1. An absorbent article having opposing longitudinal edges, the absorbent article comprising:
a) a topsheet,
b) a backsheet joined with the topsheet,
c) an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and
d) a first polymer derived from a first renewable resource via at least one first intermediate compound, wherein the first polymer is synthetic, and wherein the first intermediate compound is monomeric, and wherein the first polymer is disposed in or incorporated into one or more elements of the absorbent article, the elements selected from a group consisting of the absorbent core, the topsheet, the backsheet, and a barrier leg cuff.
2. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first polymer is a superabsorbent and is disposed in the absorbent core, the first polymer exhibiting:
i) a Saline Flow Conductivity value of at least about 30\xd710\u22127 cm3 \xb7secg; and
ii) an Absorption Against Pressure value of at least about 15 gg.
3. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the first polymer comprises lightly crosslinked polyacrylic acid neutralized from about 50 to about 100 mol %.
4. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first polymer exhibits a 14CC ratio of about 1.0\xd710\u221214 or greater.
5. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first intermediate compound is selected from a group consisting of organic acids, sugars, monofunctional alcohols, polyfunctional alcohols, organic aldehydes, and organic esters.
6. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the first polymer is derived from the first renewable resource via the first intermediate compound, a second intermediate compound, and a third intermediate compound; wherein said the first intermediate compound is glycerol, the second intermediate compound is acrolein, and the third intermediate compound is acrylic acid.
7. The absorbent article of claim 2, wherein the first polymer is derived from the first renewable resource via the first intermediate compound, a second intermediate compound, and a third intermediate compound; wherein the first intermediate compound is glucose, the second intermediate compound is lactic acid, and the third intermediate compound is acrylic acid.
8. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising a second polymer derived from a second renewable resource via at least one second intermediate compound, wherein the second polymer is disposed in or incorporated into one or more elements of the absorbent article, the elements selected from a group consisting of the absorbent core, the topsheet, the backsheet, and the barrier leg cuff.
9. The absorbent article of claim 1, further comprising a pair of barrier cuffs longitudinally disposed on a body-facing surface of the absorbent article, each barrier cuff comprising a cuff substrate and an elastic member joined to the cuff substrate and capable of spacing a portion of the barrier cuff away from the body-facing surface of the article during wear; wherein the first polymer is a polyolefin, wherein the polyolefin is polypropylene or polyethylene, and wherein the topsheet, backsheet, or cuff substrate comprises the polyolefin.
10. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first polymer is a polyolefin, and wherein the topsheet comprises the polyolefin, wherein the topsheet exhibits a Liquid Strike-Through Time of less than about 4 seconds.
11. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first polymer is a polyolefin, and wherein the backsheet comprises the polyolefin, the polyolefin being in the form of a film, wherein the film exhibits an MD tensile strength of at least about 0.5 Ncm.
12. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first polymer is a polyolefin, and wherein the backsheet comprises the polyolefin, the polyolefin being in the form of a breathable film, wherein said breathable film exhibits a Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate of at least about 2000 gm224 hours.
13. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first polymer is a polyolefin, and wherein the barrier leg cuff comprises a cuff substrate, and wherein the cuff substrate comprises the polyolefin, and wherein the cuff substrate exhibits a hydrohead of at least about 5 mbar.
14. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first polymer exhibits a 14CC ratio of about 1.0\xd710\u221213 or greater.
15. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein the first polymer exhibits a 14CC ratio of about 1.0\xd710\u221212 or greater.
16. A package comprising at least one absorbent article of claim 1 and an overwrap, wherein the overwrap at least partially covers the absorbent article.
17. The package of claim 16, further comprising a communication of a related environmental message to a consumer.
18. A method for making an absorbent article comprising the steps of:
a) providing a renewable resource;
b) deriving an intermediate monomeric compound from the renewable resource;
c) polymerizing the monomeric compound to form a synthetic polymer,
d) disposing or incorporating the polymer into one or more elements of the absorbent article, the elements selected from a group consisting of the absorbent core, the topsheet, the backsheet, and a barrier leg cuff.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method comprises the further steps of:
a) forming a package which at least partially overwraps at least one absorbent article; and
b) communicating a related environmental message to a consumer.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of communicating a related environmental message to a consumer comprises a communication form selected from a group consisting of store displays, posters, billboards, computer programs, brochures, package literature, shelf information, videos, advertisements, internet web sites, pictograms, icons, and combinations thereof.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of forming a plasma comprising:
flowing a gas into a multi-mode processing cavity; and
igniting the plasma by subjecting the gas in the cavity to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency less than about 333 GHz in the presence of at least one passive plasma catalyst comprising a material that is at least electrically semi-conductive,
wherein the plasma catalyst comprises at least one electrically conductive component and at least one additive in a ratio, the method further comprising sustaining the plasma, wherein the sustaining comprises:
directing additional electromagnetic radiation into the cavity; and
allowing the catalyst to be consumed by the plasma such that the plasma contains the at least one additive, and
wherein the ratio differs for differing portions of the catalyst, and wherein the allowing comprises allowing the differing portions of the catalyst to be consumed by the plasma at differing times such that the plasma contains a varying ratio of the electrically conductive component to the at least one additive.
2. A method of forming a plasma comprising:
flowing a gas into a multi-mode processing cavity; and
igniting the plasma by subjecting the gas in the cavity to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency less than about 333 GHz in the presence of at least one passive plasma catalyst comprising a material that is at least electrically semi-conductive,
wherein the multi-mode cavity is configured to support at least a first mode and a second mode of the radiation, each of the modes having a maximum electric field vector in the cavity, each of the vectors having a magnitude, and wherein a ratio between the first mode magnitude and the second mode magnitude is less than about 1:10.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the ratio is less than about 1:5.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the ratio is less than about 1:2.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the multi-mode cavity is configured to support at least a first mode and a second mode of the radiation, each of the modes having at least one maximum electric field vector in the cavity at a position, the method further moving each of the positions by mode-mixing.
6. A method of forming a plasma comprising:
flowing a gas into a multi-mode processing cavity; and
igniting the plasma by subjecting the gas in the cavity to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency less than about 333 GHz in the presence of at least one passive plasma catalyst comprising a material that is at least electrically semi-conductive,
wherein the catalyst is located at the tip of a substantially electrically non-conductive extender that passes through an ignition port formed in a radiation chamber.
7. A method of forming a plasma comprising:
flowing a gas into a multi-mode processing cavity; and
igniting the plasma by subjecting the gas in the cavity to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency less than about 333 GHz in the presence of at least one passive plasma catalyst comprising a material that is at least electrically semi-conductive,
wherein the catalyst comprises a plurality of discontiguous segments separated by and mechanically connected to a plurality of electrically non-conductive segments, wherein during the igniting the catalyst extends through an ignition port in the cavity between a location inside the cavity and another location outside the cavity.
8. A method of forming a plasma in a system, wherein the system has at least a first ignition cavity and a second cavity in fluid communication with the first cavity, the method comprising:
subjecting a gas in the first ignition cavity to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency less than about 333 GHz, such that the plasma in the first cavity causes a plasma to form in the second cavity; and
sustaining the second plasma by subjecting it to additional electromagnetic radiation,
wherein the first cavity is smaller than the second cavity, and
wherein the first cavity is substantially a single mode cavity and the second cavity is a multi-mode cavity.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second cavity is highly moded.