WO1998036722A1

WO1998036722A1 - Method of manufacturing a material for use as a cover layer for absorbent articles

Info

Publication number: WO1998036722A1
Application number: PCT/SE1998/000293
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nils Ljungqvist
Original assignee: Sca Hygiene Products Ab
Priority date: 1997-02-21
Filing date: 1998-02-19
Publication date: 1998-08-27
Also published as: AU6127898A; SE9700607D0; ZA981389B; PE43499A1; SE513204C2; TNSN98028A1; SE9700607L

Abstract

Method of manufacturing a cover material (1) for absorbent articles, such as diapers, incontinence protectors, sanitary napkins, or the like, wherein individual fibres (3), each exhibiting a first fibre end and a second fibre end, are applied with the first fibre end against a carrier layer (2), wherein the fibres (3), at least at the first fibre end, in cross section exhibit a first portion primarily consisting of a first component, and a second portion primarily consisting of a second component, wherein at least the first component is fusible and exhibits a melting temperature at which the second component occurs in a solid state, wherein only the first component is caused to melt, at least at the first fibre end of the fibres (3), whereby the fibres (3) attach to the carrier layer (2), whereafter the temperature of the fibres is lowered to a temperature below the melting temperature of the first component, whereby a solid connection between the fibres (3) and the carrier layer (2) is obtained. The invention also relates to a cover material (1) manufactured according to the method, and an absorbent article provided with the cover material.

Description

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A MATERIAL FOR USE AS A COVER LAYER FOR ABSORBENT ARTICLES

TECHNICAL FIELD:

The invention pertains to a method of manufacturing a material for use as a cover layer for absorbent articles, such as for example sanitary napkins, incontinence protectors, diapers or the like. The invention also relates to a material manufactured according to the method, and an absorbent article provided with the material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

When using absorbent articles for absorption of body fluids, great demands are made on the cover inside of which the absorbent body is enclosed. The portion of the cover which is located closest to the user during use and, accordingly, first is hit by excreted body fluid should be liquid-permeable and further exhibit a dry surface after wetting. It is further desirable that the liquid-pervious cover which abuts on the skin exhibits a soft and smooth surface.

The portion of the cover which is intended to be located furthest away from the user during use should be liquid- impermeable. A previously known problem when using absorbent articles is that the article often slips and/or is creased when the user moves about. In order to eliminate this problem it is desirable that the cover layer exhibits a certain friction against external garments, such as underpants or the like. Another previously known problem when a baby uses a diaper which exhibits a film-like outer cover is that it is difficult to carry the baby when it is not wearing any underpants. The reason for this is that it is difficult to get a stable grip of the baby because of the low friction of the film cover.

In order to achieve a textile-like surface it is common to use nonwoven material as the outermost cover layer of absorbent articles. One problem when using such materials is, however, that the fibre structure of the material absorbs liquid when the cover layer is wetted. The most important reason for part of the liquid remaining in the fibre structure is that textile materials, as a rule, consist of an irregularly shaped fibre structure with fibres or fibre filaments directed along the plane of the material. This implies that excreted liquid, by means of the capillary action of the fibres, is distributed in the fibre structure in the plane of the material. A certain amount of liquid remains in the fibre structure because of incomplete drainage.

From US 3,967,623 it is previously known to use a liquid- pervious cover layer consisting of a perforated plastic layer as a carrier material onto which fibres treated with wetting agent are applied in order to create a soft and fluffy surface. The individual fibres are oriented so that they are directed upwards towards the user during use and are approximately 5 mm long. Since the fibres are directed upwards towards the user, a soft and fluffy surface is created. However, the problem remains that the liquid transfer from the fibres to the underlying absorbent body is poor, which results in the surface closest to the user remaining wet after wetting.

BE 09300552 relates to a cover layer for an absorbent article, which cover layer consists of a plastic film which at least on one side is covered by fibres which are attached at an angle to the plastic film. In order to obtain such a structure, the fibres may, for example by means of flocking, be attached with one of their fibre ends against a fused fibre fixation layer on the plastic film. Accordingly, the carrier layer comprises at least two layers, a bottom layer and a fibre fixation layer. During the attachment, the carrier layer is brought to a temperature between the melting temperatures of the two layers.

