Combustible heat source for smoking articles and smoking articles containing the same

Abstract

The present invention is a combustible heat source composition for smoking articles that does not contain a binder or a combustion inhibitor, and is characterized in that it contains 1 to 5 parts by weight of a polyhydric alcohol per 100 parts by weight of the solid content. A smoking article using a combustible heat source made of the composition is characterized in that it has excellent ignition properties and combustibility.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a combustible heat source for a smoking article and a smoking article containing the same. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, many smoking articles have been proposed that are heated rather than combusted. Unlike conventional smoking articles, these non-combustion smoking articles do not burn the medium of the smoking article, but are used by inhaling the aerosol generated by heating the medium of the smoking article. One type of such heated smoking article is a smoking article product that uses a carbon heat source.

[0003] Smoking articles to which the carbon heat source is applied generate aerosol by heat transfer from the carbon heat source to a medium in the smoking article located downstream of the carbon heat source.

[0004] Unlike typical heated electronic smoking articles, which use dedicated devices, smoking article products that use a carbon heat source have a smoking style similar to that of traditional smoking articles, and are expected to improve the convenience and satisfaction of smoking for consumers. [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Publication No. 2020-0030364 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a combustible heat source having excellent ignition properties and combustion durability, and a smoking article containing said heat source. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a combustible heat source composition for smoking articles that does not contain a binder, the composition comprising 1 to 5 parts by weight of a polyhydric alcohol per 100 parts by weight of the solid content.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the binder may be at least one selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose, ammonium alginate, pectin, carrageenan, and guar gum.

[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, the flame retardant may be calcium carbonate.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the polyhydric alcohol may be contained in an amount of 1 to 3 parts by weight.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the polyhydric alcohol may be glycerin or propylene glycol.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the polyhydric alcohol may be propylene glycol.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the heat source can be ignited within 30 seconds and combustion can last for 140 seconds or more.

[0013] The present invention also provides a smoking article comprising a combustible heat source composed of the composition. Effect of the Invention

[0014] Conventional flammable heat sources have limitations in that the main component is charcoal, making it difficult to ignite and maintain stable combustion. Here, the present invention uses a polyhydric alcohol to facilitate ignition of the flammable heat source and improve the moldability of the heat source to improve the combustion sustainability, and the heat source made of the composition of the present invention is characterized by having improved ignition and combustibility compared to conventional heat sources. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the combustion results of a combustible heat source manufactured in an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the results of confirming the outer shape of a heat source during combustion in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the specific embodiments set forth herein, but rather may be practiced in a manner that is readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

[0017] Throughout the specification, "the longitudinal direction of a smoking article containing a combustible heat source" means the direction in which the length of a smoking article containing a combustible heat source extends, or the direction in which combustion takes place when a smoking article containing a combustible heat source is combusted.

[0018] Throughout the specification, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the portion where air enters from the outside of a smoking article containing a combustible heat source to the inside when a user inhales outside air using a smoking article containing a combustible heat source, and the portion where air exits from the inside of a smoking article containing a combustible heat source to the outside, respectively. The terms "upstream" and "downstream" may be used to indicate the relative positions or directions between the portions constituting a smoking article containing a combustible heat source.

[0019] Demand for heated electronic smoking articles is increasing. Many heated electronic smoking articles are equipped with a device in a structure of [device + dedicated stick], and products with a smoking pattern similar to that of general smoking articles have been developed as new smoking articles by applying a carbon-based heat source to the tip of the smoking article. Here, the present invention attempts to develop a combustible heat source with a smoking pattern (ignition, smoking start point) similar to that of general smoking articles.

[0020] Conventional flammable heat sources mainly contain charcoal, which makes them difficult to ignite, and once ignited, the burning speed increases excessively, causing the heat source to lose its shape. In order to ensure the ignition and stable combustion of the flammable heat source, conventional heat sources use calcium carbonate as a combustion inhibitor and binder components to maintain the shape of the heat source, but these also have problems with generating a large amount of smoke and lacking ignition.

[0021] Here, the present invention provides a combustible heat source composition having excellent ignition ability and combustion durability, and a smoking article for use with a combustible heat source that contains the same.

[0022] Here, the present invention provides a combustible heat source composition for smoking articles that does not contain a binder or a combustion inhibitor, and is characterized in that it contains 1 to 5 parts by weight of a polyhydric alcohol per 100 parts by weight of the solid content.

[0023] The present invention also provides a smoking article for use with a combustible heat source, which is composed of the above composition.

[0024] The present invention will now be described in more detail.

[0025] The flammable heat source composition of the present invention does not contain a binder or a combustion inhibitor, and is used by adding a polyhydric alcohol instead of the binder or the combustion inhibitor. The heat source composition of the present invention contains a polyhydric alcohol, which is characterized by enabling easy ignition and stable sustained combustion.

