Printed nonwoven substrates for use in personal care articles

Abstract

A personal care product, for example a diaper, that includes a surface upon which is disposed graphics, wherein the graphics comprise an ink composition applied to the substrate at a temperature and further comprises a layer that comprises a hotmelt composition that is applied over the graphics at a temperature that is greater than the temperature that the graphics were applied is provided.

1 . A personal care product comprising a substrate having a surface upon which is disposed graphics, wherein the graphics comprise an ink composition wherein the ink composition is applied to the substrate at a temperature T i  wherein the substrate further comprises a layer that comprises a hotmelt composition that is applied over the graphics at a temperature T that is greater than or equal to T i .  
   
   
       2 . The personal care product of  claim 1  wherein the layer comprises a hot melt composition having a haze value of less than or equal to 4 as measured by ASTM 1003-00.  
   
   
       3 . The personal care product of  claim 1  wherein the hotmelt composition comprises a composition selected from the group consisting of natural waxes, synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, polyamides, tall oil rosins, polyurethanes, polyesters, and polyacrylics.  
   
   
       4 . The personal care product of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a hydrophobic nonwoven substrate.  
   
   
       5 . The personal care product of  claim 4  wherein the nonwoven substrate comprises fibers that comprise a hydrophobic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polymers and copolymers of ethylene, polymers and copolymers of propylene.  
   
   
       6 . The personal care product of  claim 5  wherein the substrate is an outer cover for a diaper.  
   
   
       7 . The personal care product of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is an outercover for a diaper, a swimming pant, a training pant or an absorbent underpant.  
   
   
       8 . The personal care product of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is an outer cover for a diaper.  
   
   
       9 . The personal care product of  claim 1  wherein T and T i  are greater than or equal to about 90° C.  
   
   
       10 . The personal care product of  claim 1  wherein T and T i  are in the range of from about 90° C. to about 140° C.  
   
   
       11 . A method of printing on a substrate, the method of printing comprising: 
 a. providing a substrate,    b. heating an ink composition to a temperature T i ,    c. depositing the ink composition on a portion of the substrate,    d. heating a second composition to a temperature T that is greater than or equal to T i , and    e. depositing the second composition over the portion of the substrate that includes the ink composition.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein depositing the second composition over the portion of the substrate that includes the ink composition causes the ink composition to melt.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein depositing the second composition over the portion of the substrate that includes the ink composition enhances dot gain of ink composition.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein depositing the second composition over the portion of the substrate that includes the ink composition increases adherence of the ink composition to the substrate.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein depositing the second composition over the portion of the substrate provides a sacrificial layer that provide abrasion resistance.  
   
   
       16 . A method of creating high-speed multi-color process images, said method comprising: 
 providing at least two high operating frequency printheads, said high operating frequency printheads being capable of processing phase-change inks;    providing at least two phase-change inks;    providing a substrate;    activating the printheads such that at least two inks pass there through;    passing the substrate under the printheads at a rate of at least about 1000 feet per minute;    forming an image on the substrate; and    depositing a second composition over the image.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein depositing the second composition over the portion of the substrate that includes the ink composition causes the ink composition to melt.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein depositing the second composition over the portion of the substrate that includes the ink composition enhances dot gain of ink composition.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein depositing the second composition over the portion of the substrate that includes the ink composition increases adherence of the ink composition to the substrate.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein depositing the second composition over the portion of the substrate provides a sacrificial layer that provide abrasion resistance.