EP4635317A1

EP4635317A1 - Atomizer, electronic atomization device and atomization assembly

Info

Publication number: EP4635317A1
Application number: EP23919543.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: WenQiang HUANG; Kegang REN; Baoling LEI; Zhongli XU; Yonghai LI
Original assignee: Shenzhen FirstUnion Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen FirstUnion Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-02-04
Filing date: 2023-12-26
Publication date: 2025-10-22
Also published as: CN118436130A; WO2024159981A1; EP4635317A4

Abstract

An atomizer (100), an electronic atomization device, and an atomization assembly are provided. The atomizer (100) includes: a liquid storage cavity (20), configured to store a liquid substrate; a porous body (30) in fluid communication with the liquid storage cavity (20) to receive or absorb the liquid substrate, the porous body (30) defining a through hole (33) passing through the porous body (30); and a heating element (40) bonded to the porous body (30) and arranged adjacent to an inner surface (32) of the through hole (33), so as to heat at least part of the liquid substrate in the porous body (30) to generate an aerosol, where micropores having pore diameters ranging from 1 µm to 25 µm in the porous body (30) account for more than 90% of micropores in the porous body. The atomizer (100) uses a porous body having a relatively small pore diameter, so that the pore diameters of 90% of the micropores in the porous body range from 1 µm to 25 µm, and the atomizer (100) is beneficial to preventing or relieving airflow blockage caused by infiltration of the liquid substrate into the through hole.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202310149574.4, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on February 4, 2023 and entitled "ATOMIZER, ELECTRONIC ATOMIZATION DEVICE, AND ATOMIZATION ASSEMBLY", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of this application relate to the technical field of electronic atomization, and in particular, to an atomizer, an electronic atomization device, and an atomization assembly.

BACKGROUND

Tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, and the like) burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts are made to replace these tobacco-burning products by manufacturing products that release compounds without being burnt.
An example of the products is a heating device that releases compounds by heating rather than burning materials. For example, the materials may be tobacco or other non-tobacco products, and the non-tobacco products may or may not include nicotine. In another example, there are aerosol-providing articles, for example, so-called electronic atomization devices. The devices generally include a liquid substrate, and the liquid substrate is heated and vaporized, so as to generate an inhalable aerosol. The liquid substrate may include nicotine, and/or aromatics, and/or aerosol-generating substances (for example, glycerin). A known electronic atomization device includes a tubular porous ceramic body and a spiral heating wire arranged on an inner surface of the tubular porous ceramic body. The porous ceramic body absorbs and stores the liquid substrate by using a capillary action, and the spiral heating coil is configured to heat the liquid substrate within the porous ceramic body to generate an aerosol.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of this application provides an atomizer, including:

a liquid storage cavity, configured to store a liquid substrate;
a porous body in fluid communication with the liquid storage cavity to receive or absorb the liquid substrate; the porous body defining a through hole passing through the porous body; and
a heating element bonded to the porous body and arranged adjacent to an inner surface of the through hole to heat at least part of the liquid substrate in the porous body to generate an aerosol;
micropores having pore diameters ranging from 1 µm to 25 µm in the porous body accounting for more than 90% of all micropores in the porous body.

In some implementations, viscosity of the liquid substrate at 25°C is greater than 1000 mPa·s.
In some implementations, an average pore diameter of all the micropores in the porous body is less than 12 µm.
In some implementations, the average pore diameter of all the micropores in the porous body ranges from 3 µm to 12 µm.
In some implementations, pore diameters of the micropores in the porous body range from 1 µm to 30 µm.
In some implementations, the micropores having pore diameters ranging from 1 µm to 25 µm in the porous body account for more than 95% of all the micropores in the porous body.
In some implementations, micropores having pore diameters ranging from 4 µm to 14 µm in the porous body account for more than 60% of all the micropores in the porous body.
In some implementations, micropores having pore diameters greater than 16.9 µm in the porous body account for less than 15% of all the micropores in the porous body.
In some implementations, porosity of the porous body is less than 80%.
In some implementations, the porosity of the porous body ranges from 50% to 60%.
In some implementations, the porous body includes a porous ceramic body.
In some implementations, the heating element includes a spiral heating coil surrounding the through hole.
In some implementations, a diameter of the through hole ranges from 1 mm to 4 mm.
In some implementations, the porous body is configured in a tubular shape extending longitudinally; and the porous body includes an outer surface and an inner surface that radially face away from each other, the inner surface defining the through hole; and
at least part of the outer surface being wrapped with a flexible fibrous material layer.
Another embodiment of this application further provides an electronic atomization device, including the atomizer described above, and a power supply mechanism supplying power to the atomizer.
Another embodiment of this application further provides an atomization assembly, for an atomizer; the atomization assembly including:

