Nicotine sheets and aerosol-generating articles containing them

Abstract

Nicotine sheets and aerosol-generating articles containing them are provided. [Solution] Nicotine sheets according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may include a nicotine substance containing a nicotine component and a cellulosic substance forming the sheet. Such nicotine sheets can be heated to gradually release the nicotine substance fixed inside, thereby greatly improving the flavor persistence of an aerosol generating article.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a nicotine sheet and an aerosol generating article containing the same. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a nicotine sheet capable of enhancing the taste persistence of an aerosol generating article, an aerosol generating article containing the same, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the demand for alternative products that overcome the disadvantages of traditional cigarettes has been increasing. For example, the demand for heated cigarettes that generate an aerosol by electrically heating with a dedicated device has been increasing, and thus, research on heated cigarettes has been intensively conducted.

[0003] Recently, an issue with heated cigarettes is taste persistence. This is because many heated cigarettes exhibit excellent taste at the initial puff, but the taste tends to rapidly decline as the puff continues. Thus, a solution that can supplement the taste during the mid-to-late puff has been demanded.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A technical problem to be solved through some embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a nicotine sheet capable of enhancing taste persistence and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0005] Another technical problem to be solved through some embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide an aerosol generating article with enhanced taste persistence and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0006] The technical problems of the present disclosure are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field of the present disclosure from the following description.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the aforementioned technical problems, some embodiments of the present disclosure of nicotine sheets may include a nicotine substance containing a nicotine component and a cellulosic substance that forms the sheet.

[0008] In some embodiments, the nicotine substance may include a nicotine salt formed with an organic acid.

[0009] In some embodiments, the organic acid may include at least one acid selected from benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, and citric acid.

[0010] In some embodiments, the nicotine content may be 2 parts by weight or more per 100 parts by weight of the nicotine sheet.

[0011] In some embodiments, the cellulosic substance may include at least one substance selected from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methylcellulose (MC), ethylcellulose (EC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and agar.

[0012] In some embodiments, the nicotine sheet may further contain an aerosol-forming agent.

[0013] In some embodiments, the content of the aerosol-forming agent may be 5 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the nicotine sheet.

[0014] To solve the aforementioned technical problems, some embodiments of the present disclosure of an aerosol generating article may include a filter portion, an aerosol forming substrate portion, and a wrapper enclosing at least a portion of the filter portion and the aerosol forming substrate portion. In this case, a nicotine sheet may be applied to the aerosol forming substrate portion or the wrapper, and the nicotine sheet may contain a cellulosic substance and a nicotine substance.

[0015] In some embodiments, the nicotine sheet may be wrinkled or bent.

[0016] In some embodiments, the nicotine sheet may have a plurality of holes formed therein.

[0017] In some embodiments, the nicotine sheet may be included in the aerosol-forming substrate in a cut form.

[0018] In some embodiments, the nicotine sheet may be included in the aerosol-forming substrate in a rolled form.

[0019] In some embodiments, the nicotine sheet may be placed inside the wrapper. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure described above, a sheet containing a nicotine component (e.g., nicotine, nicotine salt) can be provided. When heated, the provided nicotine sheet gradually releases the nicotine component fixed inside, thereby enhancing the flavor persistence of an aerosol generating article.

[0021] Furthermore, nicotine sheets can be manufactured by combining nicotine substances (e.g., nicotine, nicotine salts), cellulose-based sheet-forming agents, and aerosol-forming agents. Nicotine sheets manufactured in this way exhibit excellent nicotine retention, retention, and transfer rates. Specifically, the cellulose-based substance effectively coats and fixes the nicotine substance, ensuring excellent nicotine retention and retention, while the aerosol formed by the aerosol-forming agent promotes the transfer of the nicotine substance, ensuring excellent nicotine transfer rates.

[0022] In addition, by applying the nicotine sheet to aerosol-generating articles in various forms, aerosol-generating articles with enhanced taste persistence can be easily manufactured.

[0023] The effects according to the technical idea of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] It is an exemplary diagram schematically showing an aerosol-generating article according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] It is an exemplary diagram for explaining an application method of a nicotine sheet according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] It is an exemplary diagram for explaining an application method of a nicotine sheet according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] It is an exemplary diagram for explaining an application method of a nicotine sheet according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] It is an exemplary diagram for explaining a processed form of a nicotine sheet according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] It is an exemplary diagram for explaining a processed form of a nicotine sheet according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] It is an exemplary diagram showing an aerosol-generating article according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] It is an exemplary diagram showing an aerosol-generating article according to some further other embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] It is a diagram exemplifying various types of aerosol-generating devices to which an aerosol-generating article according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied. [Figure 10] It is a diagram exemplifying various types of aerosol-generating devices to which an aerosol-generating article according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied. [Figure 11]This figure illustrates various types of aerosol generating devices to which aerosol generating articles according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The merits and features of the present disclosure, and how they are achieved, will become clear with reference to the embodiments described in detail below, along with the accompanying drawings. However, the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments below, but can be embodied in a variety of different forms, and the embodiments below are merely provided to complete the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure and to fully inform those who are ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains, and the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure is defined only by the scope of the claims.

