A disposable absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure disposed therebetween. The absorbent core structure includes an upper nonwoven layer comprising polymer fibers, a lower nonwoven layer comprising polymer fibers, and an inner core layer comprising cellulosic fibers and superabsorbent particles disposed therebetween. The inner core layer is profiled in the longitudinal and lateral directions and is defined by a central absorbent zone and an outer absorbent zone substantially surrounding the central absorbent zone. The basis weight of the central absorbent zone is greater than the basis weight of the outer absorbent zone. The absorbent article has a first average density measured in the central absorbent zone and a second average density measured in the outer absorbent zone. The first and second average density are between about 0.045 g/cm.sup.3 and about 0.150 g/cm.sup.3, and the second density is within about 0 to about 20% of first density.

A disposable absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure disposed therebetween. The absorbent core structure includes an upper nonwoven layer comprising polymer fibers, a lower nonwoven layer comprising polymer fibers, and an inner core layer comprising cellulosic fibers and superabsorbent particles disposed therebetween. The inner core layer is profiled in the longitudinal and lateral directions and is defined by a central absorbent zone and an outer absorbent zone substantially surrounding the central absorbent zone. The basis weight of the central absorbent zone is greater than the basis weight of the outer absorbent zone. A plurality of cellulosic fibers of the inner core layer penetrate through the lower surface of the upper nonwoven layer. The upper nonwoven layer has a Circular Bend of from about 2.5 gf to about 10 gf as measured according to the Circular Bend Method.

A disposable absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core structure disposed between the topsheet and backsheet, and a flex bond channel region. The absorbent core structure includes an upper nonwoven layer having polymer fibers, a lower nonwoven layer having polymer fibers, and an inner core layer disposed between the upper and lower nonwoven layers. The flex bond channel region has a dry channel depth of from about 1.0 mm to about 4.5 mm and a channel width of from about 1.0 mm to about 3.0 mm. The flex bond channel region has a Dry MD Bending Resistance of less than about 0.04 N/mm. The inner core layer comprises an outer absorbent zone that substantially surrounds a central absorbent zone. The basis weight of the central absorbent zone is greater than the basis weight of the outer absorbent zone.

An absorbent core for use in an absorbent article is provided and comprises a core wrap enclosing an absorbent material, the absorbent material comprising superabsorbent polymer particles. The core wrap comprises a top side and a bottom side. The absorbent core comprises one or more area(s) substantially free of absorbent material through which the top side of the core wrap is attached to the bottom side of the core wrap (i.e. core wrap bond(s)), so that when the absorbent material swells, the core wrap forms one or more channel(s) along the area(s) substantially free of absorbent material. The superabsorbent polymer particles have a value of Effective Capacity (EFFC) of at least 27 g/g. The Effective Capacity (EFFC) is calculated via the formula below: EFFC=(CRC+AAP)/2. The Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC) is measured according to the Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC) test method and the Absorption Against Pressure (AAP) is measured according to the Absorption Against Pressure (AAP) test method. The superabsorbent polymer particles have a bulk density of at least 0.5 g/ml according to the Bulk Density Test Method.

The present invention relates to an absorbent article, comprising a fluid permeable topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent element disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet wherein the absorbent article has a caliper expansion, measured at 1 minute of at least 150%. The present invention also relates to an absorbent article, comprising a fluid permeable topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent element disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet wherein the absorbent article has a ratio of dry caliper to the caliper expansion measured at 1 minute of 3 mm/% or less.

The present invention relates to an absorbent article, comprising a fluid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent element disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet wherein the absorbent article has a caliper expansion measured at 5 minutes of at least 275%. The present invention also relates to an absorbent article, comprising a fluid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent element disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet wherein the absorbent article has a dry caliper of 4.5 mm or less and wherein the absorbent article has a caliper expansion, measured at five minutes of at least 75%. The present invention also relates to an absorbent article, comprising a fluid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent element disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet wherein a ratio of the caliper expansion measured at 5 minutes to the dry peak stiffness is at least 0.5%/N.

The present invention relates to an absorbent article, comprising a fluid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent element disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet wherein the absorbent article has a caliper expansion measured at 5 minutes of at least 275%. The present invention also relates to an absorbent article, comprising a fluid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent element disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet wherein the absorbent article has a dry caliper of 4.5 mm or less and wherein the absorbent article has a caliper expansion, measured at five minutes of at least 75%. The present invention also relates to an absorbent article, comprising a fluid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent element disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet wherein a ratio of the caliper expansion measured at 5 minutes to the dry peak stiffness is at least 0.5%/N.

The present invention relates to an absorbent article, comprising a fluid permeable topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent element disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet wherein the absorbent article has a ratio of the acquisition rate to the dry peak stiffness is at least 0.5 ml/Ns.

A method for evaluating the bunched compression of an absorbent structure is described. The method includes placing an absorbent structure in a tensile tester comprising a first end and a second end, moving the first end and the second end of the tensile tester toward each other such that they compress the absorbent structure along its width, lowering a loading probe that compresses the absorbent structure perpendicular to the absorbent structure, and raising the loading probe and decompressing the absorbent structure perpendicular to the absorbent structure. The loading probe acquires data.

Laminates with a layer of bonded nonwoven material attached to a layer of film.