a porous body defining a through hole passing through the porous body; and
a heating element bonded to the porous body and arranged adjacent to an inner surface of the through hole to heat at least part of the liquid substrate in the porous body to generate an aerosol;
micropores having pore diameters ranging from 1 µm to 25 µm in the porous body accounting for more than 90% of all micropores in the porous body.

The foregoing atomizer uses a porous body having a relatively small pore diameter, so that the pore diameters of 90% of the micropores in the porous body range from 1 µm to 25 µm, which is beneficial to preventing or relieving airflow blockage caused by infiltration of the liquid substrate into the through hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments are exemplarily described with reference to the corresponding figures in the accompanying drawings, and the descriptions are not to be construed as limiting the embodiments. Elements in the accompanying drawings that have same reference numerals are represented as similar elements, and unless otherwise particularly stated, the figures in the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic atomization device according to an embodiment;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of an atomization assembly in FIG. 1 from one perspective;
FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an atomization assembly according to another embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the atomization assembly in FIG. 3 from one perspective;
FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an atomization assembly according to another embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the atomization assembly in FIG. 5 from one perspective;
FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an atomization assembly according to another embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the atomization assembly in FIG. 7 from one perspective;
FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of an atomization assembly according to another embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the atomization assembly in FIG. 9 from one perspective;
FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an atomization assembly according to another embodiment; and
FIG. 12 is a graph showing variations of viscosity of a liquid substrate with temperatures according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To facilitate the understanding of this application, this application is described in more detail below with reference to accompanying drawings and specific implementations.
An embodiment of this application provides an electronic atomization device. Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic atomization device includes an atomizer 100 that stores a liquid substrate and heats and atomizes the liquid substrate to generate an aerosol, and a power supply mechanism 200 supplying power to the atomizer 100.
In an optional implementation solution, as shown in FIG. 1, the power supply mechanism 200 includes a receiving cavity 270 arranged at an end in a length direction and configured to receive and accommodate at least part of the atomizer 100. The power supply mechanism 200 further includes a first electrical contact 230 at least partially exposed from a surface of the receiving cavity 270 and configured to form an electrical connection with the atomizer 100 to supply power to the atomizer 100 when at least part of the atomizer 100 is received and accommodated in the power supply mechanism 200.
According to a preferred implementation solution shown in FIG. 1, an end portion of the atomizer 100 opposite to the power supply mechanism 200 in the length direction is provided with a second electrical contact 21, so that when at least part of the atomizer 100 is received in the receiving cavity 270, the second electrical contact 21 forms electrical conduction by contacting and abutting against the first electrical contact 230.
A sealing member 260 is arranged inside the power supply mechanism 200, and at least part of an internal space of the power supply mechanism 200 is separated through the sealing member 260 to form the receiving cavity 270. In the preferred implementation solution shown in FIG. 1, the sealing member 260 is configured to extend in a cross-section direction of the power supply mechanism 200, and is preferably prepared by a flexible material such as silica gel, so as to prevent the liquid substrate that seeps from the atomizer 100 to the receiving cavity 270 from flowing to components such as a circuit 220 and an airflow sensor 250 inside the power supply mechanism 200.
In the preferred implementation shown in FIG. 1, the power supply mechanism 200 further includes a battery cell 210 facing away from the receiving cavity 270 in the length direction and configured to supply power. The power supply mechanism 200 further includes a circuit 220. The circuit 220 operably guides a current between the battery cell 210 and the first electrical contact 230.
The power supply mechanism 200 includes the airflow sensor 250 configured to sense an inhalation airflow generated during inhalation of the atomizer 100 by a user, so that the circuit 220 controls, according to a sensing signal of the airflow sensor 250, the battery cell 210 to output power to the atomizer 100.
Further, in the preferred implementation shown in FIG. 1, a charging interface 240 is arranged at the other end of the power supply mechanism 200 facing away from the receiving cavity 270, and is configured to supply power to the battery cell 210.
For example, in an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the atomizer 100 includes:

