Disposable Absorbent Articles with Components Having Both Plastic and Elastic Properties

Abstract

Absorbent articles having a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet are disclosed. The absorbent articles include a plasto-elastic material joined to or disposed on at least one of component of the absorbent article to impart sizing or shaping capabilities to the article. The plasto-elastic material has substantially plastic properties when said absorbent article is subjected to an initial strain cycle, for example, when the article is placed on a wearer, and has substantially elastic properties when subjected to a second strain cycle such as when the article is subsequently adjusted to conform to the size of the wearer. The absorbent article can be in the form of diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, sanitary napkins, wipes, bibs, incontinence briefs or inserts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article comprising a laminate in the form of a substrate and a web extruded onto said substrate, wherein said web is made of a composition that comprises a combination of an elastomeric polypropylene and a second polyolefin, said combination being selected from polymeric blends or polymeric mixtures, such that:
 a) an initial strain cycle applied to said extruded web results in extruded web having a set of at least 30%; and   b) said extruded web has substantially elastic properties when subjected to at least a second strain cycle;   wherein said absorbent article has a waist region, a crotch region, a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline and said absorbent article additionally comprises at least one feature selected from the group consisting of: a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between said topsheet and said backsheet, a side panel, a waist band, a belt, a fastener component and combinations thereof;   wherein said extruded web is joined to or disposed on at least one of said features in a stretch zone.   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein said feature said extruded web joined thereto or disposed thereon is selected from the group consisting of a side panel, waist feature and a belt. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein said extruded web is disposed on said feature in a linear stretch zone. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article according to  claim 3  wherein said linear stretch zone is disposed at an angle of between about −70° and about +70° with respect to said lateral centerline. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article according to  claim 4  wherein said linear stretch zone is disposed at an angle between 0° and about +50° with respect to said lateral centerline. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article according to  claim 4  wherein said absorbent article comprises at least two linear stretch zones, said linear stretch zones being disposed at different angles with respect to said lateral centerline. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article according to  claim 6  wherein said absorbent article comprises a first linear stretch zone disposed at an angle between 0° and about +50° with respect to said lateral centerline and a second linear stretch zone disposed at an angle between 0° and about −50° with respect to said lateral centerline. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein said extruded web is provided with a set of less than 15% after relaxation from a second strain of 50%. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein after relaxation from said initial strain cycle, said extruded web exhibits less than about 70% force relaxation, while held at 50% strain for 4 hours at 38° C. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article according to  claim 1  wherein said extruded web is a film.