 g/m2 to about 75 g/m2, or any other suitable basis weight.

[0070] In some embodiments, layer 122 may additionally include incorporated absorbent material. As used herein, the fibers 117 of the reinforcing material 116 are not considered absorbent material, regardless of the absorbent properties of the fibers 117. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 3 layer 122 comprises embedded SAM particles 115. These SAM particles 115 may be arranged throughout the reinforcing material 116 of layer 122 and entrapped by the fibers 117, thereby helping to stabilize the particles 115 within the reinforcing material 116.

[0071] In embodiments in which layer 122 comprises a reinforcing material 116 and an absorbent material (such as SAM particles 115), layers 120 and 122 may form the first absorbent region 132 of body 54. In total, the amount of Absorbent material within the first absorbent region 132 may be between about 4 grams and about 12 grams. For example, where the absorbent material disposed within the layers 120, 122 comprises SAM particles 115, the total weight of the SAM particles 115 disposed throughout the layer 120 and layer 122 may be between about 4 grams and about 12 grams. Obviously, the absorbent material in layers 120, 122 need not consist solely of SAM particles 115 in all embodiments. In other embodiments, the amount of absorbent material disposed along the layers 120, 122 may be between about 5 grams and about 11 grams, or between about 6 grams and about 10 grams, or between about 7 grams and about of 9 grams.

[0072] In some particular embodiments, the amount of absorbent material, by weight, disposed within layer 122 may be greater or less than the amount of absorbent material in layer 120. For example, in some embodiments, the amount of absorbent material, by weight, layer 122 may comprise between about 30% and about 70% of the total amount of absorbent material within the first absorbent region 132 (e.g., layers 120 and 122). In other embodiments, the amount of absorbent material, by weight, in layer 122 may be between about 40% and about 70%, or between about 50% and about 70%, or between about 60% and about 70%. % of the total amount of absorbent material within the first absorbent region 132.

[0073] In order to determine the amount of absorbent material in the different layers of the absorbent body 54, the body 54 can be deconstructed in the following manner. First, layers 122 and 124 may be removed from layer 120. For example, any bonds between the lower core wrap sheet and the upper core wrap sheet 103 may be broken and the layers 122 and 124, together with the sheet of upper core wrap sheet 103 can be pulled away from layer 120. This will leave the lower core wrap sheet 101, including adhesive layer 105 and layer 120, separate from the rest of the layers. Since the size and weight of the core sheet 103 are known, a total weight of the core wrap sheet can be determined from this information. Likewise, the amount, by weight, of adhesive within the adhesive layer 105 is known through process parameters used to apply the adhesive to the adhesive layer 105. Therefore, the total amount of absorbent material, by weight, in the layer 120 can be determined by weighing the bottom core wrap sheet 101, including the adhesive layer 105 and layer 120, and subtracting the weight of the core wrap sheet 101 and the adhesive on the adhesive layer 105.

[0074] To determine the amount of absorbent material incorporated within the reinforcing layer 116, the reinforcing layer 116 can be removed from the top core wrap sheet 103 and layer 124 and weighed. For example, the reinforcing layer 116 may simply be carefully torn away from the adhesive layer 107. In such embodiments, this step may be performed over a basin to capture any loose embedded absorbent material that falls out during tearing. Alternatively, one or more steps may be taken to deactivate the adhesive in the adhesive layer 107 to allow easier removal of the reinforcing layer 116, for example, using adhesive release or other methods known in the art. The reinforcing layer 116 can then be weighed, along with any loose absorbent material attached, to determine the total weight of the reinforcing layer 116 and the incorporated absorbent material. Since the size and weight of the reinforcing layer 116 are known, the total weight of the absorbent material incorporated in the reinforcing layer 116 can be determined by subtracting the weight of the reinforcing layer 116 from the measured weight.

[0075] The amount of absorbent material disposed within layer 124 can also be determined. For example, the upper core wrap sheet 103 can be removed by breaking any bonds with the lower core wrap sheet 101. The core wrap sheet 103 can then be removed, exposing layer 124. The absorbent material within the layer 124 can be collected in a measuring basin, which can then be weighed to determine the total amount of absorbent material within layer 124. Other steps common in the art can be taken to separate any fibrous absorbent material from the particulate absorbent material to determine the weights. of any of these individual components. Any of the cited percentages of absorbent material, within a given layer 120, 122 and 124, or between any of the layers 120, 122 and 124 can be readily determined after determining the appropriate absolute weights.

[0076] Layer 124 may represent another absorbent layer comprising absorbent material. As seen in FIGS. 3-12, layer 124 is disposed between the upper core wrap sheet 103 and reinforcing material 116. Layer 124 may also form the second absorbent region 134. In some embodiments, layer 124 may comprise substantially only absorbent material. fibrous, such as absorbent fibers 113 and in some specific embodiments may comprise 100% fibrous absorbent material. In other embodiments, layer 124 may comprise substantially only superabsorbent material, such as SAM particles 111, and in some more specific embodiments may comprise 100% superabsorbent material. In still other embodiments, layer 124 may comprise a mixture of absorbent fibers 113 and SAM particles 111, as in FIGS. 3-12. In at least some of these embodiments, the SAM particles 111 and the absorbent fibers 113 may be arranged so that the layer 124 represents a relatively uniform mixture of the SAM particles 111 and the fibers 113.

[0077] Where layer 124 comprises SAM particles 111 and absorbent fibers 113, layer 124 may contain different amounts of SAM particles 111 and absorbent fibers 113 in different embodiments. For example, layer 124 may comprise anywhere from about 5% to about 95% by weight of superabsorbent material. That is, of the total weight of the material comprising layer 124, the superabsorbent material may comprise anywhere between about 5% and about 95% of that total weight. In other embodiments, layer 124 may comprise anywhere between about 10% and about 90% by weight of superabsorbent material, or anywhere between about 20% and about 90% by weight of superabsorbent material. superabsorbent, or anywhere between about 30% and about 90% by weight of superabsorbent material, or anywhere between about 40% and about 90% by weight of superabsorbent material, or anywhere between about 50% and about 90% by weight superabsorbent material, or anywhere between about 50% and about 85% by weight superabsorbent material, or anywhere between about 50% and about 80% by weight superabsorbent material, or anywhere between about 60% and about 80% by weight superabsorbent material. In such embodiments where layer 124 is comprised of 100% absorbent material, the remainder of the weight of layer 124 may be comprised of fibrous absorbent material.