a liquid storage cavity 20, configured to store a liquid substrate; and
an atomization assembly configured to atomize the liquid substrate, which absorbs the liquid substrate by capillary wicking and heats and atomizes the liquid substrate to generate an aerosol. In the implementation shown in FIG. 1, the atomization assembly includes:
- a heating element 40, which is basically a solenoid coil and configured to heat the liquid substrate to generate an aerosol; and
- a porous body 30, configured to transfer the liquid substrate between the liquid storage cavity 20 and the heating element 40.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the porous body 30 is configured in a shape of a hollow column extending in a longitudinal direction of the atomizer 100, and the heating element 40 is formed in the column hollow of the porous body 30. In use, as shown by an arrow R1, the liquid substrate of the liquid storage cavity 20 is absorbed along an outer surface in a radial direction of the porous body 30, and then transferred to the heating element 40 on an inner surface and heated and vaporized to generate an aerosol. The generated aerosol is outputted from the interior of the column hollow of the porous body 30 in the longitudinal direction of the atomizer 100, as shown by an arrow R2 in FIG. 1.
In other alternative implementations, the porous body 30 is rigid. For example, the porous body 30 may be a porous ceramic body having a microporous structure, a porous glass, metal foam, or the like.
The heating element 40 is made of a metal material, a metal alloy, graphite, carbon, conductive ceramic, or another composite of a ceramic material and a metal material with appropriate impedance. The appropriate metal or alloy material includes at least one of nickel, cobalt, zirconium, titanium, a nickel alloy, a cobalt alloy, a zirconium alloy, a titanium alloy, a nickel-chromium alloy, a nickel-iron alloy, an iron-chromium alloy, an iron-chromium-aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy, an iron-manganese-aluminum based alloy, and stainless steel.
Further referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the porous body 30 includes:

a first end 310 and a second end 320 facing away from each other in the longitudinal direction; and
a surface 31 and a surface 32 facing away from each other in the radial direction. The surface 32 surrounds and defines a through hole 33 passing longitudinally from the first end 310 to the second end 320.

During implementation, the surface 31 is a wicking surface at least partially exposed to the liquid storage cavity 20, so as to absorb the liquid substrate in the liquid storage cavity 20. The surface 32 is used as an atomization surface to heat the liquid substrate and release the aerosol. In use, the liquid substrate in the liquid storage cavity 20 is absorbed by the porous body 30 from the surface 31, and then transferred to the surface 32, as shown by the arrow R1 in FIG. 1. The generated aerosol is released from the surface 32 into the through hole 33, and is outputted by an inhalation airflow passing through the through hole 33, as shown by the arrow R2 in FIG. 1.
Moreover, according to the implementation shown in FIG. 1, the atomizer 100 includes:

an air inlet 121, configured to supply air into the atomizer 100 during inhalation;
an inhalation port 111, configured to enable user inhalation; and
an airflow channel defined between the air inlet 121 and the inhalation port 111, to define a flow path used for outputting the aerosol to the inhalation port 111. Moreover, the porous body 30 and/or the through hole 33 at least partially surround/surrounds or define/defines the airflow channel.

