Structure of perforated foil/fabric (non-woven) composite for use in absorptive articles of personal hygiene and the like

The subject of the invention is body facing lining, especially in absorbent personal hygiene products.

The present invention relates in particular to a combination of a perforated film and a downy, fibrous non-woven material. The material presented in the present invention is particularly useful for use as a material for covering personal hygiene absorbent articles including, but not limited to, sanitary napkins.

Body-facing linings in absorbent personal hygiene products are known, and sanitary napkins in particular, comprising perforated films and fibrous non-woven meshes as the two materials used to make the lining. Both of these materials are used individually or in combination as a surface in contact with the body or one of the layers in these types of products. The perforated films, except well designed, are two-dimensional in nature and while they provide a non-soiling surface, they usually do not protect well against re-wetting. Fluffy coatings of fibrous, non-woven mesh allow the fluid to penetrate quickly and facilitate the separation of the covering surface from the fluid, but the material itself can retain part of the fluid inside its structure near the upper surface, which results in a feeling of wetting and of course the problem of spotting. This feeling of wetting and staining is unacceptable to many users. Another problem that arises with coating materials from fibrous, non-woven mesh is to balance the abrasion resistance with softening. Most fluffy materials provide a soft feel and better fluid absorption, but some materials also have low abrasion resistance. Conversely, materials that are more dense and therefore more abrasion-resistant tend to hold better during use, but at the same time exhibit less than the desired speed

178 158 fluid absorption. Attempts have been made to combine the film with fibrous, non-woven mesh, but in turn due to the incredible divergence of materials and properties, as well as the characteristics of their interaction, the resulting product met with varying degrees of success.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved material that can be used, among other things, as a body facing or covering material in absorbent personal care products.

Body facing, especially in absorbent personal hygiene products, consisting of a perforated foil layer and a separating layer, the foil layer having holes inside, characterized according to the invention in that the percentage of the open surface in the foil layer is between about 10 and 30%, with wherein said separation layer consists of a fibrous non-woven mesh with a thickness between about 0.76 and 3.8 m, a basis weight between about 17 and 85 g / m² and an average pore size between about 100 and 400 microns.

Preferably, the fibrous nonwoven web contains a plurality of bicomponent fibers.

Preferably, the bi-component fibers of the fibrous non-woven mesh are side-by-side fibers consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene.

Preferably, the fibrous non-woven web has a fiber density between about 1.5 and 6.

Preferably, the bi-component fibers of the fibrous non-woven mesh are side-by-side fibers consisting of polyethylene and polyester.

Preferably, the fibrous non-woven web has a fiber density between about 1.5 and 6.

An advantageous feature of the present invention is that the separating layer of fibrous, non-woven mesh is inherently fluffy, which means that the combination of the perforated film and the separating layer has a good penetration rate of absorbed body fluids and a low degree of re-soaking, so that the liquid once absorbed returns to the surface of the product. Finally, it is preferred to use bicomponent fibers in the production of a separation layer from a fibrous, non-woven mesh. Such bicomponent fibers have a variety of configurations, including, but not limited to, fiber-on-side fiber (side-by-side) and sheath-core fiber configurations. Useful polymers for such bicomponent fibers include, but are not limited to, polyesters and polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene. The appropriate fiber denier will typically be in the range of 1.5-6.

The subject of the invention in the embodiments is shown in the drawing, in which in Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a partial cross-sectional view of an absorbent personal care product comprising a combination of foil and fluffy, non-woven material as a facing from the body covering the sanitary towel according to the present invention, and in Fig. 2 - a cross section of an absorbent personal hygiene article comprising a body facing liner according to the present invention, such as shown in figure 1.

The body liner according to the invention is a combination of a perforated film and a separating material of fluffy fibrous, non-woven mesh, which combination is particularly useful for use as a covering material in absorbent personal hygiene products, including but not limited to sanitary napkins.

Figures 1 and 2 show an absorbent personal hygiene article 10 consisting of a body facing liner material 12 or a coating according to the present invention. As the drawings show, the absorbent personal hygiene product has the form of a sanitary napkin. However, this should not be considered as a limitation of the type of personal hygiene absorbent article or, in particular, the end use to which the combination of film and non-woven material of the present invention may be used.