[0078] In absolute weights, the amount of superabsorbent material in layer 124 may be between about 0 g and about 20 g, or between about 0 g and about 15 g, or between about 0 g and about 10 g, or between about 0 g and about 8 g, or between about 2 g and about 8 g, or between about 3 g and about 8 g, or between about 3 g and about 6 g, or between about 3 g and about of 5 g. The absolute weight of the fibrous absorbent material in layer 124 may be between about 0 g and about 20 g, or between about 0 g and about 15 g, or between about 0 g and about 10 g, or between about 0 g and about 8 g, or between about 2 g and about 8 g, or between about 2 g and about 6 g, or between about 2 g and about 5 g.

[0079] Another characteristic of the body 54 may be the relationship of the amount of absorbent material within the second absorbent region 134 to the amount of absorbent material in the first absorbent region 132. In some embodiments, the amount of absorbent material, by weight, within the second absorbent region 134 may be between about 60% and about 140% of the amount of absorbent material within the first absorbent region 132. In other embodiments, the amount of absorbent material, by weight, within the second absorbent region 134 may be between about 70% and about 130%, or between about 75% and about 125%, or between about 75% and about 115%, or between about 75% and about 110% of the amount of absorbent material within the first absorbent region 132. These percentages include all absorbent material in regions 132, 134.

[0080] Another aspect of the body 54 may be the relationship of the amount of superabsorbent material within the second absorbent region 134 to the amount of superabsorbent material in the first absorbent region 132. In some embodiments, the amount of superabsorbent material, by weight, within the second absorbent region 134 may be between about 30% and about 70% of the amount of superabsorbent material within the first absorbent region 132. In other embodiments, the amount of superabsorbent material, by weight, within the second absorbent region 134 may be between about 35% and about 65%, or between about 35% and about 60%, or between about 40% and about 60%, of the amount of superabsorbent material within the first absorbent region 132.

[0081] In some particular embodiments, a single type of SAM may be used in all absorbent layers of the body 54. For example, a type of SAM with the following properties may be used in some embodiments in layers 120, 122 and/or 124. The Test Methods used to identify the properties of the SAM are disclosed below. Table 1

[0082] In other embodiments, two different types of SAM can be mixed and used in layers 120, 122 and/or 124. Table 2 below details two particular types of SAM and their properties that can exhibit positive performance results when mixed and used in the absorbent bodies 54 of the present disclosure. Table 2

[0083] Table 3 details additional exemplary types of SAM and their properties that may exhibit positive performance results when used in absorbent bodies 54 of the present disclosures as a mixture for use in layers 120, 122 and/or 124. Table 3

[0084] In still other embodiments, the absorbent bodies 54 of the present disclosure may comprise any of SAM types A, B, C, D or E or a mixture of any of SAM types A, B, C, D and/or E. For example, in some embodiments, layers 120, 122 may comprise any of the described SAM types A, B, C, D, or E. In the same embodiments, layer 124 may comprise the same type of SAM or any other SAM type A, B, C, D, and E. In other embodiments, layers 120, 122 may comprise a mixture of any two of SAM types A, B, C, D, and E. In these embodiments, layer 124 may comprise any of SAM types A, B, C, D, or E or a mixture of two of SAM types A, B, C, D, and E. In still other embodiments, layers 120, 122 may comprise any of SAM types A, B, C, D, or E, while layer 124 comprises any two of SAM types A, B, C, D, and E. In particular embodiments, layers 120, 122, and 124 may all comprise type of SAM A. In other embodiments, layers 120, 122 may comprise a mixture of SAM types D and E, while layer 126 comprises any of SAM types A, B, C, D, or E. Alternatively, the layer 126 may comprise a mixture of SAM types B and C in such embodiments.

[0085] The body 54 may further comprise adhesive layers 107 and 109. The adhesive layer 107 may be disposed between the reinforcing material 116 and the layer 124. The adhesive layer 109 may be disposed between the layer 124 and the wrap sheet of the upper core 103. In general, these adhesive layers 107, 109 may be similar to the adhesive layer 105, in terms of the amount and/or density of the adhesive and the types of adhesives, for example.

[0086] FIGS. 4-6 are additional exemplary sections of body 54, as seen along line 3-3 in FIG. 2, in accordance with additional aspects of the present disclosure. The absorbent bodies 54 shown in FIGS. 3-5 may be generally similar to those described in relation to FIG. 3. However, the absorbent bodies 54 in the embodiments of FIGS. 3-5 may include one or more additional layers. For example, the body 54 may further comprise one or more layers of fibrous material 104 and/or 108 disposed adjacent the core wrap sheet 103 and/or the bottom wrap sheet 101, respectively. Where included, the layers of fibrous material 104 and/or 108 may comprise any non-woven material, such as any of those described in relation to the core wrap sheets 101, 103. In some specific embodiments, the layers of fibrous material 104 and/or or 108 may comprise an air-deposited material. Such air-deposited materials may have grammages ranging from about 40 g/m2 to about 60 g/m2, or from about 45 g/m2 to about 55 g/m2. As can be seen in FIGS. 3-5, embodiments wherein the body 54 comprises one or more of material layers 104 and/or 108, the body 54 further comprises additional adhesive layers 110 and/or 112 disposed adjacent the layers 104 and/or 108, with the layers 104 and/or 108 disposed between additional adhesive layers 110 and/or 112 and the upper core wrap sheet 103 or the lower core wrap sheet 101. These adhesive layers 110 and/or 112 may be similar to the other adhesive layers 105, 107 and/or 109, for example, in terms of the quantity and/or density of the adhesive and the types of adhesives.

[0087] FIGS. 7-10 are cross-sections of the absorbent body 54, as seen along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, in accordance with other aspects of this disclosure. FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary absorbent body 54 further comprising layer 126. Layer 126 may be yet another absorbent layer and may comprise a third absorbent region 136. In some embodiments, layer 126 may comprise substantially only absorbent material, and in some specific embodiments , may comprise 100% absorbent material. Although shown to comprise only superabsorbent particles 114, layer 126 may comprise only fibrous absorbent material in other embodiments and a mixture of superabsorbent material and fibrous absorbent material in other embodiments.

