Process for making a hydraulically needled superabsorbent composite material and article thereof

• Main Authors: MCCORMACK; ANN L, EVERHART; CHERIE H, RADWANSKI; FRED R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.07.1994
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; BRAIDING; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; COTTON-WOOL; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS,NON-WOVEN FABRICS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULARARTICLES; KNITTING; LACE-MAKING; MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARYMATERIAL; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL; NON-WOVEN FABRICS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROSTHESES; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TEXTILES; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; TRIMMINGS; WADDING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

Disclosed is a process of making an superabsorbent composite material which contains a hydraulically-needled fibrous web and superabsorbent materials. The method includes the steps of providing a nonwoven fibrous web; hydraulically needling the nonwoven web to enhance its liquid distribution properties; and introducing dry superabsorbent materials into intimate bonding contact with at least one surface of the hydraulically needled fibrous web. Also disclosed is the superabsorbent nonwoven composite material made by the described process. The hydraulically needled fibrous web component of the material may contain pulp fibers, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, bicomponent fibers, continuous filaments or mixtures thereof. The superabsorbent composite material has a saturation capacity greater than about 500 percent and a wicking rate greater than about 12 centimeters per 15 minutes. The superabsorbent composite material may be used as a liquid management material in an absorbent product or absorbent structure.