EP4066654A1

EP4066654A1 - Production method for tobacco material, sheet, non-combustion-heating-type flavor inhaler, and non-combustion-heating-type flavor inhalation system

Info

Publication number: EP4066654A1
Application number: EP19954051.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yusuke NANASAKI; Kei Oishi; Hiroshi SHIBUICHI
Original assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Current assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date: 2019-11-25
Filing date: 2019-11-25
Publication date: 2022-10-05
Also published as: TW202119943A; JP7277607B2; JPWO2021106040A1; EP4066654A4; WO2021106040A1

Abstract

Provided is a production method for a tobacco material in which the method can provide, in a short processing time, a tobacco material having low moisture content and high strength. The production method for a tobacco material, includes a step of drying a tobacco raw material by treating the tobacco raw material in a liquid compound in a reduced pressure environment, thereby producing a tobacco material, where the liquid compound has a boiling point at 1 atm of 180°C or higher.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a production method for a tobacco material, a sheet, a non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler, and a non-combustion heating-type flavor inhalation system.

BACKGROUND ART

As a substitute for a combustion-type flavor inhaler, a non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler that utilizes heating instead of burning has been developed in recent years. In such a non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler, a tobacco material contains, in addition to tobacco, an aerosol former that is vaporized upon heating by a heater and then cooled to generate an aerosol. For example, Patent Literature (PTL) 1 discloses that a tobacco raw material after freeze drying is used for a non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler.

CITATION LIST

PATENT LITERATURE

PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2018-504127

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The present inventors found that a high moisture content in a tobacco material impedes efficient generation of an aerosol since the heat of a heater is removed by water as latent heat and that a high moisture content also affects flavor during inhalation since the proportion of water vapor increases relative to an aerosol. For this reason, the present inventors investigated the reduction of moisture content in a tobacco material.
In the above-mentioned method by freeze drying, drying is possible by heating a frozen tobacco raw material in a gas under reduced pressure, thereby removing moisture within the tobacco raw material through sublimation. The resulting tobacco material after freeze drying has a porous structure since voids are formed in portions where moisture has existed. However, freeze drying requires a long processing time and results in a high cost. Moreover, the presence of such voids makes a tobacco material fragile and thus makes it difficult to maintain the shape of the tobacco material.
An object of the present invention is to provide a production method for a tobacco material in which the method can provide, in a short processing time, a tobacco material having low moisture content and high strength.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

The present invention encompasses the following embodiments.
A production method for a tobacco material according to the present embodiment, includes a step of drying a tobacco raw material by treating the tobacco raw material in a liquid compound in a reduced pressure environment, thereby producing a tobacco material, where the liquid compound has a boiling point at 1 atm of 180°C or higher.
A sheet according to the present embodiment contains tobacco, where the sheet has a moisture content of 4 mass% or less and a tensile strength of 5 N/15 mm or more.
A non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment includes the sheet according to the present embodiment.
A non-combustion heating-type flavor inhalation system according to the present embodiment includes the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment and a heating device for heating the sheet.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a production method for a tobacco material in which the method can provide, in a short processing time, a tobacco material having low moisture content and high strength.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary vacuum fryer used in a production method for a tobacco material according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 3 schematically illustrates an exemplary non-combustion heating-type flavor inhalation system according to the present embodiment in (a) the state before inserting a non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler into a heating device and in (b) the state of heating the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler inserted into the heating device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[Production Method for Tobacco Material]

A production method for a tobacco material according to the present embodiment, includes a step (hereinafter, also referred to as a drying step) of drying a tobacco raw material by treating the tobacco raw material in a liquid compound (hereinafter, also referred to as a liquid) in a reduced pressure environment, thereby producing a tobacco material. Here, the liquid compound has a boiling point at 1 atm of 180°C or higher.
Since a tobacco raw material is treated in a reduced pressure environment using, as a heating medium, a liquid having a boiling point at 1 atm of 180°C or higher in the drying step, the method according to the present embodiment can heat the tobacco raw material in direct contact with the liquid, thereby enhancing thermal efficiency. For this reason, it is possible to shorten the processing time compared with freeze drying using a gas as a heating medium while satisfactorily lowering the moisture content and hence is possible to reduce costs. Moreover, since the liquid is used as a heating medium in the method according to the present embodiment, moisture that has existed in regions within the tobacco material is partially replaced by the liquid after the drying step. Consequently, the tobacco material after drying readily maintains the structure of the tobacco raw material before drying and hence exhibits increased strength. In particular, when a tobacco material contains an aerosol former, the vaporized component of the aerosol former is efficiently released outside during heating since the inter-fiber structure formed from fiber components within a tobacco raw material is maintained. In the present embodiment, a tobacco-containing material before the drying step is referred to as a "tobacco raw material" and a tobacco-containing material after the drying step as a "tobacco material."
Although not particularly limited provided that the drying step is included, the method according to the present embodiment preferably further includes a step (hereinafter, also referred to as a shaping step) of shaping a tobacco raw material before the drying step. The shaping step is preferably a step of forming a tobacco raw material into a sheet shape. In this case, the method according to the present embodiment preferably further includes, after the drying step, a step (hereinafter, also referred to as an on-bobbin winding step) of conditioning the tobacco material and winding around a bobbin. Moreover, the method according to the present embodiment preferably further includes, before the drying step, a step (hereinafter, also referred to as a freezing step) of freezing a tobacco raw material. When the shaping step is performed, the freezing step can be carried out after the shaping step and before the drying step.
Further, the method according to the present embodiment preferably further includes, after the drying step, a step (hereinafter, also referred to as a liquid removal step) of removing part of the liquid from the tobacco material and/or a step (hereinafter, also referred to as an aerosol former addition step) of adding an aerosol former to the tobacco material. Hereinafter, each step will be described, but the method according to the present embodiment is not limited to the embodiments concerning these steps.

