MXPA01012353A

MXPA01012353A - Personal care products with improved fluid handling properties.

Info

Publication number: MXPA01012353A
Application number: MXPA01012353A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Arthur Edward Garavaglia
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Co
Priority date: 1999-06-04
Filing date: 2000-05-12
Publication date: 2002-07-30
Also published as: AU5268900A; CN1367706A; KR20020013906A; AU772138B2; AR035319A1; BR0011053A; JP2003501559A

Abstract

A cover sheet for a feminine care product made of a material of which the surface is treated or modified to substantially prevent or delay protein deposition upon contact or interaction with a proteinaceous fluid.

Description

PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS WITH IMPROVED FLUID MANAGEMENT PROPERTIES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a top sheet or cover material for absorbent articles including personal care items such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinence garments, women's care products such as sanitary towels or pads , surgical gowns and covers, absorbent pads and the like. More particularly, this invention relates to surface treatments or coating materials, which can be used to provide a desired combination of fluid handling properties, such as faster fluid absorption rates, fluid retention. lower or equivalent, smaller equivalent spot sizes and balanced rewetting compared to conventional materials, or a similar equivalent fluid intake or reduced staining or reduced fluid retention compared to conventional materials.

DESCRIPTION OF PREVIOUS ART Films are traditionally used to provide barrier properties in disposable or limited use articles. By limited use or disposables, it is meant that the product and / or the component is used only a small number of times, or possibly only once, before being discarded. Examples of such products include, but are not limited to, health care and surgical products such as surgical suits and covers, disposable absorbent pads used, for example in the meat industry, and absorbent products for personal care, such as diapers, underpants, incontinence garments, sanitary napkins, bandages, cleaning cloths and the like.

In protective clothing, such as hospital gowns, films are used to prevent the cross-sectional exchange of microorganisms between the user and the patient. Although these films are generally effective barriers even with respect to water vapor and the like, these are not aesthetically pleasing because these surfaces are smooth and feel either slippery or sticky, and these are visually unattractive, making them less desirable in The applications of clothing and other uses where they are in contact with human skin, a primary purpose of the film in such laminates is to provide 'barrier properties. However, there is also a need for such laminates to be fluid transmitters so that they can transmit the fluids in a direction away from the fluid source. Similar requirements exist for absorbent materials such as absorbent pads used for example in the meat industry and absorbent materials used for window reinforcement.

Most absorbent articles for personal care include a cover material, sometimes referred to hereinafter as a liner, the top sheet layer, a side-to-body liner, a cover sheet, an absorbent core, and Some type of backup material which is generally impervious to liquid to help prevent runoff. The types of covering materials usually fall into the major groups based at least in part, on performance and on typical aesthetic preferences. In the area of women's care and sanitary napkins, the market is polarized into two segments, women who prefer dry and clean perforated film covers and women who prefer non-woven, soft cloth-type covers. The advantage of perforated film covers for sanitary napkins is that they provide a relatively clean and dry surface when menstrual fluids are menstrual discharge tends t-fcÉiÍ_ -j J-M --É-ife »* - '- > . - ...- * -. - »-.-,» ... ja - »...., ai-h-? Arfla-t * to pass through the perforated film layer and into the interior of the absorbent product. A disadvantage is that such perforated film layers do not provide the degree of softness and comfort that a nonwoven cover material can provide. An additional disadvantage is the smooth, slippery feeling and not the type of cloth that is characteristic of many perforated films. Non-woven base covering materials, on the other hand, are very soft and wake-like, but tend to retain more menstrual fluids on the surface or just below the surface of cover material, which, In turn it makes the products use from the point of view of the properties, such as cleanliness and dryness. The difference in function is a direct result of the structure of nonwovens, including an average pore size and a non-uniform pore size distribution.

Cover sheet materials are used for the transport of body fluids to the absorbent core of absorbent articles for personal care and, therefore, materials used for cover sheet applications must handle body secretions distinctly different, depending on the application and the type of product. Some products must handle fluids such as urine, while others must handle viscoelastic and proteinaceous fluid, such as menstrual discharge and fecal matter. The handling of viscoelastic menstrual discharge by the materials by the cover sheet materials for women's care products is exacerbated due to composition and rheology variations over a wide range of elasticity. Fluid handling in minimal care applications requires a control of body fluid absorption, control of fluid retention in the cover, a control of the size of the elasticity spot, a rewet control of the fluid in the body. return to the surface, and a control of the release of the fluid to the absorbent core.

