Abstract
Sanitary napkins are essential during menstruation, but they can sometimes cause skin irritation due to friction. In this study, we propose a novel design: introducing a low-friction layer within the bulk of a sanitary napkin. Friction tests were conducted between an artificial skin block and sanitary napkin specimens with and without a low-friction layer. The strain distribution on the lateral side of the artificial skin block was experimentally measured. The friction coefficient and strain decreased when the low-friction layer was applied under loads greater than 1.96 N. The strain increased with normal load. Because lower strain on the skin correlates with reduced skin irritation, the use of a low-friction layer in sanitary napkins is expected to reduce skin irritation, particularly under high contact pressure.