DESCRIPTION

Title of Invention

Absorbent Article

Technical Field

[0001]

The present disclosure relates to an absorbent article .

Background Art

[0002]

As the basic performance of absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins and panty liners has continued to improve with technological development over many years, leakage after absorption of excreta such as menstrual blood has become a less frequent occurrence than in the past. Recent developments are now directed towards absorbent articles with even higher performance,

including a feel similar to underwear, smoothness of the top sheet even after absorption of excreta such as menstrual blood, lack of sticky feel even after highly viscous menstrual blood has been absorbed, and smoothness of the top sheet. There is also a development for the wearer to obtain confidence with the absorbent article, and to allow visual confirmation that the absorbent article has completely absorbed menstrual blood when the absorbent article is replaced, for example.

[0003]

PTL 1, for example, describes an absorbent article that includes cellulose-based hydrophilic fiber

comprising one or more different surfactants selected from the group consisting of sugar alkyl ethers and sugar fatty acid esters, at locations other than the skin contact surface.

Also, PTL 2 discloses an absorbent article having a polypropyleneglycol material-containing lotion composition situated on the inner surface of the top sheet (the clothing side surface) , the inner surface of the back sheet (the body side surface) , and on the base material between the inner surface of the top sheet and the inner surface of the back sheet.

PTL 3 discloses an absorbent article wherein a polypropyleneglycol material-containing lotion

composition is applied on the outer surface of the top sheet (body side surface).

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0004]

PTL 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008- 029830

PTL 2 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010- 518918

PTL 3 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011- 510801

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

[0005]

According to PTL 1, however, the inventors have noted that it is attempted to use a "surfactant" to alter the viscosity and surface tension of highly viscous menstrual blood and increase the liquid absorption rate, but the effect is might not be adequate, and it might not be possible to obtain a smooth feel on the top sheet without a sticky feel, after highly viscous menstrual blood has been absorbed. Also, as described in PTL 1, the action of the surfactant tends to cause the menstrual blood to spread throughout the top sheet, and therefore the surface of the top sheet tends to become reddened after absorption of menstrual blood. The absorbent article described in PTL 1 therefore might not be

suitable for the wearer to visually confirm that menstrual blood has been absorbed.

[0006]

When the present inventors confirmed the effects of PTLs 2 and 3, it was found that the polypropylene glycol material has different absorbing power depending on its molecular weight, and that with low-molecular-weight polypropylene glycol materials, a sticky feel remains and blood redness tends to remain on the top sheet after absorption of blood. The absorbent articles described in PTLs 2 and 3 are therefore not designed for the wearer to visually confirm that menstrual blood has been absorbed.

[0007]

It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide an absorbent article that allows the wearer to have a feeling of assurance during replacement of the absorbent article, by visual confirmation that the absorbent article has absorbed menstrual blood and that the menstrual blood is held inside the absorbent body. Solution to Problem

[0008]

The present inventors have found an absorbent article having a liquid-permeable top sheet, an absorbent body, a liquid-impermeable back sheet and a second sheet between the top sheet and absorbent body, the absorbent article having the features that, in a liquid dropping test, [1] the liquid residue rate of the top sheet and second sheet is no greater than 3.0 mass%, and [2] the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet is shorter than the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the clothing side surface of the absorbent body.

Effect of the Invention

[0009]

The absorbent article of the disclosure allows the wearer to have a feeling of assurance during replacement of the absorbent article, by visual confirmation that the absorbent article has absorbed menstrual blood and that the menstrual blood is held inside the absorbent body.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0010]

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the sanitary napkin of Example 2, showing the region of the top sheet containing the blood modifying agent.

Fig. 2 is an electron micrograph of the skin contact surface of a top sheet in a sanitary napkin wherein the top sheet comprises tri-C2L oil fatty acid glycerides.

Figs. 3(a) and 3(b) are a pair of photomicrographs of menstrual blood (3a) containing and (3b) not

containing a blood modifying agent.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method of

measuring surface tension. Description of Embodiments

[0011]

The absorbent article of the present disclosure will now be explained in detail.

[Absorbent article]

The absorbent article of the present disclosure has the following properties in a liquid dropping test.

[1] The liquid residue rate of the top sheet and the second sheet is no greater than about 3.0 mass%.

[2] The fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet is shorter than the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the clothing side surface of the absorbent body.

[0012]

Upon much research, the present inventors have found that a smaller degree of redness due to menstrual blood remaining on the surface of the top sheet (a lower liquid residue rate) during napkin replacement, and a shorter diffusion length of menstrual blood spreading through (on) the skin contact surface of the top sheet compared to the diffusion length of menstrual blood spreading through (on) the clothing side surface of the back sheet, tends to provide a greater degree of awareness of the performance of the absorbent article and a feeling of assurance in regard to the absorbent article.

That is, psychologically speaking, the wearer associates a lower liquid residue rate of menstrual blood on the skin contact surface of the top sheet and a shorter diffusion length of menstrual blood on the skin contact surface of the top sheet compared to the

diffusion length of menstrual blood spreading through

(on) the clothing side surface of the back sheet, with a higher quality product that provides greater separation of excreted menstrual blood from the skin and less load on the skin.

[0013]

As used herein, the "liquid dropping test" is conducted in the following manner.

(1) A pipette with a tip inner diameter of 1.2 mm is fixed at a position so that the tip of the pipette is located at the center and at a 10 mm height from the absorbent article.

(2) A 1.0 g portion of horse EDTA blood at 37±1°C is filled into the pipette (total absorbed horse EDTA blood mass by the absorbent article (g) ) .

(3) The masses of the top sheet, second sheet and absorbent body are measured beforehand, and an absorbent article formed by stacking the absorbent body, second sheet and top sheet in that order and anchoring them with a clip or the like is set so that the center of the absorbent article is directly under the pipette. A back sheet may also be placed under the absorbent body.

(4) The horse EDTA blood is dropped from the pipette at a rate of 100 g/min.

[0014]

For the liquid residue rate, step (4) is followed by the following procedure.

(5) At 1 minute after dropping, the materials (i.e., top sheet, second sheet and absorbent body) are

separated, the mass of each material is measured, and the liquid residue rate is calculated by the following formula :

Liquid residue rate (%)

= 100 x (material mass after test (g) - initial material mass (g))/ total absorbed horse EDTA blood mass by the absorbent article (g)

The measurement is conducted 5 times, and the average value is recorded.

For the fluid diffusion length, step (4) is followed by the following procedure.

[0015]

(5') At 1 minute after dropping, a ruler is used to measure the diffusion lengths of menstrual blood on the skin contact surface of the top sheet and the clothing side surface of the absorbent body, in both the

longitudinal direction of the absorbent article and the width direction which is perpendicular to the

longitudinal direction.

(6) The measurement is conducted 5 times, and the average value is recorded.

As used herein, "skin contact surface of the top sheet" means the surface of the top sheet which contacts with the skin of the wearer, and "clothing side surface of the absorbent body" means the surface on the clothing side of the absorbent body, i.e. the surface on the back sheet side.

The test is conducted in a thermostatic chamber at 20°C.

[0016]

The center of the absorbent article is the center in both the longitudinal direction and the width direction.

Horse EDTA blood is horse blood to which

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid has been added to prevent coagulation .

[0017]

The liquid residue rate of each of the top sheet and the second sheet is no greater than about 3.0 mass%, preferably no greater than about 2.5 mass%, more

preferably no greater than about 2.0 mass%, even more preferably no greater than about 1.5 mass%, and most preferably no greater than about 1.2 mass%.

For example, a low liquid residue rate of the top sheet means that very little blood is present in the top sheet and most of the blood migrates to the second sheet and/or absorbent body, while a low liquid residue rate of each of the top sheet and second sheet means that very little blood remains in the top sheet and second sheet and most of the blood migrates to the absorbent body.

[0018]

When the liquid residue rate of each of the top sheet and second sheet is within the aforementioned range in the absorbent article of the present disclosure, back flow of menstrual blood can be reduced, stickiness can be eliminated and a smooth feel can be obtained, even when body pressure has been applied during wearing.

Furthermore, since virtually no menstrual blood remains on the skin contact surface of the top sheet, it is possible to provide the wearer with a feeling of

assurance during replacement of the used absorbent article.

[0019]

The fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet is more preferably no greater than about 90%, even more preferably no greater than about 80%, yet more preferably no greater than about 70% and most preferably no greater than about 60% of the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the clothing side surface of the absorbent body.

If the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article of the present

disclosure is within this range, the wearer will be able to confirm that absorbed menstrual blood has reached and is held in a section distant from the skin, i.e. in the absorbent body, and can thus be provided with a feeling of assurance.

[0020]

For the same reason, the fluid diffusion length in the width direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet is preferably shorter than the fluid diffusion length in the width direction of the absorbent article on the clothing side surface of the absorbent body, the fluid diffusion length in the width direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet being more preferably no greater than about 90%, even more preferably no greater than about 80%, yet more preferably no greater than about 70% and most preferably no greater than about 60%, than on the clothing side surface of the absorbent body.

[0021]

When the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article is to be measured in step (5') described above, the fluid diffusion length may be measured in the following manner.

(1) A mark is made at the edge nearest the front end (foremost edge) and at the edge nearest the rear end

(rearmost edge) , within the region in which the horse EDTA blood has diffused.

(2) The length between the foremost edge and the rearmost edge in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article is measured.

The length between the two edges in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article is measured regardless of whether the horse EDTA blood-diffused region is a single region or consists of multiple regions.

[0022 ]

When the fluid diffusion length in the width

direction of the absorbent article is to be measured in step (5 ¹ ) described above, the fluid diffusion length may be measured in the following manner.

(1) A mark is made at the edge nearest the right side (rightmost edge) and at the edge nearest the left side (leftmost edge) , within the region in which the horse EDTA blood has diffused.

(2) The length between the rightmost edge and the leftmost edge in the width direction of the absorbent article is measured.

The length between the two edges in the width direction of the absorbent article is measured regardless of whether the horse EDTA blood-diffused region is a single region or multiple regions.

[0023]

As one means for obtaining an absorbent article with the prescribed liquid residue rate and the prescribed fluid diffusion length, the top sheet and the second sheet may include a blood modifying agent having an IOB of about 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than about 45°C, a water solubility of about 0.00-0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C, and a weight-average molecular weight of less than about 1,000. The blood modifying agent will now be explained in detail.

[0024]

[Blood modifying agent]

The IOB (Inorganic Organic Balance) is an indicator of the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, and as used herein, it is the value calculated by the following formula by Oda et al.:

IOB = inorganic value/organic value.

[0025]

The inorganic value and the organic value are based on the organic paradigm described in "Organic compound predictions and organic paradigms" by Fujita A., Kagaku no Ryoiki (Journal of Japanese Chemistry), Vol.11, No.10 (1957) p.719-725 which is incorporated by reference herein.

The organic values and inorganic values of major groups, according to Fujita, are summarized in Table 1 below.

[0026]

Table 1

[0027]

For example, in the case of an ester of

tetradecanoic acid which has 14 carbon atoms and dodecyl alcohol which has 12 carbon atoms, the organic value is

520 (CH ₂ , 20 x 26) and the inorganic value is 60 (-COOR, 60 x 1), and therefore IOB = 0.12.

[0028]

In the blood modifying agent, the IOB is about 0.00- 0.60, preferably about 0-0.50, more preferably about 0-

0.40 and even more preferably about 0.00-0.30. This is because a lower IOB is associated with higher organicity and higher affinity with blood cells.

[0029] As used herein, the term "melting point" refers to the peak top temperature for the endothermic peak during conversion from solid to liquid, upon measurement with a differential scanning calorimetry analyzer at a

temperature-elevating rate of 10°C/min. The melting point may be measured using a Model DSC-60 DSC measuring apparatus by Shimadzu Corp., for example.

[0030]

If the blood modifying agent has a melting point of no higher than about 45°C, it may be either liquid or solid at room temperature, or in other words, the melting point may be either about 25°C or higher or below about 25°C, and for example, it may have a melting point of about -5°C or about -20°C. The reason for a melting point of no higher than about 45°C for the blood modifying agent will be explained below.

[0031]

The blood modifying agent does not have a lower limit for the melting point, but the vapor pressure is preferably low. The vapor pressure of the blood

modifying agent is preferably about 0-200 Pa, more preferably about 0-100 Pa, even more preferably about 0- 10 Pa, even more preferably about 0-1 Pa, and even more preferably about 0.0-0.1 Pa at 25°C (1 atmosphere).

Considering that the absorbent article of this disclosure is to be used in contact with the human body, the vapor pressure is preferably about 0-700 Pa, more preferably about 0-100 Pa, even more preferably about 0- 10 Pa, even more preferably about 0-1 Pa, and even more preferably 0.0-0.1 Pa, at 40°C (1 atmosphere). If the vapor pressure is high, gasification may occur during storage and the amount of blood modifying agent may be reduced, and as a consequence problems, such as odor during wear, may be created.

[0032]

The melting point of the blood modifying agent may also differ depending on the weather or duration of wear. For example, in regions with a mean atmospheric

temperature of no higher than about 10°C, using a blood modifying agent with a melting point of no higher than about 10°C may allow the blood modifying agent to stably modify blood after excretion of menstrual blood, even if it has been cooled by the ambient temperature.

