Disposable absorbent article with substantially continuously distributed absorbent particulate polymer material and method

Abstract

A disposable absorbent core comprises first and second absorbent layers each comprising an absorbent particulate polymer material such that the absorbent particulate polymer material is substantially continuously distributed across an absorbent particulate polymer material area. A disposable absorbent article and method for making the absorbent core are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable absorbent article comprising:
 a chassis including a topsheet and a backsheet; and   a substantially cellulose free absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet and including first and second absorbent layers, the first absorbent layer including a first substrate and the second absorbent layer including a second substrate, the first and second absorbent layers further including superabsorbent particulate polymer material deposited on said first and second substrates and thermoplastic adhesive material covering the absorbent particulate polymer material on the respective first and second substrates, said first and second absorbent layers combined together such that at least a portion of said thermoplastic adhesive material of said first absorbent layer contacts at least a portion of the thermoplastic adhesive material of said second absorbent layer, the absorbent particulate polymer material is disposed between the first and second substrates in an absorbent particulate polymer material area, and the absorbent particulate polymer material is substantially continuously distributed across the absorbent particulate polymer material area.   
     
     
         2 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the absorbent particulate polymer material is deposited on the first and second substrates in respective patterns of land areas and junction areas between the land areas such that the absorbent particulate polymer material is discontinuously distributed on the first and second substrates; and   the first and second absorbent layers are combined together such the respective patterns of absorbent particulate polymer material are offset from one another.   
     
     
         3 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent particulate polymer material area extends substantially entirely across the absorbent core. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent particulate polymer material area extends substantially entirely from front to back of the absorbent core. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the respective patterns are substantially the same. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the respective patterns are different. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core consists essentially of the first and second substrates, the absorbent particulate polymer material, and the thermoplastic adhesive material. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the backsheet has a water vapor transmission rate of greater than about 3000 g/24 h/m 2  according to the test described herein. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1  having an absorbent particulate polymer material loss of no more than about 70% according to the Wet Immobilization Test herein. 
     
     
         10 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent particulate polymer material is present in the absorbent core in an amount greater than about 80% by weight of the absorbent core. 
     
     
         11 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent core has a front end and a rear end and a longitudinal axis extending from the rear end to the front end and a plurality of absorbent zones, each of the plurality of absorbent zones having absorbent particulate polymer material present in differing amounts. 
     
     
         12 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 11 , wherein there is a gradual transition in amount of absorbent particulate polymer material form one of the plurality of absorbent zones to another. 
     
     
         13 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the absorbent core has a front end and a rear end and a longitudinal axis extending from the rear end to the front end and the land areas of the respective patterns are arranged in a grid which is positioned at an angle from about 5 to about 85 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the absorbent core. 
     
     
         14 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the absorbent core has a length extending from a rear end to a front end, and a width extending from a first edge to a second edge and perpendicularly to the length, and the respective patterns are offset from one another in both a direction parallel to the length and a direction parallel to the width. 
     
     
         15 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent article is a diaper comprising a re-closable fastening system joined to the chassis for securing the diaper to a wearer. 
     
     
         16 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent article is a pant-type diaper comprising at least two side panels joined to the chassis and to each other to form a pant. 
     
     
         17 . An absorbent core comprising first and second absorbent layers, the first absorbent layer including a first substrate and the second absorbent layer including a second substrate, the first and second absorbent layers further including absorbent particulate polymer material deposited on said first and second substrates and thermoplastic adhesive material covering the absorbent particulate polymer material on the respective first and second substrates, said first and second absorbent layers combined together such that at least a portion of said thermoplastic adhesive material of said first absorbent layer contacts at least a portion of the thermoplastic adhesive material of said second absorbent layer, the absorbent particulate polymer material is disposed between the first and second substrates in an absorbent particulate polymer material area, and the absorbent particulate polymer material is substantially continuously distributed across the absorbent particulate polymer material area, wherein the absorbent core is substantially cellulose free. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbent core of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the absorbent particulate polymer material is deposited on the first and second substrates in respective patterns of land areas and junction areas between the land areas such that the absorbent particulate polymer material is discontinuously distributed on the first and second substrates; and   the first and second absorbent layers are combined together such the respective patterns of absorbent particulate polymer material are offset from one another.