[0088] The amount of absorbent material disposed within the layer 126 comprising the third absorbent region 136 may comprise between about 10% and about 40%, by weight, of the amount of absorbent material disposed within the first absorbent region 132 and the second absorbent region 134. For example, if the amount of absorbent material disposed within the first absorbent region 132 is 8 g and the amount of absorbent material disposed within the second absorbent region 134 is 7 g, than the amount of absorbent material disposed within the third absorbent region 136 may be between about 10% and about 40% of 15 g (e.g., between about 1.5 g and about 6 g). In other embodiments, however, the amount of absorbent material disposed within the third absorbent region 136 may comprise between about 12.5% and about 35%, or between about 15% and about 30%, or between about 17.5% and about 25%, by weight, of the amount of absorbent material disposed within the first absorbent region 132 and the second absorbent region 134.

[0089] FIGS. 8-10 illustrate other embodiments of absorbent body 54, which include layer 126 and one or more additional layers of fibrous material 104 and/or 108. For example, FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment in which the absorbent body 54 comprises layer 126 and the lower layer of fibrous material 108. FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment in which the absorbent body 54 comprises layer 126 and the upper layer of fibrous material 104. FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment in which the absorbent body 54 comprises the entire layer 126, the upper layer of fibrous material 104, and the lower layer of fibrous material 108. In the embodiments of FIGS. 9 and 10, an additional adhesive layer, adhesive layer 118, is further depicted. This additional adhesive layer 118 is disposed between the layer 126 and the upper layer of fibrous material 104, while the adhesive layer 110 separates the layer 126 and the absorbent layer 124 comprising the reinforcing material 116 in these embodiments.

[0090] FIGS. 11 and 12 are cross-sections of the absorbent body 54, as seen along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 representing still other embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the absorbent body 54 comprises a channel 140 with a lower absorbent material content than surrounding regions, such as regions 148 and 149. It is to be understood that regions 148, 149 correspond to regions of the absorbent body 54 disposed within the same layer or layers as channel 140. If channel 140 is disposed just within layer 122, regions 148, 149 correspond to regions of layer 122. Where channel 140 is disposed across both layers 122 and 124, then the regions 148, 149 correspond to regions extending through both layers 122, 124. Channel 140 is further shown in FIG. 11 as extending through both layers 122, 124. However, in some embodiments, channel 140 may extend only through layer 122.

[0091] As shown, the channel 140 may have a channel width 141 that extends in the lateral direction 22. In some embodiments, the channel width 141 may be between about 5% and about 40% of the total body width absorbent 63. In other embodiments, the width of the channel 141 may be between about 5% and about 35%, or be between about 5% and about 30%, or be between about 5% and about 25% , or be between about 5% and about 20%, or be between about 5% and about 15%, or be between about 5% and about 10% of the total width of the absorbent body 63.

[0092] The channel 140 may further have a longitudinal length (not shown) that extends in the longitudinal direction 23. In some embodiments, the longitudinal length of the channel 140 may be equal to a longitudinal length 61 of the absorbent body 54. However, In other embodiments, the longitudinal length of the channel 140 may be only between about 25% to about 90% of the longitudinal length 61 of the absorbent body 54. In still other embodiments, the longitudinal length of the channel 140 may be between about 25% and about 80%, or between about 30% and about 80%, or between about 30% and about 75%, or between about 30% and about 70%, or between about 35% and about of 65% of the longitudinal length 61 of the absorbent body 54.

[0093] In particular embodiments, there may be substantially no absorbent material disposed within the channel 140. In other embodiments, however, the channel 140 may have a relatively smaller amount of absorbent material disposed within the channel 140 than in the regions outside the channel. , for example, regions 148, 149. For example, the amount of absorbent material within channel 140 may be between about 0.5% and about 10%, by weight, of the amount of absorbent material disposed in regions 148, 149. As an example, the channel 140 extends through both layers 120 and 122, and each of the regions 148, 149 comprises absorbent material with a combined weight of 7 g, so the total amount of absorbent material disposed within the channel 140 may be between about 0.035 g and about 0.7 g.

[0094] FIG. 12 depicts an example of a further embodiment of the absorbent body 54, including a first channel 140 and a second channel 144 and an additional central region 147. In general, the second channel 144 may be similar in any respect to the features described above for the channel 140 As an example, the second channel 144 may have a second channel width 145 and the second channel 145 may be similar to the widths described in relation to the channel width 144. Furthermore, the amount of any absorbent material disposed within the second channel. 144 may be similar to that described in relation to channel 140.

[0095] FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of a method 200 of manufacturing the absorbent bodies 54 of the present disclosure. In a first step, a lower core wrap sheet 201 may be unwound from a spool of material. The lower core wrap sheet 201 may correspond to the lower core wrap sheet 101 previously described in connection with the absorbent bodies 54 of the present disclosure. A first adhesive 205 may be applied to the lower core wrap sheet 201 by the adhesive applicator 210, forming a first adhesive layer on the lower core wrap sheet 201. The adhesive 205 forming the first adhesive layer may correspond to the adhesive 105 described previously . For example, adhesive 205 may be applied in any manner, pattern and/or weight described in relation to adhesive 105.

[0096] A reinforcing material 202 may also be unwound from a spool and may further be coupled to the lower core wrap sheet 201, with the adhesive 205 sandwiched between the lower core wrap sheet 201 and the reinforcing material 202. The reinforcing material 202 may correspond to the reinforcing material 116 described above. Although shown as being applied to the lower core wrap sheet 201 in FIG. 13 (and FIG. 14), in alternative embodiments, adhesive 205 may be applied to reinforcing material 202 on the side of reinforcing material 202 disposed adjacent to the lower core wrap sheet 201 when the sheet 201 and material 202 are together .

[0097] Next, the lower core wrap sheet 201 and the reinforcing material 202 are conveyed to a vacuum conveyor 240, through which air is drawn through the lower core wrap sheet 201 and the reinforcing material 202 and to the vacuum conveyor 240. While the lower core wrap sheet 201 and the reinforcing material 202 are disposed on the vacuum conveyor 240, the superabsorbent material may be dispersed on and in the reinforcing material 202. For example, The superabsorbent material may be stored in a hopper 215 and may be dispensed through the conduit 216 to the reinforcing material 202. In some embodiments, the superabsorbent material is dispensed in a metered manner such that a designated amount of superabsorbent material is deposited. in the reinforcing material 202. In different embodiments, the amount of superabsorbent material deposited in the reinforcing material 202 may coincide with the amount of superabsorbent material contained in the layers 120, 122 of the absorbent bodies 54 described above.

