JP2021509267A - Rugged filter for aerosol-generating articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The aerosol-generating article (10) includes an aerosol-forming substrate (20) and a filter (30) downstream of the substrate. The filter comprises a filter material having filaments distributed throughout the cross section of the filter. The filter material comprises from about 7.5% to about 11.5% by weight of plasticizer, or from about 10.5% to about 15% by weight of plasticizer. The filter can be rigid while maintaining proper withdrawal resistance. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to aerosol-generating articles and hardened filters for aerosol-generating articles.

Aerosol-generating articles can be burned to produce aerosols, or can be heated to produce aerosols but are not burned, as well as any other articles, such as by chemical reaction or by mixing particles into the air. Includes articles that can aerosolize the substrate or composition in a suitable manner. Regardless of the mechanism of aerosol formation, the aerosol-generating article may include a filter downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate to filter one or more components of the aerosol.

For example, aerosol-generating articles such as cigarettes typically have finely chopped tobacco (usually in the form of a cut filler) surrounded by a paper wrapper that forms a tobacco rod. Cigarettes are used by smokers by igniting one end of a cigarette and burning a tobacco rod. Smokers then receive mainstream smoke by smoking the opposite or oral end of the cigarette, which typically includes a filter. The filter is positioned to take in some of the components of the mainstream smoke before it is delivered to the smoker.

Filters in aerosol-generating articles typically include a filter material enclosed by a plug wrap. The plug wrap contributes to the rigidity of the filter. More rigid plug wraps, such as plug wraps made from higher basis weight paper, can be used to produce stiffer, more rigid filters. Stiffer plug wraps can help wipe out, for example, flammable aerosol-generating articles due to their increased stiffness in the longitudinal direction, and because of their increased radial hardness, consumers. Can bring the perception that it is a higher quality product when taken up by.

However, wrapping the filter material with a hard plug wrap can be challenging. For example, equipment on the filter production line may need to be modified so that a stiffer plug wrap can be wrapped around the filter material.

Another option to increase filter hardness may be to increase the tow weight of the filter material used. That is, the density of the filter material can be increased. However, increasing the density of the filter material may increase filtration efficiency and may not allow the desired amount of aerosol component to pass through the filter, which can result in unexpected or undesired taste or experience. The pull-out resistance of aerosol-generating articles with higher density filter materials can be unnecessarily increased compared to articles with more standard density filter materials.

It is desirable to provide a filter for use in aerosol-generating articles, where the filter has improved hardness. The filter preferably retains desirable properties such as filter efficiency and pull-out resistance.

According to various aspects of the invention, aerosol-generating articles comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a filter downstream of the substrate are provided. The filter comprises a filter material having filaments distributed throughout the cross section of the filter. The filter material comprises from about 7.5% to about 11.5% by weight of plasticizer, or from about 10.5% to about 15% by weight of plasticizer.

As described herein, filter materials with plasticizers of about 7.5% to about 11.5%, or about 10.5% to about 15% by weight, are other sources such as draw resistance and filtration efficiency. A filter having the desired hardness and an aerosol-generating article containing the filter can be provided while maintaining the desired filter properties.

Incorporating an increased hardness filter into the aerosol-generating article may allow the aerosol-generating article to be considered of higher quality. The increased filter hardness can also be advantageous when wiping out flammable aerosol-generating articles such as cigarettes containing filters. For example, a harder filter may be less likely to bend during the process of extinguishing a cigarette, so keep your finger away from the burning edge of the cigarette when extinguishing the cigarette. sell. However, it has previously been difficult to achieve a stiffer filter that maintains the desired filter characteristics such as pull-out resistance.

The advantages mentioned above and other advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding this disclosure.