Also, as the absorbent article may be used for a prolonged period of time, the melting point of the blood modifying agent is preferably at the high end of the range of no higher than about 45°C. In such a case the blood modifying agent is not easily affected by sweat or friction during wearing, and will not easily migrate even during prolonged wearing.

[0033]

The water solubility of 0.00-0.05 g may be measured by adding 0.05 g of sample to 100 g of deionized water at 25°C, allowing it to stand for 24 hours, and gently stirring if necessary, and then visually evaluating whether or not the sample has dissolved.

As used herein, the term "solubility" in regard to water solubility includes cases where the sample

completely dissolves in deionized water to form a

homogeneous mixture, and cases where the sample is completely emulsified. As used herein, "completely" means that no mass of the sample remains in the deionized water .

[0034]

When top sheet surfaces are coated with surfactants in order to alter the surface tension of blood and promote rapid absorption of blood, because surfactants generally have high water solubility, the surfactant- coated top sheet is highly miscible with hydrophilic components (such as blood plasma) in the blood and therefore, instead, they tend to cause residue of blood on the top sheet. The aforementioned blood modifying agent has low water solubility and, therefore, it does not cause residue of blood on the top sheet and allows rapid migration into the absorbent body.

[0035]

As used herein, a water solubility in 100 g of water at 25°C may be simply referred to as "water solubility".

The blood modifying agent may have a water

solubility of approximately 0.00 g. Therefore, the lower limit for the water solubility in the blood modifying agent is approximately 0.00 g.

[0036]

The blood modifying agent has a weight-average molecular weight of less than about 1,000 and preferably a weight-average molecular weight of less than about 900. This is because, if the weight-average molecular weight is about 1,000 or greater, tack may result in the blood modifying agent itself, tending to create a feeling of unpleasantness for the wearer. Also, a high weight- average molecular weight will tend to result in high viscosity of the blood modifying agent, and it will be difficult to lower the viscosity of the blood modifying agent by heating, to a viscosity suitable for coating. As a result, it will sometimes be necessary to dilute the blood modifying agent with a solvent.

[0037]

The blood modifying agent preferably has a weight- average molecular weight of about 100 or greater, and more preferably it has a weight-average molecular weight of about 200 or greater. This is because if the weight- average molecular weight is low, the vapor pressure may be increased, gasification may occur during storage and the amount of blood modifying agent may be reduced, and may create problems such as, odor during wear.

[0038]

As used herein, "weight-average molecular weight" includes the concept of a polydisperse compound (for example, a compound produced by stepwise polymerization, an ester formed from a plurality of fatty acids and a plurality of aliphatic monohydric alcohols) , and a simple compound (for example, an ester formed from one fatty acid and one aliphatic monohydric alcohol) , and in a system comprising i molecules with molecular weight Mi (i

= 1, or i = 1, 2 . . . ), it refers to M _w determined by the following formula.

[0039]

As used herein, the weight-average molecular weights are the values measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) , based on polystyrene.

The GPC measuring conditions may be the following, for example.

Device: Lachrom Elite high-speed liquid chromatogram by Hitachi High-Technologies Corp.

Columns: SHODEX KF-801, KF-803 and KF-804, by Showa Denko K.K.

Eluent: THF

Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min

Driving volume: 100 μΐί

Detection: RI (differential refractomete )

The weight-average molecular weights listed in the examples of the present specification were measured under the conditions described below.

[0040]

Preferably, the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (i)-(iii), and any combination thereof:

(i) a hydrocarbon;

(ii) a compound having (ii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii-2) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (-CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety; and

(iii) a compound having (iii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii-2) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (- CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii-3) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group

consisting of carboxyl group (-COOH) and hydroxyl group

(-0H) substituting a hydrogen of the hydrocarbon moiety.

[0041]

As used herein, "hydrocarbon" refers to a compound composed of carbon and hydrogen, and it may be a chain hydrocarbon, such as a paraffinic hydrocarbon (containing no double bond or triple bond, also referred to as alkane) , an olefin-based hydrocarbon (containing one double bond, also referred to as alkene) , an acetylene- based hydrocarbon (containing one triple bond, also referred to as alkyne) , or a hydrocarbon comprising two or more bonds selected from the group consisting of double bonds and triple bonds, and cyclic hydrocarbon, such as aromatic hydrocarbons and alicyclxc hydrocarbons.

[0042]

Preferred as such hydrocarbons are chain

hydrocarbons and alicyclic hydrocarbons, with chain hydrocarbons being more preferred, paraffinic

hydrocarbons, olefin-based hydrocarbons and hydrocarbons with two or more double bonds (containing no triple bond) being more preferred, and paraffinic hydrocarbons being even more preferred.

Chain hydrocarbons include linear hydrocarbons and branched hydrocarbons.

[0043]

When two or more oxy groups (-0-) are inserted in the compounds of (ii) and (iii) above, the oxy groups (- 0-) are not adjacent to each other. Thus, compounds (ii) and (iii) do not include compounds with continuous oxy groups (i.e., peroxides).

[0044]

In the compounds of (iii), compounds in which at least one hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety is substituted with a hydroxyl group (-OH) are more

preferred than compounds in which at least one hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety is substituted with a carboxyl group (-COOH) . As shown in Table 1, the carboxyl groups bond with metals and the like in menstrual blood, drastically increasing the inorganic value from 150 to 400 or greater, and therefore a blood modifying agent with carboxyl groups can increase the IOB value to more than about 0.60 during use, potentially lowering the affinity with blood cells.

[0045]

More preferably, the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (i')-(iii') _/ and any combination thereof:

(i') a hydrocarbon;

(ii ¹ ) a compound having (ii'-l) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii'-2) one or more, same or different bonds selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO- ), ester bond (-COO-) , carbonate bond (-OCOO-), and ether bond (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety; and

(iii ¹ ) a compound having (iii'-l) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii '-2) one or more, same or different bonds selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO- ), ester bond (-C00-), carbonate bond (-OCOO-) , and ether bond (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii' -3) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (-COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH)

substituting a hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety.

[0046]

When 2 or more same or different bonds are inserted in the compound of (ii ¹ ) or (iii'), i.e., when 2 or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bonds (-CO-), ester bonds (-C00-) , carbonate bonds (-

0C00-) and ether bonds (-0-) are inserted, the bonds are not adjacent to each other, and at least one carbon atom lies between each of the bonds.

[0047]

Even more preferably, the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (A) -(F), and any combination thereof:

(A) an ester of (Al) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(B) an ether of (Bl) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and, (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(C) an ester of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain

hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (C2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(D) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of an ether bond (-0-) , carbonyl bond (-CO-) , ester bond (-COO-) and carbonate bond (-OCOO-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(E) a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol, or alkyl ester or alkyl ether thereof; and

(F) a chain hydrocarbon.

The blood modifying agent in accordance with (A) to (F) will now be described in detail.

[0048]

[(A) Ester of (Al) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group

substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety] In the (A) ester of (Al) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (A)"), it is not necessary for all of the hydroxyl groups to be esterified so long as the IOB, melting point and water solubility are within the aforementioned ranges.

[0049]

Examples of (Al) a compound having a chain

hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (Al)") include chain hydrocarbon tetraols, such as alkanetetraols, including

pentaerythritol, chain hydrocarbon triols, such as alkanetriols, including glycerins, and chain hydrocarbon diols such as alkanediols , including glycols.

[0050]

Examples of (A2) a compound having a chain

hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety include

compounds in which one hydrogen on the hydrocarbon is substituted with one carboxyl group (-C00H) , such as fatty acids.

Examples for compound (A) include (ai) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid,

(a2) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid, and (a ₃ ) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid.

[0051]

[ (ai) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid]

Examples of an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid include tetraesters of pentaerythritol and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (1) :

triesters of pentaerythritol and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (2) :

diesters of pentaerythritol and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (3) :

and monoesters of pentaerythritol and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (4) .

In the formulas, R ¹ -R ⁴ each represent a chain

hydrocarbon .

[0052]

The fatty acids composing the esters of

pentaerythritol and fatty acids (F^COOH, R ² COOH, R ³ COOH, and R ⁴ COOH) are not particularly restricted so long as the pentaerythritol and fatty acid esters satisfy the conditions for the IOB, melting point and water

solubility, and for example, there may be mentioned saturated fatty acids, such as a C ₂ -C30 saturated fatty acids, including acetic acid (C ₂ ) (C ₂ representing the number of carbons, corresponding to the number of carbons of each of R ¹ C, R ² C, R ³ C or RC, same hereunder) , propanoic acid (C ₃ ) , butanoic acid (C ₄ ) and its isomers such as 2- methylpropanoic acid (C ₄ ) , pentanoic acid (C ₅ ) and its isomers such as 2-methylbutanoic acid (C ₅ ) and 2,2- dimethylpropanoic acid (C ₅ ) , hexanoic acid (C ₆ ) , heptanoic acid (C ₇ ) , octanoic acid (C ₈ ) and its isomers, such as 2- ethylhexanoic acid (C ₈ ) , nonanoic acid (C ₉ ) , decanoic acid

(Cio) , dodecanoic acid (Ci ₂ ) , tetradecanoic acid (C3 _. 4) , hexadecanoic acid (Ci ₆ ) , heptadecanoic acid (Ci ₇ ) ,

octadecanoic acid (Ci ₈ ) , eicosanoic acid (C ₂₀ ) , docosanoic acid (C ₂₂ ) I tetracosanoic acid (C ₂₄ ) , hexacosanoic acid

(C ₂₆ ) , octacosanoic acid (C ₂ 8) and triacontanoic acid

(C30) , as well as isomers of the foregoing (excluding those mentioned above) .

[0053]

The fatty acid may also be an unsaturated fatty acid. Examples of unsaturated fatty acids include C ₃ -C ₂ o unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated fatty acids including crotonic acid (C ₄ ) , myristoleic acid (C14) , palmitoleic acid (Ci ₆ ) , oleic acid (Ci ₈ ) , elaidic acid (Cis) , vaccenic acid (Ci ₈ ) , gadoleic acid (C ₂ o) and eicosenoic acid (C ₂ o) , di-unsaturated fatty acids

including linolic acid (Ci ₈ ) and eicosadienoic acid (C ₂ o) , tri-unsaturated fatty acids including linolenic acids, such as a-linolenic acid (Ci ₈ ) and γ-linolenic acid (Ci ₈ ) , pinolenic acid (Ci ₈ ) , eleostearic acids, such as oc- eleostearic acid (Ci ₈ ) and β-eleostearic acid (Ci ₈ ) , Mead acid (C ₂ o) , dihomo-y-linolenic acid (C ₂ o) and

eicosatrienoic acid (C ₂₀ ) , tetra-unsaturated fatty acids including stearidonic acid (C ₂₀ ) , arachidonic acid (C ₂ o) and eicosatetraenoic acid (C ₂₀ ) , penta-unsaturated fatty acids including bosseopentaenoic acid (Ci ₈ ) and

eicosapentaenoic acid (C20) , and partial hydrogen adducts of the foregoing.

[0054]

Considering the potential for degradation by

oxidation and the like, the ester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid is preferably an ester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid, which is derived from a saturated fatty acid, i.e., an ester of pentaerythritol and a saturated fatty acid.

Also, in order to lower the IOB and result in greater hydrophobicity, the ester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid is preferably a diester, triester or

tetraester, more preferably a triester or tetraester, and even more preferably a tetraester.

[0055]

In a tetraester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid, the IOB is 0.60 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the tetraester of the

pentaerythritol and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R ¹ C, R ² C, R ³ C and R ⁴ C portions in formula (1), is 15. Thus, when the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the tetraester of the

pentaerythritol and fatty acid is approximately 15 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

Examples of tetraesters of pentaerythritol and fatty acids include tetraesters of pentaerythritol with

hexanoic acid (C ₆ ) , heptanoic acid (C ₇ ) , octanoic acid (Cs) , such as 2-ethylhexanoic acid (Cs) , nonanoic acid

(Cg) , decanoic acid (C10) and/or dodecanoic acid (Ci ₂ ) .

[0056]

In a triester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid, the IOB is 0.58 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the triester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R^, R ² C and R ³ C portions in formula (2), is 19. Thus, when the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the triester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid is approximately 19 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

[0057]

In a diester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid, the IOB is 0.59 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the diester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the RC or R ² C portion in formula (3), is 22. Thus, when the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the diester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid is

approximately 22 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

[0058]

In a monoester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid, the IOB is 0.60 if the number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the monoester of the pentaerythritol and fatty acid, i.e., the number of carbons of the R ¹ C portion in formula (4), is 25. Thus, when the number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the monoester of the

pentaerythritol and fatty acid is approximately 25 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

The effects of double bonds, triple bonds, iso- branches and tert-branches are not considered in this calculation.

[0059]

Commercial products which are esters of

pentaerythritol and fatty acids include U ISTAR H-408BRS and H-2408BRS-22 (mixed product) (both products of NOF Corp. ) .

[0060]

[ (a2) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid]

Examples of an ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid include triesters of glycerin and fatty acids, represented by formula (5) :

CH ₂ OOCR ⁵

CHOOCR ⁶ (5)

I

CH ₂ OOCR ⁷

diesters of glycerin and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (6):

CH OOCR ⁵ CH _? OOCR ⁵

I I

CHOH or CHOOCR ⁶ (6)

I I CH ₂ OOCR ⁶ CH ₂ OH

and monoesters of glycerin and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (7):

CH ₂ OOCR ⁵ CH ₂ OH

I I

CHOH or CHOOCR ⁵ (7)

I I CH ₂ OH CH ₂ OH wherein R ⁵ -R ⁷ each represent a chain hydrocarbon.

