US 11,931,469 B2
Absorbent article having a reduced humidity level
Yuriy Galabura, Appleton, WI (US); Mark M. Mleziva, Appleton, WI (US); John Gavin MacDonald, Decatur, GA (US); Vasily A. Topolkaraev, Appleton, WI (US); Michelle McBride, Tempe, AZ (US); Karien J. Rodriguez, Roswell, GA (US); Matthew Valaskey, Neenah, WI (US); Dave Soerens, Neenah, WI (US); Neil T. Scholl, Neenah, WI (US); and WanDuk Lee, Appleton, WI (US)
Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
Appl. No. 16/631,885
Filed by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 20, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/043109
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 17, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/023066, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 31, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/538,000, filed on Jul. 28, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0155375 A1, May 21, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61L 15/42 (2006.01); A61F 13/15 (2006.01); A61F 13/53 (2006.01); A61F 13/534 (2006.01); A61F 13/535 (2006.01); A61F 13/537 (2006.01); A61L 15/12 (2006.01); A61L 15/20 (2006.01); A61L 15/24 (2006.01); A61L 15/60 (2006.01)
CPC A61L 15/425 (2013.01) [A61F 13/53 (2013.01); A61F 13/53713 (2013.01); A61L 15/12 (2013.01); A61L 15/20 (2013.01); A61L 15/24 (2013.01); A61L 15/60 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15463 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15495 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15967 (2013.01); A61F 2013/16 (2013.01); A61F 2013/530489 (2013.01); A61F 2013/530496 (2013.01); A61F 2013/530569 (2013.01); A61F 2013/530605 (2013.01); A61F 2013/5307 (2013.01); A61F 2013/530715 (2013.01); A61F 2013/530737 (2013.01); A61F 2013/5349 (2013.01); A61F 2013/5355 (2013.01); A61L 2400/12 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An absorbent article comprising an absorbent member positioned between a topsheet and a backsheet, wherein the absorbent member contains at least one layer that comprises porous superabsorbent particles, wherein the particles contain a porous network that includes a plurality of nanopores and wherein the nanopores have an average cross-sectional dimension of from 10 to 500 nanometers, wherein the percent porosity of the particles is greater than 5%, wherein the particles have a total pore area of greater than 2 m2/g, wherein the absorbent member comprises a fibrous material, wherein an average percent volume occupied by the nanopores within a given unit volume of the fibrous material is from 15% to 80% per cm3, wherein the particles exhibit a relative humidity microclimate of 67% or less after being exposed to an atmosphere having a temperature of 23° C. and relative humidity of 80% for a time period of 20 minutes.