The aerosol-generating articles of the present invention may have any suitable average radial hardness. Aerosol-generating articles preferably have an average radial hardness of 95% or greater when measured around the filter, which was previously not possible to achieve while maintaining desirable filter properties such as pull-out resistance. It was. For example, aerosol-generating articles can have an average radial hardness of 96% or higher, 97% or higher, or 98% or higher when measured around a filter. Aerosol-generating articles preferably have an average radial hardness of about 95% to about 99% when measured around the filter. As used herein, the term "radial hardness" refers to resistance to compression in the direction across the longitudinal axis. The radial hardness of the aerosol-generated article around the filter is the mean of the depressed diameter of the article by applying a load across the article at the position of the filter in the transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the article. It can be determined by measuring (mean value). Radial hardness is given by:

In the formula, D _S is the original (non-depressed) diameter, and D _d is the depressed diameter after applying the set load over the set duration. The harder the material, the closer the hardness approaches 100%.

To determine the hardness of a portion of an aerosol article (such as a filter), the aerosol-generating article should be aligned in parallel in a plane, and the same portion of each aerosol-generating article to be tested shall be aligned for a set duration. Should be subject to the set load. This test was performed using a well-known DD60A Densimeter device (manufactured and marketed by Heinr. Borgwaldt GmbH (Germany)), which is fitted with a measuring head for aerosol-generating articles such as cigarettes and also contains aerosols. Comes with an aerosol container.

Loads are applied using two loading cylindrical rods that extend across the diameter of all aerosol-generating articles at one time. The test should be performed by standard test methods for this device so that there are 20 contact points between the aerosol generating article and the loaded cylindrical rod. In some cases, the filter tested is sufficient such that only 10 aerosol-generating articles are required to form 20 contact points where each smoking article contacts both loading rods. May be long (because they are long enough to extend between both rods). In other cases, if the filter is too short to achieve this, 20 aerosol-generating articles should be used to form 20 contact points, as further discussed below, for each. The aerosol-generating article contacts only one of the load-applying rods.

Two additional fixed cylindrical rods are located below the aerosol-generating article to support the aerosol-generating article and to counter the load applied by each of the loaded cylindrical rods.

For a standard working procedure for such a device, an overall load of 2 kg is applied for 20 seconds. After 20 seconds have passed (and the load is still applied to the smoking article), the push-down on the load-applied cylindrical rod is determined and then used to calculate the hardness from the above equation. The temperature is kept within the range of 22 degrees Celsius ± 2 degrees Celsius. The above test is called the DD60A test. The standard method for measuring filter hardness is when the aerosol-generating article has not yet been consumed. Additional information regarding the measurement of mean radial hardness can be found, for example, in US Publication No. 2016/0128378.

In some preferred embodiments, the filters of the invention have an average radial hardness of 90% or higher, such as 92% or higher or 94% or higher. For example, the filter of the present invention may have an average radial hardness of 95% or higher, such as 95.5% or higher. It is more preferable that the filter has an average radial hardness of 96% or more, such as 97% or more. For example, the filter of the present invention may have an average radial hardness in the range of about 95% to about 99%, such as about 95% to about 98%.

As used herein, "diameter" is used to describe the maximum dimension in the transverse direction (crossing the longitudinal axis) of the filter or aerosol generating article containing the filter. The longitudinal axis of the filter or aerosol-generating article is the direction of the length of the filter or aerosol-generating article. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the term "radius" refers to the transverse distance from the longitudinal axis to the edge of the filter or aerosol-generating article. Typically, the filter and aerosol-generating article have a cylindrical shape. However, the filter, or aerosol-generating article, or both the filter and the aerosol-generating article need not be cylindrical.

Aerosol generating articles, including the filters of the present invention, can have any suitable pull-out resistance (RTD). "Pull-out resistance" refers to the static pressure difference between the two ends of a specimen when traversed by a flow of air under stable conditions where the volumetric flow rate is 17.5 ml / sec at the output end. .. The RTD of the specimen can be measured using the method described in ISO Standard 6565: 2002. Aerosol-generating articles, including the filters of the present invention, preferably have an RTD similar to conventional cigarettes.