[0061]

The fatty acid composing the ester of glycerin and a fatty acid (R ⁵ COOH, R ⁶ COOH and R ⁷ COOH) is not particularly restricted so long as the ester of glycerin and a fatty acid satisfies the conditions for the IOB, melting point and water solubility, and for example, there may be mentioned the fatty acids mentioned for the " (ai) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acids", namely saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, and in consideration of the potential for degradation by oxidation and the like, the ester is preferably a glycerin and fatty acid ester, which is derived from a saturated fatty acid, i.e., an ester of glycerin and a saturated fatty acid.

Also, in order to lower the IOB and result in greater hydrophobicity, the ester of glycerin and a fatty acid is preferably a diester or triester, and more preferably a triester. [0062]

A triester of glycerin and a fatty acid is also known as a triglyceride, and examples include triesters of glycerin and octanoic acid (C ₈ ) _/ triesters of glycerin and decanoic acid (Cio) , triesters of glyceri and

dodecanoic acid (Ci ₂ ) , triesters of glycerin and 2 or more different fatty acids, and mixtures of the foregoing.

[0063]

Examples of triesters of glycerin and 2 or more fatty acids include triesters of glycerin with octanoic acid (C ₈ ) and decanoic acid (Cio) , triesters of glycerin with octanoic acid (C ₈ ) , decanoic acid (Cio) and

dodecanoic acid (C12) , and triesters of glycerin with octanoic acid (C ₈ ) , decanoic acid (Ci ₀ ) , dodecanoic acid (C12) , tetradecanoic acid (C14) , hexadecanoic acid (Ci6) and octadecanoic acid (Ci ₈ ) .

[0064]

In order to obtain a melting point of no higher than about 45°C, preferred triesters of glycerin and fatty acids are those with no more than about 40 as the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the

triester of glycerin and the fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R ⁵ C, R ⁶ C and R ⁷ C sections in formula (5) .

[0065]

In a triester of glycerin and a fatty acid, the IOB value is 0.60 when the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the triester of glycerin and the fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R ⁵ C, R ⁶ C and R ⁷ C portions in formula (5), is 12. Thus, when the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the triester of the glycerin and fatty acid is

approximately 12 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

Triesters of glycerin and fatty acids, being

aliphatic and therefore potential constituent components of the human body are preferred from the viewpoint of safety.

[0066]

Commercial products of triesters of glycerin and fatty acids include tri-coconut fatty acid glycerides, NA36, PANACET 800, PANACET 800B and PANACET 810S, and tri-C2L oil fatty acid glycerides and tri-CL oil fatty acid glycerides (all products of NOF Corp.).

[0067]

A diester of glycerin and a fatty acid is also known as a diglyceride, and examples include diesters of glycerin and decanoic acid (Ci ₀ ) , diesters of glycerin and dodecanoic acid (C12) , diesters of glycerin and

hexadecanoic acid (C ₁₆ ) , diesters of glycerin and 2 or more different fatty acids, and mixtures of the

foregoing.

In a diester of glycerin and a fatty acid, the IOB is 0.58 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the diester of the glycerin and fatty acid, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R ⁵ C and R ⁶ C portions in formula (6), is 16. Thus, when the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the diester of the glycerin and fatty acid is approximately 16 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being about

0.00 to 0.60.

[0068]

Monoesters of glycerin and fatty acids are also known as monoglycerides, and examples include glycerin and eicosanoic acid (C20) monoester and glycerin and docosanoic acid (C22) monoester.

In a monoester of glycerin and a fatty acid, the IOB is 0.59 if the total number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the monoester of the glycerin and fatty acid,

1. e., the number of carbons of the R ⁵ C portion in formula (7), is 19. Thus, when the number of carbons of the fatty acid composing the monoester of the glycerin and fatty acid is approximately 19 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being about 0.00 to 0.60. [0069]

[ (a ₃ ) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid]

Examples of an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid include monoesters and diesters of fatty acids with C2-C6 chain hydrocarbon diols, such as C ₂ -C6 glycols, including ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol and hexylene glycol .

[0070]

Specifically, examples of an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diols and at least one fatty acids include diesters of C ₂ -C ₆ glycols and fatty acids, represented by the following formula (8) :

R ⁸ COOC _k H _2k OCOR ⁹ (8)

wherein k represents an integer of 2-6, and R ⁸ and R ⁹ each represent a chain hydrocarbon,

and monoesters of C2~C ₆ glycols and fatty acids,

represented by the following formula (9) :

R ⁸ COOC _k H _2k OH (9)

wherein k represents an integer of 2-6, and R ⁸ is a chain hydrocarbon.

[0071]

The fatty acid to be esterified in an ester of a C ₂ - C ₆ glycol and a fatty acid (corresponding to R ⁸ COOH and

R ⁹ COOH in formula (8) and formula (9)) is not particularly restricted so long as the ester of the C ₂ -C6 glycol and fatty acid satisfies the conditions for the IOB, melting point and water solubility, and for example, there may be mentioned the fatty acids mentioned for the "(ai) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acids", namely saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, and in consideration of the potential for degradation by oxidation and the like, it is preferably a saturated fatty acid.

[0072]

In a diester of butylene glycol (k = 4) and a fatty acid represented by formula (8), IOB is 0.60 when the total number of carbons of the R ⁸ C and R ⁹ C portions is 6. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms in a diester of butylene glycol (k = 4) and a fatty acid represented by formula (8) is approximately 6 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being about 0.00-0.60. In a monoester of ethylene glycol (k = 2) and a fatty acid represented by formula (9), IOB is 0.57 when the total number of carbons of the R ⁸ C portion is 12. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms in the fatty acid composing a monoester of ethylene glycol (k = 2) and a fatty acid represented by formula (9) is approximately 12 or greater, the IOB satisfies the condition of being about 0.00-0.60.

[0073]

Considering the potential for degradation by

oxidation and the like, the ester of the C ₂ -C ₆ glycol and fatty acid is preferably a C ₂ -C ₆ glycol and fatty acid ester, which is derived from a saturated fatty acid, i.e., an ester of a C ₂ -C ₆ glycol and a saturated fatty acid.

[0074]

Also, in order to lower the IOB and result in greater hydrophobicity, the ester of the C ₂ -C ₆ glycol and fatty acid is preferably a glycol and fatty acid ester derived from a glycol with a greater number of carbons, such as an ester of a glycol and a fatty acid derived from butylene glycol, pentylene glycol or hexylene glycol .

Also, in order to lower the IOB and obtain in greater hydrophobicity, the ester of a C ₂ -C ₆ glycol and fatty acid is preferably a diester.

Examples of commercial products of esters of C ₂ -C ₆ glycols and fatty acids include COMPOL BL and COMPOL BS (both products of NOF Corp.).

[0075]

[(B) Ether of (Bl) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group

substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety] The (B) ether of (Bl) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (B)") includes ethers of a compound with 4, 3 or 2 hydroxyl groups and a compound with 1 hydroxyl group, and it is not necessary for all of the hydroxyl groups to be etherified as long as the IOB, melting point and water solubility are within the aforementioned ranges.

[0076]

Examples of (Bl) a compound having a chain

hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (Bl)") include those mentioned for "compound (A)" as compound (Al) , such as

pentaerythritol, glycerin and glycol.

Examples of (B2) a compound having a chain

hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (B2)") include compounds wherein 1 hydrogen on the hydrocarbon is substituted with 1 hydroxyl group (-OH) , such as aliphatic monohydric alcohols, including saturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols and unsaturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols.

[0077]

Examples of saturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols include Ci-C ₂ o saturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols, such as methyl alcohol (Ci) (Ci representing the number of carbon atoms, same hereunder) , ethyl alcohol (C ₂ ) , propyl alcohol (C ₃ ) , and isomers thereof, such as isopropyl alcohol (C ₃ ) , butyl alcohol (C ) , and isomers thereof, such as sec-butyl alcohol (C ₄ ) and tert-butyl alcohol (C ₄ ) , pentyl alcohol (C ₅ ) , hexyl alcohol (C ₆ ) , heptyl alcohol (C ₇ ) , octyl alcohol (C ₈ ) , and isomers thereof, such as 2-ethylhexyl alcohol (C ₈ ) , nonyl alcohol (Cg) , decyl alcohol (Cio) , dodecyl alcohol (Ci ₂ ) , tetradecyl alcohol (Ci ₄ ) , hexadecyl alcohol (Ci ₆ ) , heptadecyl alcohol (Ci ₇ ) , octadecyl alcohol (Ci ₈ ) and eicosyl alcohol (C ₂ o) as well as their isomers other than those mentioned.

[0078]

Unsaturated aliphatic monohydric alcohols include those wherein 1 C-C single bond of a saturated aliphatic monohydric alcohol mentioned above is replaced with a C=C double bond, such as oleyl alcohol, and for example, these are commercially available by New Japan Chemical Co., Ltd. as the RIKACOL Series and UNJECOL Series.

[0079]

Examples for compound (B) include (bi) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, such as monoethers, diethers, triethers and tetraethers, preferably diethers, triethers and tetraethers, more preferably triethers and

tetraethers and even more preferably tetraethers, (b ₂ ) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, such as monoethers, diethers and triethers, preferably diethers and triethers and more preferably triethers, and (b ₃ ) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one aliphatic

monohydric alcohol, such as monoethers and diethers, and preferably diethers.

[0080]

Examples of an ether of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol include tetraethers, triethers, diethers and monoethers of pentaerythritol and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, represented by the following formulas (10) -(13):

wherein R ¹⁰ -R ¹³ each represent a chain hydrocarbon.

[0081]

Examples of an ether of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol include triethers, diethers and monoethers of glycerin and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, represented by the following formulas (14) -(16):

CH ₂ OR ¹⁴

I

CHOR ¹⁵ (14)

I

CH ₂ OR ¹⁶

CH ₂ OR ¹⁴ CH ₂ OR ¹⁴

I I

CHOH or CHOR ¹⁵ (15)

I

CH ₂ OR ¹⁵ CH,OH

CH ₂ OR ¹⁴ CH ₂ OH

I

CHOH or CHOR ¹⁴ (16)

I

CH ₂ OH CH ₂ OH wherein R ¹⁴ R ¹⁶ each represent a chain hydrocarbon.

[0082]

Examples of an ether of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol include diethers of C ₂ -C ₆ glycols and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, represented by the following formula (17):

R ¹⁷ OC _n H _2n OR ¹⁸ (17)

wherein n is an integer of 2-6, and R and R are each a chain hydrocarbon,

and monoethers of C ₂ -C6 glycols and aliphatic monohydric alcohols, represented by the following formula (18):

R ¹⁷ OC _n H _2n OH (18)

wherein n is an integer of 2-6, and R ¹⁷ is a chain hydrocarbon .

[0083]

In the tetraether of pentaerythritol and an

aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.44 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the tetraether of pentaerythritol and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ , R ¹² and R ¹³ portions in formula (10), is 4. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol

composing a tetraether of pentaerythritol and an

aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 4 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

[0084]

In the triether of pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.57 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the triether of pentaerythritol and the

aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R ¹⁰ , R ¹¹ and R ¹² portions in formula (11), is 9. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing a triether of pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 9 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

[0085] In the diether of pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.60 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the diether of pentaerythritol and the

aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R ¹⁰ and R ¹¹ portions in formula (12), is 15. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing a diether of pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 15 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

[0086]

In the monoether of pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.59 when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol

composing the monoether of pentaerythritol and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the number of carbon atoms of the R ¹⁰ portion in formula (13), is 22. Thus, when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic

monohydric alcohol composing a monoether of

pentaerythritol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 22 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

[0087]

In the triether of glycerin and an aliphatic

monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.50 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the triether of glycerin and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R ¹⁴ , R ¹⁵ and R ¹⁶ portions in formula (14), is

3. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing a triether of glycerin and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is

approximately 3 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

[0088]

In the diether of glycerin and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.58 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the diether of glycerin and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the total number of carbon atoms of the R ¹⁴ and R ¹⁵ portions in formula (15), is 9.

Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing a diether of glycerin and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is

approximately 9 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

[0089]

In the monoether of glycerin and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.58 when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol

composing the monoether of glycerin and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., the number of carbon atoms of the R ¹⁴ portion in formula (16), is 16. Thus, when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing a monoether of glycerin and an

aliphatic monohydric alcohol is approximately 16 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

[0090]

In a diether of butylene glycol (n = 4) and

aliphatic monohydric alcohol represented by formula (17), the IOB is 0.33 when the total number of carbon atoms of the R ¹⁷ and R ¹⁸ portions is 2. Thus, when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol

composing a diether of butylene glycol (n = 4) and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol represented by formula (17) is approximately 2 or greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60. Also, in a monoether of ethylene glycol (n = 2) and aliphatic monohydric alcohol represented by formula (18), the IOB is 0.60 when the number of carbon atoms of the R ¹⁷ portion is 8. Thus, when the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol in a monoether of ethylene glycol (n = 2) and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol represented by formula (18) is approximately 8 or

greater, the IOB value satisfies the condition of being within about 0.00 to 0.60.