The cover layer may either be used as a liquid-pervious cover layer or as a liquid-impervious cover layer. For use as a liquid-pervious cover layer, the plastic film is perforated. The fibres which are used are 0.3 to 2.5 mm long and the thickness may be varied with regard to how soft the layer should be. Different fibres may be used, such as for example viscose, cotton, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester and polyamide. Where use as a cover layer is concerned, such a layer is obtained which exhibits a soft and textile-like surface. However, the material is comparatively expensive to manufacture, which implies that the use as a cover layer for disposables is limited in practice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a material for use as a cover layer for absorbent articles, which cover layer exhibits a soft and textile-like surface.

According to the invention, this has been achieved by means of individual fibres, each exhibiting a first fibre end and a second fibre end, being applied with the first fibre end against a carrier layer. In cross-section the fibres exhibit a first portion primarily consisting of a first component, and a second portion primarily consisting of a second component, wherein at least the first component is fusible and exhibits a melting temperature at which the second component occurs in a solid state. Only the first component is caused to melt, whereby the fibres attach against the carrier layer, whereafter the temperature of the fibres is lowered to a temperature below the melting temperature of the first component, whereby a solid connection between the fibres and the carrier layer is obtained.

The advantage of attaching the fibres to the carrier layer by means of causing the first component to melt is that the need for a special adhesive for attaching the fibres to the carrier layer is eliminated. Nor is there a need for any special, fusible fibre fixation layer, which implies that the carrier layer may be constituted of a single material layer. A further advantage with the attachment method according to the invention is that the shape of the fibre is maintained, since at least one of the components remains in a solid state during the fixation stage.

According to one embodiment, both the first and the second component are fusible, wherein the second component exhibits a melting temperature which is higher than the melting temperature of the first component. When attaching the fibres against the carrier layer, the first component of the fibres is caused to melt at a temperature which is higher than the melting temperature of the first component but lower than the melting temperature of the second component.

The attachment of the fibres onto the carrier layer may be done according to two somewhat different principles. Accordingly, the first component can be caused to melt, whereafter the first end of the fibres is brought into contact with the carrier layer. This implies that the first component is transferred into a melted state before the fibres are brought into contact with the carrier layer.

According to an alternative embodiment, one end of the fibres is first brought into contact with the carrier layer, whereafter the first component is caused to melt. Thereby, the carrier layer exhibits a temperature which is higher than the melting temperature of the first component of the fibres, implying that the fibre end which is applied to the carrier layer melts and attaches to the carrier layer. An advantage with this embodiment is that only the fibre end melts, which results in the original structure of the fibres being maintained to a greater extent than when fusion takes place at an earlier stage.

The invention also relates to a cover material for absorbent articles, such as diapers, incontinence protectors, sanitary napkins, or the like, which material exhibits a carrier layer against which individual fibres, detached from each other and each exhibiting two fibre ends, are attached with a first fibre end against the carrier layer with an attachment angle α between the carrier layer and each individual fibre. The invention is primarily characterized in that the fibres, at least at the first fibre end, in cross-section exhibit a first portion primarily consisting of a first component, and a second portion primarily consisting of a second component, wherein at least the first component is fusible and exhibits a melting temperature at which the second component occurs in a solid state, wherein the fibres are attached to the carrier layer by means of melting of the first component.

According to one embodiment, the fibres are constituted of bicomponent fibres, exhibiting a fibre surface primarily consisting of the first component and a core primarily consisting of the second component. Either before or after the application, the fibres have been heated to a temperature above the melting temperature of the first component, i.e. the melting temperature of the fibre surface. This implies that a fused end surface has been formed on each individual bicomponent fibre, whereby it has been possible to attach the fibre with the fused end surface against the carrier layer. The fibre core, which is constituted of the second component, is responsible for maintaining the fibre shape, since it remains in a solid state during the fibre fixation step. The advantage with such a manufacturing method is that the fibres have extremely good attaching properties, since the entire fibre surface at least at one of the fibre ends melts.

According to another embodiment, the fibres are constituted of bicomponent fibres exhibiting a fibre surface consisting primarily of the second component, and a fibre core consisting primarily of the first component. In this embodiment, the fibres attach to the carrier layer by means of the fibre core being caused to melt. An advantage with this embodiment is that the fibre surface is maintained in a solid state, implying that the risk of an uneven fibre surface arising when the melted component is transferred into a solid phase is eliminated. This is above all significant when the material is to be used as a liquid- pervious cover layer closest to the user and thereby is to exhibit a soft and smooth surface against the skin.

