Aerosol generation

Abstract

To provide aerosol generation, particularly an aerosol generating assembly, a method of generating an aerosol, an aerosolisable material for use in generating an aerosol, and an aerosol generating article for use in an aerosol generating assembly.SOLUTION: An aerosolisable material comprises a tobacco material, an un-encapsulated flavourant, and an encapsulated flavourant, wherein the encapsulated flavourant is released when heated to a release temperature, and the release of the flavourant is staggered during use.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10a

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the generation of aerosols, and in particular, but not limited to, an aerosol generation assembly, a method of generating an aerosol, an aerosolizable material for use in generating an aerosol, and an aerosol generation article for use in an aerosol generation assembly. Background

[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars generate tobacco smoke by burning the tobacco during use. Alternatives to these types of smoking articles release compounds without burning. Typically, devices are known that heat an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material in order to form an aerosol that can be inhaled without burning or combusting the aerosolizable material. Such devices are also described as "non-combustion heating devices", or "tobacco heating products" (THP), or "tobacco heating devices", or the like. Various different configurations are known for volatilizing at least one component of the aerosolizable material.

[0003] The material may be, for example, tobacco, other non-tobacco products, or a combination such as a blended mixture, and they may or may not contain nicotine.

[0004] Some known tobacco heating devices include two or more heaters, each of which is configured to heat a different portion of the aerosolizable material during use. This allows different portions of the aerosolizable material to be heated at different times and / or to different temperatures, thereby extending the formation of the aerosol over the service life. Summary

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosolizable material for use in an aerosol generating assembly, comprising a tobacco material, an unencapsulated flavorant, and an encapsulated flavorant.

[0006] In some cases, the aerosolizable material is in the form of a component comprising at least two sections, the two sections having different components.

[0007] In some cases, both sections comprise an unencapsulated flavorant, and only one of the two sections comprises an encapsulated flavorant.

[0008] In some cases, only one of the two sections comprises an unencapsulated flavorant, and only one of the two sections comprises an encapsulated flavorant. In some such cases, the unencapsulated flavorant and the encapsulated flavorant are provided in different sections. In other such cases, the unencapsulated flavorant and the encapsulated flavorant are provided in the same section.

[0009] In any of these cases, the tobacco material is provided in either or both of the two sections. In some particular cases where the encapsulated flavorant is provided in only one section, the tobacco material may be provided in at least the other section.

[0010] In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant is preferably applied in the form of a film to a wrapper disposed around the tobacco material.

[0011] In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant provides a multi-mode flavorant release profile from the encapsulated flavorant upon heating. In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant provides a two-mode flavorant release profile from the encapsulated flavorant upon heating.

[0012] In some cases, the aerosolizable material is in the form of a component having a rod shape.

[0013] In some cases, the non-encapsulated flavorant contains menthol and / or a cooling agent. In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant contains menthol and / or a cooling agent.

[0014] In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant contains an encapsulating material, and the encapsulating material contains at least one of a polysaccharide material, a cellulose-based material, gelatin, gum, a protein material, a polyol matrix material, a gel, wax, polyurethane, polymerized and hydrolyzed ethylene vinyl acetate, polyester, polycarbonate, polymethacrylate, polyglycol, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, or a mixture thereof.

[0015] A second aspect of the present invention provides an aerosol generating article for use in an aerosol generating assembly comprising an aerosolizable material according to the first aspect of the present invention and a cooling element and / or a filter.

[0016] A third aspect of the present invention provides an aerosol generating assembly comprising a heater and an aerosolizable material according to the first aspect, wherein the heater heats the aerosolizable material during use to generate an aerosol.

[0017] In some cases, the aerosol generating assembly comprises a heater and an aerosolizable material according to the second aspect.

[0018] In some cases, the aerosolizable material comprises at least two sections, and the assembly is configured to provide a different heating profile for each of the sections of the aerosolizable material. In some cases, these sections have the same components. In some cases, these sections have different components. In some cases, the assembly comprises at least two heaters arranged to heat different sections of the aerosolizable material respectively.

[0019] A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of generating an aerosol, the method comprising heating an aerosolizable material comprising a tobacco material, an unencapsulated flavorant, and an encapsulated flavorant within an aerosol generating assembly.

[0020] In some cases, the aerosol generating material comprises at least two sections, and a different heating profile is provided for each section of the aerosolizable material. In some cases, these sections have different components.

[0021] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of examples of the invention given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]

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Figure 10a

Figure 10b

Figure 10c

[0023] Examples of the present invention provide aerosolizable materials for use in an aerosol generation assembly comprising a tobacco material, an unencapsulated flavorant, and an encapsulated flavorant.

[0024] The inventors have confirmed that flavorants in tobacco heating products can be consumed very early in the consumption experience due to their volatility. The present invention provides an aerosolizable material comprising (i) an unencapsulated flavorant that is volatilized at the beginning of the consumption time and (ii) an encapsulated flavorant that is released and volatilized later in the consumption time. This means that the claimed aerosolizable material is used in a tobacco heating product to provide a sustained delivery of flavorant (and a more sustained sensory effect to the consumer), and in some cases, a relatively constant delivery of flavorant per puff (i.e., a relatively constant sensory effect).

[0025] Encapsulation also helps prevent the movement of flavorants within the aerosolizable material before use.

[0026] In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant is released once a threshold temperature, also referred to as the release temperature, is exceeded. In some cases, temperature-dependent release may be provided by using an encapsulating material that melts, decomposes, reacts, disintegrates, expands, or deforms to release the flavorant at the release temperature. In other cases, the encapsulated flavorant may be expanded by heating to break the encapsulating material.

[0027] In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant may be present in the form of a flavor capsule. In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant may be present in the form of a powder, granule, and / or bead. In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant may be present in the form of an encapsulating film that can be applied, for example, to a tobacco material and / or a wrapper disposed around the tobacco material. In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant may be present in a mixture of these forms, such as a combination of a flavor capsule and an encapsulating film.

[0028] In some cases, the aerosolizable material may be configured for use in an aerosol generating assembly having two or more heating zones. The aerosolizable material may be in the form of a component having sections corresponding to each heating zone, in which case each section receives a different heating profile. In some cases, each section of the aerosolizable material may have substantially the same components. In some other cases, each section of the aerosolizable material may have different components. For example, the aerosolizable material may comprise two sections, and an unencapsulated flavorant may be disposed in a different section than the encapsulated flavorant, and the section of the aerosolizable material that is first heated during use may comprise the unencapsulated flavorant (but not the encapsulated flavorant), and the section of the aerosolizable material that is second heated during use may comprise the encapsulated flavorant (but not the unencapsulated flavorant). In another example, both sections may comprise the unencapsulated flavorant, but only the second section may comprise the encapsulated flavorant. The inventors have determined that encapsulating the flavorant of the section that is heated later restricts the consumption of flavorant from these sections by the heat flowing from the section that was heated previously. In such cases, the encapsulated flavorant can be released when the release temperature is exceeded, which occurs only when the section that is heated later is heated, and the heat flowing from the other sections is insufficient to exceed the release temperature. Thus, this configuration contributes to providing a sustained flavorant delivery profile.