[0026] When assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that, as far as possible, the same component should have the same reference numeral, even if it is shown in other drawings. Furthermore, when describing this disclosure, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known configuration or function would obscure the gist of this disclosure, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) are to be used in a sense that can be commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Furthermore, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not ideally or excessively analyzed unless explicitly defined otherwise. Terms used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the disclosure. In this specification, singular forms include plural forms unless otherwise specified in the text.

[0028] Furthermore, when describing the components of this disclosure, terms such as 1, 2, A, B, (a), (b), etc., may be used. Such terms are merely for distinguishing a component from other components and do not limit the nature, procedure, or order of the component. Where it is stated that any component is “linked,” “joined,” or “connected” to another component, it should be understood that the component is directly linked to or can be connected to that other component, but that other components may be further “linked,” “joined,” or “connected” between each component.

[0029] As used in this disclosure, “comprises” and / or “comprising” does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, stages, operations and / or elements from the components, stages, operations and / or elements mentioned.

[0030] Prior to describing the various embodiments of this disclosure, some terms used in the following embodiments will be clarified.

[0031] In the following embodiments, "aerosol-forming substrate" may mean a substance capable of forming an aerosol. The aerosol may contain volatile compounds. The aerosol-forming substrate may be solid or liquid.

[0032] For example, a solid aerosol-forming substrate may include a solid substance based on tobacco raw materials such as flat tobacco leaves, shredded tobacco, or reconstituted tobacco, and a liquid aerosol-forming substrate may include a liquid composition based on nicotine, tobacco extracts, and / or various flavoring agents. However, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the examples listed above.

[0033] In the following embodiments, "aerosol generator" may mean a device that generates an aerosol using an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol that can be directly inhaled into the user's lungs through the user's mouth. For some examples of aerosol generators, see Figures 9 to 11.

[0034] In the following embodiments, "aerosol-generating article" may mean an article capable of generating an aerosol. The aerosol-generating article may include an aerosol-forming substrate. A typical example of an aerosol-generating article is a cigarette, but the scope of this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0035] In the following embodiments, "puff" means inhalation by the user, which may mean a situation in which the air is drawn into the user's oral cavity, nasal cavity, or lungs through the user's mouth or nose.

[0036] In the following embodiments, "longitudinal direction" may mean the direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.

[0037] In the following embodiments, “sheet” may mean a thin layer element having a width and length substantially greater than its thickness. In the art, the term sheet may also be used interchangeably with terms such as web and film.

[0038] In the following embodiments, "nicotine sheet" may mean a sheet-shaped material containing a nicotine substance. Here, the nicotine substance is a substance containing a nicotine component, and may include, for example, nicotine, a nicotine salt, or a combination thereof.

[0039] The following describes various embodiments of this disclosure.

[0040] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, a nicotine sheet can be provided that can enhance the flavor persistence of an aerosol-generating article. The provided nicotine sheet can enhance the flavor persistence of an aerosol-generating article by gradually releasing the nicotine component fixed inside when heated. For example, the nicotine sheet can provide the user with a sustained flavor sensation by replenishing the flavor during the middle to later stages of puffing.

[0041] Nicotine sheets may contain sheet-forming agents and nicotine substances. The individual components of a nicotine sheet are described below.

[0042] A sheet-forming agent may refer to a substance that coats the nicotine substance and forms a sheet. The sheet-forming agent may include, for example, cellulosic substances such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methylcellulose (MC), ethylcellulose (EC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and agar. However, it is not limited to these. Cellulosic substances can not only form sheets with excellent physical properties, but also effectively coat and fix the nicotine substance, thereby improving the nicotine retention and retention capacity of the sheet.

[0043] In some embodiments, the sheet-forming agent may be a modified cellulose material. Here, “modified cellulose” may mean cellulose in which specific functional groups have been substituted within its molecular structure. Examples of modified cellulose include, but are not limited to, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methylcellulose (MC), ethylcellulose (EC), and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). For example, HPMC may have grades ranging from approximately 4 to 40,000 depending on the proportion of hydroxypropyl and methyl (or methoxy) groups substituted and its molecular weight. The grade determines the viscosity of the modified cellulose. More specifically, the physicochemical properties of HPMC are related to the proportion of methoxy groups, the proportion of hydroxypropyl groups, and its molecular weight. According to the United States Pharmaceutical Publication (USP), HPMC types are classified as HPMC1828, HPMC2208, HPMC2906, and HPMC2910, etc., depending on the proportion of methoxy and hydroxypropyl groups. Here, the first two numbers may represent the proportion of methoxy groups, and the last two numbers may represent the proportion of hydroxypropyl groups. Through sustained experimental results conducted by the inventors, it was confirmed that nicotine sheets formed from modified cellulose material exhibit superior sheet physical properties and nicotine retention capacity.

