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.

Absorbent articles with low void volumes and fast fluid intake properties are described. In one embodiment, an absorbent article has a liner, backsheet, and absorbent structure disposed therebetween. The absorbent structure may comprise top and bottom corewrap materials with superabsorbent disposed therebetween with superabsorbent particles disposed at a basis weight of greater than or equal to 250 gsm and present in an amount greater than 90% by weight of absorbent material within the absorbent article. The superabsorbent particles may have a vortex time of less than 41 s, according to the Vortex Time Test Method, the absorbent article may have a dry void volume of less than 0.45 cm.sup.3/cm.sup.2, as determined by the Dry Void Volume Determination Test Method, and the absorbent article may have a first cradle intake time of less than 20 s, according to the Cradle Intake Test Method

An expandable absorbent structure comprises an expansion loop core configured to expand in response to absorption of a liquid and an expansion loop material structure surrounding the expansion loop core and having a trough therein, wherein the trough is formed from a first portion of the expansion loop material structure folded over a second portion of the expansion loop material structure at a first elbow of the expansion loop material structure. In response to an increase in size of the expansion loop core, the expansion loop core presses against the expansion loop material structure to cause a length of the trough to decrease.

An absorbent article includes a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the article, a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet. The absorbent core includes a superabsorbent polymer. The article further includes an acquisition-distribution layer; and at least one channel positioned within a layer located between the topsheet and the backsheet, the at least one channel being substantially free of fibers and superabsorbent polymer. An indentation occurs in at least one of the topsheet and the backsheet that correspond to the at least one channels when the article is loaded with fluid.

Absorbent articles, such as channeled core diapers, including (i) a topsheet; (ii) an acquisition distribution layer (ADL) comprising a first spunbond nonwoven comprising a first plurality of hydrophilic polyolefin fibers, wherein the ADL has a basis weight from about 5 to about 20 grams-per-meter-squared (gsm), such as at least about any of the following: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 gsm, and/or at most about any of the following: 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, and 12 gsm; and (iii) an absorbent core including (a) a core warp layer and (b) one or more channels defining one or more troughs, wherein the ADL is located directly or indirectly between the topsheet and the core wrap layer of the absorbent core.

An absorbent article includes a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the article, a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet. The absorbent core includes a superabsorbent polymer. The article further includes an acquisition-distribution layer; and at least one channel positioned within a layer located between the topsheet and the backsheet, the at least one channel being substantially free of fibers and superabsorbent polymer. An indentation occurs in at least one of the topsheet and the backsheet that correspond to the at least one channels when the article is loaded with fluid.

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 article comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core comprising an absorbent material and a core wrap is provided. The core comprises at least one channel-forming area that is substantially free of absorbent material. The absorbent article comprises a masking layer between the bottom side of the core wrap and the backsheet. The masking layer and the bottom side of the core wrap are only partially bonded to each other at their interface, the interface thus comprising a bonded portion and an unbonded portion, wherein the channel-forming area at least partially corresponds to the unbonded portion of the interface, so that when the absorbent material swells, the masking layer can decouple from the three-dimensional channels.

An absorbent article includes a fluid permeable topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core. The absorbent core includes a first absorbent structure located between the topsheet and a second absorbent structure, the second absorbent structure being located between the first absorbent structure and the backsheet. The second absorbent structure includes a central embossed shaping element including first and second central embossed shaping portions. The first and second central embossed shaping portions extend between a longitudinal centerline and first and second side edges, respectively. An outer embossed shaping element is provided in at least either of the topsheet or the first absorbent structure. The outer embossed shaping element includes a first and a second outer embossed shaping portion. The first and second outer embossed shaping portions are, in a transversal direction, provided outwards with respect to the first central embossed shaping portion and the second central embossed shaping portion, respectively.

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.