Absorbent article comprising an adhesive composition

Abstract

Described herein is an absorbent article. The absorbent article includes an assembly of components and an adhesive composition joining at least two of the assembly of components together. The adhesive composition includes from about 70 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of one or more copolymers and from about 10 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of one or more heterophase copolymers. The one or more copolymers include from about 30 mole % to about 70 mole % of monomer units selected from ethylene, 1-butene, and mixtures thereof. The one or more copolymers also include from about 30 mole % to about 70 mole % of propene monomer units. The adhesive composition is free of polyisobutylene and has a viscosity of from about 2,000 mPa·s to about 11,500 mPa·s at 150° C.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline, a front waist region with a front waist edge, a rear waist region with a rear waist edge, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the rear waist region, and two spaced apart longitudinal side edges joining the front waist edge to the rear waist edge, wherein the absorbent article comprises an assembly of components, and wherein the assembly of components comprises:
 a) a topsheet;   b) a backsheet underlying the topsheet;   c) an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core comprises at least one of a core cover, a dusting layer, an acquisition layer, a distribution layer, and a storage member;   d) at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of:
 i) a fastening system for joining the front waist region to the rear waist region when the absorbent article is worn; 
 ii) barrier cuffs lying adjacent and inboard the two spaced apart longitudinal side edges; 
 iii) gasketing cuffs lying between each of the two spaced apart longitudinal side edges and the barrier cuffs; 
 iv) front ears disposed in the front waist region; 
 v) back ears disposed in the rear waist region; and 
 vi) a receiving member; and 
   e) an adhesive composition joining at least two of the assembly of components together, wherein the adhesive composition comprises:
 i) from about 70 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of one or more copolymers, wherein the one or more copolymers comprise from about 30 mole % to about 70 mole % of monomer units selected from the group consisting of ethylene, 1-butene, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the one or more copolymers comprise from about 30 mole % to about 70 mole % of propene monomer units; and 
 ii) from about 10 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of one or more heterophase copolymers; 
 wherein the adhesive composition is free of polyisobutylene; 
 wherein the adhesive composition has a viscosity of from about 2,000 mPa·s to about 11,500 mPa·s at 150° C., as measured by the Viscosity Test Method; 
 wherein the one or more heterophase copolymers comprises a first heterophase copolymer and a second heterophase copolymer; 
 wherein the adhesive composition comprises from about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of the first heterophase copolymer and from about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of the second heterophase copolymer; and 
 wherein the first heterophase copolymer has a higher Enthalpy of Fusion than the second heterophase copolymer, as measured by the Enthalpy of Fusion Test Method. 
   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive composition joins the topsheet to an underlying nonwoven layer. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive composition joins the topsheet to the backsheet adjacent one of the two spaced apart longitudinal side edges. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive composition joins the core cover to the dusting layer. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive composition joins the dusting layer to the backsheet. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive composition has an Enthalpy of Fusion of less than 15 J/g. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive composition has a density of from about 0.5 g/cm 3  to 0.85 g/cm 3  at 150° C. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more copolymers comprise a first copolymer and a second copolymer, and wherein the adhesive composition comprises from about 35 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of the first copolymer and from about 10 wt. % to about 35 wt. % of the second copolymer. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive composition comprises less than 0.5 wt. % of a tackifier. 
     