Moreover, the heating element 40 is configured in a form of a spiral heating coil. Moreover, the heating element 40 is bonded to the porous body 30 and is arranged adjacent to the surface 32.
Moreover, in some implementations, an extension length of the porous body 30 in the longitudinal direction is approximately 5 mm to 10 mm. Moreover, an outer diameter of the porous body 30 is about 4 mm to 8 mm. Moreover, an inner diameter of the through hole 33 of the porous body 30 is about 1 mm to 4 mm.
Alternatively, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are a schematic diagram of an atomization assembly according to another alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, a porous body 30a includes:

a first end 310a and a second end 320a facing away from each other in the longitudinal direction; and
a section 311a, a section 312a, and a section 313a sequentially arranged from the first end 310a to the second end 320a; where an outer diameter of the section 312a is greater than that of the section 311a and/or the section 313a. Moreover, after being assembled, the section 311a and the section 313a are wrapped with a flexible fibrous material layer. For example, the section 311a and the section 313a are externally wrapped with non-woven fibers, cotton fibers, or sponge. Moreover, the section 312a is not externally wrapped with a fibrous material layer. Further, the section 311a and the section 313a are wrapped with a fibrous material layer, and the section 312a is exposed.

Moreover, an area of the outer surface of the porous body 30a wrapped with the flexible fibrous material layer is less than 35% of an area of the outer surface of the porous body 30a.
Moreover, the porous body 30a has a through hole 33a passing from the first end 310a to the second end 320a. In FIG. 4, the through hole 33a includes a first part close to the first end 310a and a second part close to the second end 320a. A diameter of the first part is basically constant, and a diameter of the second part increases in a direction close to the second end 320.
Moreover, a heating element 40a is bonded to the porous body 30a and is arranged around or adjacent to the first part of the through hole 33a. Moreover, the heating element 40a is arranged to avoid the second part of the through hole 33a. In addition, a lead 341a and a lead 342a are provided on the heating element 40a, so as to supply power to the heating element 40a.
Alternatively, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are a schematic diagram of an atomization assembly according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, a porous body 30b of the atomization assembly includes:

a first side wall 31b and a second side wall 32b facing away from each other and spaced apart in a width direction; where there is a spacing between the first side wall 31b and the second side wall 32b; and the first side wall 31b and the second side wall 32b are arranged to extend in the length direction;
a bottom wall 35b located on a lower end side, located between the first side wall 31b and the second side wall 32b, and arranged substantially perpendicular to a height direction of the porous body 30b; and
an annular wall 34b at least partially located between the first side wall 31b and the second side wall 32b, and surrounding and defining a through hole 33b passing through the porous body 30b in the height direction. Certainly, the through hole 33b passes through the bottom wall 35b. Moreover, the spacing between the first side wall 31b and the second side wall 32b defines a buffer space used for buffering the liquid substrate.

A heating element 40b is bonded to the annular wall 34b and is adjacent to an inner surface of the through hole 33b, so as to generate an aerosol by heating and then release the aerosol into the through hole 33b. In addition, a lead 341b and a lead 342b are provided on the heating element 40b, so as to supply power to the heating element 40b.
Alternatively, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are a schematic diagram of an atomization assembly according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, a porous body 30c of the atomization assembly includes:
an annular wall 34c surrounding or defining a through hole 33c longitudinally passing through the porous body 30c.
At least one or more protrusions protruding outwards in the radial direction, such as a protrusion 31c and a protrusion 32c, are disposed on the annular wall 34c. In some implementations, the annular wall 34c externally includes a flexible fibrous material layer and avoids the protrusion 31c and the protrusion 32c.
A heating element 40c is bonded to the annular wall 34c and is adjacent to the through hole 33c, so as to generate an aerosol by heating and then release the aerosol into the through hole 33c. In addition, a lead 341c and a lead 342c are provided on the heating element 40c, so as to supply power to the heating element 40c.
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are a schematic diagram of an atomization assembly according to another alternative embodiment. In this embodiment, a porous body 30d of the atomization assembly includes:

an annular wall 34d surrounding or defining a through hole 33d longitudinally passing through the porous body 30d; and
a plurality of holes 35d arranged on the annular wall 34d and extending from a first end 310d to a second end 320d. The holes 35d define a buffer space buffering the liquid substrate. It is advantageous to buffer the liquid substrate in the porous body 30d.

A heating element 40d is arranged adjacent to or around the through hole 33d, so as to generate an aerosol by heating and then release the aerosol into the through hole 33d.
Moreover, in the implementation, the holes 35d do not extend to the second end 320d. Alternatively, spacings are maintained between the holes 35d and the second end 320d.
In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 11, a porous body 30e includes:

an annular wall 34e surrounding or defining a through hole 33e longitudinally passing through the porous body 30e; and
a plurality of holes 35e arranged on the annular wall 34e and extending from a first end 310e to a second end 320e. The holes 35e define a buffer space buffering the liquid substrate.