[0044] In some embodiments, the sheet-forming agent may be a hydrocolloid substance. Examples of hydrocolloid substances include, but are not limited to, gelatin, agar, gellan gum, pectin, guar gum, xanthan gum, glucomannan, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methylcellulose (MC), ethylcellulose (EC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and starches. Since hydrocolloid substances become viscous upon contact with a solvent (e.g., distilled water, ethanol (alcohol)), they can adhere to wrappers of aerosol-generating articles without the need for a separate adhesive. This simplifies the nicotine sheet placement process and eliminates safety concerns associated with adhesives.

[0045] Next, as described above, nicotine substances are substances that contain nicotine components, and may include nicotine, nicotine salts, or combinations thereof.

[0046] Nicotine salts are nicotine substances that exist in salt form, and are formed (produced) for example when nicotine is combined with an organic acid. Nicotine salts are absorbed into the body relatively less than nicotine, so they can provide a milder impact than nicotine. Examples of organic acids include, but are not limited to, benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, and citric acid. Nicotine salts are formed when nicotine and an organic acid are combined in a ratio of approximately 1:1 (e.g., molar ratio), but are not limited to this.

[0047] On the other hand, in some embodiments, the nicotine sheet may further contain an aerosol-forming agent. The aerosol-forming agent can promote the migration (release) of nicotine components contained in the nicotine sheet by forming an aerosol when the nicotine sheet is heated. For example, as an aerosol is formed and the release of nicotine components fixed inside the sheet is promoted, the amount of nicotine components migrated can increase. In addition, the aerosol-forming agent can act as a type of plasticizer to impart appropriate flexibility to the nicotine sheet, thereby improving the overall physical properties of the nicotine sheet. Examples of aerosol-forming agents include, but are not limited to, glycerin and propylene glycol. In the art, the term aerosol-forming agent can be used interchangeably with terms such as humectants and wetting agents.

[0048] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the nicotine sheet may further contain LM-pectin (low methoxyl pectin). LM-pectin is a low-ester pectin or low-methoxyl pectin in which esterification has been relatively minimal, and specifically, it may mean pectin in which carboxyl groups account for less than about 50% of the molecular structure. Unlike carrageenan, LM-pectin does not gel when cooled, so the viscosity of the slurry-like sheet composition can be reduced (e.g., about 600 cp to 800 cp). This also improves the workability of the sheet manufacturing process.

[0049] LM-pectin may contain less than 50%, less than 40%, less than 30%, less than 20%, or less than 10% of carboxyl groups within its molecular structure. The lower the carboxyl group content within the molecular structure of LM-pectin, the lower the viscosity of the slurry containing LM-pectin.

[0050] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the nicotine sheet may further contain a bulking agent. The bulking agent may be a substance that increases the volume of the nicotine sheet produced by increasing the total mass (i.e., dry matter) of the components other than distilled water, and does not affect the original function of the nicotine sheet. Specifically, the bulking agent may have properties that increase the volume of the nicotine sheet without substantially increasing the viscosity of the slurry (i.e., the sheet composition), while at the same time not adversely affecting the nicotine retention of the nicotine sheet.

[0051] Preferably, the bulking agent may be starches, modified starches, or starch hydrolysates. However, it is not limited to these.

[0052] Here, modified starch refers to starch acetate, oxidized starch, distem hydroxypropyl phosphate, hydroxypropyl starch, distem phosphate, monostem phosphate, phosphorylated distem phosphate, etc.

[0053] Furthermore, starch hydrolysate refers to a substance obtained by a process that includes a step of hydrolyzing starch. Starch hydrolysate may include, for example, a substance obtained by directly hydrolyzing starch (i.e., dextrin), or a substance obtained by hydrolyzing starch after heat treatment (i.e., indigestible dextrin). The bulking agent may be, for example, dextrin, and more specifically, cyclodextrin.

[0054] The starch hydrolysate may generally be a starch hydrolysate having a DE value in the range of about 2 to about 40, preferably a starch hydrolysate having a DE value in the range of about 2 to about 20. Examples of starch hydrolysates having a DE value in the range of about 2 to about 20 include PineDix #100 (Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), PineFiber (Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), and TK-16 (Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.).

[0055] Here, "DE" is an abbreviation for dextrose equivalent, and the DE value indicates the degree of starch hydrolysis, i.e., the saccharification rate of starch. In this disclosure, the DE value may be a value measured by the Willstatter-Schudel method. The properties of hydrolyzed starch (starch hydrolysate), such as the molecular weight of the starch hydrolysate and the arrangement of sugar molecules constituting the starch hydrolysate, are not constant for each starch hydrolysate molecule, but exist with arbitrary distributions or variations. Due to the distribution or variation of the properties of the starch hydrolysate, or differences in the cut intervals, each starch hydrolysate molecule can exhibit different physical properties (e.g., DE value). Thus, although starch hydrolysate is a collection of molecules exhibiting different physical properties, the measurement result by the Willstatter-Schudel method (i.e., the DE value) is treated as a representative value indicating the degree of starch hydrolysis.

[0056] Preferably, the starch hydrolysate can be selected from the group consisting of dextrin having a DE value of about 2 to about 5, indigestible dextrin having a DE value of about 10 to about 15, and mixtures thereof. As a dextrin having a DE value of about 2 to about 5, for example, Pine Index #100 (Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) can be used. As an indigestible dextrin having a DE value of about 10 to about 15, for example, Pine Fiber (Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) can be used.