There are generally three main kinds of cover systems, which have been developed to handle these fluids: nonwovens, perforated films, and film and / or nonwoven composites. The characteristics of an ideal roof system include immediate fluid absorption capacity, non-rewetting of the fluid back to the surface, non-retention of fluid in the cover, non-staining, and complete desorption of the fluid to the absorbent core. . The means for providing these properties to a cover system is shown on the construction of the structure and cover is shown on the construction of the structure and the surface energy in one or more layers of the cover. However, as in the case of the two main cover material groups is as discussed above, where there are exchanges between performance and aesthetic preferences, there are also limits on the extent, in which these ideal properties can be achieved because to the exchanges that exist between the attributes. For example, increasing the pore size, permeability or conduction (permeability / thickness) of a covering material typically improves absorption, but rewetting the fluid back to the surface is increased. Similarly, increasing the surface energy in a given structure improves fluid absorption but increases fluid retention, spotting and rewetting. Numerous prior art references teach means to control certain of these characteristics of the cover sheet material.

A material of | nonwoven fabric with an improved softness comprising monofilaments or fibers of a thermoplastic material which a wetting agent such as cationic, anionic and nonionic surfactants are aggregates, is taught by the United States of America patent No. 4,753,834 granted to Braun and others. U.S. Patent No. 5,676,66J3 issued to Mukaida et al. Teaches an absorbent product comprising a liquid permeable sheet, a lower sheet not permeable to liquid and an absorbent layer placed therebetween, the layer of which The absorbent comprises a synthetic fiber that is not swellable in water, alone or in combination with a cellulose fiber, and a water-absorbent ream.

The hydrophilic foam compositions comprise the reaction product at the site of an isosionate-capped polyether pre-polymer, a hydrophilic agent capable of absorbing water and an auxiliary comprising an alcohol, a wetting agent such as Pluronic F68, and water is taught in U.S. Patent No. 5,064,653 and in related U.S. Patent No. 5,065,752, both to Sessions and others. U.S. Patent No. 5,112,690 issued to Cohen et al. Teaches a method for treating a porous fibrous tissue of low hydro head to increase its wetting and retentiveness in which a surfactant having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of at least about six is adhered to the fibrous porous woven material of low hydro head and a corona discharge is applied equivalent to a load of at least about 0.6 watts per minute per square foot per side of the woven material to the surface of the Woven material that has the surfactant. The treated polymer fabrics having improved transmission / wetting characteristics comprising a hydrophobic polymer fabric treatment with a wetting agent are taught by US Pat. Nos. 5,209,966 issued to Lange et al., 5,212,270 issued to Lal. and 5,219,644 granted to Lal and others. U.S. Patent No. 5,527,534 issued to Myhling teaches a sponge capable of delivering an active pharmaceutical agent into the vaginal canal during the insertion of the sponge, while the sponge is receiving a vagina and during the removal of the vagina wherein the sponge is a polyurethane foam in which a non-ionic surfactant is used, such as Pluronic F68 in the polyurethane formula to provide a desired and uniform cell structure, a density, a tensile strength, a Porosity and a desired degree of hydrophilicity. None of the prior art refers to a method or means to address the competitive attributes to produce, and therefore to approach the properties of an "ideal" cover system.

There are several factors, which influence the flow of liquids in fibrous structures including the geometry of the pore structure in the fabrics, the nature of the solid surface (surface energy, contact angle), the geometry of the solid surface (roughness of the surface, grooves, etc.) the chemical / physical treatment of the solid surface, and the chemical nature of the fluid.

Surface wetting also plays a critical role in the fluid handling properties of absorbent materials such as those used in absorbent personal care products. Health care products, such as surgical covers and suits, and for food handling, such as absorbent pads for meat packing. For example, the capillary forces that drive the absorption of fluid derivation of transmissions of the interfacial free energies in the material / airé / fluid interfaces. Wetting is a measure of the surface free energy of the solid phase. A classical method for measuring the wetting of a surface is the contact angle technique in which a drop of fluid is placed on a flat surface and the angle at which the drop intercepts the surface is measured. The equation in relation to the contact angle (?) To the free energy (g) is known as Young's equation, which is: gsv = gSL + gLV os0 where SV, SL and LV refers to the surface / vapor, surface / liquid and liquid / vapor interfaces respectively. This equation is true for fluids in equilibrium, which are not moving, on a surface. As the fluids move through a surface, the contact angle at the fluid front, known as the advancing contact angle, TADV is slightly increased from the equilibrium value and the contact angle at the trailing edge of the fluid, known As the retrograde contact angle, TRBC is slightly decreased from the equilibrium value.