In some preferred embodiments, the aerosol-generating article comprising the filter of the present invention has an RTD of about 40 mm water level gauge (mmWG) to about 200 mm WG, preferably from about 50 mm WG to about 140 mm WG, preferably from about 50 mm WG to about. More preferably, it is 100 mm WG. The filter preferably has an RTD of 90 mmWG or less, such as 70 mmWG or less. The filter more preferably has an RTD of 65 mmWG or less, such as 60 mmWG or less.

The filter has a rod length used in aerosol generating articles and may have an RTD of about 40 mm water level gauge (mmWG) to about 200 mm WG, preferably about 50 mm WG to about 140 mm WG, preferably about 50 mm WG to about 100 mm WG. It is more preferable to have. The length filter used in the aerosol-generating article may have an RTD of 90 mm WG or less, such as 70 mm WG or less. The filter more preferably has an RTD of 65 mmWG or less, such as 60 mmWG or less.

The filter material of the present invention has a rod length of 126 mm, preferably has an RTD of about 40 mm water level gauge (mmWG) to about 200 mm WG, preferably has about 50 mm WG to about 140 mm WG, and has about 50 mm WG to about 100 mm WG. Is more preferable. The filter preferably has an RTD of 90 mmWG or less, such as 70 mmWG or less. The filter more preferably has an RTD of 65 mmWG or less, such as 60 mmWG or less. The filter preferably has a rod length of 126 mm and an RTD of 90 mm WG or less, such as 70 mm WG or less. It is more preferable that the filter has a rod length of 126 mm and an RTD of 65 mm WG or less, such as 60 mm WG or less.

In some embodiments, the filter material of the present invention has a rod length of about 15 mm to about 40 mm, such as about 21 mm, an RTD of about 40 mm water level gauge (mmWG) to about 200 mm WG, and about 50 mm WG to about 140 mm WG. It is preferable to have about 50 mm WG to about 100 mm WG more preferably. The filter preferably has an RTD of 90 mmWG or less, such as 70 mmWG or less. The filter more preferably has an RTD of 65 mmWG or less, such as 60 mmWG or less. The filter preferably has a rod length of about 15 mm to about 40 mm, such as about 21 mm, and an RTD of 90 mm WG or less, such as 70 mm WG or less, 65 mm WG or less, or 60 mm WG or less.

Filters with smaller lengths may have a lower RTD than filters with larger lengths, especially if the filters are made from the same material in the same way. In some preferred embodiments, a filter having a rod length of about 15 mm to about 40 mm, such as about 21 mm, is about 30 mm WG to about 90 mm WG, about 40 mm WG to about 70 mm WG, about 40 mm WG to about 65 mm WG, or about 40 mm WG to about 60 mm WG. Has an RTD of.

The filter preferably has a filter length of 21 mm and an RTD of 90 mmWG or less, such as 70 mmWG or less, 65 mmWG or less, or 60 WG or less. That is, the filter has an RDT of about 4.3 mm WG or less, 3.3 mm WG or less, 3.1 mm WG or less, or 2.9 mm WG or less per mm of filter length.

The filter and associated aerosol-generating article may have any suitable relationship between RTD and average radial hardness. For example, the quotient of the RTD value of the filter divided by the average radial hardness value of the aerosol-generating article is 0.75 or less. The quotient of the RTD value of the filter divided by the average radial hardness value of the aerosol-generating article is preferably 0.7 or less. The quotient obtained by dividing the RTD value of the filter by the average radial hardness value of the aerosol-generating article is more preferably 0.65 or less.

The filter and associated aerosol-generating article may have any suitable value of (100-hardness) x RTD, where hardness is the value of mean radial hardness (%), where RTD is RTD at mmWG. Is the value of. For example, the filter and associated aerosol-generating article can have a value of (100-hardness) x RTD in the range of about 40 to about 2000. The filter and associated aerosol-generating article preferably have a value of (100-hardness) x RTD in the range of about 40 to about 1000, more preferably a value of about 40 to about 500.