[0057] On the other hand, the detailed composition of the nicotine sheet described above can be designed in various ways, and this can vary depending on the embodiment.

[0058] In some embodiments, the content of nicotine substances (e.g., nicotine, nicotine salts) may be about 0.01 to 49.99 parts by weight, preferably about 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 parts by weight or more, based on 100 parts by weight of a nicotine sheet. Within this numerical range, it has been confirmed that the flavor persistence of the aerosol-generating article is significantly improved.

[0059] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the aerosol-forming agent content may be about 3 to 25 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of a nicotine sheet (e.g., based on a dried nicotine sheet), preferably about 3 to 22 parts by weight, about 5 to 20 parts by weight, about 8 to 20 parts by weight, about 10 to 20 parts by weight, about 6 to 18 parts by weight, about 6 to 15 parts by weight, or about 10 to 18 parts by weight. Within these numerical ranges, it was confirmed that the amount of nicotine component transferred increased significantly and the physical properties of the sheet improved.

[0060] In addition, in some embodiments, the nicotine sheet may contain, based on 100 parts by weight, about 2 to about 15 parts by weight of water, about 25 to about 90 parts by weight of modified cellulose, and about 0.1 to about 30 parts by weight of nicotine.

[0061] In addition, in some embodiments, the nicotine sheet may contain, based on 100 parts by weight, about 2 to about 15 parts by weight of water, about 1 to about 60 parts by weight of hydrocolloidal material, about 1 to about 60 parts by weight of LM-pectin, and about 0.1 to about 30 parts by weight of nicotine material.

[0062] The nicotine sheets described above can be manufactured, for example, by coating (casting) a liquid sheet composition containing a solvent (e.g., distilled water, ethanol (alcohol), etc.), a sheet-forming agent, and a nicotine substance onto a predetermined substrate and drying it. However, the manufacturing method is not limited to this, and the specific manufacturing method can vary.

[0063] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, it is possible to provide aerosol-generating articles with enhanced flavor persistence. Specifically, the flavor persistence of aerosol-generating articles can be improved by applying the nicotine sheet described above in various forms, and such aerosol-generating articles (eg100) will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0064] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an aerosol-generating article 100 according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0065] As shown in Figure 1, the aerosol generating article 100 may include an aerosol-forming substrate portion 110, a filter portion 120, and a wrapper 130. However, Figure 1 only shows components relevant to the embodiments of this disclosure. Therefore, a person of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs will see that it may include other general components in addition to those shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, Figure 1 is only a schematic illustration of some examples of aerosol generating articles according to various embodiments of this disclosure, and the detailed structure of the aerosol generating article may differ from that shown in Figure 1. The components of the aerosol generating article 100 will be described below.

[0066] The aerosol-forming substrate section 110 can perform an aerosol-forming function. Specifically, the aerosol-forming substrate section 110 may include an aerosol-forming substrate, and an aerosol can be formed through the aerosol-forming substrate. For example, the aerosol-forming substrate section 110 can form an aerosol by being heated by an aerosol generator (e.g., 1000 in Figure 9). The formed aerosol can be transmitted to the user's mouth via the filter section 120 by the puff.

[0067] As shown in the figure, the aerosol-forming substrate portion 110 is located upstream of the filter portion 120 and can contact the upstream end of the filter portion 120. The aerosol-forming substrate portion 110 may further include a wrapper 130 that surrounds the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0068] The aerosol-forming substrate portion 110 is manufactured in the form of a rod, and is therefore sometimes referred to as an "aerosol-forming rod 110" or a "tobacco rod 110". Alternatively, it may also be referred to as a "medium portion 110".

[0069] Next, the filter section 120 can perform a filtering function against aerosols. For this purpose, the filter section 120 may contain a filter material. Examples of filter materials include cellulose acetate fibers and paper, but the scope of this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0070] As shown in the figure, the filter portion 120 is located downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate portion 110 and can contact the downstream end of the aerosol-forming substrate portion 110. The filter portion 120 is also located at the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article 100 and can function as a mouthpiece that contacts the user's mouth. The filter portion 120 may further include a wrapper 130 that encloses the filter material (plug).

[0071] The filter section 120 is also manufactured in rod form, and may be referred to as the "filter rod 120" in some cases. It can be manufactured in various forms, such as cylindrical, tubular (e.g., tubular cellulose acetate filter), or recessed. Alternatively, since the filter section 120 functions as a mouthpiece, it may also be referred to as the "mouthpiece section 120".

[0072] Next, the wrapper 130 may mean that it covers at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate portion 110 and / or the filter portion 120. The wrapper 130 may refer to an individual wrapper of the aerosol-forming substrate portion 110 or the filter portion 120, or it may refer to a wrapper that covers at least a portion of both the aerosol-forming substrate portion 110 and the filter portion 120, such as a tipping wrapper, or it may refer collectively to all wrappers used on the aerosol-generating article 100.