[0026] The present invention uses a polyhydric alcohol added to the composition. The addition of the polyhydric alcohol enables flammable vaporization after ignition of the heat source, thereby improving ignition and combustion duration. The polyhydric alcohol may be glycerin or propylene glycol as a combustion aid.

[0027] Glycerin is a material used in the manufacture of smoking articles, and has a high flash point, ensuring safety during use. When glycerin is used and burned, it has been shown to promote initial combustion by providing flammable vapor to the heat source, but it has also been confirmed that odors and smoke are generated during combustion. Here, in the present invention, improvements have been confirmed by applying propylene glycol, which has a low boiling point similar to glycerin (boiling point of glycerol: 290°C / boiling point of propylene glycol: 188.2°C).

[0028] The polyhydric alcohol is used in an amount of 1 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the solid content. When used in this range, it is excellent in ignition property and combustion durability, and more preferably, when used in an amount of 1 to 3 parts by weight, it is possible to achieve quick ignition and stable combustion.

[0029] The heat source of the present invention is characterized by not containing a binder component and a combustion inhibitor. The binder may be carboxymethyl cellulose, ammonium alginate, pectin, carrageenan, guar gum, etc. The binder is used to maintain the shape of the heat source, but smoke may be generated during combustion. Therefore, the heat source of the present invention does not contain the above components, and uses polyhydric alcohol to enable not only the heat source to burn continuously but also to maintain the shape of the heat source.

[0030] In addition, the combustion inhibitor may be calcium carbonate, and since the combustion inhibitor affects the combustion durability of the combustion body and must be used in a relatively excessive amount, the present invention uses an ignition accelerator to produce a heat source that is excellent in both ignition and combustion durability. Potassium nitrate, sugar, etc. may be used as the ignition accelerator.

[0031] More specifically, the composition may include 1-10% by weight graphite, 5-12% by weight potassium nitrate, 1-9% by weight sugar, 5-10% by weight aluminum powder, and the balance charcoal.

[0032] The charcoal is used as a fuel to ignite and maintain combustion as a main material of the heat source. The charcoal is preferably contained in an amount of 50% by weight or more relative to 100% by weight of the solid content, and by containing 50% by weight or more, the temperature required for smoking can be maintained for 3 minutes or more.

[0033] The graphite increases the density of the heat source and helps maintain combustion. The graphite content is 1 to 10 wt%, and if it is less than 1 wt%, the density of the heat source is insufficient and the combustion duration is reduced, and if it is more than 10 wt%, the density becomes too high and affects the ignition ability.

[0034] The potassium nitrate is used as a smoke enhancer, and the sugar is used as an ignition aid. The potassium nitrate is used at 5 to 12% by weight, and the sugar is used at 1 to 9% by weight. The contents of the potassium nitrate and the sugar are preferably 20% by weight or less of the total weight in terms of ignition ability and smoke generation.

[0035] The sugar may be a sugar alcohol such as sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, maltitol, lactitol, erythritol, reduced palatinose, or reduced starch syrup, and preferably mannitol, which has low hygroscopicity, is used when used as a heat source.

[0036] The aluminum has an effect on the temperature of the combustion body, and when used in an amount of 5 to 15% by weight, it allows the smoking article to have an appropriate temperature when smoking with a heat source applied. If used in an amount of less than 5% by weight, the temperature retention ability of the heat source decreases, and if used in an amount of more than 15%, it affects ignition properties.

[0037] The heat source may be ignited within 30 seconds and combustion may last for 140 seconds or more. The heat source having the ignition time and combustion time may have a diameter of 5 to 10 mm and a length of 8 to 15 nm, but is not limited thereto.

[0038] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the combustible heat source may be provided by mixing the composition and preforming the mixture into a desired shape, for example, using any suitable known ceramic forming method such as slip casting, extrusion, injection molding, and die compression or pressing.

[0039] Preferably, the combustible heat source is formed by a pressing or extrusion process. Most preferably, the combustible heat source is formed by a pressing process.

[0040] Preferably, the combustible heat source has a density of about 0.8 g / cm 3 ~About 3.0g / cm 3 and preferably, the combustible heat source may have a mass between about 300 mg and about 500 mg, and more preferably between about 400 mg and about 450 mg.

[0041] The combustible heat source may be, but is not limited to, cylindrical or tapered cylindrical with a circular cross section, or cylindrical or tapered cylindrical with a substantially elliptical cross section.

[0042] Here, the present invention can provide a smoking article to which the heat source is applied.

[0043] The term "smoking article" refers to any product that can be smoked or that can provide a smoking experience, whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. For example, the term "smoking article" refers to any smokable article that can generate aerosol, such as cigarettes, cigars, stubby cigars, etc.