[0029] In some cases, both sections comprise unencapsulated flavorant and only one of the two sections comprises encapsulated flavorant. In some other cases, only one of the two sections comprises unencapsulated flavorant, only one of the two sections comprises encapsulated flavorant, and the unencapsulated flavorant and the encapsulated flavorant may be provided in the same section or in different sections. In any of these cases, the tobacco material may be provided in either or both of the two sections.

[0030] In some cases, the aerosolizable material may include encapsulated flavorant and the flavorant is encapsulated such that upon heating, the encapsulated flavorant is released in multiple modes. That is, the release profile of the flavorant from the aerosolizable material includes the release from the unencapsulated flavorant and at least two releases from the encapsulated flavorant. In some cases, the aerosolizable material may include encapsulated flavorant and the flavorant is encapsulated such that upon heating, the encapsulated flavorant is released in two modes. That is, the release profile of the flavorant from the aerosolizable material includes the release from the unencapsulated flavorant and two releases from the encapsulated flavorant. The release of the flavorant is shifted during use to provide a continuous delivery of flavor throughout the consumption experience.

[0031] Multi-mode (preferably dual-mode) release of the encapsulated flavorant can be provided in several ways. In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant can be made to have different release temperatures, such that upon use, the release of the flavorant is staggered (providing separate modes), with the encapsulated flavorant having a lower release temperature being released and volatilized before the encapsulated flavorant having a higher release temperature. For example, the encapsulating material can be made different to provide a multi-mode flavorant release profile, and a first portion of the encapsulated flavorant using an encapsulating material having a lower melting point can release the encapsulated flavorant before a second portion made using an encapsulating material having a higher melting point. In another example, the encapsulated flavorant components can be made different, the encapsulating material can be capable of expanding upon heating to break the encapsulation, and the different encapsulated flavorant components expand at different rates so as to provide a multi-mode flavorant release profile. In another example, the encapsulated flavorant can have at least a similar release temperature throughout, but the ratio of the encapsulated material to the encapsulating material can be made different to provide a multi-mode flavorant release profile, and the encapsulated flavorant containing a higher ratio of the encapsulating material may require a longer heating time at a temperature above the release temperature to release the flavorant.

[0032] In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant providing a multi-mode release profile may be disposed in the aerosol-forming material in a non-uniform manner. For example, if the aerosol-forming material has two or more sections (which can correspond to different heating zones upon use), each section may contain a different ratio of the encapsulated flavorant corresponding to each release mode. In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant providing a first release mode may be provided in a different section of the aerosolizable material than the encapsulated flavorant providing a second release mode.

[0033] In some cases, the unencapsulated flavorant may contain menthol, may consist essentially of menthol, or may consist of menthol only.

[0034] In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant may contain menthol, may consist essentially of menthol, or may consist of menthol only.

[0035] The encapsulating material may be, for example, a polysaccharide or a cellulose-based material, gelatin, gum, protein material, polyol matrix material, gel, wax, polyurethane, polymerized and hydrolyzed ethylene vinyl acetate, polyester, polycarbonate, polymethacrylate, polyglycol, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, or a mixture thereof. Suitable polysaccharides include alginate, starch, dextran, maltodextrin, cyclodextrin, and pectin. Suitable cellulose-based materials include methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, and cellulose ether. Suitable gums include gum arabic, gatti gum, tragacanth gum, karaya, locust bean, acacia gum, guar, quince seed, and xanthan gum. Suitable protein materials include zein protein. A suitable polyol matrix may be formed from polyvinyl alcohol. Suitable gels include agar, agarose, carrageenan, furoidan, and furcellaran. Suitable waxes include carnauba wax.

[0036] In some cases, the encapsulating material includes polysaccharides. In some specific cases, the encapsulating material may include alginate. The alginate may be, for example, alginate salt, esterified alginate, or glyceryl alginate. The alginate salts include ammonium alginate, triethanolamine alginate, and metal ion alginates of Group I or Group II such as sodium alginate, potassium alginate, calcium alginate, and magnesium alginate. The esterified alginates include propylene glycol alginate and glyceryl alginate.

[0037] In some cases, the encapsulating material is sodium alginate and / or calcium alginate. Calcium alginate is more effective than sodium alginate in suppressing the migration of the flavoring agent at ambient temperature, but it can also release the aerosol-forming agent at a higher temperature than sodium alginate.

[0038] In some cases, the encapsulating material includes pectin.

[0039] In some cases, the aerosolizable material may further include one or more aerosol-forming agents. In some cases, at least some of the aerosol-forming agents may optionally be encapsulated with the same material as the encapsulated flavoring agent.

[0040] In some cases, the aerosolizable material is in the form of a component having a rod shape. The aerosolizable material may further include a wrapper disposed around the tobacco material. One or more components of the aerosolizable material may be provided as components of the wrapper. In this document, the term "rod" generally refers to an elongated object that can be shaped into any suitable shape for use in an aerosol-generating assembly. In some cases, this rod is substantially cylindrical.

[0041] In some cases, the aerosolizable material may be a solid material. In some cases, the aerosolizable material may contain about 300 - 500 mg of tobacco material.

[0042] The encapsulated flavorant may be made according to any of several known methods widely disclosed in the art, including, by way of example only, spray drying, fluid bed impregnation, in-situ polymerization, solvent evaporation, coacervation, and / or coextrusion.

[0043] Examples of the present invention also provide an aerosol generating assembly comprising a heater and an aerosolizable material according to the first aspect, the heater being configured to heat the aerosolizable material during use to generate an aerosol.

[0044] The aerosol generating assembly according to an example of the present invention may also be referred to as a non-combustion heating device, a tobacco heating product, or a tobacco heating device.

[0045] Any suitable heating profile may be used. In some cases, the heater temperature may quickly rise at the beginning of the consumption session to quickly generate an aerosol. Then, after some time, the heater temperature may drop to prevent carbonization or combustion of the aerosolizable material. Then, later in the session, the heater temperature may rise again to maximize the aerosolization of the components of the material.

[0046] In some cases, the assembly is configured to provide different heating profiles to different sections of the aerosolizable material. In some cases, the assembly may be configured such that at least a portion of the aerosolizable material is exposed to a temperature of at least 180 °C or 200 °C for at least 50% of the heating time. In some examples, the aerosolizable material may be exposed to a heating profile as described in the co-pending application PCT / EP2017 / 068804, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0047] In some specific cases, an assembly is provided that is configured to heat at least two sections of an aerosolizable material separately. By controlling over time the temperature of the first section and the temperature of the second section such that the temperature profiles of the sections are different, it is possible to control the puff profile of the aerosol during use. The heat applied to two portions of the aerosolizable material can be applied at different times or at different rates, and by shifting the heating in this way, both rapid generation of the aerosol and long-term use are made possible.

[0048] In some cases, the assembly may be configured such that, at the start of the consumption experience, a first heating element corresponding to the first section of the aerosolizable material is immediately heated to a volatilization temperature that volatilizes the aerosolizable component. After a set time, the temperature of the first heating element drops to an intermediate temperature selected to prevent condensation of the aerosol in the first section.

[0049] Either at the start of the consumption experience or at some time thereafter, a second heating element corresponding to the second section of the aerosolizable material is heated to an intermediate temperature (which may be the same as or different from the intermediate temperature of the first heating element). After a set time, the second heating element is heated to a volatilization temperature (which may be the same as or different from the volatilization temperature of the first heating element). Typically, at least one of the heating elements is at its volatilization temperature throughout the consumption experience, and in some cases, both heating elements are at their volatilization temperatures simultaneously for a short period of time. The intermediate temperature of the second heating element is selected such that the second section can be quickly heated to its volatilization temperature.