[0073] The wrapper 130 may consist of porous or non-porous wrapping paper, but the scope of this disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the wrapper 130 may consist of a metal foil or a layer of wrapping paper and metal foil.

[0074] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, the nicotine sheet 10 is placed (applied) to the aerosol-forming substrate portion 110 and / or wrapper 130, as shown in the figures. However, the specific application method and processing form of the nicotine sheet 10 can vary.

[0075] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 2, the nicotine sheet 10 can be applied to the aerosol-forming substrate 110 in the form of shredded material 111. For example, the shredded material 111 of the nicotine sheet 10 can be mixed with shredded tobacco material 111 (e.g., shredded tobacco leaves, shredded leaf sheets) and introduced into the aerosol-forming substrate 110.

[0076] In some other embodiments, as shown in Figure 3, the nicotine sheet 10 can be introduced into the aerosol-forming substrate section 110 together with the tobacco sheet 20. Here, the tobacco sheet 20 is a tobacco substance manufactured in sheet form, and may, but is not limited to, reconstituted tobacco such as plate-shaped leaves. In this example, the nicotine sheet 10 can be introduced into the aerosol-forming substrate section 110 after being appropriately mixed with the tobacco sheet 20 (e.g., by laminating the nicotine sheet 10 onto the tobacco sheet 20, or by rolling them together).

[0077] In several other embodiments, as shown in Figure 4, the nicotine sheet 10 can be applied to the aerosol-forming substrate 110 in a rolled or folded form. For example, the nicotine sheet 10 can be applied to the aerosol-forming substrate 110 in an irregularly rolled or folded form (see 10-1), a spiral form (see 10-2), a concentric form (see 10-3), or a multiple-folded form (see 10-4; e.g., folded so that an airflow path is ensured in the longitudinal direction). In this case, the nicotine sheet 10 can be introduced into the aerosol-forming substrate 110 together with the tobacco material, or it can form an independent segment within the aerosol-forming substrate 110 (i.e., a dedicated segment containing only the nicotine sheet 10). Alternatively, it can be introduced into a separate segment (e.g., a cooling segment) formed outside the aerosol-forming substrate 110. When the nicotine sheet 10 is applied to the illustrated form, an airflow path is ensured in the longitudinal direction, guaranteeing a smooth airflow and appropriate inhalation resistance. In addition, the contact area between the nicotine sheet 10 and the high-temperature airflow is increased, which can also increase the amount of nicotine transferred.

[0078] In several other embodiments, the nicotine sheet 10 is applied to (e.g., attached to) the wrapper 130. For example, the nicotine sheet 10 may be placed inside the wrapper 130. If the wrapper 130 includes metal foil, the nicotine sheet 10 may be placed inside the metal foil. Alternatively, the nicotine sheet 10 may constitute at least a part of the wrapper 130. For example, the nicotine sheet 10 itself may function (be used) as the wrapper 130, or a wrapping material manufactured in a form in which the nicotine sheet 10 and wrapping paper are integrated may be used as the wrapper 130.

[0079] On the other hand, in the above embodiment, the nicotine sheet 10 may be processed through a predetermined process. However, the specific processing method is diverse.

[0080] For example, as shown in Figure 5, the nicotine sheet 10 may be processed to wrinkle or fold in the longitudinal direction (i.e., the MD direction) of the aerosol generating article 100. For example, the nicotine sheet 10 may be wrinkled or folded by at least one of the following processes: crimping, pleating, folding, and gathering. Specifically, the crimping process is a process in which wrinkles (creep) are imparted to the sheet surface through differences in roller pressure and speed of the crimping equipment, and can be divided into a wet process and a dry process. The wet process may mean a process in which the base paper is wet with water, softened, crimped, and then re-dried. The dry process may mean a drying process using two dryers with different temperatures. Those engaged in the relevant technical field are already familiar with the pleating, folding, and gathering processes, and further explanations thereof will be omitted. In this example, a number of channels are formed in the nicotine sheet 10 in the longitudinal direction through at least one of the illustrated processes, and a smooth airflow and appropriate inhalation resistance can be ensured through the formed channels. In addition, the contact area between the nicotine sheet 10 and the high-temperature airflow is increased, and the amount of nicotine transferred can also be increased.

[0081] As another example, as shown in Figure 6, the nicotine sheet 10 may be processed to form multiple holes 101. For example, multiple holes 101 are formed in the nicotine sheet 10 through a punching process. In this case, the diameter of the holes 101 may be about 0.05 mm to 5 mm, preferably about 0.1 mm to 3 mm or about 0.2 mm to 2.5 mm, about 0.3 mm to 2.1 mm, or about 0.4 mm to 1.8 mm. Within such numerical ranges, a smooth airflow and appropriate inhalation resistance can be ensured. In addition, the contact area between the nicotine sheet 10 and the high-temperature airflow can be increased, and the amount of nicotine transferred can also be increased.

[0082] The above describes several embodiments of the aerosol generating article 100 according to the present disclosure with reference to Figures 1 to 6. As described above, by applying the nicotine sheet 10 to the aerosol generating article 100 in various forms, an aerosol generating article 100 with enhanced flavor persistence can be easily manufactured.

