Antimicrobial disposable absorbent articles

Abstract

Disposable absorbent articles comprising an absorbent material and an antimicrobial composition are disclosed. The antimicrobial composition includes a carrier comprising fatty alcohol and a poly(alkyleneoxy) polymer, and an antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial composition may be coated on to component substrates such as nonwovens and films, that are incorporated into disposable absorbent articles, such as disposable infant diapers, adult incontinence articles, feminine hygiene articles such as sanitary napkins, wound dressings, bandages, panty liners and tampons, personal care wipes and household wipes to provide odor control, and control of microbial growth.

1 . An antimicrobial composition comprising:
 a) a carrier comprising fatty alcohol and a poly(alkyleneoxy) polymer, and   b) an antimicrobial agent.   
     
     
         2 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1  having a melting point of 50° C. or greater. 
     
     
         3 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1  wherein the antimicrobial agent is an antimicrobial organic acid selected from α- and β-hydroxy acids. 
     
     
         4 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 3  wherein the antimicrobial acid is selected from benzoic acids and hydroxybenzoic acids. 
     
     
         5 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1  comprising 1 to 20 wt. % of the antimicrobial agent, relative to the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         6 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1  further comprising a surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1  wherein poly(alkyleneoxy) polymer is a poly(ethyleneoxy) polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1  comprising:
 a) 80 to 99 wt. % of a carrier comprising a fatty alcohol and a poly(alkyleneoxy) polymer, wherein the fatty alcohol comprises at least 10 wt. % of the carrier; and 
 b) 1 to 20 wt. %, of an antimicrobial agent, based on the total weight of the composition. 
 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  comprising less than 1 wt. % of esters of the fatty alcohol. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the antimicrobial acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  and R 2  are each independently H or a C 1 -C 8  alkyl group, a C 6 -C 12  aryl, or a C 6 -C 12  aralkyl or alkaryl group. 
       
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the antimicrobial acid is of the formulas: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: R 3 , R 4 , and R 5  are each independently H or a C 1 -C 8  alkyl group, C 6 -C 12  aryl, or C 6 -C 12  aralkyl or alkaryl group; and R 6  is H, (C 1 -C 4 ) alkyl or a halogen. 
       
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the antimicrobial agent is an antimicrobial acid of the formula:
   R 7 —CR 8   2 —COOH
 
 wherein: R 7  and R 8  are each independently H or a C 1 -C 4  alkyl group, a C 6 -C 12  aryl group, a C 6 -C 12  group containing both aryl groups and alkyl groups and R 7  and R 8  may be optionally substituted with one or more carboxylic acid groups. 
 
     
     
         13 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1  wherein the antimicrobial agent is selected from phenolic compounds or biguanide compounds. 
     
     
         14 . A disposable absorbent article comprising an absorbent material and a coating of the antimicrobial composition of  claim 1  on a surface of the disposable article. 
     
     
         15 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 14  comprising a topsheet, a backsheet joined to the topsheet, an absorbent material disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a coating of the antimicrobial composition disposed on at least one surface of the topsheet, the backsheet and/or the absorbent material. 
     
     
         16 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 14  wherein the coating weight of the antimicrobial composition is of 0.5-25 g/sq meter. 
     
     
         17 . The disposable absorbent article of  claim 14  wherein the antimicrobial composition is applied from the melt. 
     
     
         18 . The antimicrobial composition of any of  claim 1  further comprising a visual indicator. 
     
     
         19 . The disposable article of  claim 14  further comprising a visual indicator. 
     
     
         20 . A method of making a disposable article comprising the steps of providing a topsheet, backsheet and absorbent material, coating the antimicrobial composition of  claim 1  on at least one surface of the topsheet, the backsheet and/or the absorbent material, joining the topsheet and backsheet, and disposing the absorbent material between the topsheet and the backsheet.