The filter and associated aerosol-generating article can have any suitable value of [(100-hardness) xRTD] / mm, where (100-hardness) xRTD is as defined above. The mm of the filter is the length of the filter. The filter preferably has a filter value of 20 or less [(100-hardness) x RTD] / mm, more preferably 15 or less, and even more preferably 10 or less. For example, the filter may have a filter value of about 2 to about 20 [(100-hardness) x RTD] / mm, preferably a value of about 3 to about 15, preferably about 5 to about 13. It is more preferable to have a value of.

The filters of the present invention can achieve the appropriate hardness and withdrawal resistance by incorporating the appropriate amount and plasticizer concentration of the filter material of the appropriate filament size, and by selecting a plug wrap with the appropriate properties.

According to the present invention, any suitable filter material may be used. Examples of suitable filter materials are cellulosic esters (such as cellulose acetate), polylactic acid (PLA), cellulosic materials, polypropylene, or any degradable filter medium, or any combination or blend of two or more filter materials. Can be mentioned. In a preferred embodiment, the filter material comprises a polymeric filter material such as polylactic acid, a cellulose ester, and a blend thereof. The filter material preferably contains a cellulose ester. Examples of cellulose esters that can be used to form filter materials include cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, and cellulose butyrate, which have different degrees of substitution, as well as mixed esters of these. Examples of such mixed esters include cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, and cellulose acetate propionate butyrate. The filter material preferably contains cellulose acetate.

The filter material comprises filaments that are distributed throughout the cross section of the filter. As used herein, a "cross section" is a cross section that traverses a longitudinal axis. The filaments are preferably present at a density similar to the entire cross section of the filter. Hollow tubes formed from the filter material are unlikely to have filaments distributed throughout the cross section of the filter because there is no filament in the center of the cross section.

The filter material containing the plasticizer can have any suitable tow weight or density. The filter material preferably has a weight of about 5 mg / mm to about 7 mg / mm. The filter material more preferably has a weight of about 5.5 mg / mm to about 6.5 mg / mm. The filter preferably has a density of about 0.11 g / cm ³ to about 0.2 g / cm ^3. Filters, such as about 0.12 g / cm ³ ~ about 0.15 g / cm ^3, preferably has a density of about 0.12 g / cm ³ ~ about 0.19 g / cm ^3. Filters with higher weight and density tend to be harder than those with lower weight and density. However, an increase in the weight or density of the filter material also tends to increase the RTD to undesired levels, or may filter excess aerosols, thus delivering a sufficient amount of aerosol to the user. Can prevent it from happening.

To mitigate the effects of increased filter weight or density on RTD and filtration, the filter may include filaments with a linear density of 4 denier or higher per filament. The linear density of the filament used in the filter can be measured by determining the mass (grams) of the filament per 9000 meters. The filter of the present invention preferably comprises a filament having a linear density of 5 denier or higher, 6 denier or higher, or 7 denier or higher per filament. For example, the filters of the present invention may include filaments having a linear density of about 8 denier per filament. The filament having the above-mentioned linear density is preferably a cellulose acetate filament.

The filters of the present invention may have any suitable amount of plasticizer. As used herein, a "plasticizer" is a solvent that, when applied to a polymeric fiber, solvent-bonds the fibers together. Examples of plasticizers include triacetin (also known as glycerol triacetate), diethylene glycol diacetate, triethylene glycol diacetate, tripropion, acetyltriethyl citrate, triethyl citrate, and one or more of these. Examples include mixtures. The plasticizer preferably contains triacetin. The one or more plasticizers may be mixed with, for example, polyethylene glycol and contacted with the polymeric fibers to solvent-bond the fibers together. The fibers may be contacted with the binder in any suitable manner. The composition containing the binder is preferably sprayed onto the polymeric fibers.