(Shaping Step)

The method according to the present embodiment preferably further includes a step of shaping a tobacco raw material before the drying step. In the method according to the present embodiment, since the liquid is used as a heating medium in the drying step, moisture that has existed in regions within the tobacco material is partially replaced by the liquid after the drying step. For this reason, the structure of a tobacco raw material is readily maintained also after drying. Consequently, when a tobacco-containing formed body is used as a tobacco raw material, it is also possible to satisfactorily maintain the shape of the formed body. Further, by using a formed body as a tobacco raw material, it is possible to stabilize the distribution of the inter-fiber structure compared with the case of using tobacco shreds. In the method according to the present embodiment, tobacco shreds may be used as a tobacco raw material.
The step of shaping a tobacco raw material is preferably a step of forming a tobacco raw material into a sheet shape. In this case, it is possible, in the on-bobbin winding step as described hereinafter, to easily wind a flexible sheet around a bobbin and store the sheet while maintaining the low moisture content. Exemplary methods of forming a tobacco raw material into a sheet shape include three methods below. The first method includes extracting pulverized tobacco with water, separating into the residue and the extract, beating the residue and suspending in water, subjecting to wet papermaking, and then applying the extract to the resulting sheet. The second method includes mixing pulverized tobacco, water, and a water-soluble binder into a uniform slurry and then thinly casting the uniform slurry on a substrate. The third method includes mixing pulverized tobacco, water, and a water-soluble binder and extruding the resulting homogenized mixture into a sheet shape. When a water-soluble binder is used, the amount is not particularly limited but is preferably 0.5 to 10 mass% as the amount of the water-soluble binder in a sheet-shaped tobacco material to be obtained finally. By setting the amount of a water-soluble binder within the above-mentioned range, the strength of a sheet can be enhanced further.
As tobacco, for example, flue-cured, burley, oriental, and domestic, regardless of Nicotiana tabacum varieties or Nicotiana rustica varieties, may be blended as appropriate for an intended taste and used. As a water-soluble binder, any substance publicly known in the technical field concerned may be used. Examples include modified cellulose, such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, or ethyl cellulose; gum, such as xanthan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, or locust bean gum; and polysaccharides, such as starch, sodium alginate, agar, gellan gum, carrageenan, and pectin. These water-soluble binders may be used alone or in combination.
The thickness of a sheet to be obtained is not particularly limited but is preferably thinner from a viewpoint of suppressing uneven drying in the drying step and is, for example, preferably 2000 µm or less and more preferably 100 to 500 µm.
Furthermore, the step of shaping a tobacco raw material may be a step of extruding a tobacco raw material into a shape other than a sheet shape. For example, a formed body having a columnar, granular, or another shape can be obtained by extruding a mixture of pulverized tobacco, water, a water-soluble binder, and so forth using an extruder, such as a twin screw extruder. Such a formed body may be chamfered as appropriate. Chamfering may be performed after the drying step described hereinafter. An extruded body can also be used, for example, as a filter described hereinafter. On such an occasion, a flavor component, such as nicotine, in the extruded body may be removed.

(Freezing Step)

The method according to the present embodiment preferably further includes a step of freezing a tobacco raw material. By freezing a tobacco raw material, moisture within the tobacco raw material forms ice. Consequently, the ice is sublimed by treating with the liquid under reduced pressure in the later drying step, thereby enabling satisfactory drying while better maintaining the structure of the tobacco raw material. When the shaping step is performed, the freezing step can be carried out after the shaping step and before the drying step.
The moisture content of a tobacco raw material before freezing is not particularly limited but may be 10 to 20 mass%, for example. The temperature for freezing a tobacco raw material is preferably -5°C or lower and more preferably -50°C to -15°C. The time for freezing a tobacco raw material may be 0.1 to 10 hours, for example, although depending on the above-mentioned temperature. A tobacco raw material can be frozen by using any publicly known apparatus.

(Drying Step)