In addition, in some implementations, the foregoing porous body 30/30a/30b/30c/30d/30e is formed by injection molding a slurry including a ceramic raw material, a pore-forming agent, and an organic additive in a mold followed by sintering. For example, in some implementations, the ceramic raw material used for preparing the porous body 30/30a/30b/30c/30d/30e includes at least one of aluminum oxide powder, silicon oxide powder, boron oxide powder, zirconium oxide powder, calcium oxide powder, iron oxide powder, diatomite, silica powder, quartz sand, mullite, cordierite, kaolin, limestone, wollastonite, silica, nepheline, potassium feldspar, and sodium feldspar. The pore-forming agent is at least one of polymethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, starch, graphite powder, and rice husk. The organic additive includes at least one of semi-refined paraffin wax, beeswax, polyethylene, polypropylene, and stearic acid.
In some common implementations, the liquid substrate generally includes PG (propylene glycol) and VG (vegetable glycerin) with a volume ratio of 1:1, with viscosity ranging from 100 mPa·s to 200 mPa·s at room temperature of 20°C and a boiling point of approximately 240°C.
In some implementations, the liquid substrate in the liquid storage cavity 20 is a high-viscosity liquid substrate of a medical drug type, different from conventional propylene glycol or glycerin-based liquid substrates. For example, the liquid substrate of the medical drug type may include a terpene (terpene) compound and the like and further present relatively high viscosity. For example, FIG. 12 is a graph showing variations of viscosity of a high-viscosity liquid substrate of a medical drug type with temperatures according to an embodiment. The liquid substrate of the medical drug type has viscosity of approximately 179000 mPa·s at 290 K close to the room temperature, and has viscosity decreasing to 1070 mPa·s when heated to 320 K.

For example, the following table provides comparisons between viscosity of various commercially available electronic atomization liquid substrates at various heating temperatures:

Liquid substrate	Viscosity at various temperatures mPa·s
Liquid substrate	20°C	25°C	50°C	60°C	180°C
100% VG (composition)	1420	855	136.7	77.96	3.3
50% VG+50% PG (composition)	279	194.4	40.63	23.64	3.1
100% PG (composition)	59.3	43.9	12.53	8.42	2.9
5% terpene + 95% VE (composition)	/	1251	154.1	81.57	1.82
Headspace OG (brand)	/	147000	4810	/	2.88

Generally, the viscosity of the above medical liquid substrate at 25°C (room temperature) is greater than or even much greater than the viscosity of the glycerol (VG) liquid substrate, which is 855 mPa·s. In more implementations, the viscosity of the medical liquid substrate at 25°C (room temperature) is greater than 1000 mPa·s, or even greater than 1200 mPa·s.
When the heating element 40 heats and atomizes the high-viscosity liquid substrate in the porous body 30, part of the liquid substrate in the porous body 30 has reduced viscosity and enhanced fluidity upon preheating, enabling large-scale seepage through micropores towards the inner surface of the through hole 33. On the one hand, the liquid substrate that seeps onto the inner surface of the through hole 33 after the heating element 40 stops heating is re-cooled to form a high-viscosity viscous state. On the other hand, since the through hole 33 is part of a fluid channel in the atomization device and has a small pore diameter, a viscous liquid substrate formed by condensation of the aerosol in the fluid channel is easily accumulated on the inner surface of the through hole 33. When the liquid substrate accumulated on the inner surface of the through hole 33 exceeds an allowed range, the through hole 33 is blocked, and consequently, the inhalation airflow cannot pass therethrough.
Further, in the implementation, the porous body 30 uses a smaller micropore diameter and/or lower porosity. For example, in some implementations, the porosity of the porous body 30 is lower than 80%. Alternatively, in some implementations, the porosity of the porous body 30 ranges from 50% to 60%. Then, it is advantageous to reduce seepage of the liquid substrate onto the inner surface of the through hole 33.
Moreover, in the implementation, pore diameters of the micropores in the porous body 30 range from 1 µm to 30 µm. Moreover, an average pore diameter (d₅₀) of the micropores in the porous body 30 is less than 12 µm. In some optional implementations, the average pore diameter (d₅₀) of the micropores in the porous body 30 ranges from 3 µm to 12 µm. Alternatively, micropores having pore diameters ranging from 1 µm to 25 µm in the porous body 30 account for more than 90% or even more than 95% of all the micropores.