The filter of the present invention comprises from about 7.5% to about 11.5% plasticizer to the weight of the filter material. For example, the filter may comprise from about 7.5 g to about 11.5 g of plasticizer per 100 g of filter material. The filter preferably comprises from about 7.5% to about 11% plasticizer, or from about 7.5% to about 10% plasticizer. For example, the filter may comprise from about 8% to about 11% plasticizer, or from about 8% to about 10% plasticizer.

The filter of the present invention preferably comprises from about 10.5% to about 15% plasticizer based on the weight of the filter material. For example, the filter may include from about 10.5 g to about 15 g of plasticizer per 100 g of filter material. The filter is about 10.5% to about 13% plasticizer, about 11% to 13% plasticizer, about 11.5% to about 13% plasticizer, about 12% plasticizer to about 13%. It is preferably provided with a plasticizer, or about 12.5% to about 13% plasticizer. More preferably, the filter comprises from about 10.5% to about 12.5% plasticizer, or from about 11% to 12.5% plasticizer. It is even more preferred that the filter comprises from about 10.5% to about 12% plasticizer, or from about 11% to 12% plasticizer. For example, the filter may comprise from about 10.5% to about 11.5% plasticizer, or from about 11% to about 11.5% plasticizer.

Many commercial cigarette filters contain about 5-7% plasticizer. As shown herein, filters with plasticizer concentrations according to the invention may have improved filter properties. Therefore, a filter with a higher plasticizer concentration than such a cigarette filter may be desirable. Accordingly, the filters of the present invention have a plasticizer concentration of about 7.5% or higher, about 10.5% or higher, or about 11% or higher.

The inventors have discovered that a particular amount of plasticizer for the filters of the present invention can result in a filter with the desired hardness, RTD and filtration efficiency. If the amount of plasticizer exceeds about 12%, especially if the amount of plasticizer exceeds about 13%, the quality of the filter tends to be compromised. For example, a cellulose acetate filter with more than about 12% triacetin results in a filter with relatively large voids, which can significantly reduce filtration efficiency and make the filter unacceptable.

The filter material preferably contains cellulose acetate. The plasticizer preferably contains triacetin. The filter material preferably contains cellulose acetate and the plasticizer preferably contains triacetin. Plasticizers in the range of about 7.5% to about 11.5% by weight of the filter material are particularly suitable when the plasticizer is triacetin and the filter material is cellulose acetate.

The filter may include a plug wrap placed around the filter material. The plug wrap contributes to the hardness of the filter. The plug wrap may be coated with any suitable hardness-enhancing coating composition. If the plug wrap comprises a coating, the coating preferably increases the radial and longitudinal hardness of the filter containing the coated plug wrap.

Any suitable coating composition that increases hardness may be applied to the plug wrap of the filter according to the invention. The hardness-increasing coating composition preferably does not provide a coating that alters the taste of the smoking article, including the coated filter, to impair the taste during smoking. In some preferred embodiments, the hardness-enhancing coating composition comprises one or more constituents used in the production of cigarettes, such as binders or other additives. For example, the coating composition may contain suitable binders used in cigarette paper, chipping paper, or plug wraps.

Examples of suitable materials that may be included in the coating composition to increase hardness are starch, polyacrylamide derivatives, styrene butadiene, styrene acrylic, dextran, oxidized starch, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, or others. Suitable cellulose derivatives (pectin, guar gum, carob bean kernel meal, agar, sodium alginate or other suitable alginates, and the like). In some preferred embodiments, the hardness-enhancing coating comprises polyvinyl alcohol.

Any suitable plug wrap may be coated with a hardness-increasing coating. The plug wrap preferably comprises or consists essentially of a paper plug wrap or consists of a paper plug wrap.

The plug wrap may have any suitable basis weight. The basis weight of the plug wrap is preferably about 20 grams per square meter to about 180 grams per square meter. The basis weight of the plug wrap is more preferably from about 50 grams per square meter to about 150 grams per square meter, even more preferably from about 50 grams per square meter to about 100 grams per square meter.