The method according to the present embodiment includes a step of drying a tobacco raw material by treating the tobacco raw material in a liquid compound (liquid) in a reduced pressure environment, thereby producing a tobacco material. Here, the liquid compound (liquid) has a boiling point at 1 atm of 180°C or higher. Since a tobacco raw material is treated in a reduced pressure environment using the liquid as a heating medium, it is possible to satisfactorily lower the moisture content in a short processing time. Moreover, since the liquid remains after drying as well, it is possible to maintain the structure of the tobacco raw material, thereby enhancing the strength. In the present step, a tobacco raw material may be dried in a reduced pressure environment by heating in the liquid.
The liquid having a boiling point at 1 atm of 180°C or higher may be an edible liquid, and cooking oil and so forth may be used therefor. Exemplary liquids include saturated or unsaturated fatty acids. Exemplary saturated or unsaturated fatty acids include palmitic acid (boiling point: 351°C), oleic acid (boiling point: 360°C), linoleic acid (boiling point: 229°C), and stearic acid (boiling point: 383°C). Further examples include oils of natural origin containing these fatty acids, such as palm oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and coconut oil. Other than cooking oils, glycerol (boiling point: 290°C), propylene glycol (PG) (boiling point: 188°C), and so forth may be used as well. These liquids are preferable since the liquids can also act as aerosol formers as described hereinafter. These liquids may be used alone or in combination. The boiling point in the present embodiment is a value measured by a boiling point meter (DosaTherm 300 from Titan Technologies, K.K.).
The reduced pressure environment has a pressure of preferably 500 hPa or less and more preferably 100 hPa or less from a viewpoint of enabling satisfactory evaporation of moisture within a tobacco raw material. The lower limit of the pressure range is not particularly limited but may be 1 hPa or more, for example.
The temperature of the liquid during the treating of the tobacco raw material in the liquid is preferably 60°C to 100°C, more preferably 60°C to 90°C, and further preferably 70°C to 80°C. When the temperature of the liquid is 60°C or higher, it is possible to promote the replacement of moisture within a tobacco raw material by the liquid and hence to shorten the processing time further. Meanwhile, when the temperature of the liquid is 100°C or lower, it is possible to perform drying while suppressing breakage of the surface structure of a tobacco raw material.
The amount of a tobacco raw material to be treated in the present drying step is preferably 1 to 100 parts by mass and more preferably 5 to 20 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the liquid to be used. When the amount of a tobacco raw material is 100 parts by mass or less, it is possible to prevent a sudden temperature drop of the liquid during drying. Meanwhile, although the amount of a tobacco raw material is preferably smaller from a viewpoint of preventing a temperature drop of the liquid during drying, it is possible to prevent excess use of energy when the amount of a tobacco raw material is 1 part by mass or more.
Although depending on the amount of a tobacco raw material to be treated or the temperature of the liquid, the processing time in the present drying step may be 5 to 120 minutes or 10 to 60 minutes, for example. The liquid is preferably stirred during the treating since the processing time can be shorten further. In the present drying step, a tobacco material is preferably dried until the moisture content reaches 4 mass% or less.
The timing or the like of feeding a tobacco raw material is not particularly limited and, for example, (i) a tobacco raw material may be fed into the liquid and then the temperature of the liquid is raised after reducing pressure or (ii) a tobacco raw material may be fed into the liquid after reducing pressure and raising the temperature of the liquid.
The present drying step can be performed using an apparatus equipped with a container that can reduce the pressure inside and control the temperature of the liquid. Exemplary such apparatuses include a vacuum fryer that can perform so-called vacuum frying. As illustrated in Fig. 1, for example, such a vacuum fryer includes a vacuum frying vessel 1 that can reduce the pressure inside and control the temperature, a vacuum pump 2 connected to the vacuum frying vessel 1, and a condenser 3 that is provided between the vacuum frying vessel 1 and the vacuum pump 2 and that can separate and remove moisture. For example, a tobacco raw material (not illustrated) and a liquid 4 are fed into the vacuum frying vessel 1, the vacuum frying vessel 1 is hermetically sealed, and then the temperature of the liquid 4 can be raised while reducing the pressure by the vacuum pump 2. On this occasion, moisture contained in the tobacco raw material is separated and collected by the condenser 3. Inside the vacuum frying vessel 1, an impeller blade (not illustrated) that can stir the liquid 4 may be provided. Moreover, the vacuum frying vessel 1 may be configured to be able to perform the liquid removal step described hereinafter inside the vessel by centrifugation. Further, a gas inside the vacuum frying vessel 1 may be replaced by an inert gas, such as nitrogen or argon, before reducing the pressure.

(Liquid Removal Step)

The method according to the present embodiment preferably further includes, after the drying step, a step of removing part of the liquid from the tobacco material. By removing the excess liquid from the tobacco material, it is possible to suppress denaturation of the tobacco material after the treating due to the excess liquid and hence is possible to enhance storage stability. The liquid removal step is a step of removing the excess liquid but not removing all the liquid contained in the tobacco material. When an oil, glycerol, or propylene glycol is used as the liquid, in particular, it is possible to use the remaining liquid as an aerosol former as well as possible to perform drying treatment. In view of this, the liquid is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid, glycerol, and propylene glycol. Moreover, the saturated or unsaturated fatty acid is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of palm oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and coconut oil. The amount of the liquid contained in the tobacco material after the liquid removal step is preferably 1 to 50 mass%. The liquid removal step can be performed by centrifugation, for example.

(Aerosol Former Addition Step)

The method according to the present embodiment preferably further includes, after the drying step, a step of adding an aerosol former to the tobacco material. The tobacco material after the drying step maintains the inter-fiber structure formed from fiber components within the tobacco raw material and hence can efficiently incorporate the aerosol former into the tobacco material.
An aerosol former is a material that can generate an aerosol upon heating, and examples include glycerol, propylene glycol (PG), triethyl citrate (TEC), triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, palm oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and coconut oil. These may be used alone or in combination. An aerosol former can be added, for example, by immersing the tobacco material in an aerosol former using a size press or by dropping an aerosol former on the tobacco material using a spraying nozzle. After the present step, the amount of an aerosol former contained in the tobacco material is preferably 5 mass% or more and more preferably 10 to 50 mass% from a viewpoint of generating a sufficient amount of an aerosol during heating.

(On-bobbin Winding Step)

When the method according to the present embodiment includes the above-mentioned step of forming a tobacco raw material into a sheet shape before the drying step, the method according to the present embodiment preferably further includes, after the drying step, a step of conditioning the tobacco material and winding around a bobbin. A tobacco material dried through conventional freeze drying is fragile due to the presence of voids occupied by a gas and hence is difficult to maintain the shape when attempting deformation. Meanwhile, flexibility is imparted to a dried tobacco material obtained by the method according to the present embodiment since voids are occupied by the liquid. Consequently, the tobacco material can undergo deformation, such as winding around a bobbin. Moreover, a dried tobacco material is preferably conditioned by applying moisture once since the tobacco material becomes further readily deformed. Here, in a dried tobacco material obtained by the method according to the present embodiment, the fiber surfaces are coated with the liquid. For this reason, it is possible, without absorbing excess moisture through conditioning, to maintain a low moisture content while ensuring a moisture content needed for imparting further flexibility. Such a sheet-shape tobacco material to which further flexibility has been imparted can be wound around a bobbin easily, supplied from the bobbin as needed, cut into a desirable size, and used for the manufacture of a non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler. After the on-bobbin winding step, a tobacco filler in a tobacco-containing segment is preferably produced, for example, by conveying the sheet while winding off from the bobbin, gathering and crimping the sheet, and cutting the sheet into a predetermined length.
A dried tobacco material can be conditioned by storing the bobbin in a conditioning room for a predetermined time or by spraying moisture, for example. A tobacco material after conditioning preferably has a moisture content of 4 mass% or less.
A tobacco material after conditioning can be wound around a bobbin by the method described in WO 2013/178769 , for example. The diameter of a bobbin is not particularly limited but may be 0.3 to 2.5 m, for example. The change in moisture content before and after conditioning is preferably less than 1 mass%.
A tobacco material according to the present embodiment can be produced by the method according to the present embodiment. Such a tobacco material preferably has a moisture content of 4 mass% or less. Herein, such a tobacco material also encompasses the above-mentioned tobacco material after conditioning. Moreover, when the tobacco material has a sheet shape, the tensile strength is preferably 5 N/15 mm or more. The moisture content and the tensile strength are values measured by the methods described hereinafter.

