Multi-component topsheets

Abstract

A multi-component topsheet for an absorbent article includes a first discrete substrate forming about 80% or more of an outer perimeter of the topsheet and a second discrete substrate wherein about 80% or more of an outer perimeter of the second discrete substrate is joined to the first discrete substrate, wherein the topsheet has a single layer of substrate in about 75% or more of the total area of the topsheet and a dual layer of substrate in about 25% or less of the total area of the topsheet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a central longitudinal axis;   a liquid permeable topsheet;   a liquid impermeable backsheet; and   an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core comprises an absorbent material;   the topsheet comprising:
 a first layer comprising a hydrophobic nonwoven material, wherein the hydrophobic nonwoven material overlaps the central longitudinal axis of the absorbent article, and wherein the first layer comprises carded fibers; and 
 a second layer comprising a hydrophilic nonwoven material, wherein the first layer is joined to the second layer, and wherein the second layer comprises carded fibers; 
 wherein the topsheet comprises a plurality of recesses, a plurality of projections forming a portion of a wearer-facing surface of the topsheet, and a plurality of land areas, wherein the land areas surround at least a majority of the plurality of projections and a plurality of the recesses, wherein the plurality of recesses, the plurality projections, and the plurality of land areas, together form a first three-dimensional surface on a first side of the topsheet and a second three-dimensional surface on a second side of the topsheet, wherein a majority of the projections have a z-directional height in the range of about 500 μm to about 4000 μm, according to the Projection Height Test, wherein a majority of the recesses define an aperture at a location most distal from a top peak of an adjacent projection and defined at a lowermost plane of the topsheet, and wherein the majority of the recesses have a z-directional height in the range of about 500 μm to about 2000 μm, according to the Recess Height Test; 
 wherein the topsheet has an overall z-directional height in the range of about 1000 μm to about 6000 μm, according to the Overall Substrate Height Test; 
 wherein the apertures are formed through the first layer and the second layer; and 
 wherein the topsheet comprises cotton fibers. 
   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer forms a central longitudinal portion of the wearer-facing surface of the topsheet, and wherein the second layer forms a central longitudinal portion of a garment-facing surface of the topsheet. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein a majority of the apertures have an effective aperture area in the range of about 0.5 mm 2  to about 3 mm 2 , according to the Aperture Test. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the projections and the recesses are each formed by portions of the first layer and portions of the second layer. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is joined to the second layer by adhesive bonding or mechanical bonding. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of first fibers, wherein the second layer comprises a plurality of second fibers, and wherein the first and second fibers are the same. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein four apertures are formed around each projection, and wherein four projections are formed around each aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein two adjacent apertures are separated by a projection and a land area along a lateral axis of the topsheet, and wherein two adjacent projections are separated by an aperture and a land area along the lateral axis of the topsheet. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein two adjacent apertures are separated by a projection and a land area along a longitudinal axis of the topsheet, and wherein two adjacent projections are separated by an aperture and a land area along the longitudinal axis of the topsheet. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all of the recesses define an aperture at the lowermost plane of the topsheet. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all of the projections comprise a hollow arched portion. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures comprise a first set of apertures together forming a first line in the topsheet and a second set of apertures together forming a second line in the topsheet, and wherein the first line is generally parallel with the second line. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the topsheet has a % effective open area in the range of about 5% to about 25%, according to the Aperture Test. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein top peaks of the majority of the projections form a topmost plane of the topsheet, and wherein the land areas are positioned intermediate the lowermost plane and the topmost plane. 
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first three-dimensional surface has a geometric roughness value in the range of about 3.0 to about 3.6, according to the Descriptive 
       Analysis Roughness Test. 
     
     
         16 . A package comprising a plurality of the absorbent articles of  claim 1 , wherein the package has an in-bag stack height from about 70 mm to about 95, according to the In-Bag Stack Height Test, wherein the absorbent article has a relative humidity from about 50% to about 70%, according to the Humidity Test. 
     