The plug wrap may have any suitable thickness. A suitable plug wrap paper thickness may be from about 25 micrometers to about 200 micrometers, preferably from about 50 micrometers to about 200 micrometers. In some preferred embodiments, the thickness of the plug wrap is from about 100 micrometers to about 150 micrometers.

Plug wraps with higher weight standards and larger thicknesses tend to be stiffer than plug wraps with lower weight standards and smaller thicknesses.

The plug wrap may have any suitable stiffness. The stiffness of the plug wrap can be determined by ISO 2493-1: 2010. Paper and Paperboard-Determining Bending Resistance-Part 1: Constant Speed Deflection, ISO 2493-2: 2011: Paper and Paperboard-Determining Bending Resistance-Part 2: Taber Tested, or ISO 2493-1: 2010 and Both ISO 2493-2: 2011. The plug wrap has a bending effect of 15 degrees at a length of 10 mm and is 100 mN. It is preferable to have a rigidity of mm or more. For example, the plug wrap is about 100 mN. mm to about 500 mN. It can have a stiffness of mm (MD-15 ° 10 mm). The plug wrap is about 120 mN. mm to about 450 mN. It is preferable to have a rigidity of mm (MD-15 ° 10 mm).

The plug wrap has a bending effect of 15 degrees at a length of 10 mm and is laterally (CD-15 ° 10 mm) 40 mN. It is preferable to have a rigidity of mm or more. For example, the plug wrap is about 40 mN. mm to about 250 mN. It can have a stiffness of mm (CD-15 ° 10 mm). The plug wrap is about 50 mN. mm to about 200 mN. It preferably has a rigidity of mm (CD-15 ° 10 mm).

The plug wrap may have any suitable porosity or may even be non-perforated. For example, the porosity of the plug wrap may be relatively high, eg, greater than about 1,000 cholesterol units, or greater than about 5,000 cholesterol units. In addition, or otherwise, the porosity of the plug wrap may be less than about 10,000 cholesterol units.

The filters of the present invention may also contain additional materials such as activated carbon, flavoring agents (which may be in the form of compounds, flavored threads, beads, capsules, or the like), or any other suitable material. Good. The additional material may be incorporated into the filter material or may be placed in the recesses between the plugs of the filter material, for example in a plug-space-plug configuration. In such a configuration, the plug wraps described herein may be particularly convenient by adding increased structural hardness to the outside of the indentation.

The filters of the present invention may have any suitable dimensions. Typically, the filter has a cylindrical shape. The filter preferably has a diameter in the range of about 5 mm to about 10 mm. The diameter is more preferably about 7.0 mm to about 8.0 mm, more preferably about 7.7 mm to 7.8 mm. The diameter of the filter is preferably the same as or substantially the same as the diameter of the aerosol generating article in which the filter is incorporated.

The length of the filter (the overall length of the filter, including the filter material, measured in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article) may have any suitable value. However, it may be convenient that the length of the filter is substantially the same as that of conventional smoking articles. The length indicates the total length of the filter including the plug of the filter material. That is, if the filter comprises one or more filter segments in addition to the filter material plugs, the length is the total length of all filter segments and filter material plugs. If the filter has only a filter material plug, the length is the length of the filter material plug only.

Longer filters tend to have larger RTDs than shorter filters.

The filter preferably has a length of about 15 mm to about 40 mm. Even more preferably, the filter has a length of about 18 mm to about 27 mm. In one embodiment, the filter has a length of about 27 mm. In another embodiment, the filter has a length of about 21 mm.

The filter of the present invention is preferably formed using a conventional filter manufacturing apparatus. For example, the filter material can be formed from the toe band of the filament using conventional equipment. The plasticizer may be incorporated using conventional equipment and the plug wrap may be placed around the filter using conventional equipment.