[0091]

Compound (B) may be produced by dehydrating

condensation of compound (Bl) and compound (B2) in the presence of an acid catalyst.

[0092]

[ (C) Ester of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (C2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group

substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety]

The (C) ester of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain

hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (C2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (C)") includes esters of a compound with 4, 3 or 2 carboxyl groups and a compound with 1 hydroxyl group, and it is not necessary for all of the carboxyl groups to be esterified so long as the IOB, melting point and water solubility are within the aforementioned ranges.

[0093]

Examples of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (CI)") include chain hydrocarbon carboxylic acids with 2-4 carboxyl groups, such as chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acids including alkanedicarboxylic acids, such as ethanedioic acid, propanedioic acid, butanedioic acid, pentanedioic acid, hexanedioic acid, heptanedioic acid, octanedioic acid, nonanedioic acid and decanedioic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acids, including alkanetricarboxylic acids, such as propanetrioic acid, butanetrioic acid, pentanetrioic acid, hexanetrioic acid, heptanetrioic acid, octanetrioic acid, nonanetrioic acid and decanetrioic acid, and chain hydrocarbon

tetracarboxylic acids, including alkanetetracarboxylic acids, such as butanetetraoic acid, pentanetetraoic acid, hexanetetraoic acid, heptanetetraoic acid, octanetetraoic acid, nonanetetraoic acid and decanetetraoic acid.

[0094]

Compound (CI) includes chain hydrocarbon hydroxy acids with 2-4 carboxyl groups, such as, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and isocitric acid, chain hydrocarbon alkoxy acids with 2-4 carboxyl groups, such as, O-acetylcitric acid, and chain hydrocarbon oxoacids with 2-4 carboxyl groups.

(C2) Compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and

1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety includes those mentioned for "compound

(B)", such as, aliphatic monohydric alcohols.

[0095]

Compound (C) may be (ci) an ester, for example a monoester, diester, triester or tetraester, preferably a diester, triester or tetraester, more preferably a triester or tetraester and even more preferably a

tetraester, of a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 4 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (C2) an ester, for example, a monoester, diester or triester, preferably a diester or triester and more preferably a triester, of a chain hydrocarbon

tricarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 3 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, or (c ₃ ) an ester, for example, a monoester or diester, and preferably a diester, of a chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 2 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol.

Examples for compound (C) include dioctyl adipate, diisostearyl malate, tributyl citrate and tributyl 0- acetylcitrate, of which commercially available products exist .

[0096]

[ (D) Compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of an ether bond (-0-), carbonyl bond (-CO-), ester bond (-C00-) and carbonate bond (-0C00-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety]

The (D) compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of an ether bond (-0-) , carbonyl bond (-CO-), ester bond (-C00-

) and carbonate bond (-0C00-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety (hereunder also referred to as "compound (D)") may be (di) an ether of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (da) a dialkyl ketone, (d3) an ester of a fatty acid and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, or (d ₄ ) a dialkyl carbonate.

[0097]

[ (di) Ether of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol]

Ethers of aliphatic monohydric alcohols and

aliphatic monohydric alcohols include compounds having the following formula (19) :

R ¹⁹ OR ²⁰ (19)

wherein R ¹⁹ and R ²⁰ each represent a chain

hydrocarbon.

[0098]

The aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the ether (corresponding to R ¹⁹ 0H and R ²⁰ OH in formula (19)) is not particularly restricted so long as the ether satisfies the conditions for the IOB, melting point and water solubility, and for example, it may be one of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols mentioned for "compound

(B)".

[0099]

In an ether of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.50 when the total number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols composing the ether, i.e., the total number of carbons of the R ¹⁹ and R ²⁰ portions in formula (19), is 2, and therefore when the total number of carbons of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols composing the ether is about 2 or greater, this condition for the IOB is

satisfied. However, when the total number of carbons of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols composing the ether is about 6, the water solubility is as high as about 2 g, which is problematic from the viewpoint of vapor pressure as well. In order to satisfy the condition of a water solubility of about 0.00-0.05 g, the total number of carbons of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols composing the ether is preferably about 8 or greater.

[0100]

[(d ₂ ) Dialkyl ketone]

The dialkyl ketone may be a compound of the

following formula (20) :

R ²¹ COR ²² (20)

wherein R ²¹ and R ²² are each an alkyl group.

[0101]

In a dialkyl ketone, the IOB is 0.54 when the total number of carbon atoms of R ²¹ and R ²² is 5, and therefore this condition for the IOB is satisfied if the total number of carbons is about 5 or greater. However, when the total number of carbons of dialkyl ketone is about 5, the water solubility is as high as about 2 g. Therefore, in order to satisfy the condition of a water solubility of about 0.00-0.05 g, the total number of carbons of dialkyl ketone is preferably about 8 or greater. In consideration of vapor pressure, the number of carbon atoms of dialkyl ketone is preferably about 10 or greater and more preferably about 12 or greater.

If the total number of carbon atoms of dialkyl ketone is about 8, such as in 5-nonanone, for example, the melting point is approximately -50°C and the vapor pressure is about 230 Pa at 20°C.

The dialkyl ketone may be a commercially available product, or it may be obtained by a known method, such as by oxidation of a secondary alcohol with chromic acid or the like.

[0102]

[ (d ₃ ) Ester of a fatty acid and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol]

Examples of esters of fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols include compounds having the

following formula (21) :

R ²³ COOR ²⁴ (21)

wherein R ²³ and R ²⁴ each represent a chain

hydrocarbon.

[0103]

Examples of fatty acids composing these esters

(corresponding to R ²³ COOH in formula (21) ) include the fatty acids mentioned for the " (ai) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraols and at least one fatty acids", and specifically these include saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, with saturated fatty acids being preferred in consideration of the potential for

degradation by oxidation and the like. The aliphatic monohydric alcohol composing the ester (corresponding to R ² OH in formula (21) ) may be one of the aliphatic monohydric alcohols mentioned for "compound (B)".

[0104]

In an ester of such a fatty acid and aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the IOB is 0.60 when the total number of carbon atoms of the fatty acid and aliphatic

monohydric alcohol, i.e. the total number of carbon atoms of the R ²³ C and R ²⁴ portions in formula (21), is 5, and therefore this condition for the IOB is satisfied when the total number of carbon atoms of the R ²³ C and R ²⁴ portions is about 5 or greater. However, with butyl acetate in which the total number of carbon atoms is 6, the vapor pressure is high at greater than 2,000 Pa. In consideration of vapor pressure, therefore, the total number of carbon atoms is preferably about 12 or greater. If the total number of carbon atoms is about 11 or greater, it will be possible to satisfy the condition of a water solubility of about 0.00-0.05 g.

[0105]

Examples of esters of such fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols include esters of dodecanoic acid

(Ci ₂ ) and dodecyl alcohol (C _i2 ) and esters of tetradecanoic acid (Ci ₄ ) and dodecyl alcohol (C12) , and examples of commercial products of esters of such fatty acids and aliphatic monohydric alcohols include ELECTOL WE20 and ELECTOL WE40 (both products of NOF Corp.).

[0106]

[ (d ₄ ) Dialkyl carbonate]

The dialkyl carbonate may be a compound of the following formula (22) :

R ²⁵ OC (=0) OR ²⁶ (22)

wherein R ²⁵ and R ²⁶ are each an alkyl group.

[0107]

In a dialkyl carbonate, the IOB is 0.57 when the total number of carbon atoms of R ²⁵ and R ²⁶ is 6, and therefore this condition for the IOB is satisfied if the total number of carbons of R ²⁵ and R ²⁶ is about 6 or greater .

In consideration of water solubility, the total number of carbon atoms of R ²⁵ and R ²⁶ is preferably about 7 or greater and more preferably about 9 or greater.

The dialkyl carbonate may be a commercially

available product, or it may be synthesized by reaction between phosgene and an alcohol, reaction between formic chloride and an alcohol or alcoholate, or reaction between silver carbonate and an alkyl iodide. [0108]

[ (E) Polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol, or alkyl ester or alkyl ether thereof]

The (E) polyoxy C3-C6 alkylene glycol, or alkyl ester or alkyl ether thereof (hereunder also referred to as

"compound (E)") may be (ei) a polyoxy C3-C6 alkylene glycol, (e ₂ ) an ester of a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol and at least one fatty acid, or (e ₃ ) an ether of a polyoxy C3-C6 alkylene glycol and at least one aliphatic

monohydric alcohol. These will now be explained.

[0109]

[ (ei) Polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol]

Polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycols refer to i) one or more homopolymers having a unit selected from the group consisting of oxy C3-6 alkylene units, such as,

oxypropylene unit, oxybutylene unit, oxypentylene unit and oxyhexylene unit and having hydroxyl groups at both ends, ii) one or more block copolymers having 2 or more units selected from oxy C ₃ _6 alkylene units, such as, oxypropylene unit, oxybutylene unit, oxypentylene unit and oxyhexylene unit and having hydroxyl groups at both ends, or iii) random copolymers having 2 or more units selected from oxy C ₃ _6 alkylene units, such as,

oxypropylene unit, oxybutylene unit, oxypentylene unit and oxyhexylene unit and having hydroxyl groups at both ends .

[0110]

The polyoxy C3-C6 alkylene glycol is represented by the following formula (23) :

H0-(C _m H _2m 0) _n -H (23)

wherein m is an integer of 3-6.

[0111]

In polyethylene glycol (corresponding to the

homopolymer of formula (23) where m = 2), when n > 45, the condition for IOB of about 0.00-0.60 is satisfied, but when n > 45, the weight-average molecular weight exceeds about 2,000. [0112]

Also, confirmation by the present inventors has indicated that for polypropylene glycol (corresponding t the homopolymer of formula (23) where m = 3) , an IOB of about 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than about

45°C and a water solubility of about 0.00-0.05 g in 100 of water at 25°C, are satisfied only when the weight- average molecular weight is about 1,000 or greater.

Thus, a polypropylene glycol homopolymer does not fall within the range of the aforementioned blood modifying agent .

Therefore, propylene glycol should be included in the (ei) polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol only as a copolyme or random polymer with another glycol.

[0113]

The value of n in formula (23) is a value such that the polyoxy C ₃ -C6 alkylene glycol has an IOB of about 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than about 45°C and a water solubility of about 0.00-0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C.

For example, when formula (23) is polybutylene glycol (homopolymer, m = 4), the IOB is 0.57 when n = 7. Thus, when formula (23) is polybutylene glycol

(homopolymer, m = 4), the condition for the IOB is satisfied when n is equal to or greater than about 7.

Examples of commercial products of polyoxy C3-C6 alkylene glycols include UNIOL™ PB-500 and PB-700 (all products of NOF Corp.).

[0114]

[ (e ₂ ) Ester of a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol and at least one fatty acid]

Examples of an ester of a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycols and at least one fatty acids include the polyoxy

C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycols mentioned for "(ei) polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol" in which one or both OH ends have been esterified with fatty acids, i.e., monoesters and diesters.

[0115]

Examples of fatty acids to be esterified in the ester of a polyoxy C3-C6 alkylene glycol and at least one fatty acid include the fatty acids mentioned for the " (ai)

Ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid", and specifically these include saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, with saturated fatty acids being preferred in consideration of the potential for degradation by oxidation and the like.

[0116]

[ (e3) Ether of a polyoxy C3-C6 alkylene glycol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol]

Examples of an ether of a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycols and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols include the polyoxy C3-C6 alkylene glycols mentioned for " (ei) Polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol" wherein one or both OH ends have been etherified by an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, i.e., monoethers and diethers.

In an ether of a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, the aliphatic monohydric alcohol to be etherified may be an aliphatic monohydric alcohol among those mentioned for "compound (B)".

[0117]

[ (F) Chain hydrocarbon]

The chain hydrocarbon has an inorganic value of 0 and thus an IOB of 0.00, while the water solubility is also approximately 0.00 g, and therefore if the melting point is no higher than about 45°C, it may be included among the aforementioned blood modifying agents.

Examples of such chain hydrocarbons include (fi) a chain alkane, such as linear alkanes and branched alkanes, and linear alkanes generally include those with no more than 22 carbons, in consideration of a melting point of no higher than about 45°C. In consideration of vapor

pressure, they generally include those with 13 or more carbons. Branched alkanes generally include those with 22 or more carbons, since their melting points are often lower than linear alkanes, given the same number of carbon atoms.

Examples of commercially available hydrocarbon products include PARLEAM 6 (NOF Corp.).

[0118]

The blood modifying agent has been found to have at least a function of lowering blood viscosity and surface tension, which will be considered in detail in the examples. Menstrual blood to be absorbed by the

absorbent article contains proteins of the endometrial wall, for example, unlike ordinary blood, which act to bind together blood cells, such that the blood cells form a rouleau state. The menstrual blood to be absorbed by the absorbent article therefore tends to have high viscosity, and if the top sheet is a nonwoven fabric or woven fabric, the menstrual blood becomes clogged between the fibers creating a residual sticky feel for the wearer, while the menstrual blood also diffuses on the surface of the top sheet and tends to leak. In addition, if the second sheet is a nonwoven fabric or woven fabric, the menstrual blood becomes clogged between the fibers creating a residual sticky feel for the wearer.

