Patterned fibrous substrates having a plurality of individual fibers, a first region, and a second region are provided. The plurality of individual fibers comprise a functional surface additive. A plurality of individual fibers of the first region have a first diameter, and a plurality of individual fibers of the second region have a second diameter. The first diameter is less than the second diameter. The first region has a first C.I.E. L* score, and the second region has a second C.I.E. L* score. The first C.I.E. L* score is different than the second C.I.E. L* score.

A disposable absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure disposed between the topsheet and backsheet. The absorbent core structure includes an upper nonwoven layer comprising polymer fibers; a lower nonwoven layer comprising polymer fibers; and an inner core layer disposed between the upper and lower nonwoven layers. The inner core layer may include from about 50% to about 85% cellulosic fibers, by weight of the inner core layer, and from about 15% to about 50% superabsorbent particles, by weight of the inner core layer. The absorbent article may have a CD Dry Bending Stiffness between about 10 N mm.sup.2 to about 30 N.Math.mm.sup.2 as measured according to the Wet and Dry CD and MD 3 Point Bend Method and a 5.sup.th Cycle Wet % Recovery of between about 29% and about 40% as measured according to the Wet and Dry Bunched Compression Method.

The invention encompasses composite materials having a fibrous core that is at least partially covered by a water-swellable coating layer in which the water-swellable coating layer includes a water-swellable polymer. The invention also encompasses methods for manufacturing such a composite material, and further encompasses articles of manufacture made from such composite materials and methods for manufacturing such articles.

An absorbent article comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent structure positioned in between said topsheet and said backsheet, wherein the absorbent structure comprises an absorbent core positioned in between the topsheet and the backsheet, a release structure being positioned in fluid communication with the absorbent core, said absorbent core comprising little to no cellulose fibers and/or fluff pulp and said absorbent core comprising an absorbent polymer material for absorbing and permanently holding fluids received from the topsheet and the release structure, wherein said release structure comprises at least one fibrous substrate structure having the capacity to receive and temporarily hold the fluids in proximity to the absorbent core so that the fluids can subsequently be transferred and released to and absorbed by the absorbent core.

The present disclosure describes a tampon article, a composite fibrous web, and a method of making same. Such an article includes an outer carrier component including an inner surface that defines an internal void. Including an absorbent component elongate along an axis and is disposed in the internal void. The absorbent component includes an outer surface that extends about the axis and faces the inner surface. The absorbent component further includes a composite fibrous web of staple cellulosic fibers and a meltspun web of filaments entangled with the web of staple cellulosic fibers. The composite fibrous web can be in a compressed configuration in the internal void such that at least portion of the outer surface of the absorbent component is defined by the meltspun web of filaments. The tampon can include a withdrawal cord coupled to the absorbent component.

A fluid-absorbent article having an upper liquid-pervious layer, a lower liquid-impervious layer, a fluid-absorbent core between the layer and the layer, containing from 0 to 20% by weight fibrous material and from 80 to 100% by weight of a water-absorbent polymer material, based on the sum of water-absorbent polymer material and fibrous material. The fluid absorbent article has a first intake time of 15 seconds or less by the hanging U-shape test (HUS).

Absorbent cores for use in absorbent articles are presented. The absorbent cores include a low-density zone that is surrounded by zones having a higher density than that of the low-density zone. The low-density zone aids in fluid absorption, distribution and storage.

An absorbent article includes an absorbent core having an absorbent material enclosed in a core wrap having a top layer and a bottom layer. The bottom layer of the core wrap comprises a nonwoven comprising synthetic fibers, which has a basis weight from about 6 g/m.sup.2 to about 10 g/m.sup.2 and the nonwoven has a static coefficient of friction as measured in cross-machine direction of no more than 0.40.

A biodegradable, disposable absorbent article, such as a diaper, having a non-woven inner layer of natural fibers and a non-woven outer layer of natural fibers and a treatment applied to at least one surface thereof. The treatment includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of waxes, urethanes, silicones, fluorocarbons, and non-fluorochemical repellants. The absorbent article has a core of natural fibers or fibrous material, and optionally polyacrylate superabsorbent particles, positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. The article may contain polylactic acid films between the layers.

An absorbent structure comprising one or more absorbent layers wherein the absorbent structure exhibits a first cycle Peak Force compression between about 30 grams and about 150 grams. The absorbent structure further exhibits a fifth cycle dry recovery energy between 0.1 mJ and 2.8 mJ.