[0098] The lower core wrap sheet 201, reinforcing material 202 and deposited superabsorbent material are then conveyed to a second vacuum conveyor 242 - although the use of one or more vacuum conveyors should not be construed as a feature limiting method 200. A second adhesive 207 is then applied to the reinforcing material 202 by adhesive applicator 211, on the same side of the reinforcing material 202 on which the superabsorbent material was deposited to form a partial core assembly of the wrap sheet. lower core 201, adhesive 205, reinforcing material 202, deposited superabsorbent material, and adhesive 207. The adhesive 207 may form a second adhesive layer, which may correspond to the adhesive layer 107 described previously.

[0099] This partial core assembly is then moved through a forming chamber 230. Within the forming chamber 230, absorbent material is deposited into a forming drum 228, which rotates in the direction of arrow 229. The forming drum 228 may be connected to a vacuum source that draws air through the drum, thereby aiding the deposition of absorbent material in the drum 228. The absorbent material deposited in the forming drum 228 corresponds to the absorbent material that forms the layer 124 of the absorbent bodies 54 of the this disclosure. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the absorbent material within the forming chamber 230 comprises fibrous absorbent material 222 and particle superabsorbent material 224. The fibrous absorbent material 222 is supplied by the fibroser 220, while the particle superabsorbent material 224 is supplied by the hopper 217 and is transported to the chamber 230 through the conduit 218. The quantities of fibrous absorbent material supplied by the fibroser 220 and of particulate superabsorbent material 224 supplied by the hopper 217 to the chamber 230 may be measured to deposit a designated amount of the materials 222, 224 in the forming drum 228. In different embodiments, the amounts of materials 222, 224 that are deposited in the forming drum 228 may correspond to the amounts of fibrous and/or particulate absorbent materials disposed within the layer 124 of the absorbent bodies described above.

[00100] It should be understood that although FIGS. 13 and 14 represent the fibrous absorbent material 222 and the particulate superabsorbent material 224 combined and deposited in the drum 228, in other embodiments the absorbent material deposited in the drum 228 may comprise only a fibrous absorbent material and particulate superabsorbent material. For example, embodiments of the absorbent bodies 54 described above included embodiments in which the layer 124 comprises only fibrous absorbent material and embodiments in which the layer 124 comprises only particulate superabsorbent material. Where the chamber 230 includes fibrous absorbent material 222 and particulate superabsorbent material 224, the air flow within the forming chamber 230 may be sufficient to mix the fibrous absorbent material 222 and the particulate superabsorbent material 224 together, as indicated in region 226 of the chamber. 230, so that materials 222, 224 deposit in drum 228 as a substantially uniform mixture.

[00101] When the surface of the forming drum 228 approaches the partial core assembly disposed on the vacuum conveyor 242, the absorbent material that has been deposited on the drum 228 is separated from the drum 228 and coupled to the adhesive 207 disposed on the reinforcing material 202 For example, the drum 228 may be designed such that airflow through the drum is blocked in the region of the drum near the vacuum conveyor 242. This may be sufficient for the deposited absorbent material to separate from the drum 228 and couple. to the partial core set. In other embodiments, the drum 228 may blow air across the surface of the drum, thereby forcing the deposited absorbent material away from the surface of the drum.

[00102] Next, the partial core assembly, including the deposited absorbent material, is coupled to the upper core wrap sheet 203, which can be unwound from a spool. In the embodiments of FIGS. 13 and 14, a third adhesive 209 is applied by adhesive applicator 212 to the upper core wrap sheet 203 before the upper core wrap sheet 203 is brought into the partial core assembly. This third adhesive 209 can form an adhesive layer that can correspond to the adhesive layer 109. As can be seen, the third adhesive 209 is applied to the upper core wrap sheet 203, so that the third adhesive is disposed between the wrap sheet of the upper core 203 and the partial core assembly. However, in other embodiments, the third adhesive 209 may be applied directly to the partial core assembly, rather than to the upper core wrap sheet 203, before the upper core wrap sheet 203 is applied to the partial core assembly. .

[00103] FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of an alternative method 200' of manufacturing the absorbent bodies 54 of the present disclosure. Method 200' is similar to method 200, except that method 200' includes applying particulate superabsorbent material to reinforcing material 202 in a different manner. As can be seen in FIG. 13, method 200 describes applying particulate superabsorbent material to the reinforcing layer 202 on a side disposed away from the lower core wrap sheet 201. In contrast, method 200' further comprises an additional vacuum conveyor 246 and handling blanket 204. The method comprises moving the reinforcement layer to the vacuum conveyor 246 without the lower core wrap sheet 201 and depositing particulate superabsorbent material onto the reinforcement layer 202 while the reinforcement layer 202 is disposed over the vacuum conveyor 246. Once the particulate superabsorbent material has been deposited on the reinforcing layer 202, the lower core wrap sheet 201 and the reinforcing layer 202 are brought together. Notably, method 200' shows applying the particle superabsorbent material alongside the reinforcing layer 202 which is disposed adjacent to the lower core wrap sheet 201, while method 200 shows applying the particle superabsorbent material alongside the of reinforcement 202 disposed from the lower core wrap sheet 201.

[00104] Of course, methods 200 and/or 200' can be modified in one or more ways to incorporate the application of one or more additional layers of absorbent material, blanket material and/or adhesive. For example, FIGS. 4-10 depict embodiments of the absorbent body 54, wherein the absorbent body includes additional layers, such as material layers 104, 108 and/or absorbent material layer 126 with one or more adhesive layers 110, 112, 118. Accordingly, methods Contemplated alternatives to methods 200, 200' include applying the layers 110, 112 and/or 126 with one or more of the adhesive layers 110, 112, 118, as appropriate to form the absorbent bodies described 54. Centrifugal Retention Capacity Test ( CRC)

[00105] The CRC Test measures the ability of the particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition to retain liquid in it after it is saturated and subjected to centrifugation under controlled conditions. The resulting retention capacity is indicated in grams of liquid retained per gram of sample weight (g/g). The CRC Test may be performed before or after subjecting the particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition to a Processing Test, as set forth herein. The sample to be tested is prepared from particles that are pre-sieved through a US standard 30 mesh sieve and retained on a US standard 50 mesh sieve. As a result, the sample of the particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition comprises particles of size in the range of 300 to about 600 microns. Particles can be pre-screened manually or automatically.