[0083] Hereinafter, aerosol-generating articles 200 and 300 according to other embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. However, for the sake of clarity of the present disclosure, explanations that overlap with the aerosol-generating article 100 described above will be omitted.

[0084] Figure 7 is an illustrative diagram showing an aerosol-generating article 200 according to several other embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0085] As shown in Figure 7, the aerosol generating article 200 may include an aerosol forming substrate portion 210, a filter portion 220, and a wrapper 230, and the filter portion 220 may include a plurality of segments 221, 222.

[0086] The aerosol-forming substrate portion 210 corresponds to the aerosol-forming substrate portion 110 described above. Therefore, further explanation regarding it is omitted.

[0087] Next, the filter section 220 can be composed of a first segment 221 and a second segment 222. Of course, the filter section 220 may further include a third segment (not shown).

[0088] The first segment 221 can perform a cooling function for the aerosol generated in the aerosol-forming substrate section 210. Therefore, the first segment 221 may also be referred to as the "cooling segment 221" or "cooling section 221".

[0089] The first segment 221 can be manufactured in a variety of forms. For example, the first segment 221 may be made of paper material and be a cylindrical paper tube containing a hollow (or cavity). As another example, the first segment 221 may be made of a polymer or a biodegradable polymer. For example, the first segment 221 may be made of polylactic acid (PLA) fibers, but is not limited thereto. As yet another example, the first segment 221 may be made of a cellulose acetate filter with multiple perforations. As yet another example, the first segment 221 may be a tube filter containing a hollow. For example, the first segment 221 may be a cellulose acetate filter containing a hollow. However, the first segment 221 can be manufactured in forms different from those exemplified, as long as it can perform a cooling function.

[0090] In some embodiments, the nicotine sheet 10 can also be applied to the first segment 221. For example, the nicotine sheet 10 may be placed inside the first segment 221 (e.g., inside the hollow or cavity) in the form illustrated in Figure 4. Alternatively, the nicotine sheet 10 may be attached to the inner wall of the first segment 221 (e.g., the inner wall of the hollow). In any case, a smooth airflow in the longitudinal direction can be ensured, and the cooling performance of the first segment 221 can also be improved by the nicotine sheet 10 absorbing hot air from the high-temperature aerosol. Of course, since the nicotine component is also gradually released when the nicotine sheet 10 comes into contact with the high-temperature aerosol, the flavor persistence of the aerosol generating article 200 can also be sufficiently ensured.

[0091] For reference, since cellulose-based materials undergo a phase change when in contact with high-temperature airflow and have the property of absorbing a large amount of heat, applying a nicotine sheet 10 made of cellulose-based material can further improve the cooling performance of the first segment 221.

[0092] Next, the second segment 222 can perform a filtering function for the aerosol that has passed through the first segment 221. Therefore, the second segment 222 may also be referred to as the "filter segment 222" or "filter section 222". Alternatively, since the second segment 222 is located in the mouthpiece area, it may also be referred to as the "mouthpiece segment 222" or "mouthpiece section 222".

[0093] In some embodiments, the second segment 222 may include at least one capsule 240, which may function to generate flavor or to generate an aerosol. For example, the capsule 240 may have a structure in which a liquid containing a flavor is enclosed in a film. The capsule 240 may also have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited to these.

[0094] Next, wrapper 230 corresponds to wrapper 130 as described above. Therefore, further explanation regarding it will be omitted.

[0095] On the other hand, although not shown in Figure 7, the aerosol generating article 200 may further include a plug (not shown) positioned at its end. For example, the plug may be positioned at the upstream end of the aerosol generating article 200 to appropriately adjust the overall length of the aerosol generating article 200. Also, when the aerosol generating article 200 is inserted into an aerosol generating device (e.g., 1000 in Figure 9), the plug may also adjust the aerosol forming substrate portion 210 to be positioned in an appropriate location inside the aerosol generating device (e.g., 1000 in Figure 9).

[0096] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an aerosol-generating article 300 according to several other embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0097] As shown in Figure 8, the aerosol generating article 300 may include an aerosol forming substrate portion 310 and a filter portion 320, and each of the aerosol forming substrate portion 310 and the filter portion 320 may include a plurality of segments 311, 312, 321, and 322.

[0098] As shown in the figure, the aerosol-forming substrate portion 310 can be composed of a first segment 311 and a second segment 312. Of course, the aerosol-forming substrate portion 310 may further include a third segment (not shown).

[0099] The first segment 311 may contain a humectant (aerosol-forming agent). For example, the first segment 311 may contain crimped paper impregnated with a humectant. The humectant may contain, for example, at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol.

[0100] Next, the second segment 312 may contain a nicotine generating substrate, such as tobacco material. The nicotine generating substrate may include, for example, tobacco shreds, tobacco particles, tobacco sheets, tobacco beads, or tobacco granules. As another example, the nicotine generating substrate may also include crimped paper impregnated with tobacco extract or liquid nicotine. When the nicotine generating substrate is heated, nicotine can be generated from the nicotine generating substrate and transferred to the filter section 320.

