Aerosol-generating items

Abstract

1. An aerosol-generating article (10) for a non-combustion heated aerosol generating device comprising an aerosol-generating substrate and a mouthpiece downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate, the aerosol-generating substrate being in the form of a foam contained within a wrapper and comprising an aerosol-forming agent, a nicotine source and a non-tobacco flavourant, the mouthpiece comprising a filter (16) and a spacing and / or cooling element (14) between the aerosol-generating substrate and the filter (16), the aerosol-generating substrate comprising 0.1-10% nicotine by weight of the aerosol-generating substrate on a dry basis.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating article for use in a non-combustion heated aerosol generating device. [Background technology]

[0002] Aerosol-generating devices such as vaporizers are becoming popular as an alternative to traditional smoking devices. In such devices, the aerosol is heated, for example, by using an electronic heater. In this regard, firstly, it is desirable for the user to experience vapor inhalation in a manner as similar as possible to the experience achieved by using a normal cigarette. Secondly, leakage of the aerosol-generating substrate, such as liquid, should be prevented as much as possible. prior art Leakage can be prevented by aerosol-generating substrates provided as mousses, such as those disclosed in WO 2018 / 122375 A1 and WO 2020 / 002607 A1. WO 2020 / 254582 A1, WO 2021 / 083844 A1, WO 2021 / 094453 A1, and WO 2021 / 094365 A1 relate to such mousses and hot-compressed tobacco substrates, respectively. WO 2020 / 127261 A1 teaches extrusion to form a tobacco mousse, and WO 2021 / 105449 A1 relates to consumables for aerosol-generating devices comprising at least two aerosol-generating materials of different composition, each comprising an amorphous solid formed with a gelling agent. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Notwithstanding the above teachings, there remains a need to provide aerosol-generating articles that are improved with respect to flavor release and / or vapor delivery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] This is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1.

[0005] Thus, the article comprises an aerosol-generating substrate and a mouthpiece downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate, the aerosol-generating substrate being in the form of a foam contained within a wrapper and comprising an aerosol-forming agent, a nicotine source and a non-tobacco flavourant. The mouthpiece further comprises a filter, with a spacing and / or cooling element provided between the aerosol-generating substrate and the filter, the aerosol-generating substrate comprising 0.1-10% nicotine by weight of the aerosol-generating substrate on a dry basis. The wrapper can be made, for example, from cigarette paper and can be metallized or not. In either case, the wrapper can be designed to avoid scorching of the foam, which can also be called e-mousse, as it is the mousse used in electronic cigarettes.

[0006] Providing an aerosol-generating substrate in the form of a foam offers the important advantage of preventing leakage, since foams are significantly more stable than liquids and do not leak as easily as liquids can. Moreover, the amount of foam can be adjusted to correspond to the session length that the user is accustomed to, i.e., a normal cigarette session length.

[0007] It has also been found that any desired volatile substance of the aerosol, such as nicotine and / or flavorings, can be easily provided in the foam and released at a controllable concentration and / or intensity. In this context, the amount of nicotine can also be varied, allowing the user to control the intake of nicotine. In this context, a nicotine source means any substance capable of releasing nicotine when heated. Such a substance does not necessarily have to be tobacco, but nicotine can be extracted from tobacco and administered as a foam.

[0008] With regard to the filter provided in the mouthpiece, this filter can be adapted to provide a relatively low, in any case acceptable, pressure loss, so that the flavor intensity and nicotine yield remain optimal. Additionally, the presence of the spacing and / or cooling element first cools the generated aerosol, so that an uncomfortably hot aerosol is prevented from entering the user's mouth. Moreover, the spacing element can be used to give the article according to the invention a size that is compatible with well-established aerosol generating devices in which the article can be used. Due to the fact that the article described herein can be used with the present aerosol generating device, the user has the advantage that only a single device is needed and only one device has to be maintained.

[0009] Preferred embodiments are set forth in the further claims.

[0010] Although the aerosol-generating article can still have tobacco material making it somewhat more similar to a conventional cigarette, it is currently preferred to provide an aerosol-generating substrate that does not include tobacco material.

[0011] As a result, in order to provide a stable foam that is particularly prone to leakage, the aerosol-generating substrate preferably comprises a foam former and / or foam stabilizer.