[00106] Retention capacity is measured by placing about 0.20 grams of pre-sieved sample of particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition into a water-permeable bag that will contain the sample, allowing a test solution (sodium chloride at 0. 9% by weight in distilled water) is freely absorbed by the sample. A heat-sealable tea bag material, such as that available from Dexter Corporation (based in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA) as heat-sealed filter paper with model designation 1234T, works well for most applications. The bag is formed by folding a 5-inch by 3-inch (12.7 cm x 7.6 cm) sample of bag material in half and heat sealing two of the open edges to form a 2.5-inch rectangular bag by 3 inches (6.4 cm x 7.6 cm). The heat seals are about 0.25 inch (0.6 cm) inside the edge of the material. After the sample is placed in the bag, the remaining open edge of the bag is also heat sealed. Empty bags can also serve as controls. Three samples are prepared for each particulate superabsorbent polymer composition to be tested.

[00107] The sealed bags are submerged in a pan containing the test solution at about 23°C, making sure to keep the bags submerged until they are completely wet. After wetting, samples of the particulate superabsorbent polymer composition remain in the solution for about 30 minutes, and are then removed from the solution and temporarily placed on a flat, non-absorbent surface.

[00108] The wet bags are then placed in the basket, where they are separated from each other and placed on the outer circumferential edge of the basket, the basket characterized by being a suitable centrifuge basket, capable of subjecting the sample to a g-force of about 350. A suitable centrifuge is a CLAY ADAMS DYNAC II centrifuge, model #0103, having a water collection basket, a digital rpm meter, and a machined drain basket adapted to hold and drain the flat bag samples. Where multiple samples are centrifuged, the samples are placed in opposite positions within the centrifuge to balance the basket during centrifugation. The bags (including wet and empty bags) are centrifuged at about 1,600 rpm (e.g., to achieve a target g-force of about 350 g-force with a range of about 240 g-force to 360 g-force), for 3 minutes. G-force is defined as a unit of inertial force on a body that is subjected to rapid acceleration or gravity, equal to 32 ft/sec2 at sea level. The bags are removed and weighed; the empty bags (controls) are weighed first, followed by the bags containing the samples of the particulate superabsorbent polymer composition. The amount of solution retained by the sample of particulate superabsorbent polymer composition, taking into account the solution retained by the tea bag itself, is the centrifugal retention capacity (CRC) of the superabsorbent polymer, expressed in grams of fluid per gram of superabsorbent polymer. More particularly, the retention capacity is determined by the following equation:CRC = [sample bag after centrifugation - empty bag after centrifugation - dry bag weight]/dry sample weight

[00109] Three samples are tested and the results are averaged to determine the CRC of the particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition.

[00110] The CRC (room temperature, 0.5 h) is measured with a test temperature of about 23°C (room temperature) and a test time of 0.5 hour.

[00111] CRC (body temperature, 5 hours) is measured with a test temperature of about 37°C (body temperature) and a test time of 5 hours.

Absorbency Test under Load (AUL (0.9 psi))

[00112] The Absorption Under Load Test (AUL) measures the ability of the particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition to absorb a 0.9% by weight sodium chloride solution in distilled water at room temperature (test solution), while the material is under a load of 0.9 psi. The AUL test apparatus consists of:• An AUL unit including a cylinder, a 4.4 g plunger, and a standard weight of 317 g. The components of this set are described in more detail below.

[00113] • A square plastic tray with a flat bottom, which is wide enough to allow the glass frits to rest on the bottom without touching the walls of the tray. A 9" by 9" (22.9 cm x 22.9 cm) plastic tray with a depth of 0.5 to 1" (1.3 cm to 2.5 cm) is commonly used for this method of test.

[00114] • A sintered glass frit diameter of porosity "C" of 9 cm (25-50 microns). This fry is prepared in advance by balancing in a saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride in distilled water, by weight). In addition to being washed with at least two parts fresh saline, the frit must be immersed in saline for at least 12 hours prior to AUL measurements.

[00115] • Whatman Grade 1 paper filter circles, measuring 9 cm in diameter.

[00116] • A supply of saline (0.9% by weight sodium chloride in distilled water).

[00117] Referring to FIG 5, the cylinder 412 of the AUL assembly 400 used to contain the particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition 410 is made from 1 inch (2.54 cm) internal diameter thermoplastic tubing machined slightly outwardly to have certainty of concentricity. After machining, a 400 mesh of 414 stainless steel is attached to the bottom of the cylinder 412 by heating the steel mesh 414 with a flame until it is very red and hot, after which the cylinder 412 is held on the steel mesh until cooled. A soldering iron can be used to touch up the seal if this is unsuccessful or if it breaks. Care must be taken to keep the bottom smooth and flat and not to distort the inside of the 412 cylinder.

[00118] The 4.4 g plunger (416) is made of 1 inch diameter solid material (e.g., PLEXIGLAS®) and is machined to fit closely without binding in cylinder 412.

[00119] A standard 418 weight of 317 g is used to provide a restraint load of 62.053dyne/cm2 (about 0.9 psi). The weight is a cylindrical stainless steel piece, 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, that is machined to fit closely without binding in the cylinder.

[00120] Unless otherwise indicated, a sample 410 corresponding to a layer of at least about 300 g/m2. (0.16 g) of superabsorbent polymer composition particles is used to test the AUL. Sample 410 is taken from superabsorbent polymer composition particles that are pre-screened through standard US #30 mesh and retained on standard US #50 mesh. The superabsorbent polymer composition particles may be pre-screened with, e.g. a RO-TAP® Model B Mechanical Sieve Shaker available from WS Tyler, Inc., Mentor Ohio. Sifting is carried out for about 10 minutes.

[00121] The interior of the cylinder 412 is cleaned with an anti-static cloth, before placing the particles of superabsorbent polymeric composition 410 inside the cylinder 412.

[00122] The desired amount of the sieved particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition sample 410 (about 0.16 g) is weighed on a weighing paper and distributed evenly over the wire mesh 414 at the bottom of the cylinder 412. The weight of the Particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition at the bottom of the cylinder is recorded as "SA", for use in the AUL calculation described below. Care must be taken that the particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition does not stick to the cylinder wall. After carefully positioning the 4.4 g plunger 412 and the 317 g weight 418 over the superabsorbent polymeric composition particles 410 in the cylinder 412, the AUL assembly 400 including the cylinder, plunger, weight and polymeric composition particles particulate superabsorbent are weighed and the weight is recorded as 'A'.

