Understanding Fluff Pulp in Sanitary Napkins

What is Fluff Pulp?

Fluff pulp is a type of absorbent pulp used in the production of various hygiene products.

Definition

Fluff pulp is wood or grass pulp that has undergone processes such as bleaching and extraction of organic solvent extractives.

Raw Materials

  

Softwood is the best raw material for producing fluff pulp, but there is also grass fluff pulp, which mainly uses rice straw and wheat straw as raw materials.

General Properties

    Brightness: The fibers of fluff pulp should have high brightness, which not only affects the appearance of the product but is also related to hygiene standards. High-brightness fluff pulp can provide a cleaner feeling when used in hygiene products.

    Organic Solvent Extractives: The content of organic solvent extractives in softwood raw materials is high, mainly including resin acids, terpenoid compounds, fatty acids, and unsaponifiable substances; the content in hardwood is lower, mainly fatty acids. The extractives in non-wood raw materials are mainly fats and waxes. Different raw materials have different types and contents of organic solvent extractives, which also affect the quality of fluff pulp. The content of organic solvent extractives affects the water absorption and hygiene performance of fluff pulp.

    Fiber Length and Distribution: The longer the fiber length of fluff pulp, the greater the strength and coarseness of the fiber, and the greater the bulk density of the fluff pulp board, making it easier to fluff. When fluffing, the fibers are less damaged, there is less dust, and the fluffed fluff pulp has larger gaps between fibers after forming, resulting in better liquid absorption performance and core pad integrity.

Pulp Board Properties

    Basis Weight: This refers to the weight per unit area of the pulp board, usually expressed in grams per square meter. The size of the basis weight affects the thickness and strength of the pulp board, and thus the performance of the final product.

    Density: This indicates the compactness of the pulp board and is an important quality indicator. Fluff pulp boards are required to have a relatively high bulk density, that is, low density, to facilitate fluffing and subsequent processing and use.

    Bursting Strength: This reflects the pulp board's ability to resist rupture. The bursting strength of fluff pulp boards is relatively low, which allows it to more easily separate into individual fibers during processing, forming a fluffy fluff structure.

    Moisture Content: The moisture content in the pulp board affects its processing performance and storage stability. An appropriate moisture content can maintain the softness of the pulp board, facilitating subsequent processing, but too high or too low moisture content may adversely affect product quality.

Fluff Properties

    Bulk Density: This is the volume occupied by a unit mass of fluff pulp, reflecting the fluffiness of the fluff pulp. The greater the bulk density, the fluffier the fluff pulp, and the better its water absorption performance.

    Wetting Time and Wetting Speed: Wetting time refers to the time it takes for fluff pulp to absorb a certain amount of liquid, while wetting speed is the amount of liquid absorbed by the fluff pulp per unit time. These two indicators reflect the water absorption performance of fluff pulp. Fluff pulp with short wetting time and high wetting speed can more quickly absorb liquid and keep the skin dry.

    Absorption Capacity: This indicates the amount of liquid that fluff pulp can absorb and is an important indicator of its water absorption ability. Fluff pulp with high absorption capacity can absorb more liquid, extending the usage time of hygiene products.

Other Properties

    Softness: Fluff pulp fibers are soft and have a certain elasticity, which allows them to provide a comfortable feeling when used in hygiene products.

    Breathability: The fluffy fiber structure of fluff pulp helps air circulation, allowing hygiene products to remain breathable during use. This reduces the production of odors and lowers the risk of skin infections caused by a damp environment.

    Hygiene Standards: Fluff pulp must meet specified hygiene standards to ensure that it does not pose health hazards when used in hygiene products.

Advantages of Fluff Pulp in Sanitary Napkin Production

• Good Water Absorption: Fluff pulp fibers have strong hydrophilicity and can quickly absorb liquid. When liquid comes into contact with fluff pulp, the fibers rapidly swell, absorbing the liquid and spreading it throughout the absorption layer. This allows sanitary napkins to quickly absorb menstrual blood, reducing the time the liquid stays on the surface and keeping the skin dry.

• Excellent Diffusion: The loose fiber structure of fluff pulp creates a large void space in the absorption layer. After the liquid is absorbed, it can quickly and evenly diffuse throughout the absorption layer. This diffusion performance helps prevent the liquid from accumulating in local areas, avoiding overly wet spots. Additionally, good diffusion reduces the likelihood of liquid rewetting, further improving the effectiveness of sanitary napkins.

• Soft and Comfortable: Fluff pulp fibers are soft and have a certain elasticity. When used in the production of sanitary napkins, these soft fiber characteristics provide a comfortable tactile sensation for users. Even with prolonged use, they do not cause discomfort or irritation to the skin. This is very important for the comfort experience of women using sanitary napkins during their menstrual period.