[0050] At the end of the consumption experience, both heating elements can be cooled to room temperature.

[0051] In one particular example, the assembly may be configured such that at the start of the consumption experience, a first heating element corresponding to a first section of aerosolizable material is immediately heated to a temperature of 240°C. This first heating element is maintained at 240°C for 145 seconds and then drops to 135°C (the remainder of the consumption experience remains at this temperature). 75 seconds after the start of the consumption experience, a second heating element corresponding to a second section of aerosolizable material is heated to a temperature of 160°C. 135 seconds after the start of the consumption experience, the second heating element is raised to 240°C (the remainder of the consumption experience remains at this temperature). The consumption experience lasts for 280 seconds, at which point the temperatures of both heaters drop to room temperature.

[0052] In some cases, there are two sections of aerosolizable material. In other cases, there may be 3, 4, 5, 6, or more sections. The components of the aerosolizable material in each section may be the same or different. There may be flavorants that are not encapsulated in any number of sections. There may be flavorants encapsulated in any number of sections. In some cases, the flavorants may be encapsulated to provide a multi-mode release of encapsulated flavorants upon heating, and the aerosolizable material may be configured such that each mode is provided by a different section of the aerosolizable material. In some cases, the sections of the aerosolizable material may include encapsulated flavorants that provide a multi-mode release of encapsulated flavorants upon heating, in which case the ratio of encapsulated flavorants contributing to each release mode is different in each section. In some cases, the assembly includes a plurality of heaters, each arranged to directly heat one or more sections of the aerosolizable material. In some cases, the number of heaters is equal to the number of sections of the aerosolizable material, and the heaters are arranged such that each heats one section.

[0053] In some cases, the aerosolizable material has a rod shape such as a cylinder. In some cases, the section of the aerosolizable material is cylindrical and may be arranged coaxially along the rod of the aerosolizable material. In other cases, the section of the aerosolizable material may be in the form of a section of a prism arranged to form the shape of a rod such as a cylinder together. For example, if there are two sections, these sections may be semi-cylinders and their planes may be arranged in contact with each other.

[0054] In some examples, the aerosolizable material may be provided as part of an aerosol generating article inserted into an aerosol generating assembly. In some cases, the aerosol generating article may comprise an aerosolizable material, as well as a cooling element and / or a filter. If there is a cooling element, the cooling element can act or function to cool the gaseous component or aerosol component. In some cases, the cooling element can act to cool the gaseous component such that the gaseous component condenses to form an aerosol. The cooling element can also act to keep the very hot parts of the device away from the user. If there is a filter, the filter may comprise any suitable filter known in the art, such as a plug of cellulose acetate. In some cases, the filter does not contain or include any encapsulated flavorants. The aerosol generating article may be surrounded by a wrapping material such as paper.

[0055] The aerosol generating article may further comprise ventilation openings. The ventilation openings may be provided in the side wall of the aerosol generating article. In some cases, the ventilation openings may be provided in the filter and / or the cooling element. By means of these openings, cold air can be drawn into the aerosol generating article during use, and it can be mixed with the heated and volatilized components to cool the aerosol.

[0056] When the aerosol generating article is heated during use, this ventilation promotes the generation of heated and volatilized visible components from the aerosol generating article. The heated and volatilized components are cooled, and as a result, the heated and volatilized components are visualized by a process that causes supersaturation of the heated and volatilized components. The heated and volatilized components then form droplets, known as nucleation, and ultimately, the aerosol particle size of the heated and volatilized components increases due to further condensation of the heated and volatilized components and aggregation of the newly formed droplets from the heated and volatilized components.

[0057] In some cases, the ratio of the cold air to the sum of the heated and volatilized components and the cold air (known as the ventilation rate) is at least 15%. If the ventilation rate is 15%, the heated and volatilized components can be visualized by the above method. When the heated and volatilized components are visualized, the user can recognize that the volatilized components are generated, which is added to the sensory experience of the smoking experience.

[0058] In another example, the ventilation rate is set to 50% - 85% to further cool the heated and volatilized components. In some cases, the ventilation rate may be at least 60% or 65%.

[0059] In this book, an "aerosol generating agent" is a drug that promotes the generation of aerosol when heated. The aerosol generating agent can promote the generation of aerosol by promoting initial evaporation and / or by promoting condensation into a solid and / or liquid aerosol from which gas can be aspirated. Suitable aerosol generating agents include, but are not limited to, polyols containing glycols such as sorbitol, glycerol, and propylene glycol or triethylene glycol, as well as monohydric alcohols, high-boiling hydrocarbons, acids such as lactic acid, glycerin derivatives, diacetin, triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, or esters such as myristic acid esters containing ethyl myristate and isopropyl myristate, and non-polyols containing aliphatic carboxylic acid esters such as methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecanedioate, and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.

[0060] In this book, the terms "flavoring" and "flavorant" refer to materials that can be used (when permitted by local regulations) to produce a desired taste or aroma in products for adult consumers. These include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese cypress leaves, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, frankincense, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, perilla, pepper, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or peppermint oil from any species of the mint genus), flavor enhancers, bitter receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or sensory receptor site stimulants, sugars and / or alternative sugars (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, thaumatin, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and may also include other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, plant substances, or breath fresheners. These may be imitation, synthetic, or natural materials, or mixtures thereof. These may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, or powder. In some embodiments, the sensory receptor site activator or sensory receptor site stimulant is a sensation inducer such as a cooling agent.Suitable cooling agents may include one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of N-ethyl-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexanecarboxamide (WS-3, also known as CAS: 39711-79-0, FEMA: 3455), 2-isopropyl-N-[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl]-5-methylcyclohexanecarboxamide (WS-5, also known as CAS: 68489-14-5, FEMA: 4309), 2-isopropyl-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methylcyclohexanecarboxamide (WS-12, also known as FEMA: 4681), and 2-isopropyl-N,2,3-trimethylbutanamide (WS-23, also known as FEMA: 3804).

[0061] In this document, the term "tobacco material" refers to any material containing tobacco or its derivatives. The term "tobacco material" may include one or more of tobacco itself, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. Tobacco materials may include one or more of ground tobacco, tobacco fibers, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stems, reconstituted tobacco, and / or tobacco extracts.

[0062] The tobacco used to produce tobacco materials may be any suitable tobacco, including Virginia and / or Burley and / or Oriental, of a single grade or blend, cut rag or whole leaf. Tobacco may also be other processed stem materials such as "fines" or powders of tobacco particles, expanded tobacco, stems, expanded stems, and cut rolled stems. Tobacco materials may be ground tobacco or reconstituted tobacco materials. Reconstituted tobacco materials may include tobacco fibers and may be formed by casting, Fourdrinier means with reverse addition of tobacco extracts, or extrusion molding.

[0063] In use, in some cases, the aerosol-generating article may be disposed within an aerosol-generating device that heats the aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol without combustion. In some other cases, the aerosol-generating article may be provided within an assembly having a fuel source such as a combustible fuel source or a chemical heat source that heats the aerosolizable material but does not cause combustion.