[00123] The sintered glass frit 424 (described above) is placed in the plastic tray 420, with saline solution 422 added to a level equal to the top surface of the glass frit 424. A single circle of filter paper 426 is placed gently onto the glass frit 424, and the AUL assembly 400 with the particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition 410 is then placed on the filter paper 426. The AUL assembly 400 then remains on top of the filter paper 426 for a test period. of one hour, paying attention to keep the level of saline solution constant in the tray. At the end of the one hour test period, the AUL device is then weighed, and this value is recorded as 'B' weight.

[00124] The AUL (0.9 psi) is calculated as follows: AUL (0.9 psi) = (B-A)/SA where A = Weight of the AUL Unit with dry SAP B = Weight of the AUL Unit with SAP after 60 minutes of SA absorption = actual SAP weight

[00125] At least two tests are performed and the results are weighted to determine the AUL value under 0.9 psi load. Samples of the particulate superabsorbent polymer composition are tested at approximately 23°C and approximately 50% relative humidity. Free Swelling Gel Bed Permeability Test (FSGBP)

[00126] As used herein, the Free Swelling Gel Bed Permeability Test, also called the 0 psi Swelling Pressure Gel Bed Permeability Test (FSGBP), determines the particle permeability of a gel bed swollen (e.g., as the particulate superabsorbent polymer composition or the particulate superabsorbent polymer prior to receiving surface treatment) under what are commonly termed "swell free" conditions. The term "free swelling" means that the gel particles can swell without a restraining charge when absorbing the test solution, as will be described. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the Gel Bed Permeability Test is shown in FIGS 2, 3 and 4 and generally denoted 500. Test unit 528 comprises a sample container, generally denoted 530, and a plunger, generally denoted by 536. The plunger comprises a shaft 538 having a cylinder bore drilled in the longitudinal axis and a head 550 positioned at the bottom of the shaft. Shaft hole 562 has a diameter of about 16 mm. The piston head is attached to the shaft, such as by grip. Twelve holes 544 are drilled in the radial axis of the shaft, three positioned every 90 degrees having diameters of approximately 6.4 mm. The 538 shaft is machined from LEXAN rod or equivalent material and has an outer diameter of approximately 2.2 cm and an inner diameter of approximately 16 mm.

[00127] The plunger head 550 has a concentric seven-hole inner ring 560 and a 14-hole outer ring 554, all of the holes having a diameter of about 8.8 mm, as well as one hole of about 16 mm aligned with the axis. The 550 plunger head is machined from a LEXAN rod or equivalent material and has a height of approximately 16 mm and a diameter sized such that it fits inside the 534 cylinder with minimal wall clearance but still slides freely. The total length of the plunger head 550 and the shaft 538 is about 8.25 cm, but it can be machined at the top of the shaft to obtain the desired plunger mass 536. The plunger 536 comprises a stainless steel mesh screen 100, 564, which is stretched biaxially until taut and connected to the lower end of the plunger 536. The mesh is joined to the plunger head 550, using a suitable solvent that causes the mesh to be secured to the plunger head 550. Care must be taken to prevent excess solvent from migrating to exposed parts of the mesh and reduce the open area for liquid flow. Acrylic adhesive, Weld-On #4, from IPS Corporation (office in Gardena, California, USA) is a suitable adhesive.

[00128] The sample container 530 comprises a cylinder 534 and a mesh 400 of stainless steel 566 that is stretched biaxially until taut and attached to the lower end of the cylinder 534. The mesh is joined to the cylinder using a suitable solvent that causes the mesh is attached to the cylinder. Care must be taken to prevent excess solvent from migrating to exposed parts of the mesh and reducing the open area for liquid flow. IPS Corporation No. 4 Weld-On Acrylic Adhesive is a suitable adhesive. A sample of gel particles, indicated as 568 in FIG. 3, is supported on the mesh 566 within the cylinder 534 during testing.

[00129] Cylinder 534 may be drilled from clear LEXAN rod or equivalent material, or may be cut from LEXAN tubing or equivalent material and has an internal diameter of about 6 cm (e.g., an area of cross section of about 28.27 cm2), a wall thickness of about 0.5 cm and a height of approximately 7.95 cm. A step is machined into the outer diameter of the cylinder 534 such that a region 534a with an outer diameter of 66 mm exists for the bottom 31 mm of the cylinder 534. An "O" sealing ring 540, which fits the diameter of the region 534a may be placed at the top of the step.

[00130] The ring weight 548 has a countersunk hole about 2.2 cm in diameter and 1.3 cm deep so that it slides freely along the shaft 538. The ring weight also has a through hole 548a of about 16 mm . Ring weight 548 may be made of stainless steel or other suitable materials resistant to corrosion in the presence of the test solution, which is a 0.9% by weight solution of sodium chloride in distilled water. The combined weight of plunger 536 and annular weight 548 equals approximately 596 grams (g), which corresponds to a pressure applied to sample 568 of about 0.3 pounds per square inch (psi), or about 20.7 dynes/cm2 (2.07 kPa), over a sample area of approximately 28.27 cm2.

[00131] When the test solution flows through the apparatus during testing, as described below, the sample container 530 generally rests on a spillway 600. The purpose of the spillway is to divert liquid overflowing from the top of the sample container 530 and diverts the overflow liquid to a separate collection device 601. The spillway may be positioned above a scale 602 with a cup 603 resting thereon to collect the saline solution passing through the swollen sample 568.

[00132] To perform the Gel Bed Permeability Test under "free swelling" conditions, the plunger 536, with the weight 548 seated thereon, is placed in an empty sample container 530 and the height of the top of the weight 548 to the bottom of the sample container 530 is measured using a suitable gauge with an accuracy of 0.01 mm. The force that the thickness gauge applies during measurement should be as low as possible, preferably less than about 0.74 Newtons. It is important to measure the height of each combination of empty sample container 530, plunger 536, and weight 548 and keep track of the plunger 536 and weight 548 used with the testing equipment. The same plunger 536 and weight 548 should be used for measurement after the sample 568 is swollen after saturation. It is also desirable that the base of the sample cup 530 is supported level, and the upper surface of the weight 548 is parallel to the lower surface of the sample container 530.