According to still another embodiment, the cover layer is manufactured by means of the carrier layer being brought to a temperature above the melting temperature of the first component of the fibres. Thereby, the first component only melts at the ends of the fibres, when the fibres are brought into contact with the carrier layer. When the carrier layer cools down, the fibres attach to the carrier layer by means of the melted component of the fibres being solidified. An advantage with such an embodiment is that the structure of the fibres is almost entirely maintained. The reason for this is that only the part of the fusible first component which comes into contact with the hot carrier layer melts, i.e. only the fibre end is caused to melt.

According to one embodiment, the carrier layer comprises a textile material, such as for example a nonwoven. This embodiment primarily relates to a material for use as a liquid-pervious cover layer. Thereby, an advantage is that a hydrophilic nonwoven is liquid-pervious in itself. This implies that the carrier layer does not have to be perforated when the cover layer is used as a liquid- pervious surface layer on an absorbent article. A further advantage with using a hydrophilic nonwoven as a carrier layer is that such a material has the ability to distribute liquid in the plane of the material layer. Accordingly, such a carrier layer also functions as a liquid distributing layer. The fibres, which are attached with one of their fibre ends against the carrier layer and with the other fibre end at a distance from the surface of the layer, isolate the liquid distributed in the nonwoven structure from contact with the body of the user.

The fibre density may vary across the surface of the carrier layer. This implies that the carrier layer exhibits a difference in the number of attached fibres per unit of area across the surface. The advantage with a varying fibre density is that the possibility to guide the liquid in the desired direction is increased when the material is used as a liquid-pervious cover layer. A varied fibre density across the surface may thus reduce the risk that the region around the wetting point is saturated with liquid, with leakage as a consequence. For instance, the cover layer may exhibit alternating denser and sparser longitudinal portions in the longitudinal direction of the article. For use of the material as a liquid-impervious cover layer, the desired friction against the underpants of the user may be obtained by, inter alia, varying the fibre density.

The attachment angle α, between the carrier layer and each individual fibre, may vary between 30-90°. For liquid- pervious cover layers, the advantage with an angle which is approximately 90° is that the body fluid rapidly is conducted in a direction straight into the carrier layer, and further to the underlying absorbent structure. Thereby, the risk of the article being perceived as wet is minimized.

According to another embodiment, the angle between the carrier layer and each individual fibre is 30-70°. Since the fibres are angled so that they exhibit a smaller angle than 90°, between the surface of the carrier layer and the individual fibres, the surface maintains a clean and dry visual impression also after use, since the oblique fibres disguise the liquid-pervious carrier layer so that this is not visible when the user observes the cover layer straight from above.

The choice of fibres, and the choice of carrier layers, is to a high degree dependent of whether the material shall be used as a liquid-impervious cover layer located closest to the user, or as a liquid-impervious cover layer in contact with a pair of underpants. When using the material as a liquid-pervious cover layer, it is important to create softness and dryness. When using the material as a liquid- impervious cover layer, it is instead important that the material exhibits high friction against an external, usually textile material. Thanks to the possibility to vary the pattern structure, as well as the fibre type, the fibre length, and the type of carrier layer which is used, within the scope of the invention, it is possible to achieve a cover layer, the properties of which are particularly adapted to the intended use.

Furthermore, the invention includes an absorbent article, such as a sanitary napkin, a panty-liner, a diaper, or the like, comprising an absorbent body enclosed in a cover, wherein at least a portion of the cover consists of a cover layer manufactured according to the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the figures which are shown in the attached drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section through a material manufactured according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows examples of fibres consisting of two components ;

Fig. 3 shows a sanitary napkin, according to the invention, seen from the side which is intended to be facing away from the user during use, and

Fig. 4 shows another cross-section through a material manufactured according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

The material 1, shown in Fig. 1, consists of a carrier layer 2 onto which individual fibres 3 are attached. The individual fibres 3 are attached to the carrier layer 2 with one of their ends, whereas the other, free end is directed away from the carrier layer, whereby the individual fibres are arranged at an angle a to the carrier layer. In the shown example, the attachment angle α is approximately 90°, but may of course vary somewhat between the different fibres.