We have identified four variables that depend on the fluid which we believe govern the way in which a proteinaceous fluid such as menstrual fluids behave on the cover of a product for the care of women. These elements, in conjunction with the size (r) and the shape of the pores in the cover material and the sublayers, control the absorption of the fluid through the cover and the removal of the fluid from the surface of the cover and down from the absorbent layers. These parameters are: 1) the surface tension of the fluid (?), 2) the complex viscosity of the fluid (17 *), 3) the advance contact angle (? hm) of the surface, which is the wetting of the surface by the fluid, and 4) the receding contact angle (0REC) of the surface.

The relationship between these variables and the capillary forces that are being generated to move the fluid in or out of the roofing material are generally governed by the following proportion: ? p ce? cose 77 * r where ? and r are either 1) in advance contact angle and the pore size of the cover material for fluid absorption in the cover material or ii) the back contact angle of the cover material and the pore size of the cover material. cover material of the sublayer material for the movement of fluid outward of the cover and into the underlying absorbent, therefore, for a rapid absorption of fluid, a low contact angle (high wetting) is preferable. ) and for a complete fluid absorption (lack of fluid hanging and minimal staining), a higher contact angle (low wetting) is preferable.

As previously indicated, the wetting of a surface is governed by the chemical structure of the surface condition. When an initial fluid discharge 10 makes contact and moves in the cover material, the fluid makes contact with a surface "dry with a wetting controlled by the inherent chemical structure of the surface." For the surfaces in contact with the fluid or which have had a contact with the surface. the previous fluid, the effects of 15 advancing and retracting contact angles on fluid movement are often complicated by the fact that these surfaces are altered by fluid contact. This is particularly true in proteinaceous fluids. For example, changes in the back contact angle, TREC, 20 can be caused by the removal of fugitive surface treatments responsible for wetting (which can decrease wetting and increase the contact angle) or by surface responses to the discharge fluid, such as surface hydration and storage of proteins (both of 25 which increase the wetting and decrease the contact angle. These effects can take place at which time £ «13 It is another object of this invention to provide a cover sheet for personal care absorbent products that have appropriate wetting.

For efficient fluid absorption while the binding of protein is inhibited, a cause of staining, and the resulting increases in surface wetting.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a method for determining the combination of the characteristic elements of the cover material necessary to produce a cover material having a desired fluid absorption, a wetting or a fluid retention, a staining and a desorption of the fluid to an absorbent core of an absorbent product for personal care.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a cover sheet for an absorbent material including absorbent products for personal care, such as women's care products, surgical covers and gowns, absorbent pads and the like. comprise a material selected from the group consisting of nonwovens, perforated film, film composites, non-woven composites, and combinations thereof, whose surface of said material is treated or modified to avoid essentially or delay the deposit of protein on contact or interaction with a proteinaceous fluid. We have found that, in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the use of surface coatings with Pluronic® surfactant provides adequate wetting for efficient absorption while inhibiting protein binding and the resulting increases in surface wetting. . These surfactants available from BASF in Germany are triblock copolymers comprising a polypropylene oxide (PPO) core section between the symmetrical polyethylene oxide (PEO) sections. Alternatively, a similar product under the name SYNPERONIC® is available from ICI Americas, Inc. Although the inhibition of binding of Pluronic® proteins and surfactants is known, the mechanism of action is unknown. We believe that the polypropylene oxide center section binds to the coated surface, allowing the polyethylene oxide end groups to interact with the contacting solution. These polyethylene oxide chains are highly hydrophilic and provide few sites for protein binding. Alternatively, or perhaps additionally, the Pluronic® molecules can be desorbed from the coated surface and directly interact with the protein molecules, such as to block them from binding to the surface. The nature of Pluronic coatings is such that the roof absorption structures are provided for a fluid discharge that they are hydrophilic enough to promote rapid fluid absorption while providing and maintaining sufficient surface hydrophobicity to promote effective fluid removal and minimize spotting.

Even though we have found that Pluronics are a type of surface treatment which results in adequate wetting for efficient fluid absorption while inhibiting protein binding and the resulting increases in surface wetting, other types of surface treatments Surface modification can demonstrate similar effects. These copolymers include ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, segments comprising surface modifications of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, surfactants or other treatments, which are placed on a surface of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, and surface chemistries. selectively designed which have architecture at the molecular level so that the presence or absence of a stimulus such as the fluid triggers specific groups to emerge to the surface.

BREVgf-OESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects and features of this invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic rate diagram to be used in determining the fluid absorption time of a material or a system of a material.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED INCORPORATIONS We have found that cover materials for absorbent articles for personal care, such as women's care products, diapers, incontinence garments and the like can be modified to improve fluid absorption and therefore less one of the three incongruent properties, such as cover staining, fluid retention, or rewetting of fluid back to the surface of the cover material. Alternatively, the surface of the cover can be modified to improve staining and fluid retention. According to an embodiment, we have found that a roofing material that has a localized wetting demonstrates little change in fluid absorption, but provides significant improvements in fluid retention and cover spotting. The type of surface modification used in accordance with this invention depends on the structure of the roofing material and the presence of any localized wetting.

