Inventors:
Graham Otter - Yardley PA, US
Gary Woodward - Northwich, GB
International Classification:
D02G 3/00
Abstract:
A hydrophilized fiber, comprising a fiber having a hydrophobic surface and a phosphinate compound according to formula (I): wherein A is an organic group comprising one or more monomeric units derived from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer or an organic group according to formula (II): A′ is an organic group according to formula (III): B, R, and Rare each independently methylene or poly(methylene), which may optionally be substituted on one or more of such methylene units, and which may optionally be interrupted at one or more positions by an oxygen atom, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, and Rare each independently H, alkyl, alkoxyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl or heterocyclyl, m, n, and n′ are each independently 0 or an integer of from 1 to about 100, provided that m cannot be 0 if n′ is 0, q and s are each independently 0 or an integer of from 1 to about 50, and p, r, and r′ are each independently an integer of from 1 to about 20, or a salt thereof, disposed on at least a portion of such hydrophobic surface in an amount effective to increase the hydrophilicity of such portion of such hydrophobic surface is useful as a component of a hydrophilized fabric and a disposable absorbent article.