The filters of the present invention can be incorporated into any suitable aerosol-generating article in any suitable manner. The filter is preferably incorporated into an aerosol-generating article downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate material. The term "downstream" refers to the relative position of an element of an aerosol-generating article described with respect to the direction of the mainstream aerosol as it is drawn from the aerosol-forming substrate and into the user's mouth.

The term "aerosol-generating article" includes cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and other articles in which an aerosol-forming substrate (such as tobacco) is ignited and burned to produce smoke. The term "aerosol-generating article" also includes articles in which the aerosol-forming substrate is not burned, eg, an aerosol-generating article that directly or indirectly heats the aerosol-forming substrate, or air flow or chemistry with or without a heat source. The reaction includes, but is not limited to, aerosol-generating articles that deliver nicotine or other material from the aerosol-generating substrate.

The filters of the present invention may be particularly desirable for use in heated non-combustible articles where the aerosol-forming substrate is not combustible. Such articles often use relatively short filters with low RTD. Filters for non-combustion and heated products are often soft and may become softer during use as the aerosol flows through the filter. In some cases, the filter can at least partially disintegrate or decompose during use, which can adversely affect the consumer's perception of the quality of the article. Therefore, by incorporating the filters of the invention into a heated non-combustible article with a relatively short filter and a low RTD, the perception of the quality of the article can be improved by the rigidity of the filter and the absence of disintegration and decomposition. To increase filter stiffness and improve quality, short filters that provide relatively low filtration can be used for heated non-combustible articles, which have a taste and other sensory similar to traditional smoking articles such as cigarettes. Can provide properties.

The filter of the heated non-combustible article can have any suitable length. For example, the filter can have a length of less than about 40 mm, such as about 10 mm to about 40 mm. The length of the filter is preferably less than about 30 mm, such as less than about 20 mm.

Here, reference is made to a drawing in which some aspects of the present invention are illustrated. It will be appreciated that other aspects not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope and gist of the present invention. The schematic is not always proportional to the actual size. Similar numbers used in the figures refer to similar components, processes, and the like. But, of course, using one number to refer to one component in a given figure is intended to limit the components with the same number in another figure. It's not a thing. In addition, the use of different numbers to refer to components within different figures indicates that different numbered components cannot be the same or similar to other numbered components. Not intended.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a partially expanded aerosol-generating article 10 having a filter 30.

The aerosol-generating article 10 (cigarette in the depicted embodiment) is depicted as being partially expanded merely to illustrate the representative components of the article. The aerosol-generating article 10 includes a rod 20 of an aerosol-forming substrate such as a tobacco rod, and a filter 30 downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate 20. The filter 30 and the rod 20 are aligned coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating article 10, and this axis is indicated by lines A to A. The illustrated aerosol-generating article 10 includes a plug wrap 60, a cigarette paper 40, and a chipping paper 50. The cigarette paper 40 surrounds at least a portion of the rod 20. The chipping paper 50 or other suitable wrapper surrounds a portion of the plug wrap 60 and the cigarette paper 40, as is commonly known in the art. The filter 30 includes a coated plug wrap 60 and a filter material 32.

The above exemplary embodiments are not limited. Other embodiments consistent with the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions provided herein are provided to facilitate the understanding of certain terms frequently used herein.

As used herein, the singular form ("one (a)", "one (an)", and "the") includes embodiments having plural objects, but the singular form thereof. This does not apply if it is clearly specified separately depending on the content.

As used herein, "or" is generally used to include "and / or" unless expressly specified otherwise by its content. The term "and / or" means one or all of the listed elements, or any combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

As used herein, "have, have", "have, have", "include", "include", "comprise". , "Comprising," or the like, are used in an unconstrained sense and generally mean "including, but not limited to." Unsurprisingly, "consisting essentially of", "consisting of", and the like are included in "comprising" and the like.

The terms "favorable" and "preferably" refer to embodiments of the invention that may provide certain benefits under certain circumstances. However, under the same or other circumstances, other embodiments may also be preferred. Moreover, the enumeration of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that the other embodiments are not useful, and excludes other embodiments from the scope of the present disclosure, including the claims. Not intended.