     
         10 . An absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline, a front waist region with a front waist edge, a rear waist region with a rear waist edge, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the rear waist region, and two spaced apart longitudinal side edges joining the front waist edge to the rear waist edge, wherein the absorbent article comprises an assembly of components, and wherein the assembly of components comprises:
 a) a topsheet;   b) a backsheet underlying the topsheet;   c) an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core comprises at least one of a core cover, a dusting layer, an acquisition layer, a distribution layer, and a storage member;   d) at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of:
 i) a fastening system for joining the front waist region to the rear waist region when the absorbent article is worn; 
 ii) barrier cuffs lying adjacent and inboard the two spaced apart longitudinal side edges; 
 iii) gasketing cuffs lying between each of the two spaced apart longitudinal side edges and the barrier cuffs; 
 iv) front ears disposed in the front waist region; 
 v) back ears disposed in the rear waist region; and 
 vi) a receiving member; and 
   e) an adhesive composition joining at least two of the assembly of components together, wherein the adhesive composition comprises:
 i) from about 50 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of one or more copolymers, wherein the one or more copolymers comprise from about 30 mole % to about 70 mole % of monomer units selected from the group consisting of ethylene, 1-butene, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the one or more copolymers comprise from about 30 mole % to about 70 mole % of propene monomer units; and 
 ii) from about 20 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of one or more heterophase copolymers; 
 wherein the adhesive composition is free of polyisobutylene; 
 wherein the adhesive composition has a viscosity of from about 2,000 mPa·s to about 11,500 mPa·s at 150° C., as measured by the Viscosity Test Method; 
 wherein the adhesive composition has an Enthalpy of Fusion of less than 15 J/g, as measured by the Enthalpy of Fusion Test Method; and 
 wherein the one or more copolymers comprises a first copolymer and a second copolymer, and wherein the adhesive composition comprises from about 40 wt. % to about 75 wt. % of the first copolymer and from about 5 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the second copolymer. 
   
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesive composition joins the topsheet to an underlying nonwoven layer. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesive composition joins the topsheet to the backsheet adjacent one of the two spaced apart longitudinal side edges. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesive composition joins the core cover to the dusting layer. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesive composition joins the dusting layer to the backsheet. 
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the copolymer comprises from about 30 wt. % to about 70 wt. % 1-butene monomer units. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesive composition comprises less than 0.5 wt. % of a tackifier. 
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesive composition has a density of from about 0.5 g/cm 3  to 0.85 g/cm 3  at 150° C. 
     
     
         18 . An absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline, a front waist region with a front waist edge, a rear waist region with a rear waist edge, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the rear waist region, and two spaced apart longitudinal side edges joining the front waist edge to the rear waist edge, wherein the absorbent article comprises an assembly of components, and wherein the assembly of components comprises:
 a) a topsheet;   b) a backsheet underlying the topsheet;   c) an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core comprises at least one of a core cover, a dusting layer, an acquisition layer, a distribution layer, and a storage member;   d) at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of:
 i) a fastening system for joining the front waist region to the rear waist region when the absorbent article is worn; 
 ii) barrier cuffs lying adjacent and inboard the two spaced apart longitudinal side edges; 
 iii) gasketing cuffs lying between each of the two spaced apart longitudinal side edges and the barrier cuffs; 
 iv) front ears disposed in the front waist region; 
 v) back ears disposed in the rear waist region; and 
 vi) a receiving member; and 
   e) an adhesive composition joining at least two of the assembly of components together, wherein the adhesive composition comprises:
 i) from about 70 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of one or more copolymers, wherein the one or more copolymers comprise (i) from about 30 mole % to about 70 mole % of 1-butene monomer units; and (ii) from about 30 mole % to about 70 mole % of propene monomer units; and 
 ii) from about 10 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of one or more heterophase copolymers; 
 wherein the adhesive composition is free of polyisobutylene; 
 wherein the adhesive composition has a viscosity of from about 2,000 mPa·s to about 11,500 mPa·s at 150° C., as measured by the Viscosity Test Method; 
 wherein the adhesive composition has an Enthalpy of Fusion of less than 15 J/g, according to the Enthalpy of Fusion Test Method; and 
 wherein the one or more copolymers comprises a first copolymer and a second copolymer, and wherein the adhesive composition comprises from about 35 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of the first copolymer and from about 10 wt. % to about 35 wt. % of the second copolymer. 
   
     
     
         19 . The absorbent article of  claim 18 , wherein the adhesive composition joins the topsheet to an underlying nonwoven layer. 
     
     
         20 . The absorbent article of  claim 18 , wherein the adhesive composition joins the topsheet to the backsheet adjacent one of the two spaced apart longitudinal side edges.