How Adhesives Help Create Quieter Disposable Hygiene Products

It’s no secret that active adults living with incontinence have a need for discretion in their disposable hygiene products. They value products that will not attract attention while they are going about their daily lives, whether at work, running errands, or enjoying their favourite past-times. Reducing the amount of noise absorbent articles emit plays a major role in achieving greater discretion, and that comes from the use of softer substrates.

Softer substrates reduce noise in disposable hygiene products

Consumers of adult incontinence products don’t want articles that make crinkly or crunchy sounds before, during, or after use. As a manufacturer, you can help satisfy the need for quieter products by using non-woven materials and softer substrates with noise-reducing properties such as:

• Cotton
• Bamboo
• Wood pulp/cellulose
• Bi-component fibres

The fibre choice has been technically proven to have an effect on noise reduction in the product. By using soft versus standard nonwovens, the bonding surface is decreased which creates less stiffness on the product. This results in less noise through a reduction of internal friction.

Softer, quieter materials require the right adhesives for bonding 

When building a softer, quieter diaper, the types of glue you use in the various application points also makes a difference. This is true for every component of the product, from the core to the acquisition distribution layer to the side panels, backsheet, topsheet, and waistbands. 

However, while noise reduction is an important consumer need, you don’t want to sacrifice performance or structural integrity for a quieter diaper. The adhesive needs to bond well with natural fibres, fluffy substrates, treated materials, and more. Switching to quieter materials may require changing adhesives or application parameters to maintain appropriate bond strength.

Another consideration is the use of surface treatments, which can play a role in increasing softness and reducing sound. However, some surface treatments can decrease bonding. For this reason, it’s critical to choose an adhesive that can hold together the non-woven substrates for optimal product performance.

Take advantage of all that Bostik can do for you

Connect with our experts today to discuss how you can reduce noise to provide greater discretion. Once we know what types of substrates and materials you are using or planning to use, we can help you achieve the performance levels you and your consumers want. With the flexibility of our grades and their level of compatibility with all substrates, we can help you find the right option for you.