Absorbent products, processes and compositions

Claim 2

A composition suitable for preparing an absorbent product by extrusion in the absence of water comprising: (a) a co-polyester of at least two different ester units, each ester unit being a condensation product of dicarboxylic acid and an aliphatic diol, said ester units being represented by the formulas: ##STR6## wherein X and X' are nuclei of dicarboxylic acids and Y and Y' are nuclei of aliphatic diols, and wherein said co-polyester is characterized by having a thermal softening temperature below about 225° C.; and (b) an absorbent synthetic acrylate polymer.

Claim 3

A flexible non-disintegrative absorbent product which is capable of absorbing and retaining water, comprising a water-insoluble substantially non-swelling matrix of a thermoplastic co-polyester polymer bearing uniformly dispersed particulate, water-insoluble, water-swellable organic polymer absorbent, wherein said co-polyester is a polymeric ester of at least two different ester units, each ester unit being a condensation product of a dicarboxylic acid and an aliphatic diol, said ester units being represented by the formulas: ##STR7## wherein X and X' are nuclei of dicarboxylic acids and Y and Y' are nuclei of aliphatic diols, and wherein the co-polyester polymer possesses a thermal softening temperature below about 225° C., said product having been manufactured using a hot melt and in the absence of water.

Claim 4

A flexible non-disintegrative absorbent product which is capable of absorbing and retaining water, comprising a water-insoluble substantially non-swelling matrix of a thermoplastic co-polyester polymer bearing uniformly dispersed particulate, water-insoluble, water-swellable organic polymer absorbent, wherein said co-polyester is a polymeric ester of at least two different ester units, each ester unit being a condensation product of a dicarboxylic acid and an aliphatic diol, said ester units being represented by the formulas: ##STR7## wherein X and X' are nuclei of dicarboxylic acids and Y and Y' are nuclei of aliphatic diols, and wherein the co-polyester polymer possesses a thermal softening temperature below about 225° C., said product having been manufactured using a hot melt and in the absence of water.

Claim 5

A product according to claim 1 in which the absorbent has a particle size of from about 1 micron to about 2×10 microns in diameter and comprises from about 5 to about 200 parts per 100 parts by weight of matrix polymer.

Claim 6

A product according to claim 1 in which the matrix is in the form of a film or sheet.

Claim 7

A product according to claim 1 in which the matrix is in the form of a monofilament or rope.

Claim 8

A product according to claim 1 in which the polymer absorbent is a synthetic acrylate polymer or a modified polysaccharide.

Claim 9

A thin absorbent article comprising an absorbent product of claim 1 faced with a liquid permeable sheet.

Claim 10

An article according to claim 7 in which the absorbent product in addition is backed with a liquid impermeable sheet.

Claim 11

A tampon comprising an absorbent product of claim 2, said product being in the form of an elongated cylinder.