[0101] Next, the filter section 320 may also include multiple segments 321 and 322. For example, the filter section 320 may include a third segment 321 that performs a cooling function and a fourth segment 322 that performs a filtration function. The contents of the filter section 220 in Figure 7 described above can be applied identically to the filter section 320, so further explanation is omitted.

[0102] Next, wrapper 330 corresponds to wrapper 130 as described above. Therefore, further explanation regarding it will be omitted.

[0103] The above describes aerosol generating articles (200, 300) according to other embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Below, various types of aerosol generating devices 1000 to which the above-described aerosol generating articles (100-300) can be applied will be described with reference to Figures 9-11.

[0104] Figures 9 to 11 are exemplary block diagrams showing the aerosol generator 1000. Specifically, Figure 9 illustrates a cigarette-type aerosol generator 1000, while Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a hybrid aerosol generator 1000 that uses both liquid and cigarettes. Each aerosol generator 1000 will be described below.

[0105] As shown in Figure 9, the aerosol generator 1000 may include a heater 1300, a battery 1100, and a control unit 1200. However, this is merely a preferred embodiment for achieving the objectives of this disclosure, and some components may be added or omitted as needed. Furthermore, each component of the aerosol generator 1000 shown in Figure 9 represents a functionally distinct functional element, and multiple components may be embodied in a form where they are integrated with each other in an actual physical environment, or a single component may be embodied in a form where it is separated into multiple detailed functional elements. The components of the aerosol generator 1000 will now be described.

[0106] The heater 1300 may be positioned to heat the cigarette 2000 inserted inside. The cigarette 2000 contains a solid aerosol-forming substrate and can generate an aerosol when heated. The generated aerosol can be inhaled through the user's mouth. The operation of the heater 1300, the heating temperature, etc., can be controlled by the control unit 1200.

[0107] Next, the battery 1100 can supply the power used to operate the aerosol generator 1000. For example, the battery 1100 can supply power so that the heater 1300 can heat the aerosol-forming substrate contained in the cigarette 2000, and can supply the power necessary for the control unit 1200 to operate.

[0108] Furthermore, the battery 1100 can supply the power necessary for the operation of electrical components installed in the aerosol generator 1000, such as a display (not shown), sensors (not shown), and motors (not shown).

[0109] Next, the control unit 1200 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generator 1000. For example, the control unit 1200 can control the operation of the heater 1300 and the battery 1100, and can also control the operation of other components included in the aerosol generator 1000. The control unit 1200 can control the power supplied by the battery 1100, the heating temperature of the heater 1300, and so on. In addition, the control unit 1200 can check the status of each component of the aerosol generator 1000 and determine whether or not the aerosol generator 1000 is in an operational state.

[0110] The control unit 1200 may be embodied by at least one processor. The processor may be embodied by an array of many logic gates, or by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and memory storing a program that can be executed by the microprocessor. Furthermore, it will be obvious to a person with ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs that the control unit 1200 may be embodied by other forms of hardware.

[0111] Below, the hybrid aerosol generator 1000 will be briefly described with reference to Figures 10 and 11.

[0112] Figure 10 illustrates an aerosol generator 1000 in which a vaporizer 1400 and a cigarette 2000 are arranged in parallel, and Figure 11 illustrates an aerosol generator 1000 in which a vaporizer 1400 and a cigarette 2000 are arranged in series. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generator 1000 is not limited to those illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, and the arrangement of components can be changed depending on the design method.

[0113] In Figures 10 and 11, the vaporizer 1400 may include a liquid storage tank for storing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a wick for absorbing the aerosol-forming substrate, and a vaporizing element for vaporizing the absorbed aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. The vaporizing element may be implemented in various forms, such as a heating element or a vibrating element. In some embodiments, the vaporizer 1400 may also be designed without a wick.

[0114] The aerosol generated in the vaporizer 1400 can pass through the cigarette 2000 and be inhaled through the user's mouth. The vaporization elements of the vaporizer 1400 can also be controlled by the control unit 1200.

[0115] The above describes exemplary aerosol generators 1000 to which aerosol generating articles (100-300) according to several embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied, with reference to Figures 9-11.

[0116] The following examples and experimental examples will further clarify the structure and effects of the nicotine sheet 10 described above. However, the following examples are merely illustrative of some aspects of the nicotine sheet 10, and the scope of this disclosure is not limited by these examples.

[0117] [Examples 1-11] Nicotine sheets having the weight ratios described in Tables 1 and 2 below were manufactured, and the manufactured nicotine sheets were placed in an aerosol-forming substrate to produce heated cigarettes.

[0118] [Table 1] (Grade A, B, C: Viscosity 15, 5, 50 in 2% solution)

[0119] [Table 2] (Grade A, B, C: Viscosity 15, 5, 50 in 2% solution)

[0120] [Experimental Example 1: Manufacturing Difficulty and Sensory Evaluation] Experiments were conducted to comprehensively evaluate the difficulty of liquid preparation and sensory characteristics such as flavor persistence, off-flavor, flavor intensity, throat hit, and post-smoking satisfaction for nicotine sheets and cigarettes prepared according to Examples 1-11. The sensory characteristics were evaluated on a panel of smokers with more than 5 years of experience, and were rated on a scale of superior, medium, and inferior. The evaluation results are shown in Tables 3 and 4 below.