[Sheet]

A sheet according to the present embodiment is a sheet containing tobacco and preferably has a moisture content of 4 mass% or less and a tensile strength of 5 N/15 mm or more. Since the sheet according to the present embodiment has a high tensile strength, the sheet exhibits satisfactory hardness and thus can maintain the shape even when rolled to attain a low filling density of the sheet and packed in a tobacco-containing segment of a non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler. Moreover, since the filling density can be lowered, it is possible to reduce filtering of an aerosol and tobacco components inside the tobacco-containing segment. Further, since the rolled sheet is less likely to undergo shrinkage during use, it is possible to maintain the contact with a heater and to supply heat to tobacco and an aerosol former in a stable manner. Furthermore, such a sheet has a low moisture content, it is possible to generate an aerosol efficiently as mentioned above and to provide satisfactory flavor during inhalation. The sheet according to the present embodiment can be produced, for example, by the production method for a tobacco material according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the term "tobacco" indicates tobacco itself, and the terms "tobacco raw material" and "tobacco material" respectively indicate materials before and after the drying step, where these materials may contain components excluding tobacco, in addition to tobacco.
The sheet according to the present embodiment has a moisture content of preferably 4 mass% or less and more preferably 3 mass% or less. The lower limit of the moisture content range is not particularly limited but is preferably 1 mass% or more, for example, in view of easy winding on a bobbin as mentioned above as well as processing characteristics, such as gathering or crimping. In the present embodiment, the moisture content can be measured by the following measurement method.

1. Into a glass sample container, 1 to 2 g of a tobacco leaf raw material is weighed. The overall mass of the sample container is measured.
2. The sample container is placed in a rotary dryer (M-104AT from Matsuyama Kogyo Sha) and dried while being rotated. At the time, the rotary dyer has been preheated to 100°C.
3. After drying at 100°C for one hour, the sample container is taken out and cooled inside a desiccator.
4. After cooling, the mass of the sample container is measured.
5. The moisture content is calculated by the following formula. $Moisture content = (W 1 - W 2) / (W 1 - W 0) * 100$
- W0: mass of empty sample container
- W1: mass of sample container together with sample before drying
- W2: mass of sample container together with sample after drying

The sheet according to the present embodiment has a tensile strength of preferably 5 N/15 mm or more, more preferably 8 N/15 mm or more, and further preferably 10 N/15 mm or more. The upper limit of the tensile strength range is not particularly limited but may be 20 N/15 mm or less, for example. In the present embodiment, the tensile strength is a value measured in accordance with ISO 1924-2.
The sheet according to the present embodiment preferably further contains a water-soluble binder and a compound having a boiling point at 1 atm of 180°C or higher. Here, the sheet preferably has a higher concentration of the water-soluble binder and a lower concentration of the compound in the central portion than in the outer surface portion. The present inventors found impossible to exhibit the binding capacity of the water-soluble binder and the binding capacity among fibers within tobacco by the compound when the water-soluble binder and the compound are delocalized within the sheet. Accordingly, by localizing the water-soluble binder in the sheet central portion and the compound in the sheet outer surface portion, it is possible to satisfactorily exhibit the respective binding capacities and hence suitably maintain the sheet shape, thereby preventing the collapse of the sheet shape due to external force, for example.
Further, since an aerosol former generally tends to be localized in the central portion of a sheet, there is a time lag from the start of heating to the generation of an aerosol. However, since the compound is localized in the sheet outer surface portion and can also act as an aerosol former in the sheet according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the time lag from the start of heating to the generation of an aerosol. Consequently, a sufficient amount of aerosol is generated even at the beginning of heating.
As the water-soluble binder and the compound having a boiling point at 1 atm of 180°C or higher, it is possible to use those the same as the water-soluble binder and the liquid compound (liquid) having a boiling point at 1 atm of 180°C or higher used for the above-described production method for a tobacco material according to the present embodiment.
Exemplary methods of attaining a higher concentration of the water-soluble binder and a lower concentration of the compound in the sheet central portion include the method of producing a sheet by the above-described production method for a tobacco material according to the present embodiment. Here, it is possible to confirm a higher concentration of the water-soluble binder and a lower concentration of the compound in the sheet central portion than in the sheet outer surface portion, by the following method, for example. Sheet surfaces are cut off into the respective predetermined thicknesses and stored as cut samples. The concentrations of the binder and the compound according to the thicknesses can be calculated through measurement of each sample by EA (elemental analyzer), ¹H-NMR, MS (mass spectrometry), or the like.
The content of the water-soluble binder in the sheet is preferably 0.5 to 10 mass% in view of binding capacity and so forth. Meanwhile, the content of the compound in the sheet is preferably 10 to 50 mass% in view of aerosol generation, binding capacity, flexibility of the sheet, and so forth.
The proportion of solid components in the total volume of the sheet according to the present embodiment is preferably 40% or less. Since the sheet according to the present embodiment can have a tensile strength of 5 N/15 mm or more, it is possible to maintain the shape even at the proportion of 40% or less. In particular, when a sheet is produced by the above-described production method for a tobacco material according to the present embodiment, the shape is further readily maintained since the liquid is present inside voids formed among fiber components that constitute the sheet. When the proportion is 40% or less, it is possible to suppress release inhibition of an aerosol and a flavor by solid components, thereby enhancing release efficiency of an aerosol and a flavor. The proportion is more preferably 35% or less and further preferably 30% or less. The lower limit of the proportion range is not particularly limited but may be 20% or more, for example. The proportion is a value measured by the mercury intrusion method after rinsing off the compound present on the sheet using a suitable solvent.
The sheet according to the present embodiment may separately contain, in addition to the compound, an aerosol former mentioned above. Moreover, the sheet according to the present embodiment may further contain a flavor. In particular, by retaining such a flavor in inter-fiber portions of the sheet, it is possible to release the flavor persistently during use. As a flavor, any publicly known flavor used for a non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler may be used, and examples include menthol. The content of a flavor in the sheet may be 100 to 40,000 ppm, for example.