The following are non-limiting examples showing the selection of filter material weight, plasticizer weight percent, and filament linear density and the plug wrap properties that resulted in improved filter hardness. Nineteen filters were made using cellulose acetate tow (Y-shaped fibers) with different filament linear densities and different amounts of plasticizer (triacetin). The resulting filter material was wrapped in plug wraps with different weight criteria and thicknesses. The resulting filter rod had a diameter of 7.71 mm and a length of 126 mm. The materials used in the manufacture of some of the 19 filters are shown in Table 1 below.

The average radial hardness of the 126 mm long filter rod was determined as described in US Publication No. 2016/0128378. The RTD of the 126 mm long filter rod was measured according to ISO standard 6565: 2002. The stiffness of the plug wrap was measured according to ISO 2493-1: 2010 and ISO 2493-2: 2011. For some filters, the weight of filter material and plasticizer and the density of the weighed material (based on a diameter of 7.71 mm) were determined. The results are shown in Table 2 below.

As shown in Tables 1 and 2, increasing the weight percent of the plasticizer from 7% to 10% increases the radial hardness without substantially increasing the RTD. For example, compare filter 4 and filter 5, and filter 12 and filter 13. In other words, increasing the level of the plasticizer within the scope of the present invention can provide high hardness without significantly affecting the RTD.

It should be noted that RTDs are tested on filters with a length of 126 mm, which may be longer than those that can be used with some aerosol-generating articles. For illustrative purposes, the filter 15 has an RTD of 255 mm WG, which is about 2.02 RTDs per mm, which can result in an RDT of about 42.5 mm WG with a filter having a length of 21 mm. is expected. Therefore, the 21 mm long filter of the filter 15 has a low RTD of about 42.5 mm WG, while the average radial hardness of 97.607% (since the length does not substantially affect the radial hardness). Would be expected to have.

Filters with such high hardness and such low RTD are particularly desirable.

Therefore, methods, systems, devices, assemblies and articles for filters with increased hardness are described. Various modifications and variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and gist of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in the context of certain preferred embodiments, of course, the invention as claimed should not be unreasonably limited to these particular embodiments. In fact, various modifications of the described method for carrying out the present invention, which are apparent to those skilled in the art of mechanical technology, chemical technology and aerosol generation article manufacturing or related fields, fall within the claims below. It is intended to be a thing.

Claims (15)

Aerosol-generating goods
Aerosol forming substrate and
It comprises a filter downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate, the filter comprising a filter material having filaments distributed over the entire cross section of the filter, the filter material being from about 10.5% by weight to about 15% by weight. Aerosol-generating articles containing% plasticizer. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein the filter material comprises from about 10.5% by weight to about 11.5% by weight of a plasticizer. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plasticizer contains triacetin. The aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the filament comprises a cellulose acetate filament. The aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the filament has a linear density of 4 denier or more per filament. The aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the filament has a linear density of 5 denier or more per filament. The aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the filter material has ^{a density of 0.11 g / cm 3 or more.} Wherein the filter material has a density of about ^{0.12g / cm 3 ~0.19g / cm 3} , the aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1-7. The aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the filter comprises a plug wrap arranged around the filter material. The aerosol-generating article of claim 9, wherein the filter further comprises a coating on the plug wrap that increases hardness. The aerosol-generating article of claim 10, wherein the coating comprises polyvinyl alcohol. The filter has an average radial hardness of 95% or more, and a load of 2 kg is applied around the filter of the aerosol-generating article for 20 seconds, and the load is applied to the ratio of the original uncompressed diameter. The aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the average radial hardness is measured by comparing with the subsequent diameter. The aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the filter has a withdrawal resistance of 90 mmWG or less. The aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the filter has a withdrawal resistance of 70 mmWG or less. The aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the aerosol-generating substrate contains tobacco.

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