[0064] In some cases, the heater provided in the aerosol-generating assembly may be a thin-film electrical resistance heater. In other cases, the heater may include an induction heater or the like. Where two or more heaters are present, each heater may be the same or different.

[0065] Generally, this heater or each heater is connected to a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium-ion batteries, nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), alkaline batteries, and the like. The battery is electrically connected to the heater so as to supply power when it is necessary to heat the aerosolizable material (to volatilize the components of the aerosolizable material without burning the aerosolizable material) and is controllable by a suitable circuit.

[0066] In one example, the heater is generally in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube having a hollow internal heating chamber, into which the aerosolizable material is inserted for heating during use. Different configurations for the heater are possible. For example, the heater may be formed as a single heater or may be formed from a plurality of heaters aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heater (for simplicity, in this document, what is referred to as a "heater" should be construed to include a plurality of heaters if the context does not otherwise require). The heater may be annular or tubular. The heater can be dimensioned such that when inserted, substantially the entire aerosolizable material is disposed within the heating element(s) of the heater so that, during use, substantially the entire aerosolizable material is heated. The heater may be configured to selectively heat regions of the aerosol-generable material, for example, independently, either sequentially (over time) or together (simultaneously) as required.

[0067] The heater may be surrounded by a heat insulator along at least a portion of its length, which helps to reduce the heat flowing from the heater to the exterior of the aerosol generation assembly. This generally reduces heat loss and thus helps to keep the power requirements of the heater low. The heat insulator also helps to keep the exterior of the aerosol generation assembly at a low temperature during operation of the heater.

[0068] The features described for one aspect of the present invention are explicitly disclosed in combination with other aspects and examples described in this document, to the extent that they are not inconsistent.

[0069] Figure 1 schematically shows an example of an aerosolizable material for use with an aerosol generation assembly. The aerosolizable material is in the form of a cylindrical rod and comprises a first section 103a and a second section 103b. In this example, during use, the second section 103b is further from the mouth than the first section 103a.

[0070] In some examples, the two sections 103a, 103b of the aerosolizable material have substantially the same components. These sections comprise a tobacco material, an unencapsulated flavorant, and an encapsulated flavorant. The flavorant may be menthol. The encapsulating material may be alginic acid. In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant may be in the form of capsules dispersed throughout the tobacco material. In some other cases, the encapsulated flavorant may be provided in the form of a film coated on a wrapper (such as a paper wrapper) disposed around the tobacco material. In such cases, the film may be coated, for example, by spray drying or printing. In a further case, the encapsulated flavorant may be applied to the tobacco material, for example, by spraying.

[0071] In other examples, the two sections 103a, 103b of the aerosolizable material have substantially the same components. These sections comprise a tobacco material, an unencapsulated flavorant, and an encapsulated flavorant, and the encapsulated flavorant releases the flavorant from the encapsulated flavorant in multiple modes upon heating. In use, the unencapsulated flavorant is first volatilized, followed by the release and volatilization of a first portion of the encapsulated flavorant (which may, in some cases, be the portion having a low release temperature). A second portion of the encapsulated flavorant (which may, in some cases, be the portion having a high release temperature) is released later and then volatilized, shifting the release of the flavorant to continuously deliver the flavorant to the user.

[0072] In other examples, the two sections 103a, 103b of the aerosolizable material have different components. In some cases, both sections comprise an unencapsulated flavorant, but only one section comprises an encapsulated flavorant. In other cases, one section comprises an unencapsulated flavorant but no encapsulated flavorant, and the other comprises an encapsulated flavorant but no unencapsulated flavorant. In each case, one or both of the sections 103a, 103b may comprise a tobacco material. In still other cases, one section comprises an unencapsulated flavorant, an encapsulated flavorant, and optionally a tobacco material, and the other section comprises a tobacco material but no flavorants. In some cases, the encapsulated flavorant may be in the form of capsules dispersed throughout the entire tobacco material of one section of the aerosolizable material. In some other cases, a wrapper (such as a paper wrapper) may be disposed around the tobacco material, and the encapsulated flavorant may be provided in the form of a film applied to a section of the wrapper disposed around one of the aerosolizable section materials 103a, 103b. In such cases, the film may be applied, for example, by spray drying or printing. In a further case, the encapsulated flavorant may be applied to the tobacco material of sections 103a, 103b by spraying, for example.

[0073] In such examples, the section of the aerosolizable material comprising the encapsulated flavorant is generally the section configured to be heated later during use. In some cases, only the second section 103b (the one farther from the mouth end) contains the encapsulated flavorant and is heated after the first section 103a during use.

[0074] In other examples, the two sections 103a, 103b of the aerosolizable material have different components. In some cases, one or both of the sections comprise an unencapsulated flavorant, and each section comprises an encapsulated flavorant. The encapsulated flavorant, upon heating, is released from the encapsulated flavorant in a two-mode release profile, and the encapsulated flavorant providing the first release mode is provided in a section of the aerosolizable material that is different from the encapsulated flavorant providing the second release mode. In each case, one or both of the sections 103a, 103b may comprise a tobacco material. Generally, the section containing the encapsulated flavorant having a high release temperature (or configured to be released later) is the section that is heated later during use. For example, in one embodiment, the first section 103a comprises an unencapsulated flavorant and a first encapsulated flavorant. In this embodiment, the second section 103b comprises a second encapsulated flavorant having a higher release temperature (or configured to be released later) than the first encapsulated flavorant. During use, the first section 103a is first heated, the unencapsulated flavorant is first volatilized, and subsequently, when the encapsulated flavorant from the first section reaches the release temperature, it is volatilized. At this stage, since the second encapsulated flavorant has a higher release temperature (or is configured to be released later), it is not volatilized, and when the second section 103b is heated, the second encapsulated flavorant is released and volatilized to form an aerosol.

[0075] In a further variation, the two sections 103a, 103b of the aerosolizable material have different components. In some cases, one or both of the sections comprise unencapsulated flavorant and each section comprises encapsulated flavorant. The encapsulated flavorant is released from the encapsulated flavorant in a two-mode release profile upon heating, and each section of the aerosol-forming material comprises a different ratio of encapsulated flavorant, with each release mode being provided. For example, the first section of the aerosolizable material comprises a greater proportion of encapsulated flavorant providing a first release mode, and the second section of the aerosolizable material comprises a greater proportion of encapsulated flavorant providing a second release mode. In each case, one or both of the sections 103a, 103b may comprise tobacco material. Generally, the section containing a greater proportion of encapsulated flavorant providing the second release mode is heated second during use. In some cases, the second section may be the section 103b located further from the mouth during use.

[0076] Figure 2 schematically shows an example of an aerosol-generating article 101 for use with an aerosol-generating assembly. The aerosol-generating article 101 includes the cylindrical rod of aerosolizable material 103, the cooling element 107, the filter 109, and the mouth-side end segment 111 shown in Figure 1. The cooling element 107 and the filter 109 may be arranged between the mouth-side end of the aerosolizable material 103 and the mouth-side end segment 111 as shown, such that the flow from the aerosolizable material 103 passes through the cooling element 107 and the filter 109 (or in the reverse order if the filter is arranged upstream of the cooling element in the flow) before reaching the user. The example of Figure 2 shows the cooling element 107, the filter 109, and the mouth-side end segment 111, but in other examples, one or more of these elements may be omitted.