[0121] [Table 3]

[0122] [Table 4]

[0123] Referring to Tables 3 and 4, MC-based sheet compositions were generally evaluated as having a low difficulty in liquid preparation (see Examples 2, 6, 7, and 9). Specifically, MC-based sheet compositions had appropriate viscosity and less gelling properties, making liquid preparation easy, while HPMC-based sheet compositions had high viscosity or gelling properties at room temperature, making liquid preparation difficult. Furthermore, it was confirmed that agar has the inconvenience of having to heat the water to about 80°C to 90°C in order to dissolve it in water.

[0124] Furthermore, it was shown that the nicotine sheets (or cigarettes) produced in Examples 1, 3, 8, or 9 generated a stronger off-flavor during smoking compared to the other examples. In other words, nicotine sheets using HPMC or CMC were evaluated as having a stronger off-flavor than nicotine sheets using MC, etc.

[0125] [Examples 12-21] Nicotine sheets having the weight ratios described in Tables 5 and 6 below were manufactured, and the manufactured nicotine sheets were placed in an aerosol-forming substrate to produce heated cigarettes.

[0126] [Table 5]

[0127] [Table 6]

[0128] [Experimental Example 2: Sheet properties and sensory evaluation based on aerosol-forming agent content] Experiments were conducted to comprehensively evaluate the physical properties of the nicotine sheets and cigarettes produced in Examples 12-20, based on the content of aerosol-forming agents (egPG, GLY), as well as sensory characteristics such as aerosol generation, off-flavor, taste intensity, and post-smoking satisfaction. The evaluation of sensory characteristics was performed using the same method as in Experiment Example 1, and the evaluation results are shown in Tables 7 and 8 below.

[0129] [Table 7]

[0130] [Table 8]

[0131] Referring to Tables 7 and 8, the physical properties of the nicotine sheets produced in Examples 14, 16-18 were generally excellent, and among them, the physical properties of the nicotine sheets produced in Examples 16-18 were shown to be even better. Specifically, it was confirmed that when the aerosol-forming agent content was excessively low (e.g., Examples 12, 13), the sheet would tear, and when the aerosol-forming agent content was excessively high (e.g., Examples 19, 20), the sheet would become sticky or saggy.

[0132] For reference, the aerosol-forming agent content of the nicotine sheets in Examples 16-18 is approximately 8-20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of a dried (manufactured) sheet. This is because the alcohol and water added during the preparation of the solution almost completely volatilize or evaporate as it dries (e.g., generally, alcohol volatilizes during drying, and water remains at approximately 6-10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of a sheet).

[0133] Furthermore, it was shown that the amount of aerosol generated increases as the content of the aerosol-forming agent increases. It was also confirmed that if the proportion of GLY is higher than that of PG, the amount of aerosol generated is even greater, but the physical properties of the sheet are relatively worse. For example, Example 17 (or Example 15) showed a greater amount of aerosol generation than Example 18 (or Example 14) (Example 17 and Example 15 have the same aerosol-forming agent content as Example 18 and Example 14, but with a higher proportion of GLY), and the physical properties of the nicotine sheet produced by Example 15 were worse than those of Example 14.

[0134] The above has provided a more detailed explanation of the structure and effects of the nicotine sheet 10 described above through examples and experimental cases.

[0135] While embodiments of this disclosure have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, a person with ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains will understand that this disclosure can be implemented in other specific forms without altering the technical idea or essential features. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not limiting. The scope of protection of this disclosure should be understood to be as defined in the claims below, and all technical ideas within an equivalent scope should be understood to be included in the scope of rights of the technical idea as defined by this disclosure.

Claims

1. Nicotine substances containing nicotine components, A nicotine sheet comprising a cellulosic substance forming a sheet, The cellulosic substance includes at least one substance selected from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methylcellulose (MC), ethylcellulose (EC), and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and agar. The nicotine sheet contains 25 to 90 parts by weight of the cellulose-based substance per 100 parts by weight of the nicotine sheet.

2. The nicotine sheet according to claim 1, wherein the nicotine substance comprises a nicotine salt formed by an organic acid.

3. The nicotine sheet according to claim 2, wherein the organic acid comprises at least one acid selected from benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, and citric acid.

4. The nicotine sheet according to claim 1, wherein the content of the cellulose-based substance is 25 to 55 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the nicotine sheet.

5. The nicotine sheet according to claim 1, wherein the cellulose-based material coats the nicotine substance.

6. The nicotine sheet according to claim 1, wherein the cellulosic substance comprises methylcellulose (MC).

7. It further contains a bulking agent, The bulking agent comprises at least one substance selected from starches, modified starch, or starch hydrolysates, and the nicotine sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The nicotine sheet according to claim 7, wherein the bulking agent comprises a starch hydrolysate.

9. The bulking agent comprises dextrin, as described in claim 7, for the nicotine sheet.

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