Body facing 12 according to the present invention is made of a combination of film and fluffy, non-woven material and includes a layer of punched film 22 and a fibrous, non-woven separation layer 26. As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, the film layer 22 has a lot of holes 24, allowing fluid to flow through the foil layer. According to the present invention, "holes" and "piercing" may include holes and / or slits,

178 158 that form the pathways through the film layer from one surface to another. The holes may be located or may extend over the entire surface of the film layer 22, as shown in Figure 1. When the perforation is located, it usually occurs in the longitudinal form in the central part or in the form of a strip (not shown) separating the coating into two lateral parts that are not punctured (also not shown). In this configuration, the entire layer can be made of film or longitudinal, the central part can be made of perforated film, and the side parts can be made of other material, such as fibrous, non-woven mesh.

Useful materials that make up the film layer 22 include any material that can form the film, including, but not limited to, polyolefins and polyacrylates, as well as copolymers and mixtures thereof. Specific polymers include, but are not limited to, polyethylene (PE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).

There are many well known methods for making such films, including, but not limited to, casting and blowing.

Typically, the film layer has a thickness of between about 0.025 and about 1.0 mm and a percentage of open surface resulting from the puncturing between about 10 and about 30%, calculated on the surface of the film layer 22. The percentage of open area is calculated based on the specific unit area, calculating the area of ​​the entire open area within the specific unit area, then dividing this total open area by the total area of ​​the area within the specific unit area, and then multiplying the quotient by 100 to get the percentage of the area open. The size and number of holes may vary depending on the viscosity and other properties of the body fluid passing through the film layer 22. The film may be hydrophilic or hydrophobic, or it may be treated to obtain such properties. Many of the mixtures from which the film is extruded contain a lubricant, such as a fatty ester, which is added to the mixture, which also makes the film more hydrophilic, which otherwise becomes hydrophobic.

Useful, perforated films include AET polyethylene CKX 215 film, Sultex PF-10 EVA / (lDpE / PP) / EVA film and Mitsui low density polyethylene film. AET polyethylene CKX 215 film has an open area percentage of approximately 28%. Sultex PF-10 film is a three-layer laminate with 18-22% open area. The two outer layers consist of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and the inner layer is a mixture of 17% polypropylene and 73% low density polyethylene. Mitsui low density polyethylene film has an open area percentage of 22-24%. The holes are conical capillaries that extend from the bottom of the film layer.

To secure adequate leakage protection, the film layer 22 and the septum 14 are bonded together with their rims 17. Both materials can be connected to each other by appropriate means that will ensure proper sealing. If the materials forming the film layer 22 and the partition 14 are thermally compatible, the rims 17 can be hot joined. Alternatively, both layers can be combined with adhesives, including water-based, solvent and hot melt. The bonding of the rim 17 is important as it provides additional protection against leakage.

Under the perforated film layer 22 and in direct contact with it a fibrous, non-woven separation layer 26 is located. The separating layer 26, due to its unique design and interaction with the film layer 22, easily desorbs fluid from the surface of the sanitary napkin and transfers it to the absorbent core 16 To maximize fluid absorption and minimize re-wetting, the separation layer 26 should be made of a fluffy, fibrous, non-woven mesh. As shown in the examples below, the type of fibrous non-woven mesh is critical in the performance of the combination of film and the fibrous non-woven mesh as well as the final product of the present invention. Typically, body facing liner 12 has a thickness between about 0.76

178 158 and about 3.8 mm, basis weight between about 17 g / m2² a 85 g / m2² (0.5 and 2.5 ounces per square yard) and average pore size between about 100 and about 400 microns.

Any method can be used to produce fibrous, non-woven meshes, provided that the mesh obtained has the properties described herein. Particularly useful production methods include spinning and air-bonded carded nets, both methods well known and do not require detailed description. The spun, non-woven meshes are made of fibers that are extruded from a molten thermoplastic material as a fiber of numerous fine, generally round, capillary spinneret nozzles with extruded fiber diameters sharply reduced by means of extrusion or other known spinning mechanisms. The production of spun, non-woven meshes is illustrated by numerous known patents.