[00133] The sample to be tested is prepared from the particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition that is pre-sieved through a US standard 30 mesh sieve and retained in a US standard 50 mesh sieve. As a result, the test sample comprises particles of size in the range of 300 to about 600 microns. Superabsorbent polymer particles can be pre-screened with, for example, a RO-TAP Model B mechanical screener, sold by W.S. Tyler, Inc., of Mentor, Ohio. Sieving is carried out for 10 minutes. Approximately 2.0 grams of the sample is placed in sample container 530 and spread evenly over the bottom of the sample container. The container, with 2.0 g of sample, without the plunger 536 and weight 548 inside, is then submerged in the 0.9% saline solution for a period of time of about 60 minutes to saturate the sample and allow it to the sample swells free of any restrictive load. During saturation, the sample cup 530 sits on a mesh located in the liquid reservoir, so that the sample cup 530 is raised slightly above the bottom of the liquid reservoir. The mesh does not impede the flow of saline into the 530 sample cup. The appropriate mesh can be obtained under part number 7308 from Eagle Supply and Plastic, located in Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. The saline solution does not fully cover the particles of the superabsorbent polymeric composition, as would be evidenced by a perfectly flat saline surface in the test cell. Additionally, the depth of saline does not drop so much that the surface within the cell is defined solely by the swollen superabsorbent rather than saline.

[00134] At the end of this period, the plunger assembly 536 and weight 548 is placed over the saturated sample 568 in the sample container 530 and then the sample container 530, the plunger 536, weight 548, and the saturated sample 568 are removed from the solution. After removal and before being measured, the sample cup 530, the plunger 536, the weight 548, and the sample 568 are allowed to rest for about 30 seconds on a large, non-deformable, flat grid plate of thickness. uniform. The thickness of the saturated sample 568 is determined again by measuring the height from the top of the weight 548 to the bottom of the sample container 530, using the same thickness gauge used previously, provided that the zero point remains unchanged from the initial height measurement. . The sample container 530, the plunger 536, the weight 548, and the sample 568 may be placed on a large, non-deformable, flat grid plate of uniform thickness that will serve for drainage. The board has an overall dimension of 7.6 cm by 7.6 cm, and each grid has a cell size dimension of 1.59 cm long by 1.59 cm wide by 1.12 cm deep. A large, non-deformable, flat grid plate material is a parabolic diffuser panel, catalog number 1624K27, marketed by McMaster Carr Supply Company, with offices in Chicago, Illinois, USA, which can then be cut to the appropriate dimensions. This flat, non-deformable large mesh plate must also be present when measuring the height of the initial empty assembly. The height measurement should be taken as quickly as possible after the thickness gauge is engaged. The height measurement obtained from measuring the empty sample container 530, the plunger 536 and weight 548 is subtracted from the height measurement obtained after saturating the sample 568. The resulting value is the thickness, or height "H" of the swollen sample. .

[00135] The permeability measurement is initiated by presenting a stream of 0.9% saline solution to the sample container 530 with the saturated sample 568, the plunger 536 and the weight 548 inside. The flow rate of the test solution into the container is adjusted to cause the saline solution to overflow at the top of the cylinder 534, thereby resulting in a consistent tip pressure equal to the height of the sample container 530. The test solution can be added through of any suitable means that is sufficient to ensure a small but consistent amount of overflow from the top of the cylinder, such as with a metering pump 604. The excess liquid is diverted to a separate collection device 601. The amount of solution that passes through sample 568 as a function of time is measured gravimetrically using balance 602 and cup 603. Data points from balance 602 are collected every second for at least sixty seconds after overflow begins. Data collection can be done manually or with data collection software. The flow rate, Q, through the swollen sample 568 is determined in units of grams/second (g/s), through a least squares linear fit of fluid passing through the sample 568 (in grams) as a function of time (in seconds). ).

[00136] The permeability in cm2 is obtained by the following equation: K=[Q*H*μ]/[A*p*P] where K = permeability (cm2), Q = flow (g/sec.), H = height of swollen sample (cm), μ=liquid viscosity (poise) (approximately one centipoise for the test solution used in this test), A = cross-sectional area for liquid flow (28.27 cm2 for the sample container used in this test), p = liquid density (g/cm3) (approximately one g/cm3, for the test solution used in this test), and P = hydrostatic pressure (dynes/cm2) (typically approximately 7,797 dynes/cm2). Hydrostatic pressure is calculated from P=p *g*h, where p=density of the liquid (g/cm3), g = gravitational acceleration, nominally 981 cm/sec.2 and h=height of the fluid, for example, 7 .95 cm for the gel bed permeability test described here.

[00137] At least two samples are tested and the results are averaged to determine the permeability of the gel bed of the sample of the particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition.

[00138] The FSGBP can be measured as described here before subjecting the particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition to a Processing Test, as described here. The FSGBP value can be referred to as the "original" FSGBP of the particulate superabsorbent polymer composition. FSGBP can also be measured after subjecting the particulate superabsorbent polymeric composition to a Processing Test. Such FSGBP value can be called "post-processing" FSGBP. Comparison of the original FSGBP of a particulate superabsorbent polymer composition with the post-processing FSGBP of the composition can be used as a measure of the stability of the composition. It should be noted that all "initial" and "post-processing" FSGBP values reported here were measured using a pre-sieved particle sample of 300 to 600 μm.

The Vortex Test

[00139] The Vortex Test measures the amount of time in seconds required for 2 grams of a SAP to close a vortex created by stirring 50 milliliters of saline at 600 rotations per minute on a magnetic stir plate. The time required for the vortex to close is an indication of the free swelling absorption rate of the SAP.

Equipment and materials

[00140] 1 100 ml Schott Duran beaker and 50 ml graduated cylinder.

[00141] 2. Programmable magnetic plate, capable of providing 600 rotations per minute (such as that commercially available from PMC Industries, under the trade name Dataplate® Model # 721).

[00142] 3. Ringless Magnetic Stir Bar, 7.9mm x 32mm, Teflon® covered (such as that commercially available from Baxter Diagnostics under the trade name S/PRIM. S Brand Single Pack Round Stir Bars /PRIM with removable pivot ring).

[00143] 4. Stopwatch

[00144] 5. Balance with accuracy of +/- 0.01 g

[00145] 6. Saline, Blood Bank Saline 0.87% w/w, available from Baxter Diagnostics (considered, for the purposes of this application, the equivalent of 0.9% by weight saline

[00146] 7. Paper weighing

[00147] 8. Room with standard atmosphere: Temp. = 23°C +/- 1°C. and Relative Humidity = 50% +/- 2%. Test Procedure

[00148] 1 Measure 50 ml +/- 0.01 ml of saline solution into the 100 ml beaker.

[00149] 2. Place the magnetic stir bar in the beaker.