[Non-combustion Heating-type Flavor Inhaler]

A non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment preferably includes the sheet according to the present embodiment. The non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment may include, for example, a tobacco-containing segment including the sheet according to the present embodiment. The non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment may also include other segments in addition to the tobacco-containing segment.
Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment. The non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler 10 illustrated in Fig. 2 includes: a tobacco-containing segment 11 including the sheet according to the present embodiment as a tobacco filler 16; and a mouthpiece segment 12. The mouthpiece segment 12 includes a cooling segment 13, a center hole segment 14, and a filter segment 15. During inhalation, the tobacco-containing segment 11 is heated and inhalation takes place at the end of the filter segment 15.
The tobacco-containing segment 11 preferably includes the sheet according to the present embodiment as the tobacco filler 16. By using the sheet according to the present embodiment as mentioned above, it is possible to maintain the shape even at a low filling density. Moreover, since the filling density can be lowered, it is possible to reduce filtering of tobacco components and an aerosol. Further, since the sheet is less likely to undergo shrinkage during use, it is possible to maintain the contact with a heater.
Furthermore, the sheet according to the present embodiment can generate an aerosol and a flavor efficiently. For this reason, for example, when the central portion of the tobacco-containing segment 11 is heated by a heater, it is possible, by disposing the sheet according to the present embodiment in the outer portion distant from the heater, to efficiently generate an aerosol and a flavor even in the outer portion to which the heat of a heater is not readily transferred. Meanwhile, when the tobacco-containing segment 11 is heated from the outside by a heater, it is similarly possible, by disposing the sheet according to the present embodiment in the central portion of the tobacco-containing segment 11, to efficiently generate an aerosol and a flavor. Here, the sheet according to the present embodiment may also be disposed throughout the tobacco-containing segment 11.
Such sheets according to the present embodiment and other sheets excluding the sheets according to the present embodiment may be stacked alternately to prepare an integrated sheet, and the resulting integrated sheet can also be disposed, after gathering, inside the tobacco-containing segment 11. In this case, a liquid component embedded in voids is removed instantly to form a porous structure in portions of the sheets according to the present embodiment, thereby allowing air to flow preferentially therethrough. However, since flow channels formed in each sheet are independent, it is possible to suppress lowering in the heater temperature due to dilution by or movement of gas.
The sheet according to the present embodiment may be rolled and disposed inside a tubular wrapper 17 and may also be gathered or crimped. The filling density of the sheet according to the present embodiment in the tobacco-containing segment 11 is preferably 0.2 to 1.0 g/cm³ and more preferably 0.3 to 0.5 g/cm³. By heating the tobacco-containing segment 11, an aerosol former and tobacco components contained in the tobacco filler 16 are vaporized and moved to the mouthpiece segment 12 through inhalation.
The cooling segment 13 comprises a tubular member 18. The tubular member 18 may be a paper tube of cylindrically processed cardboard, for example. The tubular member 18 and a mouthpiece lining paper 25 are provided with a perforation 19 passing therethrough. Due to the presence of the perforation 19, external air is introduced inside the cooling segment 13 during inhalation. Consequently, a vaporized aerosol component formed through heating of the tobacco-containing segment 11 comes into contact with external air and liquefies due to the lowering temperature, thereby forming an aerosol. The size (diameter) of the perforation 19 is not particularly limited and may be 0.5 to 1.5 mm, for example. The number of the perforation 19 is also not particularly limited and may be one or two or more. For example, a plurality of perforations 19 may be provided on the perimeter of the cooling segment 13.
The center hole segment 14 comprises a first filling layer 20 having a hollow portion and a first inner plug wrapper 21 that covers the first filling layer 20. The center hole segment 14 acts to increase the strength of the mouthpiece segment 12. The first filling layer 20 may be, for example, a rod of ø5.0 to ø1.0 mm in inner diameter formed by hardening highly densely packed cellulose acetate fibers added with 6 to 20 mass%, based on the mass of cellulose acetate, of a plasticizer including triacetin. Since the first filling layer 20 has a high filling density of fibers, air and an aerosol flow only through the hollow portion and hardly flow within the first filling layer 20 during inhalation. When it is desirable to suppress reduction in aerosol component through filtering in the filter segment 15, it is effective to reduce the length of the filter segment 15 and replace it with the center hole segment 14 for the purpose of increasing the amount of the aerosol component to be delivered. Since the first filling layer 20 inside the center hole segment 14 is a fiber-filled layer, the touch from the outside during use is satisfactory.
The filter segment 15 comprises a second filling layer 22 and a second inner plug wrapper 23 that covers the second filling layer 22. Since the second filling layer 22 is present all the way up to the mouth end in the filter segment 15, the mouth end exhibits an appearance similar to a common combustion-type flavor inhaler. During inhalation, air and an aerosol pass through the second filling layer 22 and part of the aerosol is filtered. The second filling layer 22 may be a filling layer of cellulose acetate fibers, for example.
The center hole segment 14 and the filter segment 15 are joined with an outer plug wrapper 24. The outer plug wrapper 24 may be a cylindrical paper, for example. Moreover, the tobacco-containing segment 11, the cooling segment 13, and the connected center hole segment 14 and filter segment 15 are joined with a mouthpiece lining paper 25. These three segments may be joined, for example, by applying a glue, such as a vinyl acetate-based glue, to the inner surface of the mouthpiece lining paper 25 and wrapping the lining paper around these segments.
The length of a non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment in the axial direction, in other words, the horizontal direction in Fig. 2 is not particularly limited but is preferably 40 mm to 90 mm, more preferably 50 mm to 75 mm, and further preferably 50 mm to 60 mm. The perimeter length of the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler is preferably 16 mm to 25 mm, more preferably 20 mm to 24 mm, and further preferably 21 mm to 23 mm. In an exemplary embodiment, the length of the tobacco-containing segment 11 is 20 mm, the length of the cooling segment 13 is 20 mm, the length of the center hole segment 14 is 8 mm, and the length of the filter segment 15 is 7 mm. The length of these individual segments may be changed appropriately depending on manufacturing feasibility, required quality, and so forth. Further, only the filter segment 15 may be disposed on the downstream side of the cooling segment 13 without using the center hole segment 14.

