Patent ID: 7125470

Claim:
A method for forming an unitary stratified composite comprising the steps of: combining synthetic fibers and a binder to provide a first fibrous mixture; combining crosslinked cellulosic fibers, a superabsorbent polymer and a binder to provide a second fibrous mixture: depositing the first fibrous mixture on a foraminous support to form a first stratum; depositing the second fibrous mixture on the first fibrous mixture on the foraminous support to form a second stratum thereby providing a stratified fibrous composite, said composite further comprising a transition zone intermediate and coextensive with the first and second strata, the transition zone comprising fibers from the first and second strata commingled substantially uniformly across the composite's width and along the composite's length; and heating the stratified fibrous composite to effect thermal bonding between the fibers and binder to provide a unitary stratified composite.