[0012] In order to provide an adequate nicotine level, the amount of nicotine in the aerosol-generating substrate on a dry basis is preferably 0.1 to 4% by weight. In first tests, it has been found that an amount of at least 30% by weight of the aerosol-forming agent, preferably at least 40% by weight and most preferably at least 50% by weight of the aerosol-generating substrate, is beneficial.

[0013] Particularly, at present, an amount of 60 to 70% by weight is preferred.

[0014] Preferred aerosol forming agents are selected from the group including, but not limited to, glycerin, glycol derivatives, sebacate esters, and / or mixtures thereof.

[0015] In particular, the aerosol forming agent is a combination of glycerin and propylene glycol, preferably in a ratio of 10%:90% to 90%:10%, more preferably 40%:60% to 60%:40%, and most preferably 50%:50%.

[0016] Small amounts of water and / or acids and / or esters, such as diacetin, may be included in the aerosol-generating substrate. In a preferred example, the foam may contain water in an amount of 0-15% by weight, for example 9-10% by weight of the foam.

[0017] Preferred foam-forming agents are selected from the group consisting of, but not limited to, agar, gellan gum, lecithin, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, glycerol fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, and / or mixtures thereof.

[0018] The amount of foam former is preferably from 1 to 15% by weight of the foam, more preferably from 2 to 10% by weight, and most preferably from 3 to 8% by weight of the foam.

[0019] Preferred foam stabilizers are selected from the group consisting of cellulose gums, hydroxyalkylated carbohydrates, derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof, and / or comprise cellulose gums, in particular carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) or derivatives thereof (also referred to in the present application as "binders") and / or cellulose fibers. The cellulose fibers as foam stabilizer are preferably present in an amount of 5% to 15% by weight of the foam. The derivatives of CMC may have salts, preferably alkali metal salts such as sodium and / or potassium salts. The amount of foam stabilizer is preferably 10-30% by weight of the foam, preferably 12-28% by weight, most preferably 15-25% by weight of the foam. In a preferred embodiment, the foam stabilizer comprises cellulose gum (more preferably CMC) and cellulose fibers in a ratio of 1:0 to 1:2, more preferably 1:0 to 1:1.1 in the foam.

[0020] Preferred non-tobacco flavourings are selected from the list of menthol, natural and / or artificial botanical flavours (e.g. peppermint, berry, fruit, root or nut), animal, enzymatic or microbial flavours, sweet-like, alcoholic or dessert-like flavours (e.g. chocolate, cookie dough, peanut butter, carrot cake, marshmallow, butter popcorn, Prosecco, red wine, rum, jelly beans, Guinness, bourbon, honey, toffee, praline, butterfinger, brown bread, etc.) and combinations thereof. With regard to the amount of flavouring, it is currently preferred that it is between 0.2 and 18% by weight of the foam, preferably between 0.6 and 13% by weight.

[0021] Concerning the form of the aerosol-generating substrate, the following are conceivable: a hollow tube with at least one outlet for air communication from the outside to the inside of the hollow tube, a cylindrical rod, a cylindrical rod with multiple longitudinal through-passages or through-channels, a group of individual pieces such as beads, the cylindrical rod being the easiest to manufacture, the hollow tube offering the advantage that the heat flow through the hollow allows more flavor and nicotine to be extracted compared to the heat flowing through a cylindrical rod, in which the foam or mousse is substantially a single semi-solid element. The effect of allowing more flavor and nicotine to be extracted from the foam is further enhanced by multiple longitudinal through-passages, through-passages or through-holes, which may also be called plugs, extending substantially through the entire substrate. This effect can also be achieved by providing the aerosol-generating substrate in the form of multiple individual pieces, such as beads or small elements into which the foam or mousse is chopped. These elements can have substantially the same or different shapes and / or sizes.

[0022] If the spacing and / or cooling element is a hollow paper tube, this contributes to the compostability of the entire article. This also applies to the preferred measure of providing the article with a paper filter.

[0023] With regard to the length of the spacing and / or cooling element, it is currently preferred that this be between 10 and 25mm, preferably between 18 and 22mm.

[0024] The aerosol-generating substrate may have any suitable extension, but the articles described herein remain compact when the aerosol-generating substrate extends from the upstream end to the downstream end of the article, and the preferred overall length of the article is from 50 mm to 70 mm, more preferably from 55 mm to 65 mm, and even more preferably from 58 mm to 62 mm, the aerosol-generating substrate is preferably from about 15 mm to 25 mm, and the filter is preferably from about 15 mm to 25 mm.