Three model treatments for selecting the advantages of making a surface modification of roofing material in conjunction with the roofing material structure to provide improved fluid handling properties when applied to roofing materials. The three model treatments were commercially obtained from BASF (Germany) and commercially identified as PLURONIC® F68, PLURONIC® F98 and PLURONIC® F105. Pluronics are block and polyethylene and polyoxypropylene polymers. These formulas differ in the average molecular weight of the polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene blocks. Presumably, the block size and the proportion of polyethylene oxide / polypropylene oxide segments control the resistance of the protein by modifying the surface energy of the cover material as measured by the back and forward contact angle. For each of the block copolymers, 10 grams of Pluronic specified in 100 grams of a 90/10% by weight mixture was dissolved separately to water to produce a 10% solution. Each of these solutions was sprayed onto a substrate until the equilibrium weight of the aggregate was 2% by weight. It is conceivable that The amount of surfactant can be applied to obtain similar properties.

DEFINITIONS "Balance" is defined as the weight obtained at a point when the solvent has evaporated, leaving primarily the Pluronic deposited on the surface.

"Substrate" is defined as a polymer, fibrous, porous, or surface or foam-type surfaces where said surfaces form structures. For the evaluation of the concept of this invention, four model substrates were chosen, which differed these structures and / or in the energy of this localized surface. These substrates consist of the following: a fibrous tissue, a perforated film composite with localized wetting, and a nonwoven composite.

A "fibrous tissue" is any material comprising fibrous or fibrous type elements usually in a random arrangement, joined by junctions, which stabilize the structure that provides at least some mechanical integrity, which forms at least some small pores through the length and width of the same between the adjacent fiber type elements.

The "fibrous tissues" can refer to fabrics linked with spinning, blown with fusion, placed by air, carded and joined, to the tied with spinning, etc. "Spunbonded" refers to a non-woven fabric produced by spinning the fibers. To demonstrate the effect of the Pluronic treatment system of this invention on a non-woven or fibrous fabric, a spin-bonded cover comprising 5 deniers per fiber (dpf), 0.4 ounces per square yard (osy) of fabric and yarn and yarn was chosen. melt bonded with a density of 0.042 g / cc and a permeability of 1658 Darcis. The fibers formulated as polypropylene fibers of 92% E5D47 (Union Carbide) with the addition of 8% titanium dioxide concentrate, called Ampacet 41438.

"Perforated films" is a generic term that refers to any material which contains at least some polymer such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, nylon, polymethacrylic acid, polyethylacrylic acid, etc., and which consists of openings called perforations or pores. Perforated films include, but are not limited to, those formed from vacuum perforation, bolt perforation, and perforation with slits and stretching. It can also include expanded networks and structures of foam type.

A "perforated film composite" is a material comprising at least two components, a perforated film and a fibrous material located in the perforated film or through some means attached to the perforated film A perforated film composite for a covering material According to an embodiment of this invention, which material was used to evaluate the surfactant treatment system of this invention, it comprises a 1.1 mil polyethylene film comprising 94% Rexene 1058 and 6% Ampacet 110359 perforated with bolt using heat and differential velocities to create a perforated film having an open area of 28% and an aperture size of 600 microns laminated to the emergence material by means of point bonding.The emergence material comprises a 10 denier TABC per fiber, 0.7 ounces per square yard that has a density of 0.182 grams per cubic centimeter and a permeabil 15.00 darcis.

The "TABCW" is a nonwoven sponge fabric created by carding fibers and orienting them into a fabric. This tissue is then attached by moving it to a dryer through air. The fibers used in this fabric comprise a bicomponent fiber obtained from Chisso comprising 50/50% by weight of sheath / core in which the sheath is produced from a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and the core comprises polypropylene.

To make it wettable, a proprietary surfactant, HR6, was applied by the manufacturer.

A "perforated film composite with localized wetting" comprises an ABA (30/40/30) three-layer set film, wherein the composition of each of the layers A is 94% Rexene 1058 and 6% Ampacet 110359 and the composition of layer B is 93% of Rexene 1058, 1% of 90/10 polyethylene / Atmer, and 6% of Ampacet 110359. According to an embodiment, the film is perforated with a pin to create a perforated film that has an open area of 28% and an opening size of 600 microns. The perforated film primarily comprises an upper surface which has a surface energy lower than that of the perforated regions. This perforated material is laminated to an emergence material through point bonding, whose emergence material comprises a TABCW of 10 denier per fiber and 0.7 ounces per square yard having a density of 0.0182 grams per cubic centimeter and a permeability of 15,000 darcis.

