Hydroentangled fibrous structures

Abstract

An absorbent article having a topsheet; an absorbent core; and a secondary topsheet positioned between the topsheet and the absorbent core is described. The secondary topsheet has a basis weight of about 35 grams per square meter (gsm) to about 65 gsm, and a hydroentangled fibrous structure having a machine direction (MD) bending stiffness of 0.2 mN·cm to 12 mN·cm according to EDANA Test Method WSP 090.5, and a substantially homogenous blend of fibers. The blend of fibers has a first fibrous component, a second fibrous component, and a third fibrous component, wherein the first fibrous component includes cellulose fibers of from between about 1.3 to 7.0 dtex; wherein the second fibrous component has a second dtex, wherein the third fibrous component comprises a third dtex which is smaller than the second dtex.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article, comprising:
 a topsheet;   an absorbent core; and   a secondary topsheet positioned between the topsheet and the absorbent core, the secondary topsheet having a basis weight of about 35 grams per square meter (gsm) to about 65 gsm, a hydroentangled fibrous structure has a machine direction (MD) bending stiffness of 0.2 mN·cm to 12 mN·cm according to EDANA Test Method WSP 090.5, and a substantially homogenous blend of fibers, wherein the blend of fibers comprises a first fibrous component, a second fibrous component, and a third fibrous component, wherein the first fibrous component comprises cellulose fibers of from between about 1.3 to 7.0 dtex; wherein said second fibrous component has a second dtex, wherein the third fibrous component comprises a third dtex which is smaller than the second dtex.   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the third fibrous component defines a binder component being formed from bicomponent fibers, wherein the binder component is from about 30 percent to about 55 percent by weight of the secondary topsheet. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the topsheet and the secondary topsheet are fusion bonded together. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 3 , wherein the bicomponent fibers comprise a core-sheath configuration, wherein the sheath comprises a first material which has a lower melting temperature than the core which comprises a second material. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 4 , wherein the first material comprises polyethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 3 , wherein the topsheet comprises a film. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the topsheet comprises a nonwoven material. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first fibrous component makes up from about 30 percent to about 60 percent by weight of the secondary topsheet. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first fibrous component comprises fibers having a dtex of from between 1.5 to about 1.9. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 9 , wherein the first fibrous component comprise viscose rayon. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the second fibrous component makes up from about 5 percent to about 70 percent by weight of the secondary topsheet. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 11 , wherein the second fibrous component comprises fibers having a dtex of from between about 3.5 to about 12.0. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 12 , wherein the second fibrous component comprises fibers which comprise polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 13 , wherein the fibers of the second fibrous component are hollow. 
     
     
         15 . The absorbent article of  claim 12 , wherein the fibers of the second fibrous component are spiral. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the second fibrous component makes up from about 30 percent to about 55 percent by weight of the secondary topsheet. 
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the bicomponent fibers form about 36 percent to about 46 percent by weight, of the secondary topsheet. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary topsheet exhibits a rewet value of 0.2 g to 7.0 g according to EDANA Test Method WSP 080.10. 
     
     
         19 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first fibrous component comprises viscose rayon fibers having a dtex of between about 1.5 to about 1.9, wherein the second fibrous component comprises fibers having a dtex of between about 3.5 and about 12, wherein the fibers of the second fibrous component comprise polyethylene terephthalate, and wherein the third fibrous component comprises bicomponent fibers having a core-sheath configuration, wherein the sheath comprises a first material and the core comprises a second material, and wherein the first material has a lower melting temperature than the second material.