Patent ID: 6425979
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: A61F,A61L,D04H,D06M,D21H,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for marking an absorbent structure comprising:(a) providing superabsorbent organic particles; (b) providing a non-polymeric organic binder having a volatility less than water, wherein said binder comprises a glycol; (c) exposing at least a portion of the particles to the binder, in the absence of individual absorbent cellulosic fibers, to at least partially coat at least a portion of the particles with the binder in an amount from 0.001 to 5% by weight based on the weight of the particles, thereby producing binder-coated particles; (d) allowing the binder on said binder-coated particles to assume an inactive state; (c) providing about 20 to about 97 percent by weight of the individual absorbent cellulosic fibers based on the weight of the superabsorbent organic particles and individual absorbent cellulosic fibers in the absorbent structure; (f) activating the binder on said binder-coated particles from said inactive state, forming activated binder-coated particles, by doing at least one of the following: (i) applying heat to the binder-coated particles, (ii) providing water in the form of a liquid, steam or a moisture laden gas to the binder-coated particles, (iii) applying kinetic energy to the binder-coated particles, (iv) applying kinetic energy to the fibers in the presence of the binder-coated particles, or (v) adding the binder-coated particles to the fibers while water in the form of a liquid, steam or a moisture laden gas is in contact with the fibers; (g) contacting said activated, binder-coated particles with said individual cellulosic fibers; (h) binding at least a portion of said binder-coated particles, in discrete particle form, to said individual cellulosic fibers, thereby forming fibers carrying bound particles; (i) forming an airlaid web of said fibers carrying bound particles; (j) compressing said web to form a densified absorbent web; (k) providing a cover sheet; (j) providing a backing sheet; and (m) assembling said densified absorbent web, cover sheet, and backing sheet to form the absorbent structure.