Paper: Nonwoven and Personal Hygiene
20 JAN 2021

Paper: Nonwoven and Personal Hygiene

Historical and Economic context

The fast evolution, as well as the transformation of today's society and its consumption habits have impacted, on a large scale, the entire goods industry, which has become crucial to people's daily lives.

The demanding hygiene market was no exception and, for the past 10 years, it has been following the entire trend of the products it offers, with variations in different parts of the world.

Diapers, as we know them today, are made of an absorbent pad between two linings (Non-Woven and Polyethylene), whose main purpose is to absorb and to retain body fluids. The production of these diapers is done step by step, the first being the development of the absorbent pad. On a second phase, the process includes the bonding of a permeable upper and a lower impermeable coating. Elastic fibers are also applied so that, when using the diaper, you are able to adjust it to the baby's body. This is conducted in a way that the fluids are then absorbed by the pillow, which is positioned below the upper layer.

Diaper production technology continues to evolve, therefore thousands of diaper design and construction patents have been registered in the last couple of years. Nowadays, you can find diapers for specific gender and age of each baby, with humidity indicators and different types of finish. Currently, disposable diapers lodge a greater amount of sales in the market, thanks to the innovation and simplicity concepts in their use.

The feminine hygiene industry also sees an absolute change in the design and technology of products: presently, sanitary towels are thinner and more compact, thus allowing an increasingly faster application, and a safer, more sustainable use. They have greater absorption, being able to go unnoticed, as they provide an increasingly efficient response to a problem that women were looking to solve - odor.

At the moment, this market is defined for its exponential offer, taking into account a growing demand for disposable and easy-to-use products that guarantee an eco-friendly production, at the lowest possible price. Hence, producers and suppliers of raw materials are faced with these factors in the design of an increasingly sophisticated product, which assures maximum safety and comfort. Even though its primary function - maintaining quality absorption, whilst upholding the feeling of well-being and safety – is the same, the truth is that feminine hygiene products have two other important features: greater discretion and maximum comfort.

The Role of Hot Melt Glues

The growth in demand for disposable hygiene products, coupled with its unstoppable and ever-increasing use will result, as expected, in an evolution in requests for nonwoven adhesives. These adhesives offer high elasticity, outstanding performance and efficiency in the production of hygiene products. In fact, it is for this same reason that they are of such importance in the production of feminine hygiene products for babies and adults, and it is possible to verify the impact of this evolution in the final product.

Producers, on the other hand, also find great rewards in this advancement: the raw materials needed for production are more and better, there is greater variety and choice of processes and the technologies and the techniques for application are more diversified. While this evolution requires the continuous search for new solutions by diaper producers, the demand for new and more sophisticated raw materials also increases, compelling them to modernize. The developments that have been made in the field of adhesive production for the hygiene market are, in fact, proof of this scenario.

Colquímica Adhesives Technologies

Taking into account both the particularities and the needs of the hygiene market, Colquímica Adhesives has been transforming, for 65 years, the production of specific adhesives for the composition of disposable products - namely for construction, core, elastic, positioning and special applications. All adhesives developed for this industry consider their end use: being in contact with the skin of final consumers. Consequently, during their development processes, it is underlined the importance of complying with the relevant certifications for each application, namely the ISO 10993, regarding the dermatological safety of products.

Accordingly, there have been developments in adhesives favorable to the production of products for the hygiene market, ones that allow the final products to meet consumer expectations: comfort, convenience, performance, discretion, safety and confidence, among others. The permanent wisdom of searching for new and better technologies in the production of hot melt adhesives has allowed Colquímica Adhesives to remain at the forefront in the hygiene industry. Recognized by its partners and end consumers as a trendsetter, it is through innovation that Colquímica Adhesives maintains the quality of its products and technologies. As a result, it is essential to understand to which extent the advanced.

Colquímica Adhesives technologies bring noticeable benefits for the end consumers in this sector. The different technologies developed by Colquímica Adhesives, with polyolefin bases, rubber-based polymer or HIPO, are constantly evolving and have followed and created global trends in each industry.

Always bearing in mind its primary function - ensuring strong absorption and safety - Colquímica Adhesives works with its customers to ensure that disposable products meet two other important factors: greater discretion and maximum comfort.

 

Colquímica Adhesives