[Non-combustion Heating-type Flavor Inhalation System]

A non-combustion heating-type flavor inhalation system according to the present embodiment preferably includes the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment and a heating device for heating the sheet according to the present embodiment. The non-combustion heating-type flavor inhalation system according to the present embodiment may also include other constituents excluding the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment and the heating device.
Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary non-combustion heating-type flavor inhalation system according to the present embodiment. The non-combustion heating-type flavor inhalation system illustrated in Fig. 3 includes a non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler 30 according to the present embodiment and a heating device 31 for heating a tobacco-containing segment of the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler 30 from the outside. Fig. 3 (a) illustrates the state before inserting the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler 30 into the heating device 31, and Fig. 3 (b) illustrates the state of heating the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler 30 inserted into the heating device 31. The heating device 31 illustrated in Fig. 3 includes a body 32, a heater 33, a metal tube 34, a battery unit 35, and a control unit 36. The body 32 has a tubular recess 37, and the heater 33 and the metal tube 34 are arranged on the inner side surface of the recess 37 at a position corresponding to the tobacco-containing segment of the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler 30 inserted into the recess 37. The heater 33 may be an electric resistance heater, and heating by the heater 33 is performed by supplying power from the battery unit 35 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 36, which controls temperature. Heat generated by the heater 33 is transferred to the tobacco-containing segment of the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler 30 through the metal tube 34 having a high thermal conductivity. In the schematic view of Fig. 3 (b), a gap exists between the outer perimeter of the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler 30 and the inner perimeter of the metal tube 34. However, such a gap between the outer perimeter of the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler 30 and the inner perimeter of the metal tube 34 is actually and desirably absent for the purpose of efficient heat transfer. Although the heating device 31 heats the tobacco-containing segment of the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler 30 from the outside, the heating device may be a heating device for heating from the inside. In the case of a heating device for heating from the inside, it is preferable to use a rigid plate-shape, bladeshape, or columnar heater without using the metal tube 34. Exemplary such heaters include a ceramic heater in which molybdenum, tungsten, or the like is provided on a ceramic substrate.
The heating temperature by the heating device is not particularly limited but is preferably 400°C or lower, more preferably 150°C or higher and 400°C or lower, and further preferably 200°C or higher and 350°C or lower. Herein, the heating temperature means the temperature of the heater in the heating device. When the sheet of the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler is heated by the heating device in the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhalation system according to the present embodiment, the proportion of the difference in the aerosol former content in the sheet before and after heating [(before heating - after heating)/before heating] is preferably 12 mass% or more. Here, the aerosol former content can be measured by gas chromatography after extracting the sheet with hexane.

EXAMPLES

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in further detail by means of working examples. However, the present embodiment is not limited to these examples. The moisture content and the tensile strength of a tobacco material were measured by the following methods.

[Method for Measuring Moisture Content]

The moisture content of a tobacco material was measured by the following method.

1. Into a glass sample container, 1 to 2 g of a tobacco material was weighed. The overall mass of the sample container was measured.
2. The sample container was placed in a rotary dryer (M-104AT from Matsuyama Kogyo Sha) and dried while being rotated. At the time, the rotary dyer had been preheated to 100°C.
3. After drying at 100°C for one hour, the sample container was taken out and cooled inside a desiccator.
4. After cooling, the mass of the sample container was measured.
5. The moisture content was calculated by the following formula. $Moisture content = (W 1 - W 2) / (W 1 - W 0) * 100$
- W0: mass of empty sample container
- W1: mass of sample container together with sample before drying
- W2: mass of sample container together with sample after drying

[Method for Measuring Tensile Strength]

The tensile strength of a tobacco material was measured in accordance with ISO 1924-2.

[Example 1]

(Shaping Step)

A slurry was prepared by mixing 100 g of pulverized tobacco leaves, 3.4 g of guar gum as a water-soluble binder, and 1000 g of water. The content of the water-soluble binder in the slurry was 0.32 mass%. The slurry was thinly cast on a stainless steel plate adjusted to 200°C and dried for 10 minutes to yield a sheet-shape tobacco raw material. The sheet-shape tobacco raw material had a thickness of 1.5 mm, and the moisture content in the sheet was 10 mass%.

(Freezing Step)

The sheet-shape tobacco raw material was kept inside a freezer at -15°C for one hour to freeze the sheet-shape tobacco raw material.

(Drying Step)

The frozen sheet-shape tobacco raw material was dried using the vacuum fryer illustrated in Fig. 1. First, 1000 g of palm oil as the liquid 4 and 100 g of the frozen sheet-shape tobacco raw material were fed into the vacuum frying vessel 1 of 10 L interior volume. The pressure inside the vacuum frying vessel 1 was then reduced to 100 hPa by the vacuum pump 2. Subsequently, the temperature inside the vacuum frying vessel 1 (liquid temperature) was raised to 70°C. After maintaining the pressure and the temperature for 10 minutes while collecting moisture originated from the tobacco raw material by the condenser 3, the pressure and the temperature inside the vacuum frying vessel 1 were respectively allowed to return to atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature, and the resulting dried tobacco material was taken out.

(Liquid Removal Step and Aerosol Former Addition Step)

From the dried tobacco material, part of the liquid was removed by a centrifuge. Subsequently, the tobacco material was spray-coated with glycerol in an amount of 33 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the tobacco material.