[0077] In some examples, when there is an oral-side end segment 111, the oral-side end segment 111 may be formed of, for example, paper in the form of a spirally wound paper tube, cellulose acetate, cardboard, pressure-bonded paper such as pressure-bonded heat-resistant paper or pressure-bonded parchment paper, and / or a polymer material such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), or some other suitable material. The oral-side end segment 111 may include a hollow tube. Such a hollow tube may have a filtering function for filtering the volatilized aerosolizable material. The oral-side end segment 111 may be elongated to space it apart from a very high temperature part (s) of a main device (not shown) for heating the aerosolizable material.

[0078] In some examples, when there is a filter 109, the filter 109 may be a filter plug and may be made of, for example, cellulose acetate.

[0079] In some cases, when there is a cooling element 107, the cooling element 107 may include an integral rod, the integral rod having first and second ends and a plurality of through holes extending between the first and second ends. The through holes may extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the rod. The through holes of the cooling element 107 may be arranged generally radially of the element when looking at a transverse cross-section. That is, in one example, the element has an inner wall which defines the through holes and has two main structures, namely a radial wall and a central wall. The radial wall extends along the radius of the cross-section of the element and the central wall is centered at the center of the cross-section of the element. The central wall of one example is circular, but other regular or irregular cross-sectional shapes may be used. Similarly, the cross-section of the element of one example is circular, but other regular or irregular cross-sectional shapes may be used.

[0080] In one example, most of the through holes have a hexagonal or generally hexagonal cross-sectional shape. In this example, the element has, when viewed from one end, what is called a "honeycomb" structure.

[0081] In some cases, when there is a filter 109, the cooling element 107 may comprise a hollow tube that spaces the filter 109 from a very hot part(s) of the main device that heats the aerosolizable material. The cooling element 107 may be formed from, for example, paper, such as a spirally wound paper tube, cellulose acetate, cardboard, crimped heat-resistant paper or crimped parchment paper, and polymeric materials such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), or some other suitable material.

[0082] When there is a cooling element 107, the cooling element 107 may be substantially non-compressible. This may be formed from a ceramic material, or a polymer, such as a thermoplastic polymer which may also be an extrudable plastic material. In one example, the porosity of the cooling element ranges from 60% to 75%. The porosity here can be a measure of the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the element occupied by through-holes. In one example, the porosity of the cooling element is about 69% to 70%. Another example of a cooling element is disclosed in PCT / GB2015 / 051253, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, in particular in the description of FIGS. 1 to 8, and lines 11 to 16 of page 18, lines 1 to 16.

[0083] In a further example, the cooling element 107 may be formed from a sheet material that is bent, corrugated, or pleated to form through-holes. The sheet material may be made from, for example, a metal such as aluminum, polymeric plastic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or polyvinyl chloride, or paper.

[0084] In some examples, the cooling element 107 and the filter 109 may be held together by a wrapper paper (not shown) to form an assembly. The assembly may then be joined to the aerosolizable material by a further wrapper (not shown) surrounding the assembly and at least the mouth-side end of the aerosolizable material to form the aerosol-generating article 101. In other examples, the aerosol-generating article 101 is formed by winding the cooling element 107, the filter 109, and the aerosolizable material 103 in a single operation, without using another tipping paper provided for the cooling element and / or filter components (if any).

[0085] Next, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a partial cutaway cross-sectional view and a perspective view of an example of the aerosol-generating article 201 are shown. The aerosol-generating article 201 is configured to be used with a device having a power source and a heater. The aerosol-generating article 201 of this embodiment is particularly suitable for use with the device 1 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 described below. In use, the aerosol-generating article 201 can be removably inserted into the device shown in FIG. 7 at the insertion point 20 of the device 1. The reference numerals shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are the same as the values obtained by adding "100" to the reference numerals shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0086] One example of the aerosol-generating article 201 is in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod including an aerosolizable material 203 in the form of a rod and a filter assembly 205. The aerosolizable material has two sections 203a, 203b. The description of sections 103a, 103b in FIGS. 1 and 2 also applies to sections 203a, 203b in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0087] The filter assembly 205 includes three segments: a cooling segment 207, a filter segment 209, and a mouthpiece end segment 211. The aerosol generating article 201 has a first end 213, also known as the mouthpiece end or proximal end, and a second end 215, also known as the distal end. The aerosolizable material 203 is disposed towards the distal end 215 of the aerosol generating article 201. In one example, the cooling segment 207 is disposed adjacent to the aerosolizable material 203 between the aerosolizable material 203 and the filter segment 209, such that the cooling segment 207 is in contact with the aerosolizable material 203 and the filter segment 209. In other examples, there may be a gap between the aerosolizable material 203 and the cooling segment 207, and between the aerosolizable material 203 and the filter segment 209. The filter segment 209 is disposed between the cooling segment 207 and the mouthpiece end segment 211. The mouthpiece end segment 211 is disposed towards the proximal end 213 of the aerosol generating article 201 and is adjacent to the filter segment 209. In one example, the filter segment 209 is in contact with the mouthpiece end segment 211. In one embodiment, the overall length of the filter assembly 205 is from 37 mm to 45 mm, with 41 mm being suitable.

[0088] In some examples, the length of the aerosolizable material 203 is from 30 mm to 54 mm, with 36 mm to 48 mm being suitable. In one example, the overall length of the aerosol generating article 201 is from 71 mm to 95 mm, with 79 mm to 87 mm being suitable, and approximately 83 mm being suitable. The axial ends of the aerosolizable material 203 can be seen at the distal end 215 of the aerosol generating article 201. However, in other embodiments, the distal end 215 of the aerosol generating article 201 may comprise an end member (not shown) that covers the axial ends of the aerosolizable material 203.

[0089] The aerosolizable material 203 is joined to the filter assembly 205 by an annular chip paper (not shown), which is disposed substantially around the filter assembly 205 to surround the filter assembly 205 and extends at least partially along the length of the aerosolizable material 203. In one example, the chip paper is made from a standard chip base paper of 58 GSM. In one example, the length of the chip paper is from 42 mm to 50 mm, and about 46 mm is suitable.

[0090] In some cases, the same chip paper may be used to join the sections 203a, 203b of the aerosolizable material 203 to the filter assembly 205.

[0091] In one example, the cooling segment 207 is an annular tube and is disposed around the void within the cooling segment and defines the void within the cooling segment. The void provides a chamber for the heated and volatilized components generated from the aerosolizable material 203 to flow through. The cooling segment 207 is hollow to provide a chamber for storing the aerosol, but has sufficient rigidity to withstand the axial compressive forces and bending moments that may occur during manufacturing and while the aerosol generating article 201 is inserted into the device 1 during use. In one example, the wall thickness of the cooling segment 207 is about 0.29 mm.

[0092] The cooling segment 207 provides a physical gap between the aerosolizable material 203 and the filter segment 209. This physical gap provided by the cooling segment 207 creates a thermal gradient across the length of the cooling segment 207. In one example, the cooling segment 207 is configured to provide a temperature difference of at least 40 degrees Celsius between the heated and volatilized components entering the first end of the cooling segment 207 and the heated and volatilized components exiting the second end of the cooling segment 207. In one example, the cooling segment 207 is configured to provide a temperature difference of at least 60 degrees Celsius between the heated and volatilized components entering the first end of the cooling segment 207 and the heated and volatilized components exiting the second end of the cooling segment 207. This temperature difference that can be created across the length of the cooling element 207 when heated by the heating construct of device 1 protects the temperature-sensitive filter segment 209 from the high temperature of the aerosolizable material 203. If there is no physical gap between the filter segment 209 and the aerosolizable material 203 and the heating element of device 1, the temperature-sensitive filter segment 209 may be damaged during use and thus may not effectively perform the required function.