A "nonwoven composite" generally comprises at least two fibrous materials, which are placed one on top of the other, which are otherwise bonded. A cover material comprises a co-perforated nonwoven composite that was produced from a material bonded to yarn of 3.2 denier per fiber and 0.6 oz per square yard of 0.08 grams per cubic centimeter and a TABCW of 10 denier per fiber and 0.7 ounces per square yard, density of 0.182 grams per cubic centimeter and permeability of 15,000 Darcis. The material was then drilled to create an open area of around 17% and an opening size of 1,650 microns. Co-perforation refers to the process of placing openings or holes in two or more materials through any number of mechanical means, such as bolt piercing. In addition, some entanglement or union between the layers can occur with this process.

"Permeability" (Darci) is obtained from a measurement of resistance to the flow of liquid through the material. A liquid of known viscosity is forced through the material of a given thickness at a constant flow rate and the resistance to flow measured as a pressure drop is monitored. Darci's law is used to determine a value for permeability.

"Proteinaceous fluids" refers to a fluid that contains protein or protein breakdown products. For purposes of evaluating the surfactant treatment system of this invention, a menstrual fluid simulator which has properties similar to a menstrual discharge was used. i * .. ^ »^,. ^^^ The" menstrual simulator "is a material which simulates the viscosity and other properties of menstrual fluids. To prepare the fluid, blood, such as defibrinated sow blood, is separated by centrifugation at 3000 revolutions per minute for 30 minutes, even when other methods at rates and times can be used if it is effective. The plasma is separated and stored separately, the grayish coating formed on the coagulated blood is removed and discarded, and the packed red blood cells are stored separately as well. Eggs, such as large chicken eggs are separated, yolk and spear are discarded and the egg white is retained. The egg white is separated in the thick and watered parts by casting the white through a nylon mesh of 1000 microns for about 3 minutes, and the thinnest part is discarded. Alternate mesh sizes can be used, and the time and method can be varied as long as the viscosity is at least that required from the thick part of the egg white, which was retained on the mesh is collected and pulled in of syringes of 60 cubic centimeters, which are then placed in a programmable syringe pump and the fluid is homogenized by ejection and filling of the contents 5 times. In our case, the amount of homogenization was controlled by the syringe pump rate of about 100OOml / minute, and the tube inner diameter of about 3.04mm (0.12in). After homogenization, the "-.- ** ..». «T_t, ^ iMiMM -.- .. ^^ -» ap-i¡ .... < . . .? &.? T .ij, .A- 24 thick egg white had a viscosity of about 20 ftV-centipoise to 150 g / ha and then centrifuged to remove debris and air bubbles. After centrifugation, 80 mL of the thick, homogenized egg white, which contains the ovomucin, was added to 300 cubic centimeters of a FENWAL transfer pack using a syringe. Then, 60 cubic centimeters of the pig plasma was added to the transfer pack. The transfer pack is attached, all air bubbles are removed and placed in a Stomacher laboratory blender, which is mixed at a normal (or average) speed for about 2 minutes. The transfer pack is then removed from the mixer, 60 cubic centimeters of red pig blood cells are added, and the contents are mixed by hand kneading for about 2 minutes, or until the contents appear homogeneous. The final mixture has a content of red blood cells of about 30% volume and is generally at least within the range of 28-32% volume for artificial menstrual fluids. The amount of egg white is around 40% by weight.

"Absorption" refers to the ability of a cover / absorbent to absorb the fluid. In our case, the absorption time was used to evaluate the quality of the absorption, so the lower absorption times denote materials capable of rapid absorption and the higher absorption times denote materials with a poorer absorption. For our work, the absorption time was recorded for a known amount of fluid to be absorbed in a material.

"Stain" refers to the fluid, either dry or wet, which is present on the upper surface, in, or on the lower surface of a covering material.

TEST METHODS A. Rate Block Absorption Test This test is used to determine the absorption time of a known quantity of fluid inside a material and / or material system. The test apparatus consists of a rate block 10 as shown in Figure 1. A piece of 10.16 centimeters by 10.16 centimeters (4 inches by 4 inches) of absorbent 14 and cover 13 are cut by matrix. The specific covers are described in the specific examples. The absorbent used for these studies was standard and consisted of 200 grams per square meter of material placed by air made of 90% Coosa 0054 and 10% binder HCT-255. The total density for this system was 0.10 grams per cubic centimeter. The cover 13 was placed on the absorbent 14 and the rate block 10 was placed on top of the two materials. 2 mL of menstrual fluid simulator was delivered to the funnel of test apparatus 11 and a timing was started. The fluid moved from funnel 11 to channel 12 where it was delivered to the material or material system. The stopwatch was stopped when the fluid was absorbed into the material or material system as observed from the chamber in the test apparatus. The desorption time of the known amount of known fluid was recorded for a material with a given material system. This value is a measure of an absorbency of material or material systems. Typically, 5 to 10 repetitions were carried out and the average absorption time was determined.