When attaching the fibres 3 to the carrier material 2 , the fibres 3 are oriented so that one of the fibre ends is directed towards the carrier layer 2. This fibre orientation is achieved, for instance, by means of flocking, whereby the fibres are oriented either mechanically or in an electrostatic way. The fibre orientation may also be achieved by means of a combination of mechanical and electrostatic orientation.

In mechanical flocking, the fibres 3 are oriented by means of an air stream, containing the fibres, being directed towards the carrier material in the desired fibre direction, whereby the fibres are applied with one fibre end against the carrier material.

The fibre orientation may also be obtained by means of placing the carrier material on a support which is caused to vibrate. When applying the fibres, accordingly, the carrier material is vibrating which implies that the fibres do not attach to the carrier material in the longitudinal direction of the fibres, but instead are oriented so that only one of the fibre ends of the fibres is attached to the carrier layer 2. Where mechanical flocking is concerned, the desired orientation is preferably achieved by means of a combination of the above-mentioned methods, i.e. the carrier material is subjected to vibration at the same time as the fibres are directed by means of an applied air stream.

In electro-static flocking, the fact that each fibre exhibits dipoles, i.e. a certain charge difference between different areas on the fibre, is utilized. The fibre exhibits this charge difference in itself or, alternatively, the fibre is treated in order to obtain/magnify the dipole of the fibre. By means of earthing the belt which the carrier material abuts on, the fibres 3 are oriented by the created potential difference during the application.

The fibres 3, which are applied against the carrier material 2, exhibit a cross-sectional surface consisting of a first portion primarily consisting of a first component, and a second portion primarily consisting of a second component. The first component is fusible and exhibits a melting temperature at which the second component occurs in a solid state. When attaching the fibres 3, only the first component is caused to melt, at least at the first fibre end of the fibres 3, whereby the melted, first component which is in direct contact with the carrier layer 2 adheres to this layer.

The first fibre component is transferred into a melted state by means of the carrier layer exhibiting a temperature above the melting temperature of the first component during the attachment. The carrier layer may obtain such a temperature by means of the layer being heated from below, for example by means of IR-radiation. It is also possible that the first component of the fibre has been transferred into a melted state already before the application against the carrier material. This may be achieved by means of, for example, hot air.

When the fibres 3 later cool down, the melted component is once more transferred into a solid state. By means of this, a solid connection between the fibres 3 and the carrier layer 2 is obtained. Since one of the fibre components has a lower melting temperature than the other component, the need for a special attachment means such as adhesive, or a fibre fixation layer for attaching the fibres 3 to the carrier layer 2, is eliminated. The carrier layer 2, shown in Fig. 1, is constituted of a single material layer, such as for example a plastic film or a nonwoven. The carrier layer may of course also be constituted of a laminate consisting of for example a nonwoven and a film in order to obtain the desired properties for use as a cover or part of a cover for an absorbent article.

The fibres 3 consist of, for example, bicomponent fibres, wherein the fibre surface consists of the first component, and the core consists of the second component, wherein the first component exhibits a lower melting temperature than the second component, so that the fibre surface is caused to melt, either before or after the application against the carrier layer 2. The first component is for example constituted of polyethylene, such as for example LDPE (low density polyethylene), LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene) or HDPE (high density polyethylene). Furthermore, the first component may be constituted of co- polymers such as for example EVA (ethylene vinylacetate) , EMA (ethylene methylacrylate) , EBA (ethylene butylacrylate) or EVOH (ethylene vinylalcohol) . Alternatively, the first component may consist of two or several materials, or material mixtures, which may be melted before or after the application against the carrier layer. The core of the fibres 3 is constituted of the second component. The second component is constituted of, for example, polypropylene or polyester. The second component may of course also consist of other materials, or material blends, which exhibit a higher melting point than the first component. For instance, the second component may comprise materials which are not synthetic fibres, such as cotton and rayon. The fibres may further be constituted of bicomponent fibres, which are constituted of a fibre surface consisting of the second component and a core consisting of the first component. In this case, accordingly, it is the fibre core which melts and attaches to the carrier layer. The fibres 3 may further be constituted of other bicomponent fibres, such as for example side-by-side fibres, i.e. fibres with a cross-section exhibiting a first region consisting of the first component and a second region consisting of the second component.