[0093] In one example, the length of the cooling segment 207 is at least 15 mm. In one example, the length of the cooling segment 207 is between 20 mm and 30 mm, with 23 mm to 27 mm, or 25 mm to 27 mm being suitable, and approximately 25 mm being most suitable.

[0094] The cooling segment 207 may be made of paper, which means that when adjacent to the heater construct of device 1 during use, it contains materials that do not produce compounds of concern, such as toxic compounds. In one example, the cooling segment 207 is manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube, which has a hollow internal chamber but still maintains mechanical rigidity. The spirally wound paper tube can meet the strict dimensional accuracy requirements of a high-speed manufacturing process with respect to the tube's length, outer diameter, roundness, and straightness.

[0095] In another example, the cooling segment 207 is a recess made from stiff plug wrap paper or chip paper. The stiff plug wrap paper or chip paper is manufactured to have sufficient rigidity to withstand the axial compressive forces and bending moments that may occur during manufacturing and while the aerosol generating article 201 is inserted into the device 1 during use. The filter segment 209 may be formed from any filter material sufficient to remove one or more volatile compounds from the heated and volatilized components from the aerosolizable material. In one example, the filter segment 209 is made from a monoacetate material such as cellulose acetate. The filter segment 209 cools the heated and volatilized components and reduces irritation therefrom without reducing the amount of the heated and volatilized components to an unsatisfactory level for the user.

[0096] The density of the cellulose acetate tow material of the filter segment 209 governs the pressure drop across the filter segment 209 and thus the draw resistance of the aerosol generating article 1. Accordingly, the choice of material for the filter segment 209 is important for controlling the draw resistance of the aerosol generating article 201. Further, the filter segment performs a filtering function in the aerosol generating article 201.

[0097] In one example, the filter segment 209 is made of an 8Y15 grade filter tow material, which exhibits a filtering effect on the heated and volatilized material, reduces the size of the condensed aerosol droplets resulting from the heated and volatilized material, and as a result, reduces the irritation and throat impact of the heated and volatilized material to a satisfactory level.

[0098] The presence of the filter segment 209 provides an insulating effect by further cooling the heated and volatilized components exiting the cooling segment 207. This further cooling effect lowers the temperature of the surface of the filter segment 209 that the user's lips contact.

[0099] One or more flavorings may be added to the filter segment 209, either in a form where the flavored liquid is directly injected into the filter segment 209, or in a form where one or more flavored perishable capsules or other flavor carriers are embedded or disposed within the cellulose acetate tow of the filter segment 209.

[0100] In one example, the length of the filter segment 209 is from 6 mm to 10 mm, and about 8 mm is appropriate.

[0101] The mouth-end segment 211 is an annular tube that is disposed around and defines a void within the mouth-end segment 211. The void provides a chamber for the heated and volatilized components flowing from the filter segment 209. The mouth-end segment 211 is hollow to provide a chamber for storing the aerosol, but has sufficient rigidity to withstand the axial compressive forces and bending moments that may occur during manufacture and while the aerosol generating article is inserted into the device 1 during use. In one example, the wall thickness of the mouth-end segment 211 is about 0.29 mm.

[0102] In one example, the length of the mouth-end segment 211 is from 6 mm to 10 mm, and about 8 mm is appropriate.

[0103] The mouth-end segment 211 may be manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube, which has a hollow internal chamber but still maintains the final mechanical rigidity. The spirally wound paper tube can meet the strict dimensional accuracy requirements of a high-speed manufacturing process with respect to the tube length, outer diameter, roundness, and straightness.

[0104] The mouth-end segment 211 functions to prevent any liquid condensate that accumulates at the outlet of the filter segment 209 from coming into direct contact with the user.

[0105] In one example, the mouthpiece end segment 211 and the cooling segment 207 may be formed from a single tube, and it should be understood that the filter segment 209 is disposed within the tube to separate the mouthpiece end segment 211 from the cooling segment 207.

[0106] Next, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a partial cutaway cross-sectional view and a perspective view of an example of an aerosol-generating article 301 according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown. The reference numerals shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are the same as the values obtained by adding "100" to the reference numerals shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0107] In the example of the aerosol-generating article 301 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a ventilation region 317 is provided in the aerosol-generating article 301 to allow air to flow from outside the aerosol-generating article 301 into the aerosol-generating article 301. In one example, the ventilation region 317 takes the form of one or more ventilation holes 317 formed through the outer layer of the aerosol-generating article 301. The ventilation holes may be disposed in the cooling segment 307 to assist in cooling the aerosol-generating article 301. In one example, the ventilation region 317 comprises one or more rows of holes, and in some cases, the holes in each row are disposed over the entire circumference of the aerosol-generating article 301 in a cross-section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article 301.

[0108] In one example, there are 1 to 4 rows of ventilation holes for ventilating the aerosol-generating article 301. Each row of ventilation holes may have 12 to 36 ventilation holes 317. The diameter of the ventilation holes 317 may be, for example, 100 μm to 500 μm. In one example, the axial spacing between rows of ventilation holes 317 is 0.25 mm to 0.75 mm, and 0.5 mm is suitable.

[0109] In one example, the ventilation holes 317 are holes of uniform size. In another example, the ventilation holes 317 are of different sizes. The ventilation holes can be made using any suitable technique, for example, one or more of the following techniques. That is, laser technology, mechanical perforation of the cooling segment 307, or pre-perforation of the cooling segment 307 before forming it into the aerosol generating article 301. The ventilation holes 317 are arranged to effectively cool the aerosol generating article 301.

[0110] In one example, the row of ventilation holes 317 is arranged at least 11 mm from the proximal end 313 of the aerosol generating article, and it is appropriate to arrange it at 17 mm to 20 mm from the proximal end 313 of the aerosol generating article 301. The position of the ventilation holes 317 is arranged so that the user does not block the ventilation holes 317 during the use of the aerosol generating article 301.

[0111] As can be seen from FIGS. 8 and 9, by providing a row of ventilation holes at 17 mm to 20 mm from the proximal end 313 of the aerosol generating article 301, when the aerosol generating article 301 is fully inserted into the device 1, the ventilation holes 317 can be arranged outside the device 1. By arranging the ventilation holes outside the device, unheated air can enter the aerosol generating article 301 through the ventilation holes from outside the device 1, helping to cool the aerosol generating article 301.

[0112] The length of the cooling segment 307 is such that when the aerosol-generating article 301 is fully inserted into the device 1, the cooling segment 307 is partially inserted into the device 1. The length of the cooling segment 307 provides a first function of creating a physical gap between the heater assembly of the device 1 and the heat-sensitive filter assembly 309, and a second function of enabling the ventilation holes 317 to be located within the cooling segment but also be located outside the device 1 when the aerosol-generating article 301 is fully inserted into the device 1. As can be seen from FIGS. 8 and 9, most of the cooling element 307 is located within the device 1. However, there is a portion of the cooling element 307 that extends outside the device 1. The ventilation holes 317 are arranged in this portion of the cooling element 307 that extends outside the device 1.

