Satoshi Nozaki, Kanonji, Japan; Tsutomu Shirai, Kanonji, Japan; Toshiyuki Tanio, Kanonji, Japan; and Kiyoko Nishimura, Kanonji, Japan. Assigned to Unicharm Corporation, Shikokuchuo-shi, Japan.
Filed: 8/27/10
Issued: 11/3/15

An absorbent article comprising a top sheet on the skin contact side, a back sheet on the non-skin contact side, and an absorbent body situated between the two sheets: wherein the absorbent body comprises a bulky absorbent sheet, and the bulky absorbent sheet comprises heat-expanding particles that are dispersed in the bulky absorbent sheet and have been expanded by heat, wherein the bulky absorbent sheet has a density of 0.025-0.1 g/cm3 and comprises: a blended sheet comprising the heat-expanding particles dispersed in a fiber starting material from a paper-making starting material, in which the fiber starting material comprising 30-100 mass % of natural pulp and 0-70 mass % of other fiber, and the heat-expanding particles having an initial mean particle size of 5-30 μm are dispersed at a proportion of 5-30 parts by mass of the heat-expanding particles having the initial particle size per 100 parts by mass of the fiber starting material, and in which at least some of the heat-expanding particles being expanded by heat to a 20-125 fold volume, wherein the Klemm water absorption degree of the bulky absorbent sheet is at least 10 mm, the percentage reduction in wet compressive bulk is no greater than 50%, and the wet compressive residual strain is no greater than 30%.