Absorbent article comprising a fibrous structure comprising synthetic fibers and a hydrophilizing agent

Abstract

An absorbent article comprising a nonwoven fibrous structure comprising a plurality of synthetic fibers. The synthetic fibers may be associated with one or more hydrophilizing agents. A process for making the nonwoven fibrous structure involves association of the synthetic fibers with one or more hydrophilizing agents.

1 . A method for making a sanitary tissue product comprising a wet-laid nonwoven fibrous structure, said fibrous structure comprising synthetic fibers comprising a polymer, natural fibers, and a hydrophilizing agent, said method comprising depositing an aqueous slurry onto a member to form a wet-laid nonwoven fibrous structure, wherein said synthetic fibers comprise a molecular complementary segment that is associated with a molecular complementary segment of said hydrophilizing agent based on a correspondence between physical characteristics of said synthetic fibers and said hydrophilizing agent, and wherein at least one of said molecular complementary segments comprises a polyester segment. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polyester segment comprises a polyethylene terephthalate segment. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polysaccharides, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate), isophthalic acid copolymers, terephthalate cyclohexylene-dimethylene isophthalate copolymer, ethylene glycol copolymers, ethylene terephthalate cyclohexylene-dimethylene copolymer, poly(lactic acid), poly(hydroxyl ether ester), poly(hydroxyl ether amide), polycaprolactone, polyesteramide, polyhydroxybutyrate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said synthetic fibers is a bicomponent fiber. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilizing agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, poly(ethoxylate), polyethylene oxide, polyoxyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, terephthalate, polypropylene oxide, polyethylene terephthalate, polyoxyethylene terephthalate, ethoxylate siloxane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilizing agent comprises a copolymer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilizing agent comprises an oligomer or a polymer. 
     
     
         9 . A sanitary tissue product selected from the group consisting of toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, facial tissue, and wipes, made according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A method for making a sanitary tissue product comprising a wet-laid nonwoven fibrous structure, said fibrous structure comprising synthetic fibers comprising a polymer, natural fibers, and a hydrophilizing agent, said method comprising depositing an aqueous slurry onto a member to form a wet-laid nonwoven fibrous structure, wherein said synthetic fibers comprise a molecular complementary segment that is associated with a molecular complementary segment of said hydrophilizing agent based on a correspondence between physical characteristics of said synthetic fibers and said hydrophilizing agent, and wherein said molecular complementary segment of said synthetic fibers comprises a polyester segment and said molecular complementary segment of said hydrophilizing agent comprises a polyester segment. 
     
     
         11 . A method for making a sanitary tissue product comprising a wet-laid nonwoven fibrous structure, said fibrous structure comprising synthetic fibers comprising a polymer, natural fibers, and a hydrophilizing agent, said method comprising depositing an aqueous slurry onto a member to form a wet-laid nonwoven fibrous structure, wherein said synthetic fibers comprise a molecular complementary segment that is associated with a molecular complementary segment of said hydrophilizing agent based on a correspondence between physical characteristics of said synthetic fibers and said hydrophilizing agent, and wherein said hydrophilizing agent comprises from about 1 to about 15 ethoxylated groups. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said molecular complementary segments comprises a polyester segment. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said polyester segment comprises a polyethylene terephthalate segment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said polymer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polysaccharides, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said polymer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate), isophthalic acid copolymers, terephthalate cyclohexylene-dimethylene isophthalate copolymer, ethylene glycol copolymers, ethylene terephthalate cyclohexylene-dimethylene copolymer, poly(lactic acid), poly(hydroxyl ether ester), poly(hydroxyl ether amide), polycaprolactone, polyesteramide, polyhydroxybutyrate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said synthetic fibers is a bicomponent fiber. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said hydrophilizing agent comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, poly(ethoxylate), polyethylene oxide, polyoxyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, terephthalate, polypropylene oxide, polyethylene terephthalate, polyoxyethylene terephthalate, ethoxylate siloxane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said hydrophilizing agent comprises a copolymer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said hydrophilizing agent comprises an oligomer or a polymer. 
     
     
         20 . A sanitary tissue product selected from the group consisting of toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, facial tissue, and wipes, made according to the method of  claim 11 .