(Evaluation)

For the obtained tobacco material, the moisture content and the tensile strength were measured by the above-mentioned methods. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Example 2]

A tobacco material was produced and evaluated in the same manner as Example 1 except for changing the processing time (holding time) in the drying step to 1 hour. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Example 3]

A tobacco material was produced and evaluated in the same manner as Example 1 except for changing the content of the water-soluble binder in the slurry in the shaping step to 0.52 mass%. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 1]

A tobacco material was produced and evaluated in the same manner as Example 1 except for drying the tobacco raw material without feeding the liquid into the vacuum frying vessel (i.e. performing freeze drying) in the drying step. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 2]

To 100 parts by mass of the dried tobacco material obtained in Comparative Example 1, 15 parts by mass of palm oil as a liquid was externally added. For the resulting tobacco material externally added with the liquid, the moisture content and the tensile strength were measured in the same manner as Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 3]

A tobacco material was produced and evaluated in the same manner as Example 1 except for omitting the drying step. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 4]

A tobacco material was produced and evaluated in the same manner as Example 1 except for omitting the freezing step as well as pressure reduction inside the vacuum frying vessel (i.e. mere heating in the liquid) in the drying step. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Table 1]

	Shaping step	Freezing step	Drying step				External addition of liquid	Amount of binder in tobacco material (mass%)	Moisture content (mass%)	Tensile strength (N/15 mm)
	Amount of binder in slurry (mass%)	Presence/ absence	Presence/ absence	Pressure reduction	Liquid	Processing time (min)	External addition of liquid	Amount of binder in tobacco material (mass%)	Moisture content (mass%)	Tensile strength (N/15 mm)
Ex. 1	0.32	present	present	present	present	10	absent	3	≤4	5.0
Ex. 2	0.32	present	present	present	present	60	absent	3	≤4	7.0
Ex. 3	0.52	present	present	present	present	10	absent	5	≤4	10.0
Comp. Ex. 1	0.32	present	present	present	absent	10	absent	3	4	1.0
Comp. Ex. 2	0.32	present	present	present	absent	10	present	3	4	1.0
Comp. Ex. 3	0.32	present	absent	-	-	-	absent	3	10	7.0
Comp. Ex. 4	0.32	absent	present	absent	present	10	absent	3	8	1.2

As shown in Table 1, the tobacco materials obtained by the methods of Examples 1 to 3 according the present embodiment exhibited low moisture content and high tensile strength.
Meanwhile, the tobacco material obtained by the method of Comparative Example 1, in which the drying step was performed without using a liquid, in other words, common freeze drying was performed, exhibited low tensile strength. This is presumably because the tobacco material became fragile due to voids formed, through freeze drying, in portions where moisture had existed. In Comparative Example 2, the tobacco material obtained by the method of Comparative Example 1 was externally added with a liquid, but the tensile strength remained low. This is presumably because the liquid did not penetrate into the voids satisfactorily despite the later external addition of the liquid.
In Comparative Example 3, the moisture content and the tensile strength were measured for the tobacco material for which the drying step had not been performed. Since drying was not performed, the moisture content was high. In Comparative Example 4, the sheet-shape tobacco raw material after the shaping step was heated in a liquid without pressure reduction, resulting in high moisture content and low tensile strength. By heating in the liquid, it was presumably possible to remove moisture present on the tobacco raw material surface through evaporation but was impossible to satisfactorily remove moisture present inside the tobacco raw material due to the absence of pressure reduction.

[Example 4]

The tobacco material obtained in Example 1 was conditioned by storing at 22°C and 60% RH for 2 days. The moisture content of the tobacco material after conditioning was measured by the same method as Example 1. The results are shown in Table 2.

[Examples 5 and 6 and Comparative Examples 5 to 8]

The tobacco materials obtained in Examples 2 and 3 as well as Comparative Examples 1 to 4 were conditioned in the same manner as Example 4, and the moisture content after conditioning was measured by the same method as Example 1. The results are shown in Table 2.

[Table 2]

	Tobacco material	Moisture content before conditioning (mass%)	Moisture content after conditioning (mass%)
Ex. 4	Ex. 1	≤4	≤4
Ex. 5	Ex. 2	≤4	≤4
Ex. 6	Ex. 3	≤4	≤4
Comp. Ex. 5	Comp. Ex. 1	4	8
Comp. Ex. 6	Comp. Ex. 2	4	8
Comp. Ex. 7	Comp. Ex. 3	10	14
Comp. Ex. 8	Comp. Ex. 4	8	12

In Examples 4 to 6, in which the tobacco materials obtained in Examples 1 to 3 were conditioned, significant changes in moisture content before and after conditioning were not observed. Specifically, the changes in moisture content before and after conditioning were less than 1 mass%. In other words, it was confirmed that the tobacco materials obtained in Examples 1 to 3 are less likely to absorb moisture and hence are excellent in stability. Presumably, since fiber surfaces within the tobacco materials were coated with the liquid, excess moisture was not absorbed through conditioning. Consequently, it was possible to maintain a low moisture content while ensuring a moisture content needed for imparting flexibility.
In contrast, in Comparative Example 5, the tobacco material of Comparative Example 1, for which common freeze drying was performed, was conditioned to exhibit a considerably increased moisture content after conditioning. This is presumably because fiber surfaces within the tobacco material are not coated with a liquid. In Comparative Example 6, the tobacco material externally added with a liquid was conditioned to exhibit a considerably increased moisture content after conditioning as in Comparative Example 5. This is presumably because fiber surfaces were not coated satisfactorily with the liquid despite the later external addition of the liquid.
In Comparative Example 7, the tobacco material, for which the drying step was not performed, was conditioned to exhibit a considerably increased moisture content after conditioning. This is presumably because fiber surfaces within the tobacco material were not coated with a liquid. In Comparative Example 8, the tobacco material, which had been obtained by heating the tobacco raw material after the shaping step in a liquid without pressure reduction, was conditioned to exhibit a considerably increased moisture content after conditioning. This is presumably because the liquid did not penetrate into the tobacco material satisfactorily and hence not allow fiber surfaces to be coated with the liquid satisfactorily.