[0119]

In the absorbent article of this disclosure, the top sheet comprises a blood modifying agent which has been found to have at least a function of lowering blood viscosity and surface tension, and therefore, if the top sheet is a nonwoven fabric or a woven fabric, clogging of menstrual blood between the top sheet fibers is reduced and menstrual blood can rapidly migrate from the top sheet to the absorbent body through the second sheet.

Also, in the absorbent article in at least one embodiment of this disclosure, the blood modifying agent has a melting point of no higher than about 45°C, and therefore, whether liquid or solid at ordinary temperature (25°C) , when it contacts with body fluid at approximately 30-40°C, it liquefies (or is a liquid) and readily dissolves in the body fluid.

[0120]

In addition, the blood modifying agent which has an

IOB of about 0.00 to 0.60 has high organicity and readily infiltrates between blood cells, and it therefore

stabilizes the blood cells and can prevent formation of a rouleau structure by the blood cells.

Since the blood modifying agent stabilizes blood cells and helps to prevent formation of a rouleau

structure by the blood cells, it facilitates absorption of menstrual blood by the absorbent body. For example, with an absorbent article comprising an acrylic super- absorbent polymer, or SAP, absorption of menstrual blood is known to lead to covering of the SAP surface by rouleau-formed blood cells and inhibition of the

absorption performance of the SAP, but presumably

stabilization of the blood cells allows the absorption performance of the SAP to be exhibited more easily. In addition, the blood modifying agent which has high affinity with erythrocytes protects the erythrocyte membranes, and therefore may minimize destruction of the erythrocytes .

[0121]

Any liquid-permeable top sheet that is commonly used in the art may be employed without any particular

restrictions, and for example, it may be a sheet-like material having a structure that allows permeation of liquids, such as a porous film, woven fabric, nonwoven fabric or the like. The fibers composing such a woven fabric or nonwoven fabric may be natural fibers or chemical fibers, with examples of natural fibers

including cellulose, such as ground pulp and cotton, and examples of chemical fibers including regenerated

cellulose, such as rayon and fibril rayon, semi-synthetic cellulose, such as acetate and triacetate, thermoplastic hydrophobic chemical fibers, and hydrophilicized

thermoplastic hydrophobic chemical fibers.

[0122]

Examples of thermoplastic hydrophobic chemical fibers include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) monofilaments, and fibers including PE and PP graft polymers.

Examples of nonwoven fabrics include air-through nonwoven fabrics, spunbond nonwoven fabrics, point bond nonwoven fabrics, spunlace nonwoven fabrics, needle punching nonwoven fabrics and meltblown nonwoven fabrics, as well as combinations thereof (such as SMS and the like) .

[0123]

Liquid-impermeable back sheets include films

comprising PE and PP, air-permeable resin films, air- permeable resin films bonded to spunbond or spunlace nonwoven fabrics, and multilayer nonwoven fabrics, such as SMS. In consideration of flexibility of the absorbent article, a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film with a basis weight of about 15-30 g/m ² , for example, is

preferred.

Liquid-impermeable back sheets have some

transparency so that this diffusion length can be

visually confirmed by the wearer.

[0124]

The second sheet (auxiliary sheet) may be any of the same examples as for the liquid-permeable top sheet.

The first example of the absorbent body is one having an absorbent core covered with a core wrap.

Examples of components for the absorbent core include hydrophilic fibers, including cellulose, such as ground pulp or cotton, regenerated cellulose, such as rayon or fibril rayon, semi-synthetic cellulose, such as acetate or triacetate, particulate polymers, filamentous polymers, thermoplastic hydrophobic chemical fibers, and hydrophilicized thermoplastic hydrophobic chemical fibers, as well as combinations of the foregoing

materials. The component of the absorbent core may also be a super absorbent polymer, such as granules of a sodium acrylate copolymer or the like.

[0125]

The core wrap is not particularly restricted so long as it is a substance that is liquid-permeable and with a barrier property that does not allow permeation of the polymer absorber, and it may be a woven fabric or

nonwoven fabric, for example. The woven fabric or nonwoven fabric may be made of a natural fiber, chemical fiber, tissue, or the like.

[0126]

A second example of the absorbent body is one formed from an absorbing sheet or polymer sheet, with a

thickness of preferably about 0.3-5.0 mm. The absorbing sheet or polymer sheet may usually be used without any particular restrictions so long as it is one that can be used in an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin.

The blood modifying agent may be present at any location in the planar direction of the top sheet, such as across the entire top sheet, or at the center region near the vaginal opening.

[0127]

When the liquid-permeable top sheet is formed from a nonwoven fabric or woven fabric, the blood modifying agent preferably does not fill the voids between the fibers of the nonwoven fabric or woven fabric, and for example, the blood modifying agent may be attached as droplets or particulates on the surface of the nonwoven fabric fibers, or covering the surfaces of the fibers. On the other hand, when the liquid-permeable top sheet is formed from a porous film, the blood modifying agent preferably does not fill the holes in the porous film, and for example, the blood modifying agent may be

attached as droplets or particulates on the surface of the porous film. This is because if the blood modifying agent fills the voids between the fibers of the nonwoven fabric or woven fabric, or fills the holes in the porous film, migration of the absorbed liquid into the absorbent body may be inhibited.

The blood modifying agent also preferably has a large surface area, in order to allow rapid migration into the absorbed liquid, and a blood modifying agent present as droplets or particulates preferably has a small droplet/particle size.

[0128]

In an embodiment, the second sheet may comprise a blood modifying agent. Also, according to an embodiment of the absorbent article of the present disclosure, the absorbent body may comprise a blood modifying agent.

[0129]

In this absorbent article, the top sheet comprises the blood modifying agent at a basis weight in the range of preferably 1-30 g/m ² , more preferably 2-20 g/m ² and more preferably 3-10 g/m ² . If the basis weight of the blood modifying agent is less than about 1 g/m ² the blood modifying effect will tend to be insufficient, and if the basis weight of the blood modifying agent is increased, there will tend to be an increased feeling of wetness during wearing.

[0130]

With the absorbent article of this disclosure, the second sheet preferably includes a blood modifying agent with a basis weight of preferably between about 1 and about 30 g/m ² , more preferably between about 2 and about 20 g/m ² , and even more preferably between about 3 and about 10 g/m ² . If the basis weight is less than about 1 g/m ² the blood-modifying effect will tend to be

insufficient, and if it is greater than about 30 g/m ² it will tend to be difficult to accomplish bonding between the materials of the top sheet and absorbent body, for example, by heat sealing, bonding agents or the like.

[0131] According to at least one embodiment of the

absorbent article of this disclosure, the absorbent body may include a blood modifying agent. According to an embodiment in which the absorbent body includes a blood modifying agent, the absorbent body preferably includes a blood modifying agent with a basis weight of preferably between about 1 and about 30 g/m ² , more preferably between about 2 and about 20 g/m ² , and even more preferably between about 3 and about 10 g/m ² . If the basis weight is less than about 1 g/m ² the blood-modifying effect will tend to be insufficient, and if it is greater than about 30 g/m ² it will tend to be difficult to accomplish bonding between the materials of the second sheet and back sheet, for example, by heat sealing, bonding agents or the like.

[0132]

The basis weight of the blood modifying agent in the top sheet is preferably greater than the basis weight of the blood modifying agent in the second sheet. The blood modifying agent modifies the surface condition, such as the surface tension, of the top sheet and second sheet, reducing compatibility of the hydrophilic components in blood (such as plasma) with the top sheet and second sheet, and allowing rapid absorption of blood. That is, the blood modifying agent has low affinity with the hydrophilic components in blood (such as blood plasma) , and thus tends to repel blood to some extent. Thus, if the basis weight of the blood modifying agent in the second sheet is lower than the basis weight of the blood modifying agent in the top sheet, blood that has passed through the top sheet will be partly repelled while being diffused at the interface between the top sheet and the second sheet.

[0133]

With the absorbent article of this disclosure, the total basis weight of the blood modifying agent in the top sheet, the second sheet and, if desired, the

absorbent body, is preferably, in total, between about 2 and about 60 g/m ² , more preferably between about 3 and about 40 g/m ² , and even more preferably between about 4 and about 20 g/m ² . If the total basis weight is less than about 2 g/m ² the blood modifying effect will tend to be insufficient, and if the total basis weight is greater than about 60 g/m ² the feeling of wetness during wearing will tend to be increased.

[0134]

The blood modifying agent may be present on the surfaces of the top sheet and/or second sheet, or the blood modifying agent may be present, for example, inside the top sheet and/or second sheet. In an embodiment wherein the absorbent body includes a blood modifying agent, the absorbent body preferably has the blood modifying agent on the skin facing side thereof.

The blood modifying agent in the top sheet, the second sheet and, if desired, in the absorbent body, may be the same or different.

[0135]

When the material to be coated with the blood modifying agent, such as the top sheet, is a nonwoven fabric or porous film made of a synthetic resin, it is preferably coated with or mixed with a hydrophilic agent for hydrophilicizing treatment. If the original material is hydrophilic, since it is subsequently coated with a lipophilic modifying agent having an IOB of about 0.00- 0.60 and high organicity, there will be created sparsely dispersed lipophilic regions and hydrophilic regions.

This may allow consistent absorption performance to be exhibited for menstrual blood which consists of

hydrophilic components (blood plasma, etc.) and

lipophilic components (blood cells, etc.).

[0136]

The absorbent article of the present disclosure may be manufactured by methods known in the art.

There are no particular restrictions on the method of coating the blood modifying agent, and coating may be accomplished with heating as necessary, using a non- contact coater, for example, a spiral coater, curtain coater, spray coater or dip coater, or a contact coater or the like. A non-contact coater is preferred from the viewpoint of uniformly dispersing the droplet or

particulate modifying agent throughout, and from the viewpoint of not causing damage in the material. The blood modifying agent may be coated directly, if it is a liquid at room temperature, or it may be heated to lower the viscosity, and when it is a solid at room

temperature, it may be heated to liquefaction and coated through a control seam hot melt adhesive (HMA) gun. By increasing the air pressure of the control seam HMA gun, it is possible to coat the blood modifying agent as fine particulates.

[0137]

The blood modifying agent may be coated during production of the top sheet material, such as the

nonwoven fabric, or it may be coated in the manufacturing line for production of the absorbent article. From the viewpoint of minimizing equipment investment, the blood modifying agent is preferably coated in the manufacturing line for the absorbent article, and in order to prevent shedding of the blood modifying agent which may

contaminate the line, the blood modifying agent is preferably coated during a step downstream from the manufacturing line, and specifically, immediately before encapsulation of the product in an individual package.

[0138]

When the blood modifying agent is to be coated immediately before the product is enclosed in an

individual package, for example, the blood modifying agent may be blasted from a control seam HMA gun onto the top sheet side of an absorbent article precursor having a liquid-permeable top sheet, a second sheet, an absorbent body and a liquid-impermeable back sheet, at high air pressure, such as at an air pressure of about 0.5 MPa, for simultaneous coating of the blood modifying agent onto the top sheet, the second sheet and optionally the absorbent body. By using high air pressure, the blood modifying agent can go through the top sheet to reach the second sheet and optionally the absorbent body.

[0139]

The blood modifying agent may also have an effect as a lubricant. When the top sheet is a nonwoven fabric, it is possible to reduce friction between fibers, thereby improving the flexibility of the nonwoven fabric as a whole. When the top sheet is a resin film, it is

possible to reduce friction between the top sheet and the skin .

[0140]

The absorbent article is preferably an absorbent article intended for absorption of blood, such as a sanitary napkin, panty liner or the like.

With an absorbent article of this disclosure, there is no need for components, such as emollients and

immobilizing agents, unlike absorbent articles containing a skin care composition, lotion composition or the like.

In one or more embodiments, it is sufficient to apply to the top sheet and the second sheet the blood modifying agent alone.

Examples

[0141]

The disclosure will now be explained by examples, with the understanding that the disclosure is not meant to be limited to the examples.

The blood modifying agents used for testing are listed below.

[ (ai) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid]

· U ISTAR H-408BRS, product of NOF Corp.

Tetrapentaerythritol 2-ethylhexanoate, weight- average molecular weight: approximately 640 • UNISTAR H-2408BRS-22, product of NOF Corp.

Mixture of tetrapentaerythritol 2-ethylhexanoate and di-neopentyl 2-ethylhexanoate glycol (58:42, mass ratio), weight-average molecular weight: approximately 520

[0142]

[ (a ₂ ) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid]

• Cetiol SB45DEO, Cognis Japan

Glycerin and fatty acid triester, with oleic acid or stearylic acid as the fatty acid.

• SOY42, product of NOF Corp.

Glycerin and fatty acid triester with Ci ₄ fatty

acid:Ci6 fatty acid:C ₁₈ fatty acid:C2o fatty acid

(including both saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids) at a mass ratio of about 0.2:11:88:0.8, weight-average molecular weight: 880

[0143]

^• Tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride, product of NOF Corp.

Glycerin and fatty acid triester with C ₈ fatty acid:Cio fatty acid:Ci2 fatty acid at a mass ratio of about

37:7:56, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 570

^• Tri-CL oil fatty acid glyceride, product of NOF Corp.