[0025] The filter may be a paper filter or a filament tow filter. The paper filter may be a gathered sheet of wrapped paper. The filament tow filter may be a cellulose acetate filter. To provide a pleasant vaping experience, in particular without compromising the flavor intensity and nicotine release, a filter having a pressure drop of preferably less than 5 mm water column / mm, more preferably less than 3 mm water column / mm, most preferably less than 2.5 mm water column / mm is advantageous. The highest of these values ​​allows the use of acetate filters, while paper filters can achieve lower values. The pressure drop is measured under standard conditions prescribed by Coresta Recommended Method No. 41 (2007) and Coresta Guide No. 4 (2019).

[0026] In this regard, 20 to 40 g / m 2 It has been found that a paper sheet of the paper filter having a basis weight of 10 ...

[0027] As is apparent from the above, the articles described herein are preferably used with an aerosol-generating system that includes an aerosol-generating device for inserting the article and heating the aerosol-generating substrate. The device typically includes a chamber for receiving at least the aerosol-generating substrate in a heater configured to heat the substrate in the chamber and generate an aerosol that passes through a filter from the substrate as air is drawn through the substrate. The heater can be, for example, an external tubular heater and / or a combination of a susceptor within the article adapted to be heated by an induction coil and an induction coil outside the article.

[0028] The invention will now be described with reference to non-limiting examples and drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of an article. [Diagram 2] Further embodiments are shown. [Diagram 3] Further embodiments are shown. [Figure 4] Further embodiments are shown. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 shows flavor release over time. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the article 10 described herein is typically cylindrical and has essentially three sections, each of which may have approximately the same length: a foam or mousse section 12, which may also be called a plug; a paper tube 14 constituting a spacing and / or cooling element; and a filter 16 located at the mouth end of the article through which flavor-containing vapor is emitted to the user. These sections are substantially attached by a paper wrapper, in particular including tipping paper. A ventilation zone (not shown) may be provided, such as by at least one row of ventilation holes passing through the wrapper, the filter and / or the paper tube. In the illustrated embodiment, the plug 12 is surrounded by a heating element 18, which may be, for example, a heater tube. As it is formed, the foam has an open-cell structure (i.e., bubbles that communicate with each other to form a porous three-dimensional network). When heated air flows through the article by applying a negative pressure at the mouth end, as shown by arrow A, the heat flow extracts flavor volatiles and nicotine from the plug and delivers them to the user.

[0031] This is enhanced by the through hole 20, which may be located substantially in the center of the plug 12 as shown in FIG. 2 and may have a diameter of approximately one third of the plug diameter. The flavor and nicotine extraction is further enhanced by multiple through holes, as shown in FIG. 3. These through holes typically have a smaller diameter than the through holes of the embodiment of FIG. 2. As a result of the surface of the through holes having foam, the heat flow can be increased and more flavor and nicotine can be extracted. Moreover, there can also be multiple through holes throughout the plug in addition to those shown in FIG. 3. As a result of the larger contact surface between the multiple through holes and the foam, the heat flow that can carry the volatiles is further increased. Moreover, these through holes and the central hole 20 shown in FIG. 2 do not necessarily extend in perfect alignment with the axial or longitudinal direction of the plug, which typically has a cylindrical shape. Rather, the through holes can extend at an angle to the longitudinal direction and can include one or more curves or bends along the extension of the through holes.

[0032] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the foam or mousse is chopped into small pieces that can have the same or different shapes and sizes. The small pieces can be formed as beads, for example, 1 or 2 millimeters in size. In either case, multiple voids exist between the pieces to allow the passage of heat flow and the extraction of flavor and nicotine.

[0033] Any of the above embodiments result in a flavor and nicotine release as shown in Figure 5, where the flavor and nicotine are released in a relatively burst over a short period of time, reaching a particular peak, and then remaining at a high and relatively constant level. This corresponds well to the smoking experience of a regular cigarette, and as a result, users find it beneficial and pleasant. EXAMPLES

[0034] I created some recipes especially for the e-mousse:

[0035] [Table 1]

[0036] The e-mousse can be flavoured with different flavourings in various amounts. The particular e-liquid was a 1:1 ratio PG / VG and contained flavourings and / or nicotine. The amount of flavourings can be between 0.5% and 14% by weight, preferably between 3% and 14% by weight, based on the weight of the e-mousse. The e-mousse can also contain nicotine in an amount between 0.45% and 3.4% by weight, most preferably 1.14% by weight.

