A mechanically deformed nonwoven comprising a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from a first surface of the nonwoven and having openings c corresponding to the protrusions in a second surface of the nonwoven. The nonwoven has a Horizontal Bending Drop at 100 mm of at least 75 mm and a Z-Compliance Index of at least 50 mm.sup.3/N. The nonwoven can be used in absorbent articles such as diapers as an acquisition layer between the absorbent core and the backsheet and/or as a masking layer between an absorbent layer core and the backsheet.

The present invention is directed to a substrate, in particular textile material to which one or more antimicrobial and/or hydrophilic and/or stain release agents are adhered. The agent(s) is/are adhered to the substrate in such a manner that they are not released from the textile even if the textile is wetted or washed, so that the textile is reusable. Washability and/or usability of the textile are improved where one or more hydrophilic and/or stain release agents are adhered to the textile. The substrate can be used, e.g., in a reusable sanitary napkin or other hygiene product. The structure of the hygiene product is disclosed, together with a process of attaching the different layers of the hygiene product together by ultrasonic welding. The invention further relates to a method of finishing a substrate by applying and binding antimicrobial and/or hydrophilic and/or stain release agents to the substrate so that the agents are essentially irreversibly adhered to the finished substrate.

A pants-type absorbent article for which damage during wearing motions can be suppressed. The pants-type absorbent article includes: a front waist region; a rear waist region; a crotch region; a waist opening defined by the front waist region and the rear waist region and disposed to surround a waist of the wearer; an external topsheet provided on at least one of the front waist region and the rear waist region; and an external backsheet bonded to the external topsheet. The external backsheet has a folded-back portion folded back at the waist opening, the folded-back portion extending beyond the external topsheet toward to the waist opening. A reinforcing sheet extends in a transverse direction orthogonally crossing the front-back direction and to overlap at least part of the folded-back portion. The reinforcing sheet has a length in the front-back direction longer than a length of the folded-back portion in the front-back direction.

A pants-type absorbent article for which damage during wearing motions can be suppressed. The pants-type absorbent article includes: a front waist region; a rear waist region; a crotch region; a waist opening defined by the front waist region and the rear waist region and disposed to surround a waist of the wearer; an external topsheet provided on at least one of the front waist region and the rear waist region; and an external backsheet bonded to the external topsheet. The external backsheet has a folded-back portion folded back at the waist opening, the folded-back portion extending beyond the external topsheet toward to the waist opening. A reinforcing sheet extends in a transverse direction orthogonally crossing the front-back direction and to overlap at least part of the folded-back portion. The reinforcing sheet has a length in the front-back direction longer than a length of the folded-back portion in the front-back direction.