Fig. 2 shows three different types of bicomponent fibres 203, 213, 223, useful for the purpose of the invention. The fibre 203 is a concentric bicomponent fibre with a cross- section exhibiting a fibre core 205, and an enclosing fibre cover 204. The fibre core 205 consists of a first component and the fibre surface 204 consist of a second component.

The fibre 213 is an eccentric bicomponent fibre with a cross-section exhibiting a first region 215 and a second region 214. The first region 215 exhibits a substantially round core which consists of one of the components and the second region 214 partially, but not entirely, encloses the first region and is constituted of the second component.

The fibre 223 is a further bicomponent fibre, a so-called side-by-side fibre with a cross-section exhibiting two substantially similar regions 224, 225, wherein the two regions constitute two halves of the fibre. The first region 224 is constituted of one of the components, and the second region 225 is constituted of the second component.

The cover layer 301, shown in Fig. 3, has a similar construction to that of the cover layer 1, shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly, the cover layer 301 exhibits a carrier layer

302, such as the carrier layer 2 shown in Fig. 1, onto which fibres 303 are attached. The fibres 303 are attached to limited regions of the total area of the carrier layer 302, whereby the carrier layer 302 exhibits regions which are free from fibres 303.

The fibres 303 are attached with one of their ends, whereas the other, free end is directed away from the carrier layer 302, whereby the attachment angle α, between the individual fibres 303 and the carrier layer 302, is 30-70°, preferably approximately 45°. Since the individual fibres are angled to the carrier layer 302 with an angle which is smaller than 90°, this implies that the regions of the carrier layer 302 which are free from fibres 303 are not visible when the cover layer 301 is observed from above.

The sanitary napkin 400, shown in Fig. 4, comprises an absorbent body 406 enclosed inside a cover 401, 405. The cover comprises a liquid-pervious layer 401 and a liquid- impervious layer 405.

The absorbent body 406, enclosed between the cover layers 401, 405, is usually composed of one or several layers of cellulose fluff pulp. The cellulose fluff pulp may be blended with fibres or particles of a highly absorbent polymeric material of the type which during absorption chemically binds large quantities of liquid while forming a liquid-containing gel. In order to improve the properties of the absorbent body 406, additional components may further be included in the absorbent body. Examples of such components are binder fibres, shape-stabilizing components, or the like. Furthermore, the absorbent body 406 can also be constituted of a foam absorbent body, or of any other liquid-absorbent material.

The cover layers 401, 405 have a larger extension in the plane of the sanitary napkin 400 than the absorbent body 406, around the entire periphery of this. The projecting portions 408 of the cover layers 401, 405 are mutually connected around the absorbent body 406, for example by means of gluing, welding, or in another way.

The cover layer 401 has a similar construction to that of the cover layer 1 shown in Fig. 1 and, accordingly, exhibits a carrier layer 402, to which fibres 403 are attached. The fibres 403 are attached to the carrier layer 402 with an attachment angle a which is approximately 90°, but which of course may vary somewhat between the different fibres. The individual fibres 403 are uniformly distributed across the entire surface of the carrier layer 402. The carrier layer 402 may be constituted of a plastic film, which has been perforated in order to obtain liquid- penetrability. Alternatively, the carrier layer 402 may be constituted of a nonwoven, preferably a hydrophilic nonwoven which also has the ability to function as a distributing layer. In order to obtain a dry surface in contact with the skin of the user, and in order to at the same time obtain a cover layer which effectively conducts the liquid downwards towards the underlying absorbent structure, the fibres 403 may be constituted of bicomponent fibres exhibiting a hydrophobic surface, such as for example a surface comprising polyethylene, and a fibre core comprising a less hydrophobic material, such as for example polyester.

The liquid-impervious cover layer 405 has a similar construction to that of the cover layer shown in Fig. 1 and, accordingly, exhibits a carrier layer 402, onto which fibres 403 are attached. The fibres 403 are attached against the carrier layer 402 with an attachment angle a which is approximately 90°, but which of course may vary somewhat between the different fibres. The individual fibres 403 are uniformly distributed across the entire surface of the carrier layer 402. The carrier layer 402 is constituted of a liquid-impervious plastic film, but the carrier layer 402 may of course also be constituted of another liquid-impervious material, such as for example a hydrophobicated fibre fabric.