B. Rewet proof This test was used to determine the amount of fluid that comes back to the surface when a load is applied. The amount of fluid that comes back through the other surface is called the "rewet" value. The more fluid comes to the surface, the higher the "rewet" value. The lower rewet values are associated with a dryer material, and therefore, a drier product. In the consideration of rewetting, three properties are important (1) absorption, material / system does not have a good absorption then the fluid can be moistened (2) the capacity of the absorber for the fluid (the more absorbent is retained on the fluid, the less is available for jd * _J-w¿ a- »a-- ...- j - ^.? ^^» > «« -. I »> - ^ j¡jj¡a «g-j | the rewetting and (3) the return flow, the more the cover prohibits the fluid from returning through the cover, the lower the rewetting. In our case, we evaluated the roof systems where the absorbent was kept constant and, therefore, we only concern ourselves with the properties (1) and (3), absorption and return flow respectively.

A 4"piece of absorbent and cover was cut with matrix.The absorbent used for these studies was normal and consisted of a material placed by air of 250 g / m2 and 90% of Coosa 0054 and 10% of binder HC T-255 The total density for this system was 0.10 grams per cubic centimeter, the cover was placed on the absorbent and the rate block was placed on top of the two materials. Menstrual fluids are discharged into the rate block apparatus and allowed to absorb into a 4"x 4" sample of the cover material, which is placed on top of a 4"x 4" absorbent piece. it is allowed to interact with the system for one minute and the rate block rests on the top of the materials.The cover of the material system and the absorbent are placed in a bag filled with fluid.A piece of blotting paper is heavy and It is placed on the part top of the material system. The bag is traversed vertically until it comes in contact with a plate Acrylic on top of it, thus pressing the entire material system against the first side of the plate blotter. The system is pressed against the acrylic plate until it is applied at a total pressure of 69,947.6 dmas / cm2 (1 pound per square inch). The pressure is kept fixed for 3 minutes, after which the pressure is removed and the blotting paper is weighed. The blotter retains any fluid that was transferred thereto from the absorbent system to a cover. The difference in price between the original secant and the secant after the experiment is known as the "rewet" value. Typically, 5 to 10 repetitions of this test were carried out and the average rewet was determined.

C. Absorption / Stained Test An absorption / spotting test was developed which allows the spot size, the intensity and the fluid retention in the components to be observed with a fluid flow rate and pressure. The menstrual fluid simulator was used as the test fluid. A 4"x 4" piece of absorbent and cover was cut with a matrix. The absorbent used for these tests was normal and consisted of an air-laid material of 250 grams per square meter made of 90% Coosa 0054 and 10% HC T255 binder. The total density for this system was 0.10 grams per cubic centimeter.

A system of material, cover and core that measured 10.16 cm x 10.16 cm (4"x 4") that was placed under an acrylic plate with a hole of 3.175 millimeters (1/8 inch) diameter drilled in the center. A piece of 3,175 millimeter (1/8 inch) pipe was connected to the hole with a device. The menstrual fluid simulator was delivered to the sample using a syringe pump at a specified rate and for a specified volume. The pump was programmed to deliver a total volume of 1 mL samples, where samples were under pressures of 0 dynes / cm2 (0 pounds per square inch), 537.79 dynes / cm2 (0.0078 pounds per square inch), and 5,377.91 dynes / cm2 (0.078 pounds per square inch). These pressures were applied using a weight which was placed on top of the acrylic plates and distributed evenly. The flow rate of the pump was programmed to deliver the fluid at a rate of 1 mL per second. The spot size for the cover materials was measured manually, and the amount of fluid in each component of the system was measured by weight before and after the absorption of the fluid. The intensity of the stain was evaluated qualitatively by comparing the samples. The spotting information was recorded using a digital camera and could be further analyzed with an image analysis.

