ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY ABSORBENT ARTICLE AND PROCESS OF MAKING

A method for the manufacture of an absorbent core and/or article comprising the steps of: (i) providing a first, preferably substantially continuous, nonwoven web having a first void volume; (ii) selectively applying heat to said first nonwoven web such that a deposition area of said first nonwoven web increases its void volume to a second void volume that is greater than said first void volume; (iii) depositing absorbent material comprising, preferably consisting of, superabsorbent particles onto the deposition area of said first nonwoven web; (iv) passively or actively cooling the deposition area of said first nonwoven web so that the void volume reduces to substantially the first void volume; (v) optionally combining the first nonwoven web with second and third nonwoven webs such that said first nonwoven web is interposed between said second and third nonwoven webs preferably by joining said webs by mechanical bonding selected from hot pressing and/or ultrasonic bonding; wherein the first nonwoven web consists of a high loft fibrous nonwoven layer that is free of cellulose fibers; said high loft fibrous nonwoven layer comprising, preferably consisting of, a carded air-through bonded nonwoven or dryiaid thermobonded nonwoven.