[00150] 3. Set the magnetic stir plate to 600 rotations per minute.

[00151] 4. Place the beaker in the center of the magnetic stir plate, so that the magnetic stir bar is activated. The bottom of the vortex should be near the top of the stir bar.

[00152] 5. Weigh 2g +/- 0.01g of the SAP to be tested on weighing paper.

[00153] NOTE: SAP is tested as received (i.e., as it would enter an absorbent compound, such as those described here). No screening for a specific particle size is done, although particle size is known to affect this test.

[00154] 6. While the saline solution is being stirred, quickly pour the SAP to be tested into the saline solution and start the timer. The SAP to be tested must be added to the saline solution between the center of the vortex and the side of the beaker.

[00155] 7. Stop the timer when the surface of the saline solution becomes flat and record the time.

[00156] 8. The time, recorded in seconds, is reported as the Vortex Time.

[00157] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present disclosure may be manifested in a variety of forms beyond the specific embodiments described and contemplated here. Accordingly, any departure in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as described in the appended claims.

Claims (17)

1. Absorbent body (54), characterized in that it comprises: a top layer including a liquid-permeable blanket material; a backsheet including a blanket material; a reinforcing layer (122, 202) disposed between the upper layer and the lower layer; wherein the superabsorbent material (224) is incorporated within the reinforcing layer (122, 202); a first absorbent layer (120, 124) disposed between the reinforcing layer (122, 202) and the back layer, the first absorbent layer (120, 124) including absorbent material that includes superabsorbent material (224) that amounts to more than or equal to 90% of the total weight of all material within the first absorbent layer (120, 124); a second absorbent layer (120, 124) disposed between the top layer and the reinforcing layer (122, 202), the second absorbent layer (120, 124) including absorbent material including absorbent material; and adhesive (205, 207, 209) disposed between the top layer and the second absorbent layer (120, 124), between the second absorbent layer (120, 124) and the reinforcing layer (122, 202) and between the first layer absorbent (120, 124) and the bottom layer. 2. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized in that the absorbent material of the second absorbent layer (120, 124) comprises fibrous absorbent material (222) and is equivalent to more than or equal to 90% of the weight total of all material within the second absorbent layer (120, 124). 3. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized in that the absorbent material of the second absorbent layer (120, 124) comprises superabsorbent material (224) and is equivalent to more than or equal to 90% of the total weight of all material within the second absorbent layer (120, 124). 4. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized in that the absorbent material disposed within the second absorbent layer (120, 124) comprises between 50% and 80%, by weight, of superabsorbent material (224) . 5. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized in that the absorbent material disposed within the second absorbent layer (120, 124) comprises a mixture of superabsorbent material (224) and fibrous absorbent material, and wherein the mixture includes a uniform distribution of the superabsorbent material (224) and the fibrous absorbent material. 6. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the superabsorbent material (224) incorporated within the reinforcing layer (122, 202) comprises between 50% and 80% by weight of the total amount of superabsorbent material (224) incorporated within the reinforcing layer (122, 202) and the superabsorbent material (224) disposed within the first absorbent layer (120, 124). 7. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the superabsorbent material (224) incorporated within the reinforcing layer (122, 202) comprises between 50% and 65% by weight of the total amount of superabsorbent material (224) incorporated within the reinforcing layer (122, 202) and the superabsorbent material (224) disposed within the first absorbent layer (120, 124). 8. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized in that a total weight of absorbent material disposed within the second absorbent layer (120, 124) is between 5 g and 20 g. 9. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized in that a total weight of absorbent material incorporated within the reinforcing layer (122, 202) and absorbent material disposed within the first absorbent layer (120, 124) is between 5 g and 15 g. 10. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized in that the total amount of absorbent material incorporated within the reinforcing layer (122, 202) and absorbent material disposed within the first absorbent layer (120, 124) is between 50% and 60%, by weight, of the total amount of absorbent material disposed within the first absorbent layer (120, 124), and the second absorbent layer (120, 124) and, absorbent material incorporated in the reinforcing layer (122 , 202). 11. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an air-deposited paper layer disposed between the second absorbent layer (120, 124) and the upper liquid-permeable layer. 12. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an air-deposited paper layer disposed between the first absorbent layer (120, 124) and the lower layer. 13. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a third absorbent layer (120, 124), wherein: the third absorbent layer (120, 124) is disposed between the second absorbent layer (120, 124) and the top layer, and the third absorbent layer (120, 124) includes absorbent material including superabsorbent material (224) that amounts to greater than or equal to 90% of the total weight of all material within the third layer absorbent (120, 124). 14. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first absorbent layer (120, 124) comprises a channel region (140) and a plurality of regions outside the channel region (148, 149), and wherein an absorbent material content of the regions outside a channel region (148, 149) is greater than an absorbent material content of a channel region (140). 15. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing layer (122, 202) comprises a non-woven blanket material and superabsorbent material (224) embedded in the non-woven blanket material, the second absorbent layer (120, 124) comprises absorbent material comprising a uniform mixture of superabsorbent material (224) and fibrous absorbent material; the absorbent body (54) further comprises: a first air-deposited paper layer disposed between the second absorbent layer (120, 124) and the upper liquid-permeable layer; a second air-laid paper layer disposed between the first absorbent layer (120, 124) and the second air-laid paper layer; adhesive (205, 207, 209) disposed between the first air-deposited paper layer and the second absorbent layer (120, 124) and between the first absorbent layer (120, 124) and the second air-deposited paper layer, in that the first absorbent layer (120, 124) includes a channel region (140) and a plurality of regions outside of a channel region (148, 149), and wherein an absorbent material content of the regions outside of a channel region (148, 149), and wherein an absorbent material content of the regions outside of a channel region (148, 149) channel (148, 149) is greater than an absorbent material content of a channel region (140). 16. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 15, characterized in that it further comprises a third absorbent layer (120, 124), wherein: the third absorbent layer (120, 124) is disposed between the second absorbent layer (120, 124) and the top layer, and the third absorbent layer (120, 124) includes absorbent material that amounts to greater than or equal to 90% of the total weight of all material within the third absorbent layer (120, 124) . including only superabsorbent material (224). 17. Absorbent body (54) according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that the amount of superabsorbent material (224), by weight, embedded in the reinforcing layer (122, 202) and (224) disposed within the first layer absorbent material (120, 124) is between two and three times the amount of superabsorbent material (224) disposed within the second absorbent layer (120, 124).