** } EXAMPLE 1 Four cover materials as discussed above, namely a fibrous fabric to a perforated film composite, a perforated film composite with localized wetting, and a nonwoven composite were created for evaluation with the Pluronic surfactant treatment systems used. in the cover materials of this invention. Tables 1-4 given below show the results of absorption time (s), rewet (g), spot size (mm2), at low, intermediate and high pressures, and fluid retention (grams) at pressures ba, intermediate and high for a material bonded with 5 denier yarn per 0.4 oz fiber per square yard, treated with 0.3% Ahcovel Base N-62 (ICI Istial Surfactants, Wilmmgton, Delaware), Pluronic F68, Pluronic F98 and Pluronic F105. TABLE 1 TABLE 2 TABLE 3 TABLE 4 As can be seen, the results indicate that not all pluronics behave similarly. For example, a comparison of the material treated with the Pluronic F105 with the material treated with a standard treatment, Ahcovel Base N-62, shows that the treatment of Pluronic F105 reduces the absorption time, does not produce a preciable rewet difference, reduces the size of stain, and reduces fluid retention. The material treated with Pluronic F98, in Comparison to the Ahcovel Base N-62, does not produce a preciable difference in the time of fluid absorption or rewet, but reduces the size of stain and fluid retention. Finally, the material treated with Pluronic F68, in comparison to Ahcovel, increases the time of fluid absorption, does not produce an appreciable difference in rewetting and reduces the size of the stain and the retention of the fluid.

Tables 5-8 show the results of the rate block absorption test, the rewet test, and the absorption / staining test for the perforated film composites treated with Pluronic compared to the perforated film compounds without a treatment. Again, the results indicate that not all pluronics behave similarly. Pluronic F105 reduces absorption time, global staining and fluid retention, but has little effect on rewetting. The Pluronic F98 has no effect on absorption and rewet time, reduces overall staining, and generally reduces retention fluid. The use of Pluronic F68 actually increases the absorption time and rewetting, but generally reduces overall staining and fluid retention.

Table 5 Table 6 Table 7 Ü-AJ É.-A-l-Ujt- ^ TABLE 8 Tables 9-12 show the results of the rate block absorption test, the rewet test and the absorption / stain test for perforated film compounds with a localized wetting treated with Pluronics compared to no treatment with Pluronics. . As can be seen, the material treated with Pluronic F68 showed a preciable difference in absorption time. However, rewetting, staining and fluid retention all decreased. The material treated with the Pluronic F98 also showed no appreciable difference in absorption time and in fluid retention compared to the material without the treatment, but shows a substantial improvement in rewetting on both the untreated material and the material treated with Pluronic F-68. The material treated with Pluronic F105 resulted in rewetting and retention of fluid reduced but there is no appreciable difference in fluid absorption. Table 9 Table 10 Table 11 TABLE 12 Finally, Tables 13-16 show a comparison of the absorption, wetting, spot size and fluid retention for the Pluronic treated non-woven composites compared to the treatment of the yarn bonded material in the composite non-woven fabric. 0.3% of Ahcovel. As can be seen, the treatment of the non-woven compound with Pluronic F105 reduces the absorption time, staining and fluid retention, but increases wetting. The material treated with Pluronic F98 reduces the absorption time while increasing the wetting The retention fluid seems to be essentially unaffected while the staining shows marginal increases Table 13 Table 14 Table 15 TABLE 16 Although the above description of this invention has been carried out in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been established for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to incorporations. and that certain of the details described herein may be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention. -ii?? áL * 8 ^ ití ^ i ^ mr, t, *? fJ-rf'f «- ¿Ai-fa» »

Claims

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. A cover sheet for a fluid absorbing device comprising: a material selected from the group consisting of nonwovens, perforated film, film composites, nonwoven composites, foam structures, expanded structures, and combinations thereof; Y one of a treatment and a modification of a surface of said material, said one of said treatment and said modification of one of essentially preventing and essentially delaying the deposition of protein upon contact or interaction with a proteinaceous fluid.

2. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment is selected from the group consisting of surfactants, polymers and copolymers, bonded surface groups, coatings, chemical alterations and combinations of the same.

3. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment comprises one of a l¿Li.é? A? f * ** ft > n - * ». -a = ^^^ i ^ ^ a ^ tx ^ gíi ^^^ ^ ^^ i ^ i ^^^^ S ^, surfactant and a polymer, which forms primarily hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on and near said surface. 4. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment comprises at least one of a surfactant and a copolymer comprising segments of ethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide. 5. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment produces an upper surface having regions of different surface energy. 6. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment produces a different surface energy in a top surface and in a sublayer. 7. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment comprises at least one polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene triblock copolymer. surfactant and a polymer, which forms primarily hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on and near said surface.

4. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment comprises at least one of a surfactant and a copolymer comprising segments of ethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide.

5. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment produces an upper surface having regions of different surface energy.

6. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment produces a different surface energy in a top surface and in a sublayer.

7. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment comprises at least one polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene triblock copolymer. * ?? * *? ~ I? Iá? > 2 ~ **. .- ^ -.-I-ttf-. .jj.A - ^^^ - i-É- -Ati.

8. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment comprises a chemical unit selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and mixtures thereof.

9. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said material is a fibrous non-woven fabric.

10. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said fibrous nonwoven fabric is selected from the group consisting of spin-bonded, meltblown and air laid, carded and bound and spunbond materials.

11. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said material is a perforated film composite.

12. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 11, characterized in that said perforated film composite comprises a localized wetting.

13. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said material is a nonwoven composite.

14. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said material is a perforated film.

15. A cover sheet as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said material is one of a foam and an expanded structure.

16. In a fluid absorbent article having a cover sheet material for the management of proteinaceous fluids, the improvement comprises: one of a modification and a treatment of a surface of said material, said one of said modification and said one of treatment essentially preventing and delaying the deposit of protein on one of contact and interaction with a proteinaceous fluid.

17. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment is selected from the group consisting of surfactants, polymers, copolymers, united surface groups, coatings, chemical alterations and combinations thereof.

18. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment comprises at least one of a surfactant and a polymer which forms primarily hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on and near said surface.

19. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment comprises at least one of a surfactant and a copolymer comprising segments of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. .

20. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment produces an upper surface having regions of different surface energy.

21. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment produces a different surface energy in a top surface and in a sublayer.

22. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment comprises at least one polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene triblock copolymer -polyoxyethylene.

23. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said cover sheet comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a non-woven material, a perforated film, a film composite, a non-woven composite, a foam, expanded structures and combinations thereof.

24. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said material is a fibrous nonwoven fabric.

25. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that said fibrous nonwoven fabric is selected from the group consisting of spin-bonded, meltblown, and air-laid, carded and bonded, and bound materials with spinning. and and ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ i ^^^^ mm ^^ ^ á ^ i ^^^^^^ m

26. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said material is a perforated film composite.

27. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 26, characterized in that said perforated film composite comprises localized wetting.

28. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said material is a nonwoven composite.

29. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said material is a perforated film.

30. A fluid absorbent article as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said material is one of a foam and an expanded structure.

31. A method for providing desired combinations of fluid handling properties to a cover sheet for a fluid absorbent article for handling a proteinaceous fluid comprising: Mfaf i, thni-tiy * ± Hmm? M .. fc.-M-fc - a -_ »j.c.i-t¡-a» _-. -at * - * - **.-..---. * B? &A? J? One of modification and treatment of a surface of said cover sheet, therefore one of essentially avoiding and delaying the deposit of protein on contact or interaction with a proteinaceous fluid.

32. A method as claimed in clause 31, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment is selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, polymers, copolymers, bonded surface halves, coatings, chemical alterations, combinations of the same.

33. A method as claimed in clause 31, characterized in that said one of said modification and said treatment comprises at least one polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene triblock copolymer.

34. A method as claimed in clause 31, characterized in that said cover sheet comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a non-woven material, a perforated film, a film composite, a non-woven composite, a foam, structures expanded and combinations thereof.

35. A cover sheet for a fluid absorbent article having a desired combination of fluid handling characteristics comprising: a material selected from the group consisting of nonwovens, perforated films, composite films, nonwovens, foam structures, expanded structures and combinations thereof; Y at least one of a treatment and a modification of a surface of said material, said at least one of said treatment and said modification produces an angle of advance and a backward angle for which the deposit of a protein, contact or Interaction with a proteinaceous fluid is one of essentially avoided and delayed.

36. A cover sheet for a product for the care of women that includes: a material selected from the group consisting of nonwovens, perforated film, film composites, nonwoven composites, foam structures, expanded structures, and combinations thereof; Y one of a treatment and a modification of a surface of said material, said one of said treatment and of one of said modification of essentially preventing and essentially delaying the deposition of protein upon contact or interaction with the proteinaceous fluid.

37. A cover sheet for a surgical suit or cover comprising: a material selected from the group consisting of nonwovens, perforated film, film composites, nonwoven composites, foam structures, expanded structures, and combinations thereof; Y one of a treatment and a modification of a surface of said material, said one of said treatment and one of said modification of essentially preventing and essentially delaying the deposition of protein upon contact or interaction with the proteinaceous fluid. SUMMARY A cover sheet for a women's care product made of a material whose surface is treated or modified to essentially prevent or delay the deposition of protein upon contact or interaction with a proteinaceous fluid. 01 h $ s3 g? G ^^ j ^! Jgj