Porous, absorbent macrostructures that, upon contacting liquids such as water or body exudates (e.g., urine), swell and imbibe such liquids, and are useful in absorbent articles such as diapers, adult incontinence pads, and sanitary napkins are disclosed. These porous macrostructures comprise bonded absorbent particles that are surface crosslinked with cationic, preferably polymeric, amino-epichlorohydrin adducts.
The present invention provides a superabsorbent material which comprises a combination of (1) an anionic superabsorbent in which from 20 to 100% of the functional groups are in free acid form, and (2) an anion exchanger in which from 20 to 100% of the functional groups are in basic form. The combination is particularly effective as a superabsorbent in the case of electrolyte containing solutions such as menses and urine.
A composition for creping fibrous webs comprises (1) a polyamine/epihalohydrin resin creping adhesive, and (2) a creping release agent that is a plasticizer for the polyamine/epihalohydrin resin and has a swelling ratio of at least 0.10 and a solubility parameter >20 MPa.sup.1/2. Also disclosed is a process for creping fibrous webs in which the creping adhesive and the release agent can be applied together or separately to a drying surface for the fibrous web.
A method for creping fibrous webs comprises: (1) applying to a drying surface for the fibrous web a polyamine/epihalohydrin resin creping adhesive; (2) applying a creping release agent that is a plasticizer for the polyamine/epihalohydrin resin and has a swelling ratio of at least 0.10 and a solubility parameter of greater than 20 MPa.sup.1/2 ; (3) pressing the fibrous web against the drying surface to adhere the web to the drying surface, and (4) dislodging the web from the drying surface with a creping device to crepe the fibrous web.
Porous, absorbent macrostructures that comprise flexible interparticle bonded aggregates and are useful in absorbent articles such as diapers, adult incontinence pads, and sanitary napkins are disclosed. These porous macrostructures are treated with an effective amount of a latex to coat at least a portion of the particles comprising the bonded aggregate so as to impart increased flexibility to the macrostruture. This latex is capable of being sintered at a temperature of about 25.degree. C. or lower, is at least somewhat hydrophilic when sintered, and has a Tg of about 25.degree. C. or lower when sintered.
An absorbent composite structure suitable for absorbing aqueous body fluids is provided which includes a substrate having two surfaces, a plurality of hydrogel-forming polymer particles and a chemical cross-linking agent capable of bonding to both the substrate and the hydrogel-forming particles. In at least a substantial portion of the structure, the majority of the hydrogel-forming polymer particles are connected by the chemical cross-linking agent directly to at least one of the substrate surfaces. The absorbent composite structure can be incorporated into an absorbent article. A method of making the absorbent composite structure is also disclosed.
