What is a Tampon made of?

Absorbency is regulated rather than left to marketing: in the US the FDA fixes the ranges behind the labels Light, Regular, Super, Super Plus and Ultra, so the same word means the same absorbency across brands. The reason is toxic shock syndrome. The Rely tampon of the late 1970s used carboxymethylcellulose and polyester foam that were far more absorbent than anything before, was linked to a cluster of TSS cases and was withdrawn in 1980; those materials are no longer used, and the standing advice to use the lowest absorbency that works and to change every four to eight hours comes from that episode. Chlorine-free bleaching replaced elemental chlorine in the 1990s, largely removing the dioxin concern that followed.

Component by component

Other medical and personal care objects

• Condom Dipped natural rubber latex, or synthetic polyisoprene or polyurethane for latex allergy — plus silicone lubricant.
• Surgical mask Three layers of polypropylene, of which only the electrostatically charged middle one does the filtering.
• Diaper (nappy) A superabsorbent polymer that holds many times its own weight in fluid, sandwiched between nonwoven plastic layers.
• Contact lens A water-swollen polymer gel — and the whole design problem is getting oxygen through it to the cornea.
• Dental filling Either a mercury-silver amalgam or a light-cured resin packed with glass — and the resin shrinks as it sets.
• Eyeglass lens Almost never glass — usually CR-39, polycarbonate or a high-index plastic, under several thin coatings.
• Adhesive bandage (plaster) A plastic or fabric backing with pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a pad faced with a film that will not stick to the wound.
• Artificial hip A titanium or cobalt-chrome stem, a ceramic or metal ball, and a crosslinked polyethylene socket liner that is the wear surface.
• Syringe A polypropylene barrel and plunger with a rubber tip seal, and a stainless steel needle on a standard taper.