[0113] Next, referring more particularly to FIGS. 7 - 9, an example of a device 1 configured to heat an aerosolizable material to form an aerosol that can typically be inhaled to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material is shown. The device 1 is a heating device 1 that releases compounds by heating the aerosolizable material without burning it.

[0114] The first end 3 is also referred to herein as the mouth-side end or proximal end 3 of the device 1, and the second end 5 is also referred to herein as the distal end 5 of the device 1. The device 1 has an on-off button 7 that enables the user to switch the device 1 on and off as desired.

[0115] The device 1 includes a housing 9 for arranging and protecting various internal components of the device 1. In the illustrated example, the housing 9 includes an integral sleeve 11 that surrounds the device 1 and is covered by an upper panel 17 that generally defines the "top" of the device 1 and a bottom panel 19 that generally defines the "bottom" of the device 1. In another example, the housing includes, in addition to the upper panel 17 and the bottom panel 19, a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels.

[0116] The upper panel 17 and / or the bottom panel 19 may be removably fixed to the integral sleeve 11 so as to be easily accessible inside the device 1, or may be "permanently" fixed to the integral sleeve 11, for example, so that the user cannot access the inside of the device 1. In one example, the panels 17 and 19 are made of a plastic material including glass-filled nylon formed, for example, by injection molding, and the integral sleeve 11 is made of aluminum, but other materials and other manufacturing processes may be used.

[0117] The upper panel 17 of the device 1 has an opening 20 at the mouth-side end 3 of the device 1. During use, through this opening 20, the user can insert and remove aerosol-generating articles 201, 301 containing aerosolizable material into and from the device 1.

[0118] Inside the housing 9, a heater assembly 23, a control circuit 25, and a power source 27 are arranged or fixed. In this example, the heater assembly 23, the control circuit 25, and the power source 27 are laterally adjacent (i.e., adjacent when viewed from one end) with the control circuit 25 generally disposed between the heater assembly 23 and the power source 27, but other arrangements are possible. The control circuit 25 may include a controller such as a microprocessor assembly configured and arranged to control the heating of the aerosolizable material of the consumables 201, 301, as further discussed below.

[0119] The power source 27 may be, for example, a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium-ion batteries, nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), and / or alkaline batteries, etc. The battery 27 is electrically connected to the heater assembly 23 in order to supply power when needed and to heat the aerosolizable material of the aerosol-generating article under the control of the control circuit 25 (as discussed, to volatilize the aerosolizable material without burning the aerosolizable material).

[0120] The advantage of arranging the power source 27 adjacent to the side of the heater assembly 23 is that a physically large power source 25 can be used without making the entire device 1 overly long. As is understood, generally, a physically large power source 25 has a larger capacity (i.e., the total electrical energy that can be supplied, often measured in ampere-hours, etc.), and thus, the battery life of the device 1 can be made longer.

[0121] In one example, the heater assembly 23 is in the form of a generally hollow cylindrical tube having a hollow internal heating chamber 29, and in use, aerosol-generating articles 201, 301 comprising aerosolizable material are inserted into the heating chamber 29 for heating. Different configurations for the heater assembly 23 are possible. For example, the heater assembly 23 may comprise a single heating element or may be formed from a plurality of heating elements aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heater assembly 23. This heating element or each heating element may be annular, tubular, or may have an at least partially annular periphery or be partially tubular. In one example, this heating element or each heating element may be a thin-film heater. In another example, this heating element or each heating element may be made from a ceramic material. Examples of suitable ceramic materials include alumina, aluminum nitride, and silicon nitride ceramics, which may be laminated and sintered. Other heating configurations are possible and include, for example, induction heating, infrared heater elements that heat by emitting infrared radiation, or resistive heating elements formed, for example, by resistive electric windings.

[0122] In one particular example, the heater assembly 23 is supported by a stainless-steel support tube and comprises a polyimide heating element. The heater assembly 23 is dimensioned such that when the aerosol-generating articles 201, 301 are inserted into the device 1, substantially the entire aerosolizable material 203, 303 of the aerosol-generating articles 201, 301 is inserted into the heater assembly 23.

[0123] This heating element or each heating element may be configured to be able to independently heat sections 103a, 103b of the selected aerosolizable material, for example, in sequence (over time) or together (simultaneously), as required.

[0124] In this example, the heater assembly 23 is surrounded by a heat insulator 31 along at least a portion of its length. The heat insulator 31 serves to reduce the heat flowing from the heater assembly 23 to the outside of the device 1. This generally reduces heat loss and thus helps to keep the power requirements of the heater assembly 23 low. The heat insulator 31 also helps to keep the outside of the device 1 at a low temperature during operation of the heater assembly 23. In one example, the heat insulator 31 may be a double-walled sleeve having a low-pressure region provided between two walls of the sleeve. That is, the heat insulator 31 may be, for example, a "vacuum" tube, i.e., a tube that is at least partially evacuated to minimize heat transfer by conduction and / or convection. Other configurations are possible for the heat insulator 31, including, in addition to or instead of the double-walled sleeve, for example, the use of a heat insulating material that includes a suitable foam-type material.

[0125] The housing 9 may further include various internal support structures 37 for supporting not only the heating assembly 23 but also all internal components.

[0126] The device 1 further includes a collar 33 that extends around the opening 20 and projects into the interior of the housing 9 from the opening 20, and a generally tubular chamber 35 disposed between the collar 33 and one end of the vacuum sleeve 31. The chamber 35 further includes a cooling structure 35f, which in this example includes a plurality of cooling fins 35f spaced along the outer surface of the chamber 35 and each circumferentially disposed around the outer surface of the chamber 35. When the aerosol generating articles 201, 301 are inserted into the device 1 over at least a portion of the length of the hollow chamber 35, a void 36 exists between the hollow chamber 35 and the aerosol generating articles 201, 301. The void 36 exists around the entire circumference of the aerosol generating articles 201, 301 over at least a portion of the cooling segment 307.

[0127] Color 33 includes a plurality of ridges 60 arranged circumferentially around the opening 20, and these ridges 60 protrude into the opening 20. The ridges 60 occupy the space within the opening 20 such that the opening span of the opening 20 at the location of the ridges 60 is smaller than the opening span of the opening 20 at a location without the ridges 60. The ridges 60 are configured to engage with the aerosol-generating articles 201, 301 inserted into the device to assist in fixing the aerosol-generating articles 201, 301 within the device 1. The open spaces (not shown) defined by adjacent pairs of ridges 60 and the aerosol-generating articles 201, 301 form ventilation passages around the outside of the aerosol-generating articles 201, 301. These ventilation passages 1 allow hot vapor leaked from the aerosol-generating articles 201, 301 to exit the device 1, and also allow cooling air to flow into the device 1 from around the aerosol-generating articles 201, 301 in the void 36.

[0128] During operation, the aerosol-generating articles 201, 301 are removably inserted into the insertion point 20 of the device 1 as shown in FIGS. 7-9. Referring particularly to FIG. 8, in one example, the aerosolizable materials 203, 303 disposed towards the distal ends 215, 315 of the aerosol-generating articles 201, 301 are fully received within the heater assembly 23 of the device 1. The proximal ends 213, 313 of the aerosol-generating articles 201, 301 extend from the device 1 and serve as a mouthpiece assembly for the user.