Particularly useful, the spun netting for the release layer 26 is made of spun bi-component polyethylene / polypropylene fibers of the "side-by-side" type. The method of producing such fibers and obtaining a mesh involves the use of a pair of extruders for separately feeding polyethylene and polypropylene into a two-component spinning nozzle. Spinning nozzles for producing bi-component fibers are well known in the art and are therefore not described in detail. Generally, the spinneret consists of a housing comprising a spinning assembly, which consists of a plurality of wafers having hole distribution patterns so as to form a pathway directing high melting and low melting polymers to each of the holes in which the fibers form in spinning nozzle. The spinning nozzle has holes arranged in one or two rows, from which the extruded polymer comes out as a curtain of fibers. As the curtain fibers leave the spinning nozzle, they are contacted with cooling gas, which at least partially cools the fibers and develops latent spiral crimp. Often, cooling air is directed essentially perpendicular to the length of the fibers, at a rate of from about 3.3 cm to about 13.12 cm per minute, at a temperature from about 7 ° C to 32 ° C (45'F to about 90'F) .

A fiber extraction device or aspirator is located below the cooling gas to obtain chilled fibers. Fiber pulling devices or aspirators used for spinning from the weave are well known in the art. Exemplary fiber extraction devices useful for use in the method of the present invention include linear aspirators known from the patent literature as well as output guns. The fiber extraction device generally has an elongated passage through which the fibers are drawn by a suction gas. The suction gas can be any gas, such as air, that does not exhibit adverse interaction with the polymer fibers. The suction gas can be heated while drawing the cooled fiber and heat the fibers to the temperature required for latent crimping. The temperature required for latent crimping inside the fibers varies from about 44 ° C (110'F) to a maximum, lower than the melting temperature of the lower melting polymer component, which in this case is polyethylene. Generally, a higher air temperature produces a higher crimp.

The drawn and crimped fibers are deposited statistically on a continuously forming surface, generally by means of vacuum devices located below the surface to be produced. The vacuum is designed to eliminate unwanted fiber dispersion and direct the fibers to the forming surface to form a homogeneous, unbonded mesh of bicomponent fibers. If indicated, the mesh produced can be lightly compressed by means of rollers before being subjected to the welding process.

For welding two-component spun nets, an air welding device is used. Such devices are well known in the art and there is no need to describe them. In this device, the heated air passes through the mesh in order to heat it to a temperature higher than the melting point of the melting at a lower temperature of the ingredient

178 158 bicomponent fibers, but lower than the melting point of the melting component at a higher temperature. During heating, a portion of the polymer fibers melting at a lower temperature melts and the melted portion of the fibers adhere to adjacent fibers at the crossing points, while a portion of the polymer fibers melting at the higher temperature maintains the physical and dimensional integrity of the net.

Bonded, carded nets are made of staple fibers, which are usually purchased in bales. The bales are placed in a shuttle bail, which separates the fibers. Then, the fibers are sent through combing or carding devices that additionally tear apart and align the cut fibers towards the machine so as to form a machine-oriented, non-woven fibrous mesh. The mesh thus formed is then bonded by one or more of the bonding methods. One method of bonding is powder bonding, in which the powdered adhesive is spread on the mesh and then activated, usually by heating the mesh and adhesive with hot air. Another method of bonding is bonding using a template in which heated rollers of a smoothing machine or ultrasonic bonding devices are used to bond the fibers together, usually with a localized bonding pattern, although the mesh can be bonded over the entire surface if desired. The best way to use two-component staple fibers is to use an air-bonding device as described above for the two-component spun web.

An important parameter in the production of the separation layer 26 is its fluffy nature. Unnecessary thickening of the fibrous non-woven mesh as a result of welding processes should be avoided. Air bonding and adhesive bonding are examples of bonding methods that do not adversely affect the fluffiness of the resulting mesh. These types of bonding methods are well known and there is no need to describe them in detail.

