Flexible, highly absorbent material

Abstract

An absorbing structure has a sequence of layers, including at least first and second outer layers with at least a liquid storage layer disposed therebetween. The layers are disposed on top of one another and form a layered structure. At least the liquid storage layer has a cellulose material, preferably cellulose fibers, and a super absorbing polymer SAP, preferably SAP particles and/or SAP fibers. The liquid storage layer uses at least less binder material than the other liquid storing plies of the absorbing structure. The liquid storing plies are adjacent to the liquid storage layer. Preferably, the liquid storage layer does not have binder material.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An absorbing structure with a sequence of layers comprising at least a first and a second outer layer and at least a liquid storage layer disposed therebetween, wherein the layers are disposed on top of one another and form a layered structure, wherein at least the liquid storage layer comprises a cellulose material and a super absorbing polymer and wherein the liquid storage layer comprises at least less binder material than liquid storing layers of the absorbing structure, which are adjacent to the liquid storage layer. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbing structure according to  claim 11 , wherein the cellulose material is made of cellulose fibers. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbing structure according to  claim 12 , wherein the super absorbing polymer is super absorbing polymer particles or super absorbing polymer fibers. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbing structure according to  claim 13 , wherein the liquid storage layer has no binder material. 
     
     
         15 . The absorbing structure according to  claim 13 , wherein the super absorbing polymer particles or super absorbing polymer fibers are disposed moveable relative to one another in the liquid storage layer when liquid is absorbed and/or pressure is introduced. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbing structure according to  claim 11 , wherein the super absorbing polymer is super absorbing polymer particles or super absorbing polymer fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The absorbing structure according to  claim 16 , wherein the liquid storage layer has no binder material. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbing structure according to  claim 11 , wherein the liquid storage layer comprises no binder material. 
     
     
         19 . The absorbing structure according to  claim 11 , wherein at least a substantial portion of the liquid storage layer is made of treated and/or non treated cellulose material. 
     
     
         20 . The absorbing structure according to  claim 19 , wherein the layered structure comprises a first outer surface and a second outer surface, wherein at least the first outer surface has a binder material layer. 
     
     
         21 . The absorbing structure according to  claim 20 , wherein the binder layer is a latex based binder material layer. 
     
     
         22 . An absorbing structure comprising a paper tissue ply as a first ply, a second ply with fluff pulp, bonding fibers and super absorber, a third ply with fluff pulp and with super absorber, and a fourth ply with fluff pulp and bonding fibers, wherein the third ply comprises at least less bonding fibers than the respective second ply and the respective fourth ply. 
     
     
         23 . The absorbing structure according to  claim 22 , wherein the third ply has no bonding fibers. 
     
     
         24 . The absorbing structure according to  claim 22 , wherein the third ply facilitates a relative moveability between the second ply and the fourth ply in a longitudinal direction of the absorbing structure during a wet state of the absorbing structure. 
     
     
         25 . A method for producing an absorbing structure, comprising at least the following steps:
 providing a support layer as a first ply;   laying fluff pulp, super absorbing polymer and a binder material as a second ply on the support layer;   laying a third ply made of fluff pulp and super absorbing polymer on the second ply;   laying a fourth ply made of fluff pulp and binder material on the third ply;   applying the binder material on at least one outer surface of the plies;   supplying the plies to a calender which comprises a calender nip; and   compressing the plies in the calender nip.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the binder material is a latex based binder material. 
     
     
         27 . A device for producing an absorbing structure, comprising at least:
 a sieve conveyor belt for laying plies for forming a layered structure;   a first forming device through which at least cellulose fibers, super absorbing polymer and a binder material can be applied to the sieve conveyor belt;   a second forming device, through which cellulose fibers and super absorbing polymer can be applied to the sieve conveyor belt for forming an additional ply;   a third forming device, through which a binder material and cellulose fibers can be applied to the sieve conveyor belt as an additional ply;   at least one application station through which a binder material can be applied at least on an outer surface of the layered structure; and   a compression station through which the layered structure can be compressed.   
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 27 , wherein the binder material is a latex based binder material. 
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 28 , wherein the compression station includes a calender.