[Example 7]

A commercial non-combustion heating-type flavor inhalation system (trade name: Ploom S from Japan Tobacco Inc.) was prepared. A sheet contained in a tobacco-containing segment of a tobacco stick of Ploom S was taken out, and the sheet-shape tobacco material prepared in Example 1 was crimped, then gathered, and packed instead (filing density: 0.4 g/cm³). Two such tobacco sticks were prepared. For one tobacco stick, the amount of glycerol in the tobacco-containing segment was measured. The amount of glycerol was measured by gas chromatography after extracting the tobacco material with hexane. Meanwhile, the other tobacco stick was inserted into the heating device of Ploom S and heated. Subsequently, for the heated tobacco stick, the amount of glycerol in the tobacco-containing segment was measured by the above-mentioned method. A proportion of the difference in the amount of glycerol in these tobacco sticks before and after heating [(before heating - after heating)/before heating] was calculated. The results are shown in Table 3. In Table 3, the evaluation indicators are as follows.

4: 12 mass% or more
3: 9 mass% or more and less than 12 mass%
2: 6 mass% or more and less than 9 mass%
1: less than 6 mass%

[Examples 8 and 9 and Comparative Examples 9 to 12]

The proportion of the difference in the amount of glycerol before and after heating was calculated in the same manner as Example 7 except for using the sheet-shape tobacco materials prepared in Examples 2 and 3 as well as Comparative Examples 1 to 4. The results are shown in Table 3.

[Table 3]

	Tobacco material	Proportion of difference in amount of glycerol before and after heating
Ex. 7	Ex. 1	4
Ex. 8	Ex. 2	4
Ex. 9	Ex. 3	4
Comp. Ex. 9	Comp. Ex. 1	2
Comp. Ex. 10	Comp. Ex. 2	2
Comp. Ex. 11	Comp. Ex. 3	1
Comp. Ex. 12	Comp. Ex. 4	1

In Examples 7 to 9, in which the tobacco materials obtained in Examples 1 to 3 were used, the proportion of the difference in the amount of glycerol before and after heating was high, and hence it was possible to efficiently release outside the aerosol former (glycerol) in each tobacco stick. Presumably, since the tobacco materials obtained in Examples 1 to 3 had low moisture content, the heat of a heater removed by water as latent heat was reduced. Consequently, the aerosol former (glycerol) was heated efficiently. Moreover, since the tobacco materials obtained in Examples 1 to 3 have high tensile strength and satisfactorily maintain the inter-fiber structure even during heating, it is presumed that the vaporized component of the aerosol former (glycerol) was released efficiently.
In contrast, in Comparative Examples 9 and 10, in which the tobacco materials obtained in Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were used, the tensile strength of the sheet is particularly low. Consequently, it is presumed that the vaporized component of the aerosol former (glycerol) was not released efficiently to lower, relative to Examples 7 to 9, the proportion of the difference in the amount of glycerol before and after heating. In Comparative Examples 11 and 12, in which the tobacco materials obtained in Comparative Examples 3 and 4 were used, the moisture content of the sheet is particularly high. Consequently, it is presumed that the aerosol former (glycerol) was not heated efficiently to lower, relative to Examples 7 to 9, the proportion of the difference in the amount of glycerol before and after heating.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1: Vacuum frying vessel
2: Vacuum pump
3: Condenser
4: Liquid
10: Non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler
11: Tobacco-containing segment
12: Mouthpiece segment
13: Cooling segment
14: Center hole segment
15: Filter segment
16: Tobacco filler
17: Wrapper
18: Tubular member
19: Perforation
20: First filling layer
21: First inner plug wrapper
22: Second filling layer
23: Second inner plug wrapper
24: Outer plug wrapper
25: Mouthpiece lining paper
30: Non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler
31: Heating device
32: Body
33: Heater
34: Metal tube
35: Battery unit
36: Control unit
37: Recess

Claims

A production method for a tobacco material, comprising a step of drying a tobacco raw material by treating the tobacco raw material in a liquid compound in a reduced pressure environment, thereby producing a tobacco material, wherein
the liquid compound has a boiling point at 1 atm of 180°C or higher.
The production method for a tobacco material according to Claim 1, wherein the liquid compound has a temperature of 60°C to 100°C during the treating of the tobacco raw material in the liquid compound.
The production method for a tobacco material according to Claim 1 or 2, further comprising a step of removing part of the liquid compound from the tobacco material.
The production method for a tobacco material according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, further comprising a step of adding an aerosol former to the tobacco material.
The production method for a tobacco material according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, further comprising a step of shaping a tobacco raw material before the drying of a tobacco raw material.
The production method for a tobacco material according to Claim 5, wherein the step of shaping a tobacco raw material is a step of forming a tobacco raw material into a sheet shape.
The production method for a tobacco material according to Claim 6, further comprising a step of conditioning the tobacco material and winding around a bobbin.
The production method for a tobacco material according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the tobacco raw material is tobacco shreds.
The production method for a tobacco material according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, further comprising a step of freezing a tobacco raw material before the drying of a tobacco raw material.
The production method for a tobacco material according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the liquid compound is at least one selected from the group consisting of a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid, glycerol, and propylene glycol.
The production method for a tobacco material according to Claim 10, wherein the saturated or unsaturated fatty acid is at least one selected from the group consisting of palm oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and coconut oil.
The production method for a tobacco material according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the reduced pressure environment has a pressure of 500 hPa or less.
The production method for a tobacco material according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the drying makes a moisture content of the tobacco material 4 mass% or less.
A sheet comprising tobacco, wherein the sheet has a moisture content of 4 mass% or less and a tensile strength of 5 N/15 mm or more.
The sheet according to Claim 14 further comprising a water-soluble binder and a compound having a boiling point at 1 atm of 180°C or higher, wherein
the sheet has a higher concentration of the water-soluble binder and a lower concentration of the compound in the central portion than in the outer surface portion.
A non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler comprising the sheet according to Claim 14 or 15.
A non-combustion heating-type flavor inhalation system comprising
the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhaler according to Claim 16 and

a heating device for heating the sheet.