Suitable fibers for making fibrous non-woven meshes typically include thermoplastic fibers such as those obtained from polyolefins and polyesters as well as polyolefin copolymers such as polyethylene / polypropylene copolymers. Such fibers are usually well suited for thermal and powder bonding, have good strength and have a wide range of denier. A suitable fiber denier is usually in the range of between about 1.5 and 6. Bi-component fibers are particularly well suited for use in the present invention. The bicomponent fibers may be staple fibers or long filaments, such as those produced by the spinning method described above. Bi-component fibers typically have a lower melting point polymer portion and a higher melting point polymer portion, wherein the lower melting portion polymer acts as a fiber bonding agent if sufficient heat is supplied. Such bicomponent fibers may have, for example, a "side-by-side" system, a sheath / core, and an "islands-in-sea" structure. With all such systems, at least a portion of the outer surface of the bicomponent fiber comprises a polymer component with a lower melting point, which allows the fibers to bond.

Two particularly useful non-woven, fluffy separation layers, as described below in the examples, are a two-component, spun, non-woven polyethylene / polypropylene mesh, side-by-side fiber type, with 3 denier fibers and a basis weight of 41 g / m²(1.2 wasps), 55.65 mils thick and with pore sizes between about 100 and 120 microns. The second material is a two-component air bonded staple fiber carded fabric that has a basis weight of 27 g / m2 (0.8 wasps), a thickness of 55 mils and a pore size between about 100 and 150 microns. The netting is made of a 50/50% by weight blend, based on the total weight of the net, staple fibers 1.8 and 3 denier polyethylene coating ("sheath") / polyester core ("core"), fiber length 38 mm. In general, however, the separation layer has a thickness between about 0.76 and 3.8 mm, a basis weight between 17 and 85 g / m2, a pore size between about 100 and 400 microns.

178 158

Many fibers used to make the separation layer 26 are hydrophobic, but this is not necessary. To facilitate the transfer of fluid from the perforated film layer 22 to the absorption core 16, it is generally desirable to subject the fibers forming the separation layer 26 to some type of surfactant or wetting agent. Such surfactants and wetting agents are well known and can be added during or after the fiber production process by spraying onto the fibers and subsequent drying.

It is important that the perforated film layer 22 and the separating layer 26 are in close contact, at least in the area of ​​the perforated film layer. Because of the interaction between the perforated film layer 22 and the separating layer 26, it is not required that the two layers be adhesively bonded or otherwise attached to each other, provided they are in close contact with each other. However, it is possible to combine the two layers, if necessary, by means of adhesives or thermally, if the fibers and film are thermally compatible.

When using the cladding of the invention in absorbent articles for fluid flow from the lining from the body side 12 to the absorbent core 16 of the article, it is generally necessary to create a pore size gradient within the absoptic core 16, where the pores adjacent to the lining from the body side are larger than the adjacent pores to the bottom of the absorbent core. Such pore size gradients increase their capillary action, which causes the fluid to be absorbed much faster by the sanitary napkin 10, where it is retained. Consequently, it is desirable that the size of the individual holes or holes in the film layer is larger than the pore size of the separation layer, wherein the pore size of the separation layer is in turn larger than the pore size of the absorption core 16. To facilitate capillary suction, it is possible to produce an absorbent core with one or two layers or zones. As shown in Fig. 2, the absorbent core 16 may comprise an upper layer 18 and a lower layer 20. The upper layer 18 and lower layer 20 are made of fibrous wood pulp or fluff, with the upper layer or body facing 18 having a lower density than the bottom or adjacent layer 20 to the wardrobe. For example, the top layer may have a density between about 0.03 and about 0.10 g / cm3³while the bottom layer may have a density between about 0.05 and about 0.15 g / cm3.

To prove the unusual functionality of the combination of the punched film and the separation layer of the present invention and its usefulness in absorbent personal hygiene products, a series of samples were prepared and then tested. Test procedures, samples, test results are listed below.