Glycerin and fatty acid triester with C ₈ fatty

acid:Ci2 fatty acid at a mass ratio of about 44:56, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 570

[0144]

^• PANACET 810s, product of NOF Corp.

Glycerin and fatty acid triester with C ₈ fatty acid:Cio fatty acid at a mass ratio of about 85:15, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 480

^• PANACET 800, product of NOF Corp.

Glycerin and fatty acid triester with octanoic acid (C ₈ ) as the entire fatty acid portion, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 470

^• PANACET 800B, product of NOF Corp.

Glycerin and fatty acid triester with 2- ethylhexanoic acid (C ₈ ) as the entire fatty acid portion, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 470

[0145]

• NA36, product of NOF Corp.

Glycerin and fatty acid triester with Ci ₆ fatty acidrCie fatty acid:C ₂ o fatty acid (including both

saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids) at a mass ratio of about 5:92:3, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 880

· Tri-coconut fatty acid glyceride, product of NOF Corp.

Glycerin and fatty acid triester with Ce fatty acid:Cio fatty acid:Ci ₂ fatty acid:Ci ₄ fatty acid:C ₁₆ fatty acid (including both saturated fatty acids and

unsaturated fatty acids) at a mass ratio of about

4:8:60:25:3, weight-average molecular weight: 670

[0146]

^• Caprylic acid diglyceride, product of NOF Corp.

Glycerin and fatty acid diester with octanoic acid as the fatty acid, weight-average molecular weight:

approximately 340

[ (a ₃ ) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid]

^• COMPOL BL, product of NOF Corp.

Dodecanoic acid (Ci ₂ ) monoester of butylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 270

^• COMPOL BS, product of NOF Corp.

Octadecanoic acid (Cis) monoester of butylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 350

• UNISTAR H-208BRS, product of NOF Corp.

Neopentylglycol di-2-ethylhexanoate, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 360.

[0147]

[ (c ₂ ) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 3 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol]

^• Tributyl O-acetylcitrate, product of Tokyo Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd. Weight-average molecular weight: approximately 400 [ (c ₃ ) Ester of a chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 2 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol] · Dioctyl adipate, product of Wako Pure Chemical

Industries, Ltd.

Weight-average molecular weight: approximately 380

[0148]

[ (d ₃ ) Ester of a fatty acid and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol]

^• ELECTOL WE20, product of NOF Corp.

Ester of dodecanoic acid (Ci ₂ ) and dodecyl alcohol (C12) , weight-average molecular weight: approximately 360

• ELECTOL WE40, product of NOF Corp.

Ester of tetradecanoic acid (C14) and dodecyl alcohol

(C12) , weight-average molecular weight: approximately 390

[0149]

[ (ei) Polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol]

• UNIOL PB500, product of NOF Corp.

Polybutylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 500

• UNIOL PB700, product of NOF Corp.

Polyoxybutylenepolyoxypropylene glycol, weight- average molecular weight: approximately 700

[0150]

[(fx) Chain alkane]

^• PARLEAM 6, product of NOF Corp.

Branched hydrocarbon, produced by copolymerization of liguid isoparaffin, isobutene and n-butene followed by hydrogen addition, polymerization degree: approximately

5-10, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 330

[0151]

[Other components]

^• NA50, product of NOF Corp.

Glycerin and fatty acid triester obtained by

addition of hydrogen to NA36 for reduced proportion of double bonds from unsaturated fatty acid starting material, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 880

• (Caprylic acid/capric acid) monoglyceride, product of NOF Corp.

Glycerin and fatty acid monoester, with octanoic acid (C ₈ ) and decanoic acid (Ci ₀ ) at a mass ratio of about 85:15, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 220

• Monomuls 90-L2 lauric acid monoglyceride, product of Cognis Japan

[0152]

• Isopropyl citrate, product of Tokyo Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Weight-average molecular weight: approximately 230

• Diisostearyl malate

Weight-average molecular weight: approximately 640

• UNIOL PBIOOOR, product of NOF Corp.

Polybutylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,000

^• UNIOL D-400, product of NOF Corp.

Polypropylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 400

^• UNIOL D-1000, product of NOF Corp.

[0153]

Polypropylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,000

^• UNIOL D-1200, product of NOF Corp.

Polypropylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,160

^• UNIOL D-3000, product of NOF Corp.

Polypropylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 3,000

^• UNIOL D-4000, product of NOF Corp.

Polypropylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 4,000

· PEG1500, product of NOF Corp.

Polyethylene glycol, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,500-1,600 [0154]

• WILBRITE cp9, product of NOF Corp.

Polybutylene glycol compound with OH groups at both ends esterified by hexadecanoic acid (Ci6) , weight-average molecular weight: approximately 1,150

• UNILUBE MS-70K, product of NOF Corp.

Stearyl ether of polypropylene glycol, approximately 15 repeating units, weight-average molecular weight:

approximately 1,140

[0155]

^• NONION S-6, product of NOF Corp.

Polyoxyethylene monostearate, approximately 7 repeating units, weight-average molecular weight:

approximately 880

· UNILUBE 5TP-300KB

Polyoxyethylenepolyoxypropylene pentaerythritol ether, produced by addition of 5 mol of ethylene oxide and 65 mol of propylene oxide to 1 mol of

pentaerythritol, weight-average molecular weight: 4,130

[0156]

^• WILBRITE s753, product of NOF Corp.

Polyoxyethylenepolyoxypropylene polyoxybutylene glycerin, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 960

· UNIOL TG-330, product of NOF Corp.

Glyceryl ether of polypropylene glycol,

approximately 6 repeating units, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 330

[0157]

· UNIOL TG-1000, product of NOF Corp.

Glyceryl ether of polypropylene glycol,

approximately 16 repeating units, weight-average

molecular weight: approximately 1,000

^• UNIOL TG-3000, product of NOF Corp.

Glyceryl ether of polypropylene glycol,

approximately 16 repeating units, weight-average

molecular weight: approximately 3,000 ^• UNIOL TG-4000, product of NOF Corp.

Glyceryl ether of polypropylene glycol,

approximately 16 repeating units, weight-average

molecular weight: approximately 4,000

[0158]

^• UNILUBE DGP-700, product of NOF Corp.

Diglyceryl ether of polypropylene glycol,

approximately 9 repeating units, weight-average molecular weight: approximately 700

· UNIOX HC60, product of NOF Corp.

Polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, weight- average molecular weight: approximately 3,570

^• Vaseline, product of Cognis Japan

Petroleum-derived hydrocarbon, semi-solid

[0159]

[Example 1]

[Liquid dropping test]

There were prepared a top sheet, formed of a

hydrophilic agent-treated air-through nonwoven fabric (composite fiber with a core of polyethylene

terephthalate and a sheath of polyester, size: 2.8 dt, containing 4 mass% titanium oxide in the core, basis weight: 25 g/m ² ) (hereunder also abbreviated as "TS"), a second sheet, formed of the same air-through nonwoven fabric as the top sheet (hereunder also abbreviated as

"SS"), an absorbent body (obtained by sandwiching fluff pulp with a basis weight of 300 g/m ² between 2 tissues with a basis weight of 14 g/m ² , and pressing them to an absorbent body density of 0.1 g/cm ³ and a thickness of 3.0 mm) , and a back sheet composed of a polyethylene film.

The initial mass (material mass) was then measured for both the top sheet and the second sheet.

[0160]

Using PANACET 810s (IOB: 0.32, melting point: -5°C, water solubility: <0.05) as the blood modifying agent, it was coated onto the skin contact surface (ridge-furrow surface) of the top sheet from a control seam HMA gun at room temperature, to a basis weight of 3 g/m ² . With an electron microscope it was confirmed that the PANACET 810s was adhering onto the fiber surfaces as fine particulates. Next, PANACET 810s was coated onto the skin facing side of the second sheet in the same manner, to a basis weight of 2 g/m ² .

The back sheet, absorbent body, second sheet and top sheet were then laminated in that order, with the blood modifying agent-coated side facing upward, and the stack was clamped at several locations with clips, to form sanitary napkin No.1-1.

[0161]

Sanitary napkins No.1-2 to 1-6 were formed in the same manner as sanitary napkin No.1-1, except that the type and basis weight of the blood modifying agent coated onto the surfaces of the top sheet, second sheet and absorbent body were changed, as shown in Table 2 below.

For sanitary napkin No.1-3, wherein the blood modifying agent was coated on the absorbent body, PANACET 810s was coated to a basis weight of 1 g/m ² , as for the top sheet, and the absorbent body was stacked with the other materials, with the coated side facing upward, to form an absorbent article. Listings of 0 for the blood modifying agent basis weight in Table 2 indicate that no blood modifying agent was coated.

[0162]

A liquid dropping test was conducted according to the procedure described in the present specification, and the liquid residue rates and fluid diffusion lengths of sanitary napkins No.1-1 to 1-6 were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0163] Table 2

[0164]

Sanitary napkins No.1-1 to 1-3 have essentially no menstrual blood on either the top sheet or second sheet, while the fluid diffusion length on the absorbent body (the clothing side surface of the absorbent body) is longer than the fluid diffusion length on the TS side (the skin contact surface of the top sheet) , and

therefore during replacement of the absorbent article, the wearer can visually confirm that the absorbent article has absorbed menstrual blood and that the

menstrual blood is held inside the absorbent body, thus providing a feeling of assurance.

[0165]

When several subjects were asked to wear sanitary napkins No.1-1 to 1-6, the sanitary napkins No.1-1 to 1-3 received superior evaluations of visual confirmation during replacement of the absorbent article, that the absorbent article had absorbed menstrual blood and that the menstrual blood was held inside the absorbent body, and a feeling of assurance, compared to sanitary napkins No.1-4 to 1-6, and especially sanitary napkin No.1-6.

[0166]

[Example 2]

[Evaluation of rewetting rate, absorbent body migration rate, whiteness of the skin contact surface of the top sheet, and residual blood volume]

A commercially available sanitary napkin was prepared. The sanitary napkin was formed from a top sheet, formed of a hydrophilic agent-treated air-through nonwoven fabric (composite fiber including polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, basis weight: 35 g/m ² ) , a second sheet, formed of an air-through nonwoven fabric (composite fiber composed of polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, basis weight: 30 g/m ² )', an absorbent body comprising pulp (basis weight: 150-450 g/m ² , increased at the center section), an acrylic super-absorbent polymer (basis weight: 15 g/m ² ) and tissue as a core wrap, a water-repellent agent-treated side sheet, and a back sheet composed of a polyethylene film.

[0167]

The IOBs, melting points, water solubilities and weight-average molecular weights of the samples are shown in Table 3.

The water solubility was measured by the method described above, and samples that dissolved 24 hours after addition of 20.0 g to 100 g of desalted water were evaluated as "20 g<", and samples of which 0.05 g

dissolved in 100 g of desalted water but 1.00 g did not dissolve were evaluated as 0.05-1.00 g.

For the melting point, "<45" indicates a melting point of below 45°C.

[0168]

The skin contact surface of the top sheet of the sanitary napkin was coated with the aforementioned blood modifying agent. Each blood modifying agent was used directly, when the blood modifying agent was liquid at room temperature, or when the blood modifying agent was solid at room temperature it was heated to its melting point of +20°C, and a control seam H A gun was used for atomization of the blood modifying agent and coating onto the skin contact surface of the top sheet to a basis weight of about 5 g/m ² .

[0169]

Fig. 1 is a view of the sanitary napkin of Example 2, showing the region of the top sheet containing the blood modifying agent. As shown in Fig. 2, almost the entire surface of the top sheet 2 of the sanitary napkin 1 in Example 1 is the blood modifying agent-containing region 4 comprising the blood modifying agent. In Fig. 1, numeral 3 denotes a stamped section.

Fig. 2 is an electron micrograph of the skin contact surface of a top sheet in a sanitary napkin (No.5) wherein the top sheet comprises tri-C2L oil fatty acid glycerides. As clearly seen in Fig. 2, the tri-C2L oil fatty acid glycerides are present on the fiber surfaces as fine particulates.

[0170]

[Test methods-rewetting rate and absorbent body migration rate]

An acrylic board with an opened hole (200 mm x 100 mm, 125 g, with a 40 mm x 10 mm hole opened at the center) was placed on a top sheet comprising each blood modifying agent, and 3 g of horse EDTA blood at 37±1°C (obtained by adding ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

(hereunder, "EDTA") to horse blood to prevent

coagulation) was dropped through the hole using a pipette

(once) , and after 1 minute, 3 g of horse EDTA blood at 37±1°C was again added dropwise through the acrylic board hole with a pipette (twice) .

[0171]

After the second dropping of blood, the acrylic board was immediately removed and 10 sheets of filter paper (50 mm x 35 mm) were placed on the location where the blood had been dropped, and then a weight was placed thereover to a pressure of 30 g/cm ² . After 1 minute, the filter paper was removed and the "rewetting rate" was calculated by the following formula.

Rewetting rate (%)

= 100 x (filter paper mass after test - initial filter paper mass ) /6

[0172]

In addition to the rewetting rate evaluation, the

"absorbent body migration rate" was also measured as the time until migration of blood from the top sheet to the absorbent body after the second dropping of blood. The absorbent body migration rate is the time from

introducing the blood onto the top sheet, until the redness of the blood could be seen on the surface and in the interior of the top sheet.