In the sanitary napkin 400, accordingly, both the liquid- pervious cover layer 401 and the liquid-impervious cover layer 405 are constituted of material according to the invention. It is of course also possible that only one of the cover layers is constituted of material according to the invention, wherein either the liquid-pervious cover, or the liquid-impervious cover, are constituted of any other material, or that the liquid-impervious cover is constituted of any other material, say of a conventional type. The liquid-pervious cover layer may, for example, be constituted of a nonwoven, a perforated plastic film, or a laminate thereof. The liquid-impervious material may for example be constituted of a plastic film, a hydrophobicated textile material, or a laminate thereof. Furthermore, the cover layers may consist of other materials suitable for the use.

The invention further relates to all conceivable combinations of the above-mentioned embodiments, and is also applicable for other embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. Method of manufacturing a cover material ( 1 ) for absorbent articles, such as diapers, incontinence protectors, sanitary napkins, or the like, wherein individual fibres (3), each exhibiting a first fibre end and a second fibre end, are applied with the first fibre end against a carrier layer (2), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the fibres (3), at least at the first fibre end, in cross-section exhibit at least a first portion primarily consisting of a first component, and a second portion primarily consisting of a second component, wherein at least the first component is fusible and exhibits a melting temperature at which the second component occurs in a solid state, wherein only the first component is caused to melt, at least at the first fibre end of the fibres, whereby the fibres (3) attach against the carrier layer (2), whereafter the temperature of the fibres (3) is lowered to a temperature below the melting temperature of the first component, whereby a solid connection between the fibres ( 3 ) and the carrier layer ( 2 ) is obtained.

2. Method, according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the second component is fusible and exhibits a melting temperature which is higher than the melting temperature of the first component, wherein the first component is caused to melt at a temperature which is higher than the melting temperature of the first component but lower than the melting temperature of the second component.

3. Method, according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the first component is caused to melt, whereafter the first end of the fibres (3) is brought into contact with the carrier layer (2).

4. Method, according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the first end of the fibres (3) is brought into contact with the carrier layer (2), whereafter the first component is caused to melt.

5. Cover material (1) for absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence protectors, sanitary napkins (400), or the like, which material exhibits a carrier layer (2) against which individual fibres (3), detached from each other and each exhibiting two fibre ends, are attached with a first fibre end against the carrier layer (2) with an attachment angle between the carrier layer ( 2 ) and each individual fibre ( 3 ) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cross-sectional area of the fibres (3), at least at the first fibre end, exhibits a first portion primarily consisting of a first component, and a second portion primarily consisting of second component, wherein at least the first component is fusible and exhibits a melting temperature at which the second component occurs in a solid state, wherein the fibres (3) are attached to the carrier layer (2) by means of melting of the first component.

6. Cover material, according to the preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the fibres (3) are constituted of bicomponent fibres with a fibre surface consisting of the first component, and a core consisting of the second component.

7. Cover material, according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the fibres (3) are constituted of bicomponent fibres with a fibre surface consisting of the second component, and a core consisting of the first component.

8. Cover material, according to any one of claims 5-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the carrier layer (2) is liquid-pervious.

9. Cover material, according to any one of claims 5-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the carrier layer (2) comprises a nonwoven.

10. Cover material, according to any one of claims 5-9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the carrier layer (2) comprises a perforated plastic film.

11. Cover material, according to any one of the claims 5- 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the carrier layer (2) is liquid-impervious.

12. Absorbent article, such as a diaper, an incontinence protector, a sanitary napkin (400), or the like, comprising an absorbent body (406) enclosed in a cover, wherein at least a portion of the cover comprises a carrier layer (402) against which individual fibres (403), detached from each other and each exhibiting a first and a second fibre end, are attached with the first fibre end against a carrier layer (402), with an attachment angle ╬▒ between the carrier layer (402) and each fibre (403), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the fibres (403), at least at the first fibre end, in cross-section exhibit a first portion primarily consisting of a first component, and a second portion primarily consisting of a second component, wherein at least the first component is fusible and exhibits a melting temperature at which the second component occurs in a solid state, wherein the fibres (403) are attached to the carrier layer (402) by means of melting of the first component.