Testing Procedures

To measure the rate of liquid absorption by the perforated film and the non-woven laminate, a permeation test was performed using "Z-Date", a synthetic menstrual fluid containing, by weight, approximately 82.5% water, 15.8% polyvinyl pyrrolidone and 1, 7% salts, coloring agents and surfactants. It has a viscosity of 17 centipoise and a surface tension of 53.5 dynes / cm. A sample of 7.62 cm (3 inches) per 17.8 cm (7 inches) of test material was poured from the foil side of 10 cm3 of synthetic menstrual fluid, fed from a container with a 5.1 cm (2 inch) outlet opening per 1, 3 cm (0.5 inches). Then, the time (sec) needed to absorb 8 cm3 of fluid was measured. Shorter absorption time indicated faster absorption for a particular material.

In abusive personal hygiene applications, it is desirable that after the menstrual fluid passes through the facing from the body, the fluid does not soak the surface again or soak it again as little as possible. To test the degree of re-soaking, 10 cm3 of synthetic menstrual fluid was introduced into a fresh test sample of the same dimensions as described above, from a container with a 5.1 cm by 1.3 cm (2 inch by 0.5 inch) outlet. Then at the top of the sample

178 158 blotting paper was placed and subjected to a pressure of 1 pound per square inch for 3 minutes. After a 3-minute break, blotting paper was removed and weighed, giving in grams the amount of synthetic menstrual fluid absorbed by the blotter. Higher values ​​indicated a higher degree of re-wetting by the particular material being tested.

To measure "Starrett Bulk" or material thickness, which is related to material thickness, material samples 127 mm x 127 mm (5 inches by 5 inches) were compressed using a 0.05 pound load per square inch and the material thickness was measured while the sample was compression. Higher numbers indicated thicker, more bulky materials.

The pore size of the space between the fibers is calculated using the Laplace equation for capillary pressure, based on nmnn

<img file="PL178158B1_D0001.tif" />

where:

α = liquid surface pressure β = liquid / solid contact angle

- decreasing if the pores are desorbed

- increasing if the pores absorb δΡ = pgh

Thus, the pore size is twice the radius or calculated pore diameter. To obtain the average pore size, 5 separate pore size readings are made and the sum of these readings is divided by 5 to get the average.

Examples. The tests were carried out on a series of perforated nonwoven film / layer. To demonstrate their properties, they were used as body facing or covering in two types of sanitary napkins. The first is the Kimberly-Clark KOTEX® Maxi sanitary napkin. The second one was also a Kimberly-Clark product, in this case the European version of KOTEX® Maxi. ALWAYS® sanitary napkin was also tested to have more reference points.

The American version of the KOTEX® Maxi sanitary napkin consists of a facing from the body, an absorbent core and a plastic film that forms a partition. The absorption core has a multi-component structure. The part of the absorbent core adjacent to the facing from the body side consists of six layers of crinkled cotton wool, each with a weight of 19 g / m2. Under this part of the absorbent core is a single layer of fabric with a weight of 19 g / m2, which surrounds 6.68 g of cotton fluff with a density of 0.07 g / cm³. The body facing lining was a spun polypropylene mesh that surrounded the entire structure around. The spun mesh was spot-bonded with a 15% bonding surface and treated with Triton® 102-102 non-ionic surfactant added at approximately 0.26 wt.%, Based on the weight of the coating material.

The European version of the KOTEX® Maxi sanitary napkin has a transfer layer made of hot-blown material, 45 g / m2.

ALWAYS® sanitary napkin was used as a control firelight. The sanitary napkin was connected with a rim to the perforated foil as a facing from the body side and did not have a transfer layer.

Three commercially available films were selected for use in the present invention. These included previously described films, Sultex film, AET film and Mitsui film.

In combination with the abovementioned films, a series of separation layers of fibrous, non-woven mesh were prepared and tested. One set of separation layers was made of two-component, spun, non-woven meshes, while the other set of separation layers was made of carded, air-bonded meshes using two-component, cut fiber polyethylene sheath / polypropylene core . In addition, several standard non-woven fibrils were also prepared

1718158 meshes, including spun and blown meshes, to demonstrate differences between the materials of the present invention and conventional two-layer coating materials.

