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A method for hydrophilizing a hydrophobic surface of a substrate includes the steps of (a) defining a temperature range of: (i) greater than or equal to an anticipated lower use temperature (LUT), or (ii) less than or equal to an anticipated upper use temperature (UUT), or (iii) from a LUT to an UUT

A method for hydrophilizing a hydrophobic surface of a substrate includes the steps of (a) defining a temperature range of: (i) greater than or equal to an anticipated lower use temperature (LUT), or (ii) less than or equal to an anticipated upper use temperature (UUT), or (iii) from a LUT to an UUT, wherein LUT≦UUT, within which the substrate is intended to be used in the presence of water, and (b) depositing at least one polymer on at least a portion of the surface, said polymer being soluble in water to the extent that an aqueous solution of such polymer exhibits: (i) a lower critical solution temperature (LCST), wherein LCST

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A hydrophilized fabric intended for use in the presence of water within a temperature range of greater than or equal to an anticipated lower use temperature (LUT), or less than or equal to an anticipated upper use temperature (UUT), or from a LUT to an UUT, wherein LUT&

The invention claimed is: 1. A hydrophilized fabric intended for use in the presence of water within a temperature range of greater than or equal to an anticipated lower use temperature (LUT), or less than or equal to an anticipated upper use temperature (UUT), or from a LUT to an UUT, wherein LUT≦UUT, comprising: (a) a fabric substrate comprising fibers having hydrophobic surfaces, and (b) at least one polymer deposited on at least a portion of the hydrophobic surfaces of the fibers, wherein the at least one polymer comprises monomeric units derived from at least one monomer according to formula (I) or (IV): wherein: R1 is H or methyl, A is oxyalkylene or poly(oxyalkylene), and R2 is alkyl wherein: R5 is H or methyl, each R6 is independently H or alkyl, and is soluble in water to the extent that an aqueous solution of such polymer exhibits: (i) a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of less than the LUT, (ii) an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) of greater than the UUT, or (iii) a LCST of less than the LUT and a UCST of greater than the UUT. 2. A disposable absorbent article intended for use in the presence of water within a temperature range of greater than or equal to an anticipated lower use temperature (LUT), or less than or equal to an anticipated upper use temperature (UUT), or from a LUT to an UUT, wherein LUT≦UUT, comprising a hydrophilized fabric, said fabric comprising: (a) a fabric substrate comprising fibers having hydrophobic surfaces, and (b) at least one polymer deposited on at least a portion of the hydrophobic surfaces of the fibers, wherein the at least one polymer comprises monomeric units derived from at least one monomer according to formula (I) or (IV): wherein: R1 is H or methyl, A is oxyalkylene or poly(oxyalkylene), and R2 is alkyl wherein: R5 is H or methyl, each R6 is independently H or alkyl, and is soluble in water to the extent that an aqueous solution of such polymer exhibits: (i) a lower critical solution temperature (LOST) of less than the LUT, (ii) an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) of greater than the UUT, or (iii) a LCST of less than the LUT and a UCST of greater than the UUT. 3. A disposable absorbent article selected from diapers, adult incontinence products, wipes, and feminine hygiene products, comprising at least one porous hydrophilized fabric substrate, said porous hydrophilized fabric substrate comprising fibers having hydrophobic surfaces and at least one polymer deposited on at least a portion of hydrophobic surfaces of the fibers, wherein the polymer comprises monomeric units derived from diethyleneglycolethyletheracrylate and is soluble in water to the extent that an aqueous solution of such polymer exhibits a lower critical solution temperature of less than 20�� C. 4. The article of claim 3, wherein the polymer is a poly(diethyleneglycolethyletheracrylate) homopolymer. 5. The article of claim 3, wherein the article is a diaper, adult incontinence product or feminine hygiene product that comprises: at least one layer of the porous hydrophilized fabric substrate, at least one layer of a nonporous water impermeable film, and at least one layer of an adsorbent material disposed between the layer of porous hydrophilized fabric and the layer of nonporous water impermeable film. 6. The article of claim 5, wherein fabric substrate is a nonwoven polyolefin fabric. 7. The article of claim 5, wherein the nonporous water impermeable film is a nonporous water impermeable poly(olefin) film. 8. The article of claim 5, wherein the absorbent material is a superabsorbent material that comprises a synthetic hydrogel polymer. 9. The article of claim 3 wherein the article is a wipe that comprises each of the one or more layers of porous hydrophilized fabric substrate independently comprises a porous hydrophilized woven fabric or a porous hydrophilized nonwoven fabric. 10. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fibers comprise poly(olefin) fibers or polyamide fibers. 11. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the LUT is 20�� C. and the at least one polymer exhibits a LCST of less than 20�� C., or the UUT is 40�� C. and the at least one polymer exhibits a UCST of greater than 40�� C. 12. The fabric of claim 11, wherein the LUT is 20�� C. and the at least one polymer exhibits a LCST of less than 20�� C. 13. The fabric of claim 12, wherein the at least one polymer exhibits a LCST of less than 15�� C. 14. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the at least one monomer is selected from the group consisting of diethyleneglycolethyletheracrylate, diethyleneglycolethylethermethacrylate, nonethyleneglycolmethyletheracrylate, and nonethyleneglycolmethylethermethacrylate. 15. The article of claim 2, wherein the fibers comprise poly(olefin) fibers or polyamide fibers. 16. The article of claim 2, wherein the LUT is 20�� C. and the at least one polymer exhibits a LCST of less than 20�� C. or the UUT is 40�� C. and the at least one polymer exhibits a UCST of greater than 40�� C. 17. The article of claim 16, wherein the LUT is 20�� C. and the at least one polymer exhibits a LCST of less than 20�� C. 18. The article of claim 17, wherein the at least one polymer exhibits a LCST of less than 15�� C. 19. The article of claim 2, wherein the at least one monomer is selected from the group consisting of diethyleneglycolethyletheracrylate, diethyleneglycolethylethermethacrylate, nonethyleneglycolmethyletheracrylate, and nonethyleneglycolmethylethermethacrylate. 20. The article of claim 3, wherein the fibers comprise poly(olefin) fibers or polyamide fibers. 21. The hydrophilized fabric of claim 1, wherein the at least one monomer is according to formula (I), A is--(OR3)--, or--(OR4)n'-., R3 and R4 are each (C1-C3)alkylene, and n' is 2. 22. The hydrophilized fabric of claim 1, wherein the at least one monomer is selected from the group consisting of diethyleneglycolethyletheracrylate and diethyleneglycolethylethermethacrylate. 23. The hydrophilized fabric of claim 1, wherein the polymer is a homopolymer of diethyleneglycolethyletheracrylate, diethyleneglycolethylethermethacrylate, nonethyleneglycolmethyletheracrylate, or nonethyleneglycolmethylethermethacrylate. 24. The hydrophilized fabric of claim 1, wherein the polymer is a homopolymer of diethyleneglycolethyletheracrylate. 25. The disposable absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the at least one monomer is according to formula (I), A is--(OR3)--, or--(OR4)n'-., R3 and R4 are each (C1-C3)alkylene, and n' is 2. 26. The disposable absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the at least one monomer is selected from the group consisting of diethyleneglycolethyletheracrylate and diethyleneglycolethylethermethacrylate. 27. The disposable absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the polymer is a homopolymer of diethyleneglycolethyletheracrylate, diethyleneglycolethylethermethacrylate, nonethyleneglycolmethyletheracrylate, or nonethyleneglycolmethylethermethacrylate. 28. The hydrophilized fabric of claim 1, wherein the polymer is a homopolymer of diethyleneglycolethyletheracrylate.