[0129] During operation, the heater assembly 23 heats the consumables 201, 301 to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material from the aerosolizable materials 203, 303.

[0130] The main flow path for the heated and volatilized components from the aerosolizable materials 203, 303 passes axially through the aerosol generation articles 201, 301, through the chambers inside the cooling segments 207, 307, through the filter segments 209, 309, and through the mouth-side end segments 211, 313 to reach the user. In one example, the temperature of the heated and volatilized components generated from the aerosolizable material is between 60°C and 250°C, which may be higher than the acceptable suction temperature for the user. As the heated and volatilized components move through the cooling segments 207, 307, their temperature decreases, and some of the volatilized components condense on the inner surfaces of the cooling segments 207, 307.

[0131] In the example of the aerosol generation article 301 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, cold air can enter the cooling segment 307 through the ventilation holes 317 formed in the cooling segment 307. This cold air mixes with the heated and volatilized components and further cools the heated and volatilized components.

[0132] FIGS. 10a and 10b show the sustained fragrance delivery provided by the present invention. In FIG. 10a, the fragrance delivery per puff is provided for three different aerosol generation assemblies.

[0133] In Example A (comparative example), the aerosol generation article is a homogeneous rod containing only non-encapsulated fragrance. The entire aerosol generation article is heated simultaneously.

[0134] In Example B (comparative example), the aerosol generation article is a homogeneous rod containing only non-encapsulated fragrance. However, in contrast to Example A, this rod has two parts that are independently heated according to the heating profile shown in FIG. 10b (and exemplified in more detail by the co-pending application PCT / EP2017 / 068804).

[0135] In Example C (an example of the present invention), the aerosol generating article comprises: (i) a first portion containing only non-encapsulated flavorant; and (ii) a second portion containing both non-encapsulated flavorant and encapsulated flavorant. The first portion is arranged to be heated by "Heater 1" in Figure 10b, and the second portion is arranged to be heated by "Heater 2".

[0136] As is clear, the present invention provides a sustained delivery of flavorant over more puffs.

[0137] In a further example, the aerosol generating article comprises a homogeneous rod of aerosol generating material comprising tobacco material, non-encapsulated flavorant, and encapsulated flavorant. This rod has two portions that are independently heated according to the heating profile shown in Figure 10b (and exemplified in more detail by co-pending application PCT / EP2017 / 068804).

[0138] Figure 10c shows the flavorant delivery profiles from two such rods (i.e., homogeneous aerosol generating material comprising tobacco material, non-encapsulated flavorant, and encapsulated flavorant), and a comparative rod without encapsulated flavorant. For ease of reference, the heating profile from Figure 10b is overlaid.

[0139] In the comparative example, during the first two puffs, non-encapsulated flavorant is volatilized from section 1 of rod 1, and then a decrease in delivery is observed. When section 2 is heated, non-encapsulated flavorant from this section is released and delivery peaks around puff 4. Then, flavorant delivery decreases for the remainder of the heating period. From the consumer's perspective, this puff profile can result in a flavor sensation that is depleted at the beginning of the puff profile.

[0140] In the rods of the examples of the present invention (marked as Example 1 and Example 2), it can be seen that the release of the fragrance is shifted and more sustained, and there is more delivery of the fragrance later in the consumption session. The encapsulated fragrance from the first section is considered to be released at around puff 3, and it can be seen that the reduction in the delivery of the fragrance at puff 3 is improved (or in the case of Example 2, there is no reduction) compared to the comparative example. Also, the encapsulated fragrance in section 2 is considered to be released when that section reaches the highest temperature, and as a result, an increase in the delivery of the fragrance at puff 7 is observed. In consumer tests, it was shown that the rods of Example 1 and Example 2 have a more sustained fragrance sensation effect compared to the comparative example.

[0141] In this particular example, the fragrance was menthol and the sensory effect evaluated was a cooling sensation.

[0142] Therefore, the present invention provides a sustained delivery of the fragrance. The present invention also provides a sustained sensory effect from the fragrance. When the fragrance contains menthol, the present invention provides a sustained delivery of menthol and a sustained cooling effect.

[0143] The above examples are to be understood as examples for the explanation of the present invention. Any feature described with respect to any one example may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, or in combination with one or more features of any other example among the examples, or any other examples among the examples may be arbitrarily combined and used. Further, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be used without departing from the scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims

**Claim 1** An aerosolizable material for use in an aerosol generating assembly, comprising a tobacco material, an unencapsulated flavorant, and an encapsulated flavorant. **Claim 2** The aerosolizable material according to claim 1, wherein the aerosolizable material is in the form of a component having at least two sections, and the two sections have different components. **Claim 3** The aerosolizable material according to claim 2, wherein the aerosolizable material is in the form of a component having two sections, both sections comprising an unencapsulated flavorant, and only one of the two sections comprising an encapsulated flavorant. **Claim 4** The aerosolizable material according to claim 2, wherein the aerosolizable material is in the form of a component having two sections, only one of the two sections comprising an unencapsulated flavorant, and only one of the two sections comprising an encapsulated flavorant. **Claim 5** The aerosolizable material according to claim 4, wherein the aerosolizable material is in the form of a component having two sections, and the unencapsulated flavorant and the encapsulated flavorant are provided in different sections. **Claim 6** The aerosolizable material according to claim 4, wherein the aerosolizable material is in the form of a component having two sections, and the unencapsulated flavorant and the encapsulated flavorant are provided in the same section. **Claim 7** The aerosolizable material according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the tobacco material is provided in either or both of the two sections. **Claim 8** The aerosolizable material according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the encapsulated flavorant is applied to a wrapper disposed around the tobacco material. **Claim 9** The aerosolizable material according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the encapsulated flavorant provides a multi-mode flavorant release profile from the encapsulated flavorant upon heating. **Claim 10** The aerosolizable material according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is in the form of a component having a rod shape. **Claim 11** The aerosolizable material according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the non-encapsulated flavorant comprises menthol and / or a cooling agent.

12. The aerosolizable material according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the encapsulated flavorant comprises menthol and / or a cooling agent.

13. The aerosolizable material according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the encapsulated flavorant comprises an encapsulating material, and the encapsulating material comprises at least one of a polysaccharide material, a cellulose-based material, gelatin, gum, a protein material, a polyol matrix material, a gel, a wax, a polyurethane, a polymerized and hydrolyzed ethylene vinyl acetate, or a mixture thereof.

14. An aerosol generating article for use in an aerosol generating assembly, comprising the aerosolizable material according to any one of claims 1 to 13, and a cooling element and / or a filter.

15. An aerosol generating assembly comprising a heater and the aerosolizable material according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the heater is configured to heat the aerosolizable material to generate an aerosol during use.

16. The aerosol generating assembly according to claim 15, wherein the aerosolizable material comprises at least two sections, and the assembly is configured to provide different heating profiles to each of the sections of the aerosolizable material.

17. The aerosol generating assembly according to claim 16, comprising at least two heaters arranged to heat different sections of the aerosolizable material respectively.

18. A method of generating an aerosol, comprising heating a tobacco material, a non-encapsulated flavorant, and an aerosolizable material comprising an encapsulated flavorant within an aerosol generating assembly.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises at least two sections, and different heating profiles are provided for each section of the aerosolizable material.

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