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, and wherein in at least one of the microzones the first region exhibits a Contact Angle of greater than 90 degrees, as measured by the Contact Angle Test Method detailed herein.

Tampons and production methods are provided that provide tampons made of at least 80% cellulose-based fibers, such as cotton or viscose, without plastic top sheets. The tampons consist of cylindrically-compressed rolled strips of entangled non-woven fabric and may be made of 100% natural cellulose-based fibers, the fabric having a tensile strength that is larger than 10N/50 mm. The fabric may be folded longitudinally in various folding configurations and rolled transversely before compression to tampon dimensions.

A nonwoven fabric is provided. 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 at least one of the surfaces has a TS7 value of less than about 15 dB V.sup.2 rms, and wherein the first surface has a TS7 value that is higher than the second surface TS7 value.

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.

Absorbent laminates and folded multi-layer absorbent cores including one or more of the present absorbent laminates The present absorbent laminates comprise an absorbent layer between two laminate layers, at least one of which absorbent laminates including a spunlace nonwoven. Some of the present multi-layer absorbent cores are folded to define a channel running longitudinally along the core to enhance liquid distribution and absorption.

The present disclosure relates to methods for making elastomeric laminates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. The elastomeric laminates may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and an elastic material located between the first and second substrates. During assembly of an elastomeric laminate, a beam is rotated to unwind the elastic strands from the beam, wherein the strands may include a spin finish. First bonds are applied to bond discrete lengths of the stretched elastic strands with and between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the discrete first bonds are arranged intermittently along the machine direction. In addition, second bonds are applied between consecutive first bonds to bond the first and second substrates directly to each other, wherein the second bonds extend in the machine direction and may be separated from each other in a cross direction by at least one elastic strand.

An absorbent article comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, and a layer of absorbent material interposed between the topsheet and the backsheet is provided. The layer of absorbent material comprises superabsorbent polymer. The absorbent article comprises a lower acquisition and distribution system with at least one nonwoven or woven layer. The lower acquisition and distribution system is interposed between the layer of absorbent material and the backsheet. The absorbent article comprises a wetness indicator composition.

An absorbent article can have a top sheet layer, a back sheet layer, and an absorbent system positioned between the top sheet layer and the back sheet layer. The absorbent system can have at least a fluid intake layer, an absorbent core, and a distribution layer. The fluid intake layer can define a fluid intake layer opening and the absorbent core can define an absorbent core opening. A void space is present between the top sheet layer and the distribution layer and the top sheet layer is maintained in a spaced apart relationship from the distribution layer.

The present disclosure features a composite fabric, including a nonwoven layer including polymeric fibers and/or filaments; a crosslinked cellulose layer including crosslinked cellulose fibers; wherein the crosslinked cellulose layer is positioned opposed to the nonwoven layer (e.g., without an intervening layer different from the crosslinked cellulose layer and the nonwoven layer; in some embodiments, the crosslinked cellulose layer is immediately adjacent to the nonwoven layer); and an interfacial region between the nonwoven layer and the crosslinked cellulose layer, the interfacial region including physically entangled polymeric fibers and/or filaments from the nonwoven layer and crosslinked cellulose fibers from the crosslinked cellulose layer. The nonwoven layer and the crosslinked cellulose layer of the composite fabric are mechanically inseparable in a dry state.

An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core sandwiched between a liquid permeable topsheet and a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an acquisition distribution layer positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core comprises absorbent material selected from the group consisting of cellulose fibers, superabsorbent polymers and combinations thereof, wherein said absorbent core comprises at least one core wrap substrate enclosing said absorbent material, and wherein a top layer of said core wrap is adhered to a bottom layer of said core wrap to form one or more channels substantially free of said absorbent material, wherein said channels have a length extending along a longitudinal axis and the absorbent core has a length extending along said longitudinal axis and wherein the length of said channels is from 10% to 95% of the length of said absorbent core and wherein said channels each follow a substantially continuous path such as from a first end of a channel to a second end of the same channel wherein the acquisition distribution layer comprises a spunbond and/or carded nonwoven layer comprising synthetic fibers, wherein said synthetic fibers are comprised at a level of greater than 80% wt by weight of said acquisition distribution layer, and wherein said acquisition distribution layer has a basis weight of from 10 to 50 g/m.sup.2.