A hydroentangled fibrous structure. The hydroentangled fibrous structure can be incorporated into an absorbent article. Methods of forming a hydroentangled fibrous structure are also provided.

An absorbent article comprises a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, an absorbent core positioned at least partially intermediate the topsheet and the backsheet, and a distribution material comprising a wet-laid, three-dimensional fibrous substrate comprising at least 80% pulp fibers by weight of the wet-laid, three-dimensional fibrous substrate. The wet-laid, three-dimensional fibrous substrate comprises a continuous network region, a plurality of discrete zones, and a plurality of transition regions. The transition regions are positioned intermediate the continuous network region and at least some of the plurality of discrete zones.

A fluid management layer having an integrated, carded, nonwoven is described. The fluid management layer has a basis weight of between about 115 grams per square meter (gsm) and about 200 gsm; a plurality of absorbent fibers; a plurality of stiffening fibers; and a plurality of resilient fibers. The absorbent fibers make up from about 20 percent to about 60 percent by weight of the fluid management layer. The stiffening fibers have a dtex of between 4 and 10, and the resilient fibers have a dtex of between 3 and 12.

A fluid distribution material for use in an absorbent article includes a formed film layer, with a basis weight of between about 10 gsm and about 25 gsm, a user-facing side, and a garment-facing side. The formed film layer includes a plurality of apertured protuberances, numbering 10 to 40 per linear inch. The garment-facing side has a plurality of apertures aligned with the plurality of apertured protuberances, with land areas therebetween. A nonwoven layer, with a basis weight of between about 10 gsm and about 15 gsm, is laminated to the garment-facing side of the formed film layer. The nonwoven layer includes a plurality of fibers adjacent the land areas. Fibers adjacent the land areas are gathered a higher density than fibers located adjacent the plurality of apertures. The fluid distribution material has a compressibility of less than 10% between pressures of 0.21 psi and 0.60 psi.

The present disclosure relates to absorbent garments having a dryness layer that can comprise one or more laminates and one or more channels to facilitate liquid acquisition and retention. Laminate(s) can include an absorbent lamina disposed between substrate laminae, each comprising tissue and/or a nonwoven. Some dryness layers can have a folded laminate that defines a longitudinally-extending channel. Some dryness layers can have two or more laminate strips that are laterally spaced apart along a width of the dryness layer such that one or more longitudinally-extending channels are defined therebetween.

A fluid distribution material for use in an absorbent article includes a formed film layer, with a basis weight of between about 10 gsm and about 25 gsm, a user-facing side, and a garment-facing side. The formed film layer includes a plurality of apertured protuberances, numbering 10 to 40 per linear inch. The garment-facing side has a plurality of apertures aligned with the plurality of apertured protuberances, with land areas therebetween. A nonwoven layer, with a basis weight of between about 10 gsm and about 15 gsm, is laminated to the garment-facing side of the formed film layer. The nonwoven layer includes a plurality of fibers adjacent the land areas. Fibers adjacent the land areas are gathered a higher density than fibers located adjacent the plurality of apertures. The fluid distribution material has a compressibility of less than 10% between pressures of 0.21 psi and 0.60 psi.

A disposable undergarment is disclosed. The undergarment includes a chassis and an absorbent core assembly. The chassis includes a front section, a crotch section and a rear section. The absorbent core is located in the crotch section, with portions of it extending into the front and rear sections. A large plurality of closely spaced elastic threads extends across the full width of the undergarment in the front and rear sections. A large plurality of closely spaced elastic threads extends across the full width of the undergarment in portions of the crotch section adjacent the front and rear sections. The elastic threads are broken in the areas of the core assembly. The core assembly includes a first section of a slow acting but high absorbency SAP in pockets thereof and an underlying second section of a fast acting by lower absorbency SAP in pockets thereof.

A fluid management layer having an integrated, carded, nonwoven is described. The fluid management layer has a basis weight of between about 115 grams per square meter (gsm) and about 200 gsm; a plurality of absorbent fibers; a plurality of stiffening fibers; and a plurality of resilient fibers. The absorbent fibers make up from about 20 percent to about 60 percent by weight of the fluid management layer. The stiffening fibers have a dtex of between 4 and 10, and the resilient fibers have a dtex of between 3 and 12.

Nonwoven webs having excellent fluid handling characteristics are disclosed. The nonwoven webs are made from a combination of binder fibers and structure fibers. The structure fibers are made from multicomponent, hollow fibers. The structure fibers include first polymer component zones that alternate with second polymer component zones around the circumference of the fiber. The first polymer component zone is made from a polymer having a lower melting temperature than the polymer contained in the second polymer component zone. In this manner, the fibers have a three-dimensional conformation that produces significant void volume within the nonwoven web.

A disposable absorbent article is described. The disposable absorbent article has a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. A carded staple fiber nonwoven having a basis weight of between about 50 grams per square meter (gsm) and about 100 gsm, includes a blend of absorbing fibers, stiffening fibers and filler fibers. The carded staple fiber nonwoven has a pore volume radius mode of between about 60 m and about 120 m.