The two-component, spun, non-woven mesh (Bico SB) was made of spun polyethylene / polypropylene spun fibers with 3 denier. The mesh had a basis weight of 41 g / m2 (1.2 wasps), a thickness of 1.2 mm (0.052 inches) and an average pore size of 140 microns. The carded, air-bonded mesh (TABCW) had a basis weight of 27 g / m2 (0.8 wasps) and was made of a 50/50% w / w mix based on the total weight of the mesh, two-component staple fibers 51 mm long, 1.8 and 3.0 denier, a polyethylene coating ("sheath) / polyester core (" core "). A comparative spun nonwoven web was made of 5.0 denier polypropylene fibers. It was made by the method of spot bonding using bonding templates having a total bonding area of ​​15%. The spun mesh had a weight of 32.3 g / m2 (0.95 wasps), a thickness of 0.28 mm (0.011 inches) and an average pore size of 85 microns. The comparative air-bonded mesh was made of polypropylene fibers with less than one denier. The resulting mesh had a weight of 44.5 g / m2 (1.3 wasps). It was spot-bonded with a total bonding area of ​​15%. All fibers of the above-mentioned meshes were treated with surfactant.

As the examples below show, various combinations of the materials described above were prepared, and then placed on top of the previously mentioned standard sanitary napkins, and then tested. The connections and test results are presented below.

Example I. In Example I, three sanitary towels were tested to determine the penetration time and re-wetting properties according to the test procedures set out above using synthetic menstrual fluid. Sample la was a Sultex film placed on top, but not glued to the KOTEX® Maxi sanitary napkin (US version). The original non-woven coating of KOTEX® Maxi was removed and Sultex foil was used in its place. Sample 1b uses the same KOTEX® Maxi and a combination of Sultex film with a separating layer made of a two-component, spun, air-bonded mesh of 41 g / m2 (1.2 wasps) of fiber-type fiber (side-by-side) ) with 3 polyethylene / polypropylene denier. The Sultex film and the separating layer of the two-component spun web were then placed on top of the KOTEX® Maxi with the two-component spun web adhering to the absorbent core. No glue was applied between the film and the non-woven layer, nor between the non-woven layer and the absorbent core. Sample 1c was an ALWAYS® Dri-Weave® sanitary napkin. The results of the penetration and re-soaking time tests are presented in Table 1.

Table 1

<td>A sample</td><td>Type sanitary</td><td>Shell</td><td>Time penetration (sec)</td><td>Soaking again (g)</td>

<td>la</td><td>KOTEX Maxi</td><td>Sultex foil</td><td> 17</td><td> 1,0</td>

<td>1b</td><td>KOTEX Maxi</td><td>Sultex foil / Bico SB NW</td><td> 12</td><td> 0,1</td>

<td>1c</td><td>ALWAYS</td><td>punched</td><td> 8</td><td> 0,2</td>

Foil

As shown in Table 1, the ALWAYS® sanitary napkin had the best penetration time of 8 seconds. KOTEX® Maxi only with Sultex film (sample 1a) had a penetration rate that was almost double that of sample 1c, nevertheless, when the Sultex film was modified by adding a separating layer of two-component, non-woven, spun mesh (sample 1b), the penetration rate decreased by a full 5 seconds. In addition, the soaking rate for sample 1b was reduced by a factor of ten and was halved

178 158 than in sample 1c. It follows that the addition of a separating layer of a two-component fibrous, non-woven, spun netting greatly increases the penetration rate and re-wetting properties of the film layer when only the covering material is used in combination with the sanitary napkin.

Example II. Example 2 prepared 11 samples (2a-2k). The samples consisted of a cover layer obtained from the previously described Sultex, Mitsui and AET films individually and in combination with the previously described 41 g / m separation layer¹ (1.2 wasps) two-component, spun (Bico SB) and separating layers of carded, air-bonded (TABCW) mesh with 27 g / m2 (0.8 wasps) according to the present invention. All covering materials were placed on top of the KOTEX® Maxi sanitary napkin (US version), from which the original coating was removed. Again, the film layers and the film / non-woven material were not glued to the absorbent core, nor were they glued to each other. The penetration and re-wetting properties of the samples were tested using synthetic menstrual fluid and the results are presented in Table 2 below. In addition, penetration rates and re-wetting properties were also determined for coating materials that consisted only of a two-component spun separating layer (sample 2j) and an air-bonded carded separation layer (sample 2k) of the present invention.