The results for the rewetting rate and absorbent body migration rate are shown below in Table 3.

[0173]

[Test methods-whiteness of the skin contact surface of the top sheet]

The whiteness of the skin contact surface of the top sheet after the absorbent body migration rate test was visually evaluated on the following scale.

VG (Very Good) : Virtually no redness of blood remaining, and no clear delineation between areas with and without blood.

G (Good) : Slight redness of blood remaining, but difficult to delineate between areas with and without blood.

F (Fair) : Slight redness of blood remaining, areas with blood discernible.

P (Poor) : Redness of blood completely remaining. The results are summarized below in Table 3.

[0174]

[Test method - residual blood volume] The liquid dropping test was conducted as described above, except that the amount of horse EDTA blood dropped was 4.0 g, and the residual blood volume (g) was

calculated from the following formula:

Residual blood volume (g) = material mass after test (g)

- initial material mass (g) .

The results are summarized in Table 3.

[0175]

Table 3

[0176]

Table 3 (cont.)

[0177]

Table 3 shows that an example where the top sheet had a blood modifying agent but the second sheet did not have a blood modifying agent, wherein the blood modifying agent had an IOB of about 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than about 45°C, a water solubility of about 0.00-0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C, and a weight- average molecular weight of less than about 1,000

exhibited a rewetting rate, absorbent body migration rate and residual blood volume that were equivalent to PANACET 810s.

[0178]

The results in Table 3 suggests that when both the top sheet and second sheet include a blood modifying agent having an IOB of about 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than about 45°C, a water solubility of about 0.00-0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C, and a weight- average molecular weight of less than about 1,000

absorbed menstrual blood can also rapidly migrate and diffuse in the absorbent body, similar to PANACET 810s, so that in the liquid dropping test described herein, the top sheet and second sheet each have a liquid residue rate of no greater than 3.0 mass%, and the fluid

diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet is shorter than the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the clothing side surface of the absorbent body.

Incidentally, a blood modifying agent with a weight- average molecular weight of about 1,000 or greater is undesirable from the viewpoint of tack, despite a

satisfactory rewetting rate, absorbent body migration rate and residual blood volume. This is because it causes a feeling of stickiness for the wearer when the article is worn.

[0179] Next, several volunteer subjects were asked to wear sanitary napkins No. 2-1 to 2-47, and the obtained responses indicated that with the sanitary napkins comprising blood modifying agents No. 2-1 to 2-22, the top sheets had no sticky feel and the top sheets were smooth, even after absorption of menstrual blood.

Also, with sanitary napkins No.2-1 to No.2-22, and particularly with sanitary napkins that comprised blood modifying agents Nos. 2-1 to 2-11, 2-15 to 2-19 and 2-22, the skin contact surfaces of the top sheets after

absorption of menstrual blood had not been reddened by the blood and the unpleasantness was minimal.

[0180]

[Example 3]

The rewetting rate was evaluated for blood from different animals. The following blood was used for the test .

[Animal species]

( 1 ) Human

(2) Horse

(3) Sheep

[0181]

[Types of blood]

• Defibrinated blood: blood sampled and agitated together with glass beads in an Erlenmeyer flask for approximately

5 minutes.

^• EDTA blood: 65 mL of venous blood with addition of 0.5 mL of a 12% EDTA-2K isotonic sodium chloride solution.

[0182]

[Fractionation]

Serum or blood plasma: Supernatant obtained after centrifugation of defibrinated blood or EDTA blood for 10 minutes at room temperature at about 1900 G.

Blood cells: Obtained by removing the serum from the blood, washing twice with phosphate buffered saline

(PBS), and adding phosphate buffered saline to the removed serum portion. [0183]

An absorbent article was produced in the same manner as Example 2, except that the tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride was coated at a basis weight of about 5 g/m ² , and the rewetting rate of each of the aforementioned blood samples was evaluated. Measurement was performed 3 times for each blood sample, and the average value was recorded.

The results are shown in Table 4 below.

[0184]

Table 4

[0185]

The same trend was seen with human and sheep blood as with the horse EDTA blood, as obtained in Example 2. A similar trend was also observed with defibrinated blo> and EDTA blood.

[0186]

[Example 4] [Evaluation of blood retention]

The blood retention was evaluated for a top sheet comprising a blood modifying agent and a top sheet comprising no blood modifying agent.

[0187]

[Test methods]

(1) A tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride was atomized on the skin contact surface of a top sheet formed from an air-through nonwoven fabric (composite fiber composed of polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, basis weight:

35 g/m ² ) , using a control seam HMA gun, for coating to a basis weight of about 5 g/m ² . For comparison, there was also prepared a sheet without coating with the tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride. Next, both the tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride-coated top sheet and the non-coated top sheet were cut to a size of 0.2 g, and the mass (a) of the cell strainer + top sheet was precisely measured.

[0188]

(2) After adding about 2 mL of horse EDTA blood from the skin contact surface side, it was allowed to stand for 1 minute.

(3) The cell strainer was set in a centrifuge tube, and subjected to spin-down to remove the excess horse EDTA blood.

(4) The mass (b) of the top sheet containing the cell strainer + horse EDTA blood was measured.

(5) The initial absorption (g) per 1 g of top sheet was calculated by the following formula.

Initial absorption = [mass (b) - mass (a)]/0.2

(6) The cell strainer was again set in the

centrifuge tube and centrxfuged at room temperature for 1 minute at approximately 1,200 G.

[0189]

(7) The mass (c) of the top sheet containing the cell strainer + horse EDTA blood was measured.

(8) The post-test absorption (g) per 1 g of top sheet was calculated by the following formula. Post-test absorption = [mass (c) - mass (a)]/0.2

(9) The blood retention (%) was calculated according to the following formula.

Blood retention (%) = 100 x post-test

absorption/initial absorption

The measurement was conducted 3 times, and the average value was recorded.

The results are shown in Table 5 below.

[0190]

Table 5

[0191]

The top sheets comprising blood modifying agents had low blood retentions, suggesting that blood rapidly migrated into the absorbent body after absorption.

[0192]

[Example 5]

[Viscosity of blood containing blood modifying agent]

The viscosity of the blood modifying agent- containing blood was measured using a Rheometric

Expansion System ARES (Rheometric Scientific, Inc.).

After adding 2 mass% of PANACET 810s to horse

defibrinated blood, the mixture was gently agitated to form a sample, the sample was placed on a 50 mm-diameter parallel plate, with a gap of 100 μιη, and the viscosity was measured at 37+0.5°C. The sample was not subjected to a uniform shear rate due to the parallel plate, but the average shear rate indicated by the device was 10 s ^-1 .

[0193]

The viscosity of the horse defibrinated blood containing 2 mass% PANACET 810s was 5.9 mPa-s, while the viscosity of the horse defibrinated blood containing no blood modifying agent was 50.4 mPa*s. Thus, the horse defibrinated blood containing 2 mass% PANACET 810s clearly had an approximately 90% lower viscosity than the blood containing no blood modifying agent.

It is known that blood contains components, such as blood cells and has thixotropy, and it has been found that the blood modifying agent of this disclosure can lower blood viscosity in the low viscosity range.

Lowering the blood viscosity presumably allows absorbed menstrual blood to rapidly migrate from the top sheet to the absorbent body.

[0194]

[Example 6]

[Photomicrograph of blood modifying agent-containing blood]

Menstrual blood was sampled from healthy volunteers onto thin plastic wrap, and PANACET 810s dispersed in a 10-fold mass of phosphate-buffered saline was added to a portion thereof to a PANACET 810s concentration of 1 mass%. The menstrual blood was dropped onto a slide glass, a cover glass was placed thereover, and the state of the erythrocytes was observed with an optical

microscope. A photomicrograph of menstrual blood

containing no blood modifying agent is shown in Fig.

3(a), and a photomicrograph of menstrual blood containing

PANACET 810s is shown in Fig. 3(b).

[0195]

As shown in Fig. 3 (a) , it is seen that the

erythrocytes formed aggregates, such as rouleaux in the menstrual blood containing no blood modifying agent, while as shown in Fig. 3 (b) , the erythrocytes were stably dispersed in the menstrual blood containing

PANACET 810s. This suggests that the blood modifying agent functions to stabilize erythrocytes in blood.

[0196]

[Example 7]

[Surface tension of blood containing blood modifying agent]

The surface tension of blood containing a blood modifying agent was measured by the pendant drop method, using a Drop Master500 contact angle meter by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd. The surface tension was measured after adding a prescribed amount of blood modifying agent to sheep defibrinated blood, and

thoroughly shaking.

The measurement was accomplished automatically with a device, and the surface tension γ was determined by the following formula (see Fig. 4).

[0197]

y = g x p x (de) ² x l/H

g: Gravitational constant

1/H: Correction factor determined from ds/de p: Density

de : Maximum diameter

ds : Diameter at location of increase by de from dropping edge

[0198]

The density p was measured at the temperatures listed in Table 6 below, according to JIS K 2249-1995, "Density test methods and density/mass/volume conversion tables", "5. Vibrating density test method".

The measurement was accomplished using a DA-505 by

Kyoto Electronics Co., Ltd.

The results are shown in Table 6 below.

[0199] Table 6

[0200]

Table 6 shows that the blood modifying agent can lower the surface tension of blood despite its very low solubility in water, as seen by a water solubility of 0.00-0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C.

Lowering the surface tension of blood presumably allows absorbed blood to rapidly migrate from the top sheet to the absorbent body, without being retained between the top sheet fibers.

[0201]

The present disclosure relates to the following Jl-

J12.

[Jl]

An absorbent article having a liquid-permeable top sheet, an absorbent body, a liquid-impermeable back sheet and a second sheet between the top sheet and absorbent body, the absorbent article having the features that, in a liquid dropping test,

[1] the liquid residue rate of the top sheet and second sheet is no greater than 3.0 mass%, and

[2] the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet is shorter than the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the clothing side surface of the absorbent body.

[0202]

[J2]

The absorbent article according to Jl, wherein in the liquid dropping test, [3] the fluid diffusion length in the width direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet is shorter than the fluid diffusion length in the width direction of the absorbent article on the clothing side surface of the absorbent body.

[0203]

[J3]

The absorbent article according to Jl or J2, wherein the top sheet and the second sheet include a blood modifying agent having an IOB of 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than 45°C, a water solubility of 0.00-

0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C, and a weight-average molecular weight of less than 1,000.

[0204]

[J4]

The absorbent article according to J3, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group

consisting of following items (i)-(iii), and any

combination thereof:

(i) a hydrocarbon;

(ii) a compound having (ii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii-2) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (-CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety; and

(iii) a compound having (iii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii-2) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (- CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii-3) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (-COOH) and hydroxyl group (-0H) substituting a hydrogen of the hydrocarbon moiety; with the proviso that when 2 or more oxy groups are inserted in the compound of (ii) or (iii) , the oxy groups are not adjacent.

[0205]

[J5]

The absorbent article according to J3 or J4, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (i')-(iii'), and any combination thereof:

(i ¹ ) a hydrocarbon;

(ii ¹ ) a compound having (ii'-l) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii'-2) one or more, same or different bonds selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO-

), ester bond (-C00-), carbonate bond (-0C0O-) , and ether bond (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety; and

(iii') a compound having (iii'-l) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii '-2) one or more, same or different bonds selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO- ) , ester bond (-COO-) , carbonate bond (-OCOO-) , and ether bond (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii '-3) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (-COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH)

substituting a hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety;

with the proviso that when 2 or more same or

different bonds are inserted in the compound of (ii') or (iii ¹ ), the bonds are not adjacent.

[0206]

[J6]

The absorbent article according to any one of J3 to J5, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (A) -(F), and any combination thereof:

(A) an ester of (Al) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(B) an ether of (Bl) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(C) an ester of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain

hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (C2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(D) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of an ether bond (-0-) , carbonyl bond (-CO-), ester bond (-COO-) and carbonate bond (-OCOO-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(E) a polyoxy C3-C6 alkylene glycol, or alkyl ester or alkyl ether thereof; and

(F) a chain hydrocarbon.

[0207]

[J7]

The absorbent article according to any one of J3 to J6, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of (ai) an ester of a chain

hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid, (a ₂ ) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid, (a ₃ ) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid, (bi) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (b ₂ ) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (b ₃ ) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (ci) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon

tetracarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 4 carboxyl groups, and at least one

aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (c ₂ ) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 3 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (c ₃ ) an esters of a chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 2 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (di) an ether of an

aliphatic monohydric alcohol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (d ₂ ) a dialkyl ketone, (d ₃ ) an ester of a fatty acids and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (d ) a dialkyl carbonate, (ei) a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol, (e ₂ ) an ester of a polyoxy C3-C6 alkylene glycols and at least one fatty acid, (e ₃ ) an ether of a polyoxy C3-C6 alkylene glycol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, and (fi) a chain alkane.

[0208]

[J8]

The absorbent article according to any one of J3 to J7, wherein the basis weight of the blood modifying agent in the top sheet is greater than the basis weight of the blood modifying agent in the second sheet.

[0209]

[J9]

The absorbent article according to any one of J3 to J8, wherein the absorbent body further includes the blood modifying agent on the skin side.

