Effect of Synthetic Fibers on the Absorption Properties of Pads

Abstract

Absorption and retention capacity of a mixture of wood pulp, superabsorbent and synthetic fibers (polypropylene, polyamide and polyester), designed for production of the core for disposable pads, were studied. The measurement of absorbency was carried out in the broad range of component weight ratios in a solution NaCl at different lengths of time both with and without pressure. The insertion of the synthetic fibers into the mixture of wood pulp and superabsorbent influences on the physical structure of this assembly which in turn causes the initial rate of absorption to rise. Absorptive and retention capacity of the structures is influenced by the type of synthetic fiber: in the presence of polypropylene no change was detected; the presence of polyester and polyamide fibers caused an increase in absorption ability of the composite structure. The behavior of the components for the absorbing layer: cellulose, synthetic fibers and superabsorbent was found to be independent, i.e. they do not influence the absorption of liquid of one another in these tests. The content of the mixture with definite properties may be predicted according to the properties of its components.