• High Bulk Density: Fluff pulp fibers are very fluffy. This fluffy structure can increase the thickness of the absorption layer in sanitary napkins, thereby enhancing their absorption capacity. At the same time, high bulk density allows sanitary napkins to maintain their shape after absorbing liquid, avoiding excessive flattening or deformation, further improving the user experience.

• Good Core Pad Integrity: Fluff pulp can form a core pad with a certain degree of integrity during processing. This means that the fibers in the absorption layer do not easily scatter or break during use. This not only helps maintain the structural stability of the sanitary napkin but also prevents fiber residues from causing skin irritation.

• Synergistic Effect with Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP): In the production of sanitary napkins, fluff pulp is usually mixed with superabsorbent polymers (SAP). The good fiber characteristics of fluff pulp can play a high-efficiency liquid distribution role, allowing the liquid absorbed into the core layer to quickly and evenly spread out, thereby avoiding the occurrence of SAP blockage. This synergistic effect can further improve the absorption performance and effectiveness of sanitary napkins.

Benefits of Using Fluff Pulp in Sanitary Napkins

Using fluff pulp to make sanitary napkins offers many benefits to both consumers and manufacturers.

Benefits for Consumers

• Good Absorption Performance

       Fast Water Absorption: Fluff pulp fibers have strong hydrophilicity and can quickly absorb menstrual blood, reducing the time the liquid stays on the surface of the sanitary napkin and keeping the skin dry. For example, during heavy menstrual flow, it can quickly absorb menstrual blood, avoiding the accumulation of blood on the surface of the sanitary napkin and reducing the risk of side leakage.

       Large Water Absorption Capacity: The loose fiber structure of fluff pulp creates a large void space in the absorption layer, which can absorb a large amount of liquid. This allows sanitary napkins to maintain their absorption capacity for a longer time during use, reducing the frequency of replacement and making it more convenient for consumers to use.

       Uniform Diffusion: Fluff pulp can quickly and evenly diffuse liquid throughout the absorption layer, preventing the liquid from accumulating in local areas. This can prevent local over-wetness and reduce the likelihood of liquid rewetting, further improving the effectiveness of sanitary napkins and making users more comfortable.

• High Comfort Level

    Soft and Skin-friendly: Fluff pulp fibers are soft and have a certain elasticity, and do not cause discomfort or irritation when in contact with the skin. Even with prolonged use, they can maintain skin comfort and reduce skin problems caused by friction or compression, such as redness and itching.

    Good Breathability: The fluffy fiber structure of fluff pulp increases the breathability of the absorption layer in sanitary napkins, allowing better air circulation. This helps keep the skin dry, reduces the production of odors, and also lowers the risk of skin infections caused by a damp environment.

• High Safety

    Low Chemical Residue: Fluff pulp undergoes strict bleaching and treatment during production to remove some harmful substances, such as organic solvent extractives. Therefore, sanitary napkins made from fluff pulp are relatively safe, with less chemical residue and less irritation to the female private parts.

    Fiber Non-shedding: The core pad formed by fluff pulp has a certain degree of integrity, and fibers do not easily scatter or break during use. This can prevent fiber residues from causing skin irritation and reduce health problems caused by fibers entering the body.

Benefits for Manufacturers

• High Cost-effectiveness

    Wide Range of Raw Materials: The raw materials for fluff pulp are mainly wood or herbaceous plants, which are abundant and have relatively stable prices. This gives manufacturers more choices when purchasing raw materials and can reduce production costs.

    Mature Production Technology: The production technology of fluff pulp is relatively mature, with lower equipment and technical requirements during the production process. This helps manufacturers reduce equipment investment and production costs and improve production efficiency.

• Stable Product Performance

    High Quality Consistency: The fiber characteristics of fluff pulp are relatively stable, which can ensure the quality consistency of sanitary napkins. During production, fluff pulp can stably perform its absorption and diffusion functions, allowing each sanitary napkin to meet the expected standards and improve the overall quality of the product.

    Easy Processing: Fluff pulp fibers are soft and have a certain elasticity, making them easy to form and cut during processing. This allows manufacturers to more conveniently carry out various processing operations when producing sanitary napkins, improving production efficiency and product quality.

• High Product Added Value

    Synergistic Effect with Other Materials: Fluff pulp can work synergistically with superabsorbent polymers (SAP) and other materials to further improve the absorption performance and effectiveness of sanitary napkins. This synergistic effect can not only enhance product performance but also increase product added value and market competitiveness.

    Diversified Product Development: The characteristics of fluff pulp enable manufacturers to develop a variety of sanitary napkin products according to different market demands. For example, they can produce sanitary napkins of different thicknesses, absorption capacities, and shapes to meet the needs of different consumers, thereby increasing market share.