[J10]

An absorbent article according to any one of Jl to J9, wherein the liquid-permeable top sheet and/or the auxiliary sheet is a nonwoven fabric or woven fabric, and the blood modifying agent is attached to the surfaces of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric or woven fabric. [0210]

[Jll]

The absorbent article according to any one of Jl to J10, which is a sanitary napkin or panty liner.

[J12]

The absorbent article according to any one of Jl to Jll, which is produced by spraying the blood modifying agent onto an absorbent article precursor having a liquid-permeable top sheet, an absorbent body, a liquid- impermeable back sheet and a second sheet between the liquid-permeable top sheet and the absorbent body, from the liquid-permeable top sheet side.

[0211]

The present disclosure also relates to at least the following aspects U1-U12.

[Ul]

An absorbent article having a liquid-permeable top sheet, an absorbent body, a liquid-impermeable back sheet and an auxiliary sheet between the top sheet and

absorbent body, wherein

in a liquid dropping test,

[1] a liquid residue rate of each of the top sheet and auxiliary sheet is no greater than 3.0 mass%, and

[2] a fluid diffusion length in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on a skin contact surface of the top sheet is shorter than a fluid

diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on a clothing side surface of the absorbent body.

[0212]

[U2]

The absorbent article according to Ul, wherein in the liquid dropping test, [3] a fluid diffusion length in a width direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet is shorter than a fluid diffusion length in the width direction of the absorbent article on the clothing side surface of the absorbent body.

[0213]

[U3]

The absorbent article according to Ul or U2, wherein the top sheet and the auxiliary sheet include a blood modifying agent having an IOB of 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than 45°C, a water solubility of 0.00- 0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C, and a weight-average molecular weight of less than 1,000.

[0214]

[U4]

The absorbent article according to U3, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group

consisting of the following items (i)-(iii), and any combination thereof:

(i) a hydrocarbon;

(ii) a compound having (ii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii-2) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (-CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the

hydrocarbon moiety; and

(iii) a compound having (iii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii-2) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (-CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the

hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii-3) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (- COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH) substituting a hydrogen of the hydrocarbon moiety;

wherein when 2 or more oxy groups are inserted in the compound of (ii) or (iii) , the oxy groups are not adjacent .

[0215]

[U5]

The absorbent article according to U3 or U4, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of the following items (i')-(iii'), and any combination thereof:

(i ¹ ) a hydrocarbon;

(ϋ') a compound having (ii'-l) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii'-2) one or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO-), ester bond

(-COO-), carbonate bond (-OCOO-) , and ether bond (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety; and

(iii ¹ ) a compound having (iii'-l) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii '-2) one or more bonds each selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO-), ester bond (- C00-), carbonate bond (-OCOO-) , and ether bond (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii ¹ -3) one or more groups each selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (-COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH) substituting a hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety;

wherein when 2 or more same or different bonds are inserted in the compound of (ϋ') or (iii'), the bonds are not adjacent.

[0216]

[U6]

The absorbent article according to any one of U3 to U5, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of the following items (A) -(F), and any combination thereof:

(A) an ester of (Al) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(B) an ether of (Bl) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(C) an ester of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain

hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (C2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(D) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of an ether bond (-0-) , carbonyl bond (-CO-) , ester bond (-COO-) and carbonate bond (-OCOO-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(E) a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol, or alkyl ester or alkyl ether thereof; and

(F) a chain hydrocarbon.

[0217]

[U7]

The absorbent article according to any one of U3 to U6, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of (ai) an ester of a chain

hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid, (a2) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid, (a ₃ ) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid, (bi) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (b ₂ ) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (b ₃ ) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (ci) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon

tetracarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 4 carboxyl groups, and at least one

aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (c ₂ ) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 3 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (c ₃ ) an esters of a chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 2 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (di) an ether of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (d ₂ ) a dialkyl ketone, (d ₃ ) an ester of a fatty acids and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (d ₄ ) a dialkyl carbonate, (ei) a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol, (e ₂ ) an ester of a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycols and at least one fatty acid, (e ₃ ) an ether of a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, and (fi) a chain alkane.

[0218]

[U8]

The absorbent article according to any one of U3 to U7, wherein the basis weight of the blood modifying agent in the top sheet is greater than the basis weight of the blood modifying agent in the auxiliary sheet.

[0219]

fU9]

The absorbent article according to any one of U3 to U8, wherein the absorbent body further includes the blood modifying agent on a skin facing side thereof.

[U10]

An absorbent article according to any one of Ul to U9, wherein the liquid-permeable top sheet and/or the auxiliary sheet is a nonwoven fabric or woven fabric, and the blood modifying agent is attached to the surfaces of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric or woven fabric.

[0220]

[Ull]

The absorbent article according to any one of Ul to

U10, which is a sanitary napkin or panty liner.

[U12]

The absorbent article according to any one of Ul to Ull, which is produced by spraying the blood modifying agent onto an absorbent article precursor having a liquid-permeable top sheet, an absorbent body, a liquid- impermeable back sheet and an auxiliary sheet between the liquid-permeable top sheet and the absorbent body, from the liquid-permeable top sheet side.

[0221]

The present disclosure relates to the following El- E14 and any combination thereof.

[El]

An absorbent article having a liquid-permeable top sheet, an absorbent body, a liquid-impermeable back sheet and optionally a second sheet between the top sheet and absorbent body, the absorbent article having the features that,

in a liquid dropping test,

[1] the liquid residue rate of the top sheet and second sheet if present is no greater than 3.0 mass%, and

[2] the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet is shorter than the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the clothing side surface of the absorbent body.

[0222]

[Ela]

The absorbent article according to claim El,

including said second sheet.

[Elb]

The absorbent article according to El, wherein the liquid residue rate is no greater than 2.5 mass%,

preferably no greater than 2.0 mass%, more preferably no greater than 1.5 mass%, and most preferably no greater than 1.2 mass%.

[Elc]

The absorbent article according to any of El to Elb, wherein the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet is no greater than 90% of the fluid diffusion length in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article on the clothing surface side, preferably no greater than 80%, more preferably no greater than 70%, and most preferably no greater than 60%.

[0223]

[E2]

The absorbent article according to any of El to Elc, wherein in the liquid dropping test, [3] the fluid diffusion length in the width direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet is shorter than the fluid diffusion length in the width direction of the absorbent article on the clothing side surface of the absorbent body.

[E2a]

The absorbent article according to E2, wherein the fluid diffusion length in the width direction of the absorbent article on the skin contact surface of the top sheet is no greater than 90% of the fluid diffusion length in the width direction of the absorbent article on the clothing surface side, preferably no greater than 80%, more preferably no greater than 70%, and most preferably no greater than 60%.

[0224]

[E3]

The absorbent article according to any one of El to

E2a, wherein the top sheet and the second sheet if present include a blood modifying agent having an IOB of 0.00-0.60, a melting point of no higher than 45°C, a water solubility of 0.00-0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25°C, and a weight-average molecular weight of less than 1,000.

[0225]

[E4]

The absorbent article according to E3, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group

consisting of following items (i)-(iii), and any

combination thereof:

(i) a hydrocarbon; (ii) a compound having (ii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii-2) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (-CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety; and

(iii) a compound having (iii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii-2) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (- CO-) and oxy group (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii-3) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group

consisting of carboxyl group (-COOH) and hydroxyl group (-OH) substituting a hydrogen of the hydrocarbon moiety; with the proviso that when 2 or more oxy groups are inserted in the compound of (ii) or (iii) , the oxy groups are not adjacent.

[0226]

[E5]

The absorbent article according to E3 or E4, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (i')-(iii'), and any combination thereof:

(i ¹ ) a hydrocarbon;

(ii') a compound having (ii'-l) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii'-2) one or more, same or different bonds selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-CO- ) , ester bond (-C00-) , carbonate bond (-0C00-) , and ether bond (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety; and

(iii') a compound having (iii'-l) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii '-2) one or more, same or different bonds selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (-C0- ), ester bond (-C00-) , carbonate bond (-OCOO-) , and ether bond (-0-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii '-3) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (-COOH) and hydroxyl group (-0H) substituting a hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety;

with the proviso that when 2 or more same or

different bonds are inserted in the compound of (ϋ') or (iii') _f the bonds are not adjacent.

[0227]

[E6]

The absorbent article according to any one of E3 to E5, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (A) -(F), and any combination thereof:

(A) an ester of (Al) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(B) an ether of (Bl) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(C) an ester of (CI) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain

hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety and (C2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(D) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of an ether bond (-0-) , carbonyl bond (-CO-), ester bond (-COO-) and carbonate bond (-OCOO-) inserted between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety;

(E) a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol, or alkyl ester or alkyl ether thereof; and

(F) a chain hydrocarbon. [0228]

[E7]

The absorbent article according to any one of E3 to E6, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of (ai) an ester of a chain

hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid, (a ₂ ) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid, (a ₃ ) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid, (bi) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol,

(b ₂ ) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (b3) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (ci) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon

tetracarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 4 carboxyl groups, and at least one

aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (C2) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 3 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (c ₃ ) an esters of a chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 2 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (di) an ether of an

aliphatic monohydric alcohol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (d ₂ ) a dialkyl ketone, (d ₃ ) an ester of a fatty acids and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (d ₄ ) a dialkyl carbonate, (ei) a polyoxy C ₃ -C ₆ alkylene glycol, (e ₂ ) an ester of a polyoxy C3~C ₆ alkylene glycols and at least one fatty acid, (e ₃ ) an ether of a polyoxy C ₃ -C6 alkylene glycol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, and (fi) a chain alkane.

[0229]

[E7a]

The absorbent article according to E7, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group

consisting of (ai) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid, (a ₂ ) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid, (a ₃ ) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid, (c ₃ ) an esters of a chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 2

carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohols, (d ₃ ) an ester of a fatty acids and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (ei) a polyoxy C3-C5 alkylene glycol, and (fi) a chain alkane.

[0230]

[E8]

The absorbent article according to any one of E3 to E7b, wherein the absorbent article includes the second sheet and the basis weight of the blood modifying agent in the top sheet is greater than the basis weight of the blood modifying agent in the second sheet.

[E8a]

The absorbent article according to E8, wherein the second sheet includes a blood modifying agent with a basis weight of between about 1 and about 30 g/m ² , preferably between about 2 and about 20 g/m ² , and more preferably between about 3 and about 10 g/m ² .

[E8b]

The absorbent article according to E8 or E8a, wherein the top sheet comprises the blood modifying agent at a basis weight in the range of 1-30 g/m ² , preferably 2-20 g/m ² and more preferably 3-10 g/m ² .

[0231]

[E9]

The absorbent article according to any one of E3 to E8b, wherein the absorbent body further includes the blood modifying agent on the skin side.

[E9a]

The absorbent article according to E9, wherein the absorbent body includes a blood modifying agent with a basis weight of between about 1 and about 30 g/m ² , preferably between about 2 and about 20 g/m ² , and more preferably between about 3 and about 10 g/m ² . [0232]

[E9b]

The absorbent article according to any of E3 to E9a, wherein the basis weight of the blood modifying agent in the top sheet, the second sheet and, if desired, the absorbent body, is preferably, in total, between about 2 and about 60 g/m ² , more preferably between about 3 and about 40 g/m ² , and even more preferably between about 4 and about 20 g/m ² .

[E9c]

The absorbent article according to any of E3 to E9b, wherein the blood modifying agent in the top sheet, the second sheet and, if desired, in the absorbent body, may be the same or different.

[0233]

[E10]

An absorbent article according to any one of El to E9c, wherein the liquid-permeable top sheet is a nonwoven fabric or woven fabric, and the blood modifying agent is attached to the surfaces of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric or woven fabric.

[Ell]

The absorbent article according to any one of El to E10, wherein the blood-modifying agent has a vapour pressure of 0.00-0.01 Pa, preferably 0.000-0.001 Pa and more preferably 0.0000-0.0001 Pa, at 1 atmosphere and 25°C or at 1 atmosphere and 40°C.

[0234]

[E12]

The absorbent article according to any one of El to Ell, which is a sanitary napkin or panty liner.

[E13]

The absorbent article according to any one of E3 to E12, which is produced by spraying the blood modifying agent onto an absorbent article precursor having a liquid-permeable top sheet, an absorbent body, a liquid- impermeable back sheet and a second sheet between the liquid-permeable top sheet and the absorbent body, from the liquid-permeable top sheet side.

[0235]

[E14]

The absorbent article according to any one of El to

E12a, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of:

UNISTAR H-408BRS

U ISTAR H-2408BRS-22

and/or the group consisting of

Cetiol SB45DEO

Soy 42

Tri-C2L oil fatty acid glyceride

Tri-CL oil fatty acid glyceride

PANACET 810s

PANACET 800

PANACET 800B

NA36

Tri-coconut fatty acid glyceride

Caprylic acid diglyceride

and/or the group consisting of

COMPOL BL

COMPOL BS

U ISTAR H-208BRS

and/or the group consisting of

Dioctyl adipate

and/or the group consisting of

ELECTOL WE20

ELECTOL WE40

and/or the group consisting of

UNIOL PB500

UNIOL PB700

and/or the group consisting of

PARLEAM 6

all as described hereinabove.

[0236]

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2011-217904 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

References Signs List

[0237]

1 Sanitary napkin

2 Top sheet

3 Depressed section

4 Blood modifying agent-containing area