[0037] A small cylindrical e-mousse with a diameter of 7 mm and a length of 10 mm was placed in an oven at a temperature of 200° C. for 60 seconds. Visual observation of the cylinder after cooling to ambient temperature showed some browning, but no significant deformation or change in volume of more than 10%. In Example 1, the large amount of binder prevents the material from melting. In Examples 2 and 3, the amount of binder and cellulose also prevents the material from melting.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating article (10) for a non-combustion heating type aerosol generating device, comprising an aerosol generating substrate and a mouthpiece downstream of the aerosol generating substrate, wherein the aerosol generating substrate is accommodated in a wrapper and is in the form of a foam containing an aerosol forming agent, a nicotine source, a non-tobacco flavorant, and the mouthpiece includes a filter (16), and a spacing maintaining and / or cooling element (14) is provided between the aerosol generating substrate and the filter (16), and the aerosol generating substrate contains 0.1 to 10% by weight of nicotine based on the dry basis of the aerosol generating substrate. Aerosol generating article (10).

2. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating substrate does not contain tobacco material.

3. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating substrate contains a foam forming agent and / or a foam stabilizer.

4. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating substrate contains 0.1 to 4% by weight of nicotine based on the dry basis of the aerosol generating substrate.

5. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol forming agent is present in an amount of at least 30% by weight of the aerosol generating substrate.

6. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol forming agent is present in an amount of 60% to 70% by weight of the aerosol generating substrate.

7. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 6, wherein the aerosol forming agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, glycol derivatives, sebacate esters, and / or mixtures thereof.

8. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 7, wherein the aerosol forming agent is a combination of glycerin and propylene glycol in a ratio of 10%:90% to 90%:10%.

9. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 3, wherein the foam forming agent is selected from the group consisting of agar, gellan gum, acacia gum, lecithin, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, glycerol fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, and / or mixtures thereof.

10. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 3, wherein the foam stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose gum, hydroxyalkylated carbohydrates, their derivatives, and mixtures thereof. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

11. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 10, wherein the foam stabilizer comprises a cellulose gum, in particular carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or a derivative thereof and / or cellulose fibers.

12. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 11, wherein the foam stabilizer comprises cellulose gum and cellulose fibers in a ratio of 1:0 to 1:2 in the foam.

13. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 11, wherein the cellulose fibers are present in an amount of 5% to 15% by weight of the foam.

14. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 1, wherein the non-tobacco flavorant is selected from the list of menthol, natural and / or artificial plant or nut flavors (e.g., peppermint, tea berry, orange, citrus, maple, mango, lychee, green tea ginger, cranberry, coffee, coconut, raisin, walnut, watermelon, lemongrass, hazelnut, violet, pecan, pistachio, blueberry, balsamic, banana, almond, asparagus, basil, etc.), animal flavors (e.g., crab, bacon), flavors such as sweet, alcoholic, or dessert (e.g., chocolate, cookie dough, peanut butter, carrot cake, marshmallow, butter popcorn, prosecco, red wine, rum, jelly beans, Guinness, bourbon, honey, taffy, praline, butterfinger, black bread, etc.), and combinations thereof.

15. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 14, wherein the amount of flavorant is present in an amount of 0.2 to 18% by weight of the foam.

16. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating substrate extends from the upstream end to the downstream end of the aerosol generating article (10).

17. The aerosol generating substrate is - the hollow tube including at least one outlet for air to communicate from the outside to the inside of the hollow tube, or - a cylindrical rod, or - a cylindrical rod including a plurality of longitudinal through passages or through channels, or - a group of individual pieces such as beads in the form of the aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 1.

18. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 1, wherein the spacing and / or cooling element (14) is a hollow paper tube.

19. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 18, wherein the hollow paper tube has a length of 10 mm to 25 mm.

20. The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 1, wherein the filter (16) has a pressure loss of less than 15 mm water column / mm, and the pressure loss is measured under standard conditions defined by Coresta Recommended Method No. 41 (2007) and Coresta Guide No. 4 (2019).

21. The filter includes a filter medium containing paper having a basis weight of 20 to 40 g / m ２ The aerosol generating article (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 20, including paper of

22. The aerosol generating article (10) according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the filter comprises a filter medium containing cellulose acetate tow having more than 6 denier per filament and a total denier of less than 40,000.

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