Provided is an absorbent article having excellent shape retention of an absorber even when an external force is applied thereto. The present invention is an absorbent article having: an aqueous-liquid absorbing part having crosslinked polymer particles having as essential constitutional units thereof a water-soluble vinyl monomer and/or a vinyl monomer which became the water-soluble vinyl monomer by hydrolysis, and a crosslinking agent; and a nonwoven fabric having porous fibers as an essential constituent thereof, the crosslinked polymer particles preferably absorbing 40 times the weight thereof of physiological saline 40 in 40-150 seconds.

An absorbent article is disclosed, including a three-dimensional material formed of a liquid permeable topsheet and an acquisition material. The acquisition material is positioned beneath the topsheet, and both may be formed of nonwoven material. The three dimensional material may have two surfaces and a plurality of protrusions extending in a z-direction from one of the surfaces, each protrusion having side walls defining an opening in the other of the surfaces. One of the topsheet and the acquisition material may include fibers spun of polymer resin pigmented with a first color that differs from a second color of fibers of the other of the topsheet and the acquisition material, and the differing colors are visible when viewing a wearer-facing surface of the absorbent article.

A process of making an absorbent article is disclosed. A liquid permeable topsheet web extending substantially continuously in a machine direction a backsheet web, and an intermediate layer are provided. The topsheet web has first and second surfaces. The backsheet web extends substantially continuously in the machine direction. The intermediate layer has a first and second surface. The topsheet and intermediate layer are aligned in a face to face relationship such that the second surface of the topsheet in in contact with the first surface of the intermediate layer and simultaneously mechanically deformed which combines the topsheet with the intermediate layer. The topsheet web and intermediate layer are nested together such that a majority of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the topsheet web coincide with and fit together with a majority of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the intermediate layer to provide a topsheet/intermediate layer laminate web having three-dimensional protrusions.

A process of making an absorbent article is disclosed. A liquid permeable topsheet web extending substantially continuously in a machine direction a backsheet web, and an intermediate layer are provided. The topsheet web has first and second surfaces. The backsheet web extends substantially continuously in the machine direction. The intermediate layer has a first and second surface. The topsheet and intermediate layer are aligned in a face to face relationship such that the second surface of the topsheet in in contact with the first surface of the intermediate layer and simultaneously mechanically deformed which combines the topsheet with the intermediate layer. The topsheet web and intermediate layer are nested together such that a majority of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the topsheet web coincide with and fit together with a majority of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the intermediate layer to provide a topsheet/intermediate layer laminate web having three-dimensional protrusions.

A process of making an absorbent article is disclosed. A liquid permeable topsheet web extending substantially continuously in a machine direction a backsheet web, and an acquisition layer are provided. The topsheet web has first and second surfaces. The backsheet web extends substantially continuously in the machine direction. The acquisition layer has a first and second surface. The topsheet and acquisition layer are aligned in a face to face relationship such that the second surface of the topsheet in in contact with the first surface of the acquisition layer and simultaneously mechanically deformed which combines the topsheet with the acquisition layer. The topsheet web and acquisition layer are nested together such that a majority of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the topsheet web coincide with and fit together with a majority of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the acquisition layer to provide a topsheet/acquisition layer laminate web having three-dimensional protrusions.

A process of making an absorbent article is disclosed. A liquid permeable topsheet web extending substantially continuously in a machine direction a backsheet web, and an acquisition layer are provided. The topsheet web has first and second surfaces. The backsheet web extends substantially continuously in the machine direction. The acquisition layer has a first and second surface. The topsheet and acquisition layer are aligned in a face to face relationship such that the second surface of the topsheet in in contact with the first surface of the acquisition layer and simultaneously mechanically deformed which combines the topsheet with the acquisition layer. The topsheet web and acquisition layer are nested together such that a majority of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the topsheet web coincide with and fit together with a majority of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the acquisition layer to provide a topsheet/acquisition layer laminate web having three-dimensional protrusions.

A process of making an absorbent article comprising providing a liquid permeable topsheet web extending substantially continuously in a machine direction. The topsheet web having a first and second surface and a backsheet web extending substantially continuously in the machine direction and an acquisition layer having a first and second surface. The process comprises aligning the topsheet web and the acquisition layer in a face to face relationship such that the second surface of the topsheet in in contact with the first surface of the acquisition layer and simultaneously mechanically deforming and combining the topsheet web together with the acquisition layer. The topsheet web and acquisition layer are nested together such that a majority of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the topsheet web coincide with and fit together with a majority of the three-dimensional protrusions formed in the acquisition layer to provide a topsheet/acquisition layer laminate web having three-dimensional protrusions.