     
         17 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a central longitudinal axis;   a liquid permeable topsheet;   a liquid impermeable backsheet; and   an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core comprises an absorbent material comprising superabsorbent polymers;   the topsheet comprising:
 a first layer comprising a hydrophobic nonwoven material; and 
 a second layer comprising a hydrophilic nonwoven material, wherein the first layer is joined to the second layer, and wherein the first layer and the second layer comprise carded fibers; 
 wherein the topsheet comprises a plurality of recesses, a plurality of dome-shaped projections forming a portion of a wearer-facing surface of the absorbent article, and a plurality of land areas, wherein the land areas surround at least a majority of the plurality of dome-shaped projections and a plurality of the recesses, wherein the plurality of recesses, the plurality of dome-shaped projections, and the plurality of land areas, together form a first three-dimensional surface on a first side of the topsheet and a second three-dimensional surface on a second side of the topsheet, wherein a majority of the dome-shaped projections have a z-directional height in the range of about 500 μm to about 4000 μm, according to the Projection Height Test, wherein a majority of the recesses define an aperture at a location most distal from a top peak of an adjacent dome-shaped projection, and wherein the majority of the recesses have a z-directional height in the range of about 500 μm to about 2000 μm, according to the Recess Height Test; 
 wherein the topsheet has an overall z-directional height in the range of about 1000 μm to about 6000 μm, according to the Overall Substrate Height Test; 
 wherein the dome-shaped projections and the recesses are formed by portions of the first layer and portions of the second layer; and 
 wherein the apertures are formed through the first layer and through the second. 
   
     
     
         18 . A package comprising a plurality of the absorbent articles of  claim 17 , wherein the package has an in-bag stack height from about 70 mm to about 95, according to the In-Bag Stack Height Test, wherein the absorbent article has a relative humidity from about 50% to about 70%, according to the Humidity Test. 
     
     
         19 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a central longitudinal axis;   a central lateral axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis;   an absorbent core;   a liquid impermeable backsheet;   a liquid permeable topsheet, wherein the absorbent core is positioned at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the liquid impermeable backsheet, wherein the absorbent core comprises an absorbent material, and wherein the liquid permeable topsheet comprises:
 a first layer comprising a hydrophobic nonwoven material, wherein the hydrophobic nonwoven material overlaps the central longitudinal axis; and 
 a second layer comprising a hydrophilic nonwoven material, wherein the first layer is joined to the second layer, and wherein the hydrophilic nonwoven material overlaps the central longitudinal axis; 
 wherein the topsheet comprises a plurality of recesses, a plurality of dome shaped projections forming a portion of a wearer-facing surface of the topsheet, and a plurality of land areas, wherein the land areas surround at least a majority of the plurality of dome-shaped projections and a plurality of the recesses, wherein the plurality of recesses, the plurality of dome-shaped projections, and the plurality of land areas, together form a first three-dimensional surface on a first side of the topsheet and a second three-dimensional surface on a second side of the topsheet, wherein a majority of the dome-shaped projections have a z-directional height in the range of about 500 μm to about 4000 μm, according to the Projection Height Test, wherein a majority of the recesses define an aperture at a location most distal from a top peak of an adjacent dome-shaped projection, wherein the aperture is defined at a lowermost plane of the topsheet, wherein top peaks of the dome-shaped projections form a topmost plane of the topsheet, wherein the land areas are positioned intermediate the lowermost plane and the topmost plane, and wherein the majority of the recesses have a z-directional height in the range of about 500 μm to about 2000 μm, according to the Recess Height Test; and 
 wherein the topsheet has an overall z-directional height in the range of about 1000 μm to about 6000 μm, according to the Overall Substrate Height Test; and 
 wherein the first three-dimensional surface has a geometric roughness value in the range of about 3.0 to about 3.6, according to the Descriptive Analysis Roughness Test. 
   
     
     
         20 . The absorbent article of  claim 19 , wherein the topsheet comprises carded fibers.