Disposable hygiene products applications

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

Major applications for PL A fibres and non-wovens include clothing and furnishings such as drapes, upholstery and covers. Some interesting potential applications include household and industrial wipes, diapers, feminine hygiene products, disposable garments, and UV resistant fabrics for exterior use (awnings, ground covers). 

Personal hygiene products such as disposable diapers make use of self-adhesive strips, covered with a release tape that is removed at the point of use. Again unmodified acrylic dispersions as well as hot melts dominate this application. The same considerations apply here as in first-aid dressings, and in particular the adhesive must not cause skin irritation. 

Because DBDCB is approved for use in cosmetics it is perceived as a safe product and is used in the polymer dispersion industry in products destined for the production of non-woven fabrics which may have intimate human body contact, e.g. disposable nappies and feminine hygiene products. However, in comparison with other polymer dispersion biocides it is an expensive product and its use is restricted to niche applications. 

Their physical properties are similar to those of conventional plastics, but they are biodegradable in different environments. Living micro-organisms transform Mater Bi products into water, carbon dioxide or methane. Mater Bi can be used in a wide range of applications such as packaging, disposable items, personal care and hygiene, agriculture and floriculture. 

The paper product consumption is the core of the chain. After utilization of a paper product by the consumer the paper product becomes wastepaper or postconsumer paper which is a quaternary fjtoresoMrce.Wastepapers from newsprint, books, and packaging materials can be collected and recycled. However, some of the paper products cannot be recovered for recycling. Hygienic papers such as toilet papers are disposed in toilets or papers for technical applications are long-term bonded in a technical product. Around 20% of wastepaper is not available for recycling regarding Ref. 67. 

For certain applications of biopolymers (e.g., feminine hygiene care), disintegration in water is also an important factor. This mainly has to be understood as dispersion or dissolution for, e.g., flushable products. Test procedures have been proposed in EN 14987 - Plastics - Evaluation of disposability in wastewater treatment plants -Test scheme for final acceptance and specifications. 

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