A method for making a high topography nonwoven substrate includes generating a foam including water and synthetic binder fibers; depositing the foam on a planar surface; disposing a template form on the foam opposite the planar surface to create a foam/form assembly; heating the foam/form assembly to dry the foam and bind the synthetic binder fibers; and removing the template from the substrate after heating the foam/form assembly, wherein the substrate includes a planar base layer having an X-Y surface and a backside surface opposite the X-Y surface; and a plurality of projection elements integral with and protruding in a Z-direction from the X-Y surface, wherein the projection elements are distributed in both the X- and Y-directions, and wherein the density of a projection element is the same as the density of the base layer.

A nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property, wherein the intensive property is one or more of thickness, basis weight, or volumetric density, and wherein the first surface has a TS7 value different than a TS7 value of the second surface.

An absorbent structure, including a sensor system, can sense and measure the level of wetness contained within the absorbent structure as well as sense and measure environmental conditions. The sensor system may include passive RFID sensors or tags, RFID readers, antenna, a tuning module, a processing module, a memory module and a wireless communication module. The absorbent structure may further include two or more sensors, with a first sensor placed in a first area most likely to first be exposed to liquid and a second sensor spaced apart from the first sensor in an area likely to be exposed to liquid only after the absorbent structure has become more saturated.

An absorbent article which can have an improved feeling of comfort next to the skin of the wearer and a reduction in the feelings of wetness and rewet. An absorbent article can have a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a depth direction. The absorbent article can have a topsheet layer, a backsheet layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer. The topsheet layer can have a hydrophilic central layer, a semi-hydrophilic first side layer, and a semi-hydrophilic second side layer. Each of the semi-hydrophilic side layers can be bonded to the central layer utilizing an embossing technique in the regions of overlap of each of the semi-hydrophilic side layers with the central layer. The area of the body-facing surface of each of the regions of overlap can contain from about 10% to about 35% of at least one embossment.

On a skin-contact surface on a front-surface side of a sanitary napkin 1, in a plan view, a concave low compression part 10 obtained by denting, from a skin-contact surface side, a closed region part partitioned by an inside curve 12 formed of a curved line swelling on a front end side of the sanitary napkin 1, and an outside curve 13 that is located on a front end side than the inside curve 12, is formed of a curved line swelling on a front end side of the sanitary napkin 1 and has both ends that are connected respectively to the both ends of the inside curve 12 is formed. In the low compression part 10, a plurality of high compression parts 11 formed discretely respectively along the inside curve 12 and outside curve 13 is formed. The high compression parts 14 formed along the inside curve 12 are arranged over an entire length of the inside curve 12, and the high compression parts 15 formed along the outside curve 13 are arranged on a center part of the outside curve 13, and the high compression parts are not arranged at both end parts of the outside curve 13. Sanitary napkin 1 makes it easy to deform along a shape of a body and make it difficult to generate twists or leakage.

An absorbent structure, including a sensor system, can sense and measure the level of wetness contained within the absorbent structure as well as sense and measure environmental conditions. The sensor system may include passive RFID sensors or tags, RFID readers, antenna, a tuning module, a processing module, a memory module and a wireless communication module. The absorbent structure may further include two or more sensors, with a first sensor placed in a first area most likely to first be exposed to liquid and a second sensor spaced apart from the first sensor in an area likely to be exposed to liquid only after the absorbent structure has become more saturated.

A topsheet for use with an absorbent article is provided and comprises a first layer and a second layer. The first layer may be a spunlace nonwoven and may comprise at least 15% by weight of natural fibers by total weight of the first layer. The first layer may comprise a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of apertures. The first layer and the second layer may be in contact with each other between the majority of the protrusions. The second layer may have a plurality of apertures at least partially aligned with the apertures of the first layer. The first layer may have a minimum CD strength of at least 3N/(5 cm), according to the Tensile Strength Test Method.

A method for making nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric can include three-dimensional features that define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property. The nonwoven further has a plurality of apertures, wherein at least a portion of the aperture abuts at least one of the first region and the second region of the microzone.

An absorbent article 1 includes a three-dimensionally shaped topsheet 2 having projections 24 and recesses and a backsheet 3. Opposed end flaps 1E in longitudinal end portions are formed of at least the topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3. In at least one of the longitudinal end portions, a plurality of the projections 24 of the topsheet 2 protrude outward in the longitudinal direction X beyond the end edge el of the backsheet.

An absorbent article includes a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions; and a chassis having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The article also includes a side panel having an ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate. The laminate has an elastomeric layer and a substrate and is joined to the chassis at a chassis attachment bond and positioned in one of the first or second waist regions. The ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate also includes an ear structural feature comprising a surface modification to the substrate and comprising at least one of the following: embossing, apertures, perforations, slits, melted material or coatings, compressed material, secondary bonds that are disposed apart from a chassis attachment bond, plastic deformation, and folds.