[0044] The smoking article may include a combustible heat source, a medium part, a thermally conductive wrapper and cigarette paper, a cooling part, a filter part, etc., which may be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the smoking article, but the order may be freely changed, except that the combustible heat source is located upstream. In addition, the smoking article may further include additional components, or one or more of the above-mentioned components may be omitted. The smoking article may have a diameter of 4 mm to 10 mm, and a circumference of 14 mm to 29 mm, for example. The length may be 45 mm to 100 mm.

[0045] The medium may include at least one of, for example, shredded grass, shredded grass sheets, smoking article leaves, puffed smoking articles, and nicotine extracts. The medium may include a nicotine component. In addition to the medium, an aerosol-generating substance may be further included. The aerosol-generating substance may be a polyhydric alcohol, an ester of a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerol mono-, di-, or triacetate, and an aliphatic ester of a mono-, di-, or polycarboxylic acid such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. More specifically, the medium may include at least one of, for example, glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol. For example, the medium may include shredded grass sheets immersed in glycerin. However, this is merely an example and the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0046] The media section may have a length between 5 mm and about 20 mm, more preferably between about 8 mm and about 12 mm. The media section may be in the form of a plug or section that is surrounded by a paper or other wrapper and contains a material capable of releasing a volatile compound in response to heating. As noted above, when the media section is in the form of a plug or section, the entire plug or section, including any wrappers, is considered to be the media section.

[0047] The cooling section may include a cooling material. The cooling section may include a tubular hollow body with open ends, and may cool the airflow passing through the heat source and medium section. The cooling section is made of a polymeric material or a biodegradable polymeric material and has a cooling function. For example, the cooling section may be paper, paperboard, plastic, such as cellulose acetate, ceramic, and combinations thereof. Furthermore, the cooling section may include a wrinkled sheet of a material selected from the group consisting of metal foil, polymeric material, and substantially non-porous paper or paperboard. In certain embodiments, the aerosol cooling element may include a wrinkled sheet of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA), cellulose acetate (CA), and aluminum foil. The cooling section has a length between 5 mm and about 30 mm, more preferably between about 8 mm and about 25 mm, but the length may be freely adjusted in consideration of the temperature of the heat generated by the heating heat source, etc.

[0048] The filter portion includes a filter material, and the shape of the filter portion is not limited. For example, the filter portion may be a cylindrical rod, or a tube-type rod including a hollow portion. Or, the filter portion may be a resin-type rod. If the filter portion is composed of a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may be manufactured to have a different shape. For example, the filter portion may include, but is not limited to, a fiber or filament including at least one of polymer, paper, cellulose acetate, activated carbon, and carbon, or a filter tow including these two. The filter portion may have a length of 5 to 20 mm, for example.

[0049] In addition, a tipping paper may be included that contacts the opening that encases the filter material, and the tipping paper may be formed with one or more perforations.

[0050] The filter unit may be manufactured to generate a flavor. For example, a flavoring liquid may be sprayed onto the filter material, or separate fibers coated with the flavoring liquid may be inserted into the filter unit.

[0051] The cooling section and the filter section may include an aerosol modifier. For example, one or more of the cooling section, the filter section, and the tipping paper of the smoking article of the present invention may include one or more aerosol modifiers. Suitable aerosol modifiers include, but are not limited to, flavoring agents; chemesthetic agents. The flavoring agent is used to describe any substance that imparts one or all of a taste or aroma to the aerosol generated by the tobacco material and the aerosol-generating material of the smoking article in use.

[0052] The cigarette paper is made of cellulose fibers obtained from wood, flax or other materials, and is used to wrap the medium, wrap the smoking article including the medium, or wrap the smoking article except for the filter. The thickness of the base paper of the cigarette paper may be about 30 μm to about 100 μm, and the weight of the base paper is about 15 g / m. 2 ~about 80g / m 2 may be also possible.

[0053] A smoking article according to the present invention may include one or more aerosol modifiers downstream that are both flavorants and object-sensing agents. For example, one or more of the cooling portion and the filter portion of a smoking article according to the present invention may include menthol or a further flavoring agent that provides the effect of a cooling object-sensing agent.

[0054] In addition, a smoking article including a combustible heat source may include a thermally conductive wrapper that encases the combustible heat source and the medium portion. The thermally conductive wrapper may completely encase the heat source and the medium portion, encase a part of the heat source and a part of the medium portion, or encase a part of the heat source and the entire medium portion. The thermally conductive wrapper transfers heat generated from the combustible heat source to the tobacco material, and the wrapper may be a metal wheel wrapper, such as an aluminum foil wrapper, a steel wrapper, an iron wheel wrapper, and a copper wheel wrapper, and a metal alloy wheel wrapper, and is not limited to the above materials as long as the material can transfer heat efficiently.

