Absorbent articles comprising supercritical fluid treated HIPE, I-HIPE foams and other foams

Abstract

The present invention comprises compositions and methods of making high internal phase emulsion foam (HIPE) and inverse high internal phase emulsion foam (I-HIPE) using super critical fluids. Such foams may be used in a wide variety of articles such as absorbent articles.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
     
     
         23 . An inverse high internal phase emulsion (I-HIPE) foam made by: 
 a) combining a water phase and a supercritical fluid phase, said water phase comprising effective amounts of at least one superabsorbent precursor monomer; and    b) combining an oxidizing initiator in one of the supercritical fluid phase and water phase, and a reducing initiator in the other of the supercritical fluid phase and water phase, whereby the supercritical fluid phase and the water phase form an emulsion, such that Polymerization of the at least one superabsorbent precursor monomer takes place in the water phase to form a polymerized material.    
     
     
         24 . The foam of  claim 23 , having a bulk of about 6 cubic centimeters per gram or greater.  
     
     
         25 . The foam of  claim 23 , having a bulk of about 10 cubic centimeters per gram or greater.  
     
     
         26 . The foam of  claim 23 , having a bulk of from about 20 cubic centimeters per gram to about 200 cubic centimeters per gram.  
     
     
         27 . The foam of  claim 23 , having an AUL value of from about 10 to about 200.  
     
     
         28 . A high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) foam made by: 
 a) combining a water phase and a supercritical fluid phase, said water phase comprising effective amounts of at least one superabsorbent precursor monomer; and    b) combining an oxidizing initiator in one of the supercritical fluid phase and water phase, and a reducing initiator in the other of the supercritical fluid phase and water phase, whereby the supercritical fluid phase and the water phase form an emulsion, such that polymerization of the at least one superabsorbent precursor monomer takes place in the water phase to form a polymerized material.    
     
     
         29 . The foam of  claim 28 , having a bulk of about 6 cubic centimeters per gram or greater.  
     
     
         30 . The foam of  claim 28 , having a bulk of about 10 cubic centimeters per gram or greater.  
     
     
         31 . The foam of  claim 28 , having a bulk of from about 20 cubic centimeters per gram to about 200 cubic centimeters per gram.  
     
     
         32 . The foam of  claim 28 , having an AUL value of from about 10 to about 200.  
     
     
         33 . An absorbent article for absorbing a body fluid comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet, said core comprising an absorbent foam layer produced in an emulsion polymerization process in which a supercritical fluid served as an oil phase for carrying a monomer which was polymerized to form the absorbent foam layer.  
     
     
         34 . The absorbent article of  claim 33 , wherein the foam layer is produced in an I-HIPE process.  
     
     
         35 . The absorbent article of  claim 33 , wherein the foam layer is produced in a HIPE process.