Table 2

<td>A sample</td><td>Cover layer</td><td>Penetration time (sec)</td><td>Soaking again (g)</td>

<td>2a</td><td>Sultex</td><td> 18,85</td><td> 0,97</td>

<td>2b</td><td>Sultex W / Bico SB</td><td> 11,70</td><td> 0,03</td>

<td>2c</td><td>Sultex W / TABCW</td><td> 9,12</td><td> 0,04</td>

<td>2d</td><td>Mitsui</td><td> 15,68</td><td> 0,04</td>

<td>2e</td><td>Mitsui W / Bico SB</td><td> 9,70</td><td> 0,02</td>

<td>2f</td><td>Mitsui W / TABSW</td><td> 8,30</td><td> 0,03</td>

<td>2g</td><td>AET foil</td><td> 21,55</td><td> 1,28</td>

<td>2h</td><td>AET W / Bico SB foil</td><td> 11,55</td><td> 0,07</td>

<td>2i</td><td>AET W / TABCW film</td><td> 7,98</td><td> 0,08</td>

<td>2j</td><td>only Bico SB</td><td> 12,36</td><td> 0,10</td>

<td>2k</td><td>only TABCW</td><td> 7,24</td><td> 0,30</td>

As can be seen from Table 2, in all examples the penetration times for the punched film were reduced when used in combination with either a two-component spun (Bico SB) separation layer (examples 2b, 2e and 2h) or with a separation layer of two-component carded, bonded mesh air (TABCW) (samples 2c, 2f and 2i). Also the degree of re-wetting was reduced in all cases. Comparing samples 2a and 2b, the soaking rate decreased 32 times and 24 times compared to samples 2a and 2c. In samples 2h and 2i, the degree of re-soaking compared to the 2g sample decreased 18 times and 16 times, respectively.

Example III. After demonstrating in the previous two examples that, compared to conventional non-woven coatings and the film coatings themselves, the samples of the present invention have improved penetration rates and re-wetting properties, in Example 3 the materials of the present invention were tested in comparison with the two commonly used transfer layer materials . In the past, pieces of spun (SB) and hot-blown (MB) material were used to separate non-woven coatings in absorbent personal care products from absorbent cores. At 178 158, two such materials were boiled and placed under Sultex foil, and then the composition was placed on top of a KOTEX® Maxi sanitary napkin (European version) and penetration time and re-wetting were tested. Then, these samples were compared with a KOTEX® Maxi sanitary napkin (European version) coated with the Sultex foil / non-woven material combination according to the present invention as described in Example II. See table 3.

Table 3

<td>A sample</td><td>Shell material</td><td>Penetration time (sec)</td><td>Soaking again (g)</td>

<td>3a</td><td>Sultex foil</td><td> 13,34</td><td> 1,00</td>

<td>3b</td><td>Sultex / Bico SB</td><td> 11,50</td><td> 0,10</td>

<td>3c</td><td>Sultex / TABCW</td><td> 10,17</td><td> 0,05</td>

<td>3d</td><td>Sultex / SB</td><td> 20,79</td><td> 0,38</td>

<td>3e</td><td>Sultex / MB</td><td> 20,89</td><td> 0,24</td>

As can be seen from the data in Table 3 above, the samples with conventional non-woven layers (samples 3d and 3e) had a penetration rate that was substantially double with the sanitary napkin material of the present invention (samples 3b and 3c). This rate was also higher than the penetration rate when only Sultex film was used (sample 3a). The spun, nonwoven layer used in the sample had polypropylene fibers of 5 denier, basis weight 32.3 g / m2² (0.95 wasps) and was spot-bonded with a bonding template having 15% of the bonding surface. This non-woven layer did not have the properties, including downy nature, necessary to provide the features of the present invention. The hot blown, nonwoven layer in sample 3e had a basis weight of 44.5 g / m2 (1.3 wasps), an average pore size of 30 microns and a fiber size of less than 1 denier, which creates a material that does not provide high penetration rates and low re-wetting values which are possible with the material of the present invention.

After describing the invention in such detail, it becomes apparent that various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

178 158

<img file="PL178158B1_D0002.tif" />

FIG. 2

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