Disclosed is an absorbent article including an absorbent including water-absorbing resin particles, wherein the water-absorbing resin particles satisfy the following requirements (a), (b), and (c). (a) A release restoration rate represented by Formula (1) is 5% or more.

(k.sub.2k.sub.1)/k.sub.1100(%) (1) (b) A water absorption rate measured by a vortex method is 5 seconds or less. (c) A retention capacity of physiological saline is 15 to 39 g/g.

Provided is a water-absorbing agent that causes no or little fluctuation of feed rate when fed with use of a feeder. A water-absorbing agent containing a water-absorbing resin as a main component, the water-absorbing agent satisfying the following (a) and (b): (a) K-index is 70 or more; and (b) Moisture absorption blocking ratio, after 30 minutes of standing at a temperature of 25 C. and a relative humidity of 80% RH, is 70 weight % or less, the K-index being defined by the following equation: K-index=100(438+3.6angle of repose+3.5angle of difference+7.9compressibility rate+290bulk density (EDANA method)).

Described herein are absorbent composites containing embossed superabsorbent materials and methods of manufacturing absorbent composites containing embossed superabsorbent materials. The absorbent composites have significantly improved rates of intake. Compositions and methods described herein are useful in a variety of absorbent products.

An absorbent core and an absorbent article respectively with improved properties, especially rewet performance, are disclosed. The absorbent core has at least two layers, wherein each layer comprising from 0 to 10% by weight fibrous material and from 90 to 100% by weight water-absorbent polymer particles, based on the sum of water-absorbent polymer particles and fibrous material. The surface-postcrosslinked water absorbent polymer particles within the upper layer have a sphericity of at least 0.89 and a CRC of at least 34 g/g. Preferably the water-absorbent polymer particles have a sphericity of at least 0.89 and the sum of the CRC and AUL (0.3 psi, 21 g cm.sup.2) (EDANA 442.2-02) of the water absorbent polymer particles is at least 65 g/g.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a composite structure, preferably for use in an absorbent structure used within the personal hygiene industry, such as for instance feminine hygiene garments, baby diapers and pants and adult incontinence garments. The present invention preferably provides a method and apparatus for depositing and positioning particulate materials in a desired pattern onto a moving carrier layer. The method allows accurate forming of a pattern of particulate material clusters at high production speed having improved attachment properties, with reduced raw material usage and relative low cost. The present invention foresees in the need for improved thin, flexible, lightweight absorbent structure having optimal absorption, distribution and retention.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a composite structure, preferably for use in an absorbent structure used within the personal hygiene industry, such as for instance feminine hygiene garments, baby diapers and pants and adult incontinence garments. The present invention preferably provides a method and apparatus for depositing and positioning particulate materials in a desired pattern onto a moving carrier layer. The method allows accurate forming of a pattern of particulate material clusters at high production speed having improved attachment properties, with reduced raw material usage and relative low cost. The present invention foresees in the need for improved thin, flexible, lightweight absorbent structure having optimal absorption, distribution and retention.

An absorbent article includes a liquid-permeable nonwoven topsheet having a bulk greater than or equal to 10 cm.sup.3/g, a backsheet, and one or more absorbent laminates disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. Each of the laminate(s) can comprise one or more substrate laminae, each comprising a nonwoven or tissue, and one or more absorbent laminae, each comprising SAP particles.

An absorbent core for use in an absorbent article, the absorbent core including a first absorbent layer comprising a first substrate, a layer of first superabsorbent polymer particles deposited on the first substrate on a deposition area and a fibrous layer of thermoplastic adhesive material covering the layer of first superabsorbent polymer particles, and a second absorbent layer comprising a second substrate and a mixed layer comprising a mixture of second superabsorbent particles and cellulosic fibers deposited on the second substrate. The first and second absorbent layers are combined together such that at least a portion of the fibrous thermoplastic adhesive material of the first absorbent layer contacts at least a portion of the mixed layer of the second absorbent layer.

An absorbent article has a front surface side sheet and a back surface side sheet disposed on a back surface side of the front surface side sheet. A large number of cells are formed by bonding the front surface side sheet and the back surface side sheet. A particulate material containing super absorbent polymer particles is accommodated in the cell to form an absorber. At least a part of the particulate material containing the super absorbent polymer particles is not fixed to at least one of the front surface side sheet and the back surface side sheet. In at least one of the front surface side sheet and the back surface side sheet, sites other than the sites where the sheets are bonded each other are shrunk into a pleat shape.

The liquid permeability and liquid diffusion of absorbent body is enhanced. (i) A belt-like main sheet formed of a non-woven fabric sheet constituting at least part of a first main surface is conveyed in a longitudinal direction of the main sheet; (ii) a slit is formed in the non-woven fabric sheet at a first position on a conveying path; (iii) at a second position, particulate matter absorbing and retaining liquid is dispersed into the first main surface, in such a way that the particulate matter is held in the non-woven fabric sheet; and (iv) at a third position, a covering sheet which prevents passage of the particulate matter is overlaid on the first main surface. At the second position, the non-woven fabric sheet includes a bulky structure which constitutes at least part of the first main surface and which has voids allowing the particulate matter to enter.