[0055] A metal barrier may be formed between the heating heat source and the medium portion. Here, the metal barrier can prevent the combustible heat source portion from coming into direct contact with the medium portion, and can prevent a portion of the components generated in the combustible heat source portion from migrating to the medium portion.

[0056] The thickness of the barrier can be appropriately adjusted to obtain good smoking performance. In certain implementations, the barrier may have a thickness between about 10 microns and about 500 microns. The barrier may include one or more metallic materials that are substantially thermally stable and non-combustible at temperatures obtained by the combustible heat source upon ignition and combustion. Suitable materials are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and combinations thereof.

[0057] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, various modifications may be made to the embodiments, and the scope of the patent application is not limited or restricted by the embodiments. It should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, or alternatives to the embodiments are included in the scope of the patent.

[0058] In the embodiments, the terms used are merely used for the purpose of explanation and are not to be construed as being limiting. A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, the terms "include" or "have" indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0059] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Commonly used predefined terms should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning they have in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted as ideal or overly formal unless expressly defined in this specification.

[0060] In the following, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description with reference to the drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and the duplicated description thereof will be omitted.

[0061] [Embodiment] 1. Production of flammable heat sources A combustible heat source composition containing charcoal, graphite, aluminum, potassium nitrate, and sugar was prepared according to the composition shown in Table 1 below. The heat source was manufactured in the form of a cylinder with a diameter of 7 mm and a height of about 11 mm. The materials for manufacturing the heat source were prepared according to the mixing ratio and then mixed using an atmospheric mixer (ARE-310 by THINKY). Each material was added during mixing and mixed at 1500 RPM for 1 minute.

[0062] The mixed powder was mixed at 1500 RPM for 5 minutes with the appropriate amount of water or oil added in the weight parts shown in Table 1. The mixed sample was divided into about 0.6 g portions and squeezed through a squeezer to form a cylinder shape.

[0063] The pressed samples were subjected to TGA (LECO TGA791) and dried at 80°C for 30 minutes. [Table 1]

[0064] 2. Confirmation of combustion results of flammable heat sources The prepared heat source was ignited and burned, and the observation results are shown in Table 2 below. [Table 2]

[0065] As can be seen from the results in Table 2, good ignition and combustion properties were confirmed when the compositions were as in Examples 1 to 10. In particular, as shown in Figure 1, when glycerin and propylene glycol were included at 2%, good combustion results were observed. All of Examples 1 to 10 showed good combustion results, but in the case of the heat source using glycerin (Examples 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9), a smell and smoke similar to burning charcoal were generated.

[0066] In contrast, in Comparative Examples 1 and 2 containing moisture, the ignition property was reduced and combustion was interrupted.

[0067] In addition, in the case of Comparative Examples 3 and 4, which contained CMC as a binder, combustion started slowly and a large amount of smoke was generated. In Comparative Examples 5 and 6, which contained calcium carbonate, combustion started slowly and a large amount of smoke / flame was generated. In addition, in Comparative Example 7, which contained both CMC and calcium carbonate, combustion started slowly and smoke was generated severely.

[0068] Furthermore, in Comparative Examples 8 and 9 containing 7% and 8% PG, as shown in FIG. 2, combustion started early, but excessive smoke / flames were generated and the heat source expanded.

[0069] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and a person having ordinary skill in the art can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above. For example, the described techniques may be performed in an order different from that described, and / or the components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. may be combined or combined in a form different from that described, or may be replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents, and still achieve appropriate results.

[0070] Accordingly, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents of the claims are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A combustible heat source composition for use in a smoking article, comprising: Contains 1 to 5 parts by weight of polyhydric alcohol per 100 parts by weight of solid content, Based on the total weight of the solids, the composition contains 5 to 12% by weight of potassium nitrate and 5 to 15% by weight of aluminum; The combustible heat source composition does not contain any of carboxymethyl cellulose, ammonium alginate, pectin, carrageenan, and guar gum, A combustible heat source composition for a smoking article, wherein the combustion inhibitor is calcium carbonate.

2. The combustible heat source composition for smoking articles according to claim 1, comprising 1 to 3 parts by weight of said polyhydric alcohol.

3. The combustible heat source composition for smoking articles according to claim 1 , wherein the polyhydric alcohol is glycerin or propylene glycol.

4. The combustible heat source composition for smoking articles according to claim 3 , wherein the polyhydric alcohol is propylene glycol.

5. 2. The combustible heat source composition for smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein the combustible heat source is ignited within 30 seconds and combustion lasts for 140 seconds or more.

6. A smoking article comprising a combustible heat source comprising the combustible heat source composition for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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