For example, in a specific implementation, pore diameter distribution data, which is measured by using a bubble method, of a prepared porous body 30 with a relatively small pore diameter is in the following table:

Pressure (psia)	Pore diameter range (µm)	Cumulative percentage of total micropore volume	Differential percentage relative to a previous pore diameter range
kPa	µm	%	%
13.59	>21.4275	0.333	0.333
17.2	>16.9302	13.624	13.291
19.45	>14.9717	24.45	10.826
21.31	>13.6649	33.784	9.334
23.27	>12.514	41.667	7.883
27.53	>10.5776	54.348	12.681
34.61	>8.4138	67.466	13.118
42.6	>6.8357	75.567	8.101
51.26	>5.6808	81.081	5.514
66.64	>4.3697	88.028	6.947
82.21	>3.5421	97.013	8.985
104.72	>2.7807	98.039	1.026
135.51	>2.1489	98.279	0.24
173.88	>1.6747	98.348	0.069
211.36	>1.3777	98.651	0.303
282.84	>1.0296	99.379	0.728

According to test results of the foregoing bubble method, in this specific embodiment, the pore diameters of the micropores in the porous body 30 basically range from 1 µm to 21.42 µm. Moreover, a quantity of micropores having pore diameters lower than 16.9 µm in the porous body 30 is about 87% and is greater than 80%. The micropores having pore diameters greater than 16.9 µm account for less than 15%. Moreover, the pore diameters of about 85% of the micropores in the porous body 30 range from 2 µm to 16 µm. Moreover, in the specific embodiment, the average pore diameter of the micropores in the porous body 30 ranges from 10 µm to 12 µm. In addition, the pore diameters of more than 60% of the micropores in the porous body 30 range from 4 µm to 14 µm.

For example, in another specific implementation, pore diameter distribution data, which is measured by using the bubble method, of another porous body 30 with a relatively small pore diameter is in the following table:

Pressure (psia)	Pore diameter range (µm)	Cumulative percentage of total micropore volume	Differential percentage relative to a previous pore diameter range
kPa	µm	%	%
27.46	>10.6045	0.645	0.645
35.64	>8.1706	24.876	24.231
43.22	>6.7376	41.152	16.276
50.02	>5.8217	52.817	11.665
57.05	>5.1043	61.162	8.345
70.54	>4.1282	73.529	12.367
91.85	>3.1704	83.488	9.959
113.26	>2.5711	89.286	5.798
134.86	>2.1593	93.75	4.464
170.96	>1.7033	100	6.25
217.29	>1.3401	100	0
259.92	>1.1203	100	0

In the porous body 30 in this embodiment, the pore diameters of the micropores basically range from 1 µm to 10.6 µm. Moreover, the pore diameters of more than 90% of the micropores in the porous body 30 range from 2 µm to 8 µm. Moreover, in the specific embodiment, the average pore diameter of the micropores in the porous body 30 ranges from 5 µm to 6 µm.

Further, the following table shows test results of blockage of the porous body 30 having micropores with different pore diameters and porosities by the high-viscosity liquid substrate in multiple embodiments and comparative examples. In a test, the atomizer 100 has a configuration shown in FIG. 2. After the liquid storage cavity 20 of the atomizer 100 is filled with the liquid substrate, inhalation is started. Each inhalation lasts for 3 s and pauses for 3 min. When inhalation resistance is higher than 1000 Pa, it is considered that the through hole 33 of the porous body 30 is blocked by the infiltrated liquid substrate, and continued inhalation is stopped.

