초록 ▼

Absorbent structures that form superabsorbent polymers in situ. The structures include an absorbent material and a fibrous material containing an activating agent. The fibrous material releases the activating agent upon stimulation with an activator, which causes the polymer to become a superabsorbe

Absorbent structures that form superabsorbent polymers in situ. The structures include an absorbent material and a fibrous material containing an activating agent. The fibrous material releases the activating agent upon stimulation with an activator, which causes the polymer to become a superabsorbent polymer. The absorbent component is desirably a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer. The absorbent structures form a superabsorbent composition in situ. Methods of making the activating agent containing fibrous material are provided.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An absorbent structure comprising: a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer; and a fibrous material comprising individual fibers that have an activating agent contained inside the supermolecular structure of the individual fibers or attached to the surface of the indi

The invention claimed is: 1. An absorbent structure comprising: a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer; and a fibrous material comprising individual fibers that have an activating agent contained inside the supermolecular structure of the individual fibers or attached to the surface of the individual fibers by ionic or water-hydrolyzable covalent bonds; wherein the fibers release the activating agent upon stimulation by an activator and the activating agent, upon release from the fibers, causes an increase in the capacity of the water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer to absorb water. 2. An absorbent structure comprising: a water-swellable and water-insoluble polymer; and a fibrous material comprising individual fibers that have an activating agent contained inside the supermolecular structure of the individual fibers or attached to the surface of the individual fibers by ionic or water-hydrolyzable covalent bonds; wherein the fibers release the activating agent upon stimulation by an activator and the activating agent causes the polymer to become a superabsorbent polymer. 3. The absorbent structure of claim 2, wherein the superabsorbent polymer is a slow superabsorbent polymer. 4. The absorbent structure of claim 2, wherein the activator is a liquid to be absorbed at least in part by the superabsorbent polymer. 5. The absorbent structure of claim 2, wherein the fibers release the activating agent in a controlled manner. 6. The absorbent structure of claim 5, wherein the rate of release of the activating agent from the fibers is controlled by one or more factors selected from concentration of the activating agent, nature of the activating agent, type of interaction between the activating agent and the fibers, or strength of the interaction between the activating agent and the fibers. 7. The absorbent structure of claim 2, wherein the water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer is selected from polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohols, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer, polyvinylethers, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyvinylmorpholines, carboxymethyl celluloses, carboxymethyl starches, hydroxypropyl celluloses, algins, alginates, carrageenans, acrylic grafted starches, acrylic grafted celluloses, polyaspartic acid, polyglutamic acid, polyamines, polyethyleneimines, polyacrylamides, polydiallyl dimethyl ammonium hydroxide, polyquaternary ammoniums, chitins, chitosans, polyasparagines, polyglutamines, polylysines, polyarginines, or combinations or copolymers thereof. 8. The absorbent structure of claim 2, wherein the activating agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, polyamines, polyimines, polyamides, polyquaternary ammoniums, chitins, chitosans, polyasparagines, polylysines, polyarginines, aliphatic amines, aromatic amines, imines, amides, metallic oxides, hydroxides, salts, ammonia, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, polyacrylic acid, polymaleic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, alginic acid, polyaspartic acid, polyglutamic acid, citric acid, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, inorganic acid, salts, isosaccharinic acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, glucuronic acid, and mixtures and copolymers thereof. 9. The absorbent structure of claim 2, wherein the water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer is acidic and the activating agent is basic. 10. The absorbent structure of claim 9 wherein the acidic water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer has a pKa that is between about 2 and about 12 at about 25° C. 11. The absorbent structure of claim 2, wherein the water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer is basic and the activating agent is acidic. 12. The absorbent structure of claim 11 wherein the basic water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer has a pKb that is between about 2 and about 12 at about 25° C. 13. The absorbent structure of claim 2, wherein the water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer comprises polyacrylic acid and the activating agent is selected from sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, or combinations thereof. 14. The absorbent structure of claim 2, wherein the water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer comprises chitosan or quaternary ammonium. 15. The absorbent structure of claim 2, wherein the fibers comprise cellulose. 16. The absorbent structure of claim 2, wherein the fibrous material has a form selected from a fibrous network, a batt of comminuted wood pulp fluff, a tissue layer, a hydroentangled pulp sheet, a woven sheet, a nonwoven sheet, a tow, or a mechanically softened pulp sheet. 17. The absorbent article of claim 16, comprising a liquid-permeable topsheet, a backsheet attached to the topsheet, and the absorbent structure positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. 18. The absorbent article of claim 16, wherein the water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer is polyacrylic acid and the activating agent is selected from sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, or combinations thereof. 19. A disposable absorbent article that includes the absorbent structure of claim 2. 20. An absorbent structure comprising: a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer; and a fibrous material comprising individual fibers that have an activating agent contained inside the supermolecular structure of the individual fibers, wherein the fibers release the activating agent upon stimulation by an activator and the activating agent causes the polymer to become a superabsorbent polymer. 21. An absorbent structure comprising: a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer; and a fibrous material comprising individual fibers that have an activating agent attached to the surface of the individual fibers by ionic bonds, wherein the fibers release the activating agent upon stimulation by an activator and the activating agent causes the polymer to become a superabsorbent polymer. 22. An absorbent structure comprising: a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer; and a fibrous material comprising individual fibers that have an activating agent attached to the surface of the individual fibers by water-hydrolyzable covalent bonds, wherein the fibers release the activating agent upon stimulation by an activator and the activating agent causes the polymer to become a superabsorbent polymer.