Diapers

Acrylates are primarily used to prepare emulsion and solution polymers. The emulsion polymerization process provides high yields of polymers in a form suitable for a variety of appHcations. Acrylate polymer emulsions were first used as coatings for leather in the eady 1930s and have found wide utiHty as coatings, finishes, and binders for leather, textiles, and paper. Acrylate emulsions are used in the preparation of both interior and exterior paints, door poHshes, and adhesives. Solution polymers of acrylates, frequentiy with minor concentrations of other monomers, are employed in the preparation of industrial coatings. Polymers of acryHc acid can be used as superabsorbents in disposable diapers, as well as in formulation of superior, reduced-phosphate-level detergents. 

As binders for fiherfill and nonwovens, the emulsions are applied to a loose web or mat, then heated to form a film that sticks the loose fibers together. Polyester (188—191), glass (192), and rayon (193) mats are bonded in this manner for a variety of end uses including quilting, clothing, disposable diapers and towels, filters, and roofing (see Nonwoven fabrics). 

Aloisture Absorbent Synthetic Paper. Processes for making a water absorbent synthetic paper with dimensional stabihty have been developed by several companies. In a process developed by Mitsubishi Rayon, acrylic fiber is insolubilized by hydra2ine and then hydroly2ed with sodium hydroxide. The paper, formed from 100 parts fiber and 200 parts pulp, has a water absorption 28 times its own weight (96). Processes for making hygroscopic fibers have also been reported in the patent Hterature. These fibers are used in moisture absorbing nonwovens for sanitary napkins, filters, and diapers. 

Such repositioning inevitably means reduced production volume, and for the first time this century production in the last decade has been below that a decade earUer (Eig. 9). Most capacity reductions have been in North America and especiaUy eastern Europe. This has been offset in part by capacity increases in the Ear East. Rayon is no longer a significant component of carpets, and has lost the disposable diaper coverstock business to cheaper and more easUy processed polypropylene. It has, however, gained share in health and hygiene products and is now a principal component of tampons worldwide. 

Eig. 11. Diaper sales for the Proctor Gamble Co., where is foreign and D is domestic, and the Kimberly-Clark Corp., where D is foreign and Bis... 

The uses of spunbonded fabrics as coverstock in diapers and other personal absorbent devices will most likely remain unchallenged for the near term. Virtually any other nonwoven production method appears to be at a cost disadvantage opposite spunbonded polypropylene. There have been composite products developed from meltblown and spunbonded combinations, where areas of either improved hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity are desired. These products can be produced on-line at relatively low additional cost and offer high value to diaper manufacturers. Any competitive threat is likely to come from advances in film technology such as large improvements in perforated film used in segments of absorbent product appHcations, particularly sanitary napkins. 

In the United States, fibers and injection mol ding are the main appHcations for polypropylene (Table 8), followed by film. In Europe and Japan, injection mol ding appHcations predominate (Table 10). This market area is more likely to decline in economic recession, as consumers postpone purchases of apphances and automobiles. Film appHcations are important in both regions, but fibers are a much less important use for polypropylene in Japan than in other developed regions. The heavy use of polypropylene nonwovens in the manufacture of disposable diapers and similar products, and the wide use of polypropylene carpets in the United States, account for the greater consumption of fibers. 

Disposable polypropylene nonwoven fabrics are widely used as the coverstock for disposable baby diapers. The expansion of the disposable diaper market throughout the world has been the primary source of growth in the consumption of polypropylene in the fiber market. In addition, nonwoven polypropylene fabrics are used in a variety of other disposable sanitary products, such as baby wipes, adult incontinence, and feminine hygiene products. Use of polypropylene nonwovens in disposable medical apparel, such as surgical gowns, has increased as a means of reducing the spread of infection. 

Functional derivatives of polyethylene, particularly poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(acryLic acid) and derivatives, have received attention because of their water-solubility and disposal iato the aqueous environment. Poly(vinyl alcohol) is used ia a wide variety of appHcations, including textiles, paper, plastic films, etc, and poly(acryLic acid) is widely used ia detergents as a builder, a super-absorbent for diapers and feminine hygiene products, for water treatment, ia thickeners, as pigment dispersant, etc (see Vinyl polymers, vinyl alcohol polymers). 

Etherification and esterification of hydroxyl groups produce derivatives, some of which are produced commercially. Derivatives may also be obtained by graft polymerization wherein free radicals, initiated on the starch backbone by ceric ion or irradiation, react with monomers such as vinyl or acrylyl derivatives. A number of such copolymers have been prepared and evaluated in extmsion processing (49). A starch—acrylonitrile graft copolymer has been patented (50) which rapidly absorbs many hundred times its weight in water and has potential appHcations in disposable diapers and medical suppHes. 

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate—3-hydroxyvalerate) [80181 -31 -3] resin, produced from a bacterium during a sugar fermentation process, has been reported to be biodegradable, and its target markets include "flushables" such as feminine hygiene products and disposable diapers (99). 

Thermoplastic block copolymers were used for pressure-sensitive and hot-melt rubber adhesives as from the middle sixties. These adhesives found application in packaging, disposable diapers, labels and tapes, among other industrial markets. The formulation of these adhesives generally includes an elastomer (generally containing styrene endblocks and either isoprene, butadiene or ethylene-butylene midblocks) and a tackifier (mainly a rosin derivative or hydrocarbon resin). 

The primary non-woven applications for hot melts are in disposable articles such as diapers and sanitary napkins (see Fig. 22). These articles are made by high speed processes and are immediately packaged in sealed plastic bags, thus they are prime candidates for hot melt use. The applications are broken down into three categories, requiring three different types of adhesives construction, elastic attachment, and garment attachment. 

Functional adhesives provide the bonded product with a new or enhanced attribute. For example, adhesives now exist which promote the penetration of fluids into bonded non-woven products by virtue of their low contact angle with water [82]. These materials have been used successfully in both diapers and sanitary napkins for bonding the non-woven cover sheet to the absorbent core. Other examples are water absorbing adhesives that can act as wetness indicators by changing color [69] or can be bonded once moistened ]99]. Additional functionalities are currently underdevelopment. 

Gebilde, Gebild, n. structure, organization, system form image pattern diaper Geol.) formation. 

Medicine Microencapsulation of water soluble pharmacological preparates, nonthrombogenic granulated gels, contact lenses in ophthalmology, high-quality tampons, diapers, etc. 

Children Upper respiratory illness, cough, irritability, nervousness, fatigue, disturbed sleep, diarrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting, otitis, diaper rash, headache, teething, malaise... 

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