Serial number	Pore diameter and porosity data of the porous body 30			Residual liquid substrate percentage/%	Number of puffs per mouthpiece
Serial number	Porosity	Pore diameter distribution µm	D50/µm	Residual liquid substrate percentage/%	Number of puffs per mouthpiece
Comparative Example 1	60%	1 to 40	20	85	40
Comparative Example 2	55%	1 to 35	17	80	50
Comparative Example 3	50%	1 to 32	15	75	50
Embodiment 1	60%	1 to 25	12	25	180
Embodiment 2	55%	1 to 24	11	20	200
Embodiment 3	50%	1 to 23	11	10	250
Embodiment 4	60%	1 to 25	12	0	270
Embodiment 5	55%	1 to 24	11	0	280
Embodiment 6	50%	1 to 23	11	0	280
Embodiment 7	60%	1 to 10	4	0	350
Embodiment 8	55%	1 to 8	3	0	360
Embodiment 9	50%	1 to 7	3	0	370

As can be seen from the foregoing test results, for the porous body 30 with pore diameter distribution greater than 1 µm to 25 µm and an average pore diameter greater than 12 µm shown in the comparative examples 1 to 3, when inhalation cannot be continued at 40 to 50 puffs due to blockage of the through hole 33, and a large amount of the liquid substrate still remains in the liquid storage cavity 20. In Embodiment 1 to Embodiment 9, for the porous body 30 with pore diameter distribution ranging from 1 µm to 25 µm and an average pore diameter within 12 µm, basically, a smaller amount of the liquid substrate remains due to impossible inhalation caused by blockage of the through hole, and most of the liquid substrate is atomized. For the porous body 30 with pore diameter distribution less than 10 µm, the liquid substrate basically cannot seep to the through hole 33 to form blockage.
It should be noted that, the specification of this application and the accompanying drawings thereof illustrate preferred embodiments of this application, but this application is not limited to the embodiments described in the specification. Further, for a person of ordinary skill in the art, improvements or modifications may be made according to the above descriptions, and all these improvements and modifications shall fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of this application.

Claims

An atomizer, comprising:
a liquid storage cavity, configured to store a liquid substrate;

a porous body in fluid communication with the liquid storage cavity to receive or absorb the liquid substrate; the porous body defining a through hole passing through the porous body; and

a heating element bonded to the porous body and arranged adjacent to an inner surface of the through hole to heat at least part of the liquid substrate in the porous body to generate an aerosol;

micropores having pore diameters ranging from 1 µm to 25 µm in the porous body accounting for more than 90% of all micropores in the porous body.
The atomizer according to claim 1, wherein an average pore diameter of all the micropores in the porous body is less than 12 µm.
The atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the average pore diameter of all the micropores in the porous body ranges from 3 µm to 12 µm.
The atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein pore diameters of the micropores in the porous body range from 1 µm to 30 µm.
The atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the micropores having pore diameters ranging from 1 µm to 25 µm in the porous body account for more than 95% of all the micropores in the porous body.
The atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein micropores having pore diameters ranging from 4 µm to 14 µm in the porous body account for more than 60% of all the micropores in the porous body.
The atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein micropores having pore diameters greater than 16.9 µm in the porous body account for less than 15% of all the micropores in the porous body.
The atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein porosity of the porous body is less than 80%.
The atomizer according to claim 8, wherein the porosity of the porous body ranges from 50% to 60%.
The atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the porous body comprises a porous ceramic body.
The atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating element comprises a spiral heating coil surrounding the through hole.
The atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a diameter of the through hole ranges from 1 mm to 4 mm.
The atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the porous body is configured in a tubular shape extending longitudinally; and the porous body comprises an outer surface and an inner surface that radially face away from each other, the inner surface defining the through hole; and
at least part of the outer surface being wrapped with a flexible fibrous material layer.
An electronic atomization device, comprising the atomizer according to any of claims 1 to 13, and a power supply mechanism supplying power to the atomizer.
An atomization assembly, for an atomizer, wherein the atomization assembly comprises:
a porous body defining a through hole passing through the porous body; and

a heating element bonded to the porous body and arranged adjacent to an inner surface of the through hole to heat at least part of the liquid substrate in the porous body to generate an aerosol;

micropores having pore diameters ranging from 1 µm to 25 µm in the porous body accounting for more than 90% of all micropores in the porous body.