Absorbent Article Comprising A Synthetic Polymer Derived From A Renewable Resource And Methods Of Producing Said Article

Abstract

An absorbent article is disclosed having a topsheet, a backsheet joined with the topsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a synthetic superabsorbent polymer derived from a first renewable resource via at least one intermediate compound, wherein said superabsorbent polymer exhibits a defined Saline Flow Conductivity value and Absorption Against Pressure value. Alternately, an absorbent article is disclosed having a synthetic polyolefin derived from a first renewable resource via at least one intermediate compound. The synthetic polyolefin exhibits defined performance characteristics making the polyolefin particularly useful in certain components of the absorbent article. Methods for making the aforementioned absorbent articles are also disclosed.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An absorbent core for an absorbent article, the absorbent core extending between a first end and a second end and comprising:
 a) a first substrate layer having a first inner surface;   b) a second substrate layer having a second inner surface and joined with the first substrate layer at both the first end and the second end;   c) a first adhesive layer comprising a first adhesive material and disposed between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer and extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the first adhesive material contacts the first inner surface at a plurality of first junctions;   d) a first discontinuous absorbent layer comprising a first absorbent material, respective portions of the first absorbent material disposed between respective ones of the plurality of first junctions and between the first adhesive material and the first inner surface; and   e) a first polymer at least partially derived from a renewable resource via a first intermediate compound, the first polymer is synthetic, the first intermediate compound is monomeric, and wherein one or more of the first substrate layer, the second substrate layer, the first discontinuous absorbent layer, and the first adhesive layer is at least partially formed from the first polymer and exhibits a  14 C/C ratio of about 1.0×10 −14  or greater.   
     
     
         22 . The absorbent core of  claim 21 , wherein the first adhesive layer contacts the second inner surface. 
     
     
         23 . The absorbent core of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a) a second adhesive layer comprising a second adhesive material and disposed between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer and extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the second adhesive material contacts the second inner surface at a plurality of second junctions; and   b) a second discontinuous absorbent layer comprising a second absorbent material, respective portions of the second absorbent material disposed between respective ones of the plurality of second junctions and between the second adhesive material and the second inner surface.   
     
     
         24 . The absorbent core of  claim 23 , wherein the first adhesive material and the second adhesive material are the same. 
     
     
         25 . The absorbent core of  claim 23 , wherein the first absorbent material and the second absorbent material are the same. 
     
     
         26 . The absorbent core of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer comprises a nonwoven material having a surface tension of at least about 55 mN/m when being wetted with saline solution and having a liquid strike through time of less than about 5 s for a fifth gush of liquid. 
     
     
         27 . The absorbent core of  claim 21 , wherein the first discontinuous absorbent layer is at least partially formed from the first polymer. 
     
     
         28 . The absorbent core of  claim 27 , wherein the first polymer exhibits a Saline Flow Conductivity value of at least about 30×10 −7  cm 3 ·sec/g. 
     
     
         29 . The absorbent core of  claim 27 , wherein the first polymer exhibits an Absorption Against Pressure value of at least about 15 g/g. 
     
     
         30 . The absorbent core of  claim 27 , wherein the first polymer is a superabsorbent polymer. 
     
     
         31 . The absorbent core of  claim 21 , wherein the first adhesive material exhibits a storage modulus of between about 30,000 Pa and about 200,000 Pa. 
     
     
         32 . The absorbent core of  claim 27 , wherein the first polymer comprises lightly crosslinked polyacrylic acid neutralized from about 50 mol % to about 100 mol %. 
     
     
         33 . The absorbent core of  claim 21 , wherein the first intermediate compound is selected from a group consisting of organic acids, sugars, monofunctional alcohols, polyfunctional alcohols, organic aldehydes, and organic esters. 
     
     
         34 . The absorbent core of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more of the first substrate layer, the second substrate layer, the first discontinuous absorbent layer, and the first adhesive layer exhibits a  14 C/C ratio of about 1.0×10 −13  or greater. 
     
     
         35 . The absorbent core of  claim 34 , wherein the one or more of the first substrate layer, the second substrate layer, the first discontinuous absorbent layer, and the first adhesive layer exhibits a  14 C/C ratio of about 1.0×10 −12  or greater. 
     
     
         36 . The absorbent core of  claim 27 , wherein the first polymer is at least partially derived from the renewable resource via the first intermediate compound, a second intermediate compound, and a third intermediate compound, and wherein the first intermediate compound is glycerol, the second intermediate compound is acrolein, and the third intermediate compound is acrylic acid. 
     
     
         37 . The absorbent core of  claim 27 , wherein the first polymer is at least partially derived from the renewable resource via the first intermediate compound, a second intermediate compound, and a third intermediate compound, and wherein the first intermediate compound is glucose, the second intermediate compound is lactic acid, and the third intermediate compound is acrylic acid. 
     
     
         38 . The absorbent core of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more of the first substrate layer, the second substrate layer, the first discontinuous absorbent layer, and the first adhesive layer at least partially formed from the first polymer further comprises a second polymer, wherein the second polymer is derived from a non-renewable resource. 
     
     
         39 . The absorbent core of  claim 21 , wherein the first polymer is a co-polymer, wherein the co-polymer includes monomers derived from renewable and non-renewable resources. 
     
     
         40 . An absorbent article comprising the absorbent core of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         41 . The absorbent article of  claim 40  further comprising a fastening system, wherein the fastening system is at least partially formed from the first polymer and exhibits a  14 C/C ratio of about 1.0×10 −14  or greater. 
     
     
         42 . A package comprising one or more absorbent articles according to  claim 40 , wherein the package comprises a communication of a related environmental message to a consumer. 
     
     
         43 . A substrate layer of an absorbent core for an absorbent article, the substrate layer comprising a nonwoven material, the nonwoven material is at least partially formed from a polymer and exhibits a  14 C/C ratio of about 1.0×10 −14  or greater, wherein the polymer is at least partially derived from a renewable resource via at least one intermediate compound, the polymer is synthetic, the at least one intermediate compound is monomeric, and the nonwoven material has a surface tension of at least about 55 mN/m when being wetted with saline solution and having a liquid strike through time of less than about 5 s for a fifth gush of 
     
     
         44 . A discontinuous absorbent layer for an absorbent core of an absorbent article, the discontinuous absorbent layer comprising an absorbent material, wherein the absorbent material is at least partially formed from a polymer and exhibits a  14 C/C ratio of about 1.0×10 −14  or greater, wherein the polymer is at least partially derived from a renewable resource via at least one intermediate compound, the polymer is synthetic, the at least one intermediate compound is monomeric, and the polymer exhibits a Saline Flow Conductivity value of at least about 30×10 −7  cm 3 ·sec/g and an Absorption Against Pressure value of at least about 15 g/g. 
     
     
         45 . An adhesive layer of an absorbent core for an absorbent article, the adhesive layer comprising an adhesive material, wherein the adhesive material is at least partially formed from a polymer and exhibits a  14 C/C ratio of about 1.0×10 −14  or greater, the polymer is at least partially derived from a renewable resource via at least one intermediate compound, the polymer is synthetic, the at least one intermediate compound is monomeric, and the adhesive material exhibits a storage modulus of between about 30,000 Pa and about 200,000 Pa.