Patent ID: 8791318

Claim:
An absorbent core useful for an absorbent article comprising a substrate layer, an absorbent polymer material, and a thermoplastic material, wherein said thermoplastic material contacts said substrate layer and said absorbent polymer material, wherein the areas of direct contact between said thermoplastic material and said substrate material form areas of junction, wherein said areas of junction have a diameter of at least about 0.5 mm and less than about 10 mm, wherein said areas of junction are arranged along lines which form an angle with longitudinal edges of the absorbent core, wherein said absorbent core comprises less than about 20% of an absorbent fibrous material, wherein said thermoplastic material has a softening point in a range from about 50° C. to about 300° C., a glass transition temperature of less than about 25° C., and a storage modulus G′ measured at 60° C. of less than about 300,000 Pa, wherein said thermoplastic material substantially immobilizes said absorbent polymer material, and said absorbent polymer material is immobilized when wet such that said absorbent core achieves a wet immobilization of more than about 50% according to the Wet Immobilization Test described herein.