SMOKING PRODUCT CONTAINING LYOCELL ROPE

Abstract

A smoking article is provided. The smoking article comprises: a medium portion; a mouthpiece portion spaced apart from one side of the medium portion; a support structure disposed between the medium portion and the mouthpiece portion; and a cooling structure disposed between the support structure body and the mouthpiece portion, wherein the mouthpiece portion comprises a lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers.

Description

Smoking articles containing lyocell tow

[0001] The invention relates to a smoking article that applies lyocell tow to the mouthpiece portion of the smoking article, thereby preventing the tow of the mouthpiece portion from melting due to the high temperature applied to heat the smoking article, and effectively reducing the heat sensation generated during the initial puff, thereby providing an improved smoking experience.

[0002]

[0003] In smoking devices, the transfer of tobacco components (e.g., nicotine, tar) and the generation of vapor (atom) significantly impact the user's smoking experience. Typically, smoking devices operate by heating a stick to a high temperature of approximately 150-300°C using a device. This heat is then transferred to a medium, which increases the temperature of the medium, allowing the smooth transfer of tobacco components such as nicotine. During this process, substances such as glycerin are heated to generate vapor, which is then delivered to the user for inhalation. However, if the device is set to a temperature below the boiling point of glycerin, atomization does not occur smoothly, limiting the transfer of tobacco components.

[0004] Meanwhile, the mouthpiece portion has traditionally used cellulose acetate (hereinafter abbreviated as "CA") tow to filter out components within the mainstream smoke. However, in the case of cellulose acetate (CA) tow, the CA tow melts or deforms at temperatures above approximately 70°C and then solidifies again, which hinders the smooth passage of smoke, generates an unpleasant odor, and prevents the filtering function from being properly performed.

[0005]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a smoking article including a medium portion, a support structure, a cooling structure, and a mouthpiece portion, wherein lyocell tow is applied to the mouthpiece portion to prevent the tow of the mouthpiece portion from melting due to the high temperature applied to heat the smoking article, and to effectively reduce the heat sensation generated during the initial puff, thereby providing a richer and improved smoking experience to the user.

[0007] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from the description below.

[0008]

[0009] A smoking article according to one aspect of the present application for solving the above problem comprises a medium portion, a mouthpiece portion spaced apart from one side of the medium portion, a support structure disposed between the medium portion and the mouthpiece portion, and a cooling structure disposed between the support structure and the mouthpiece portion, wherein the mouthpiece portion comprises lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers.

[0010] In some embodiments, the single denier of the lyocell fibers included in the lyocell tow may be 2.22 to 16.67 dtex (mono denier of 2 to 15), and the total denier of the lyocell tow may be 1,111 to 4,444 tex (total denier of 10,000 to 40,000).

[0011] In some embodiments, the suction resistance of the mouthpiece portion may be 5 mmH2O (mmWG) to 14 mmH2O (mmWG) based on a length of 12 mm of the mouthpiece.

[0012] In some embodiments, the suction resistance of the mouthpiece portion may be from 6.2 mmH2O (mmWG) to 12 mmH2O (mmWG) based on a length of 12 mm of the mouthpiece.

[0013] In some embodiments, the hardness of the mouthpiece portion may be between 60% and 100%.

[0014] In some embodiments, the hardness of the mouthpiece portion may be 85% to 95%.

[0015] In some embodiments, the cooling structure may have a tube shape with a hollow space formed therein.

[0016] In some embodiments, the support structure may have a tube shape with a hollow space formed therein.

[0017] In some embodiments, the cooling structure has a tube shape with a hollow formed therein, the support structure has a tube shape with a hollow formed therein, and the hollow of the cooling structure and the hollow of the support structure can be communicated.

[0018] In some embodiments, the support structure may comprise at least one of cellulose acetate, lyocell, and paper core.

[0019] In some embodiments, the cooling structure may include at least one of a tubular structure made of paper material, a tubular structure made of cellulose acetate material, and a tubular structure made of lyocell material.

[0020] In another aspect of the present application, a system is provided comprising the smoking article described above and an aerosol generating device applying the same.

[0021] In another aspect of the present application, a method of manufacturing the smoking article described above is provided.

[0022]

[0023] According to one embodiment of a smoking article, a smoking article including a medium portion, a support structure, a cooling structure, and a mouthpiece portion, by applying lyocell tow to the mouthpiece portion, the tow of the mouthpiece portion is prevented from melting due to high temperatures caused by heat applied to heat the smoking article, and the feeling of heat generated during an initial puff is effectively reduced, thereby providing a richer and improved smoking experience to the user.

[0024] The effects according to the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0025]

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a smoking article according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figures 3 to 5 illustrate various types of aerosol generating devices to which smoking articles according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied.

[0029]

[0030] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The advantages and features of the present disclosure, and methods for achieving them, will become clearer with reference to the embodiments described in detail below together with the attached drawings. However, the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments and may be implemented in various different forms. The following embodiments are provided only to complete the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the present disclosure of the scope of the present disclosure, and the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure is defined only by the scope of the claims.

[0031] When assigning reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that identical components are assigned the same numerals whenever possible, even if they appear on different drawings. Furthermore, when describing the present disclosure, if a detailed description of a related known configuration or function is deemed likely to obscure the gist of the present disclosure, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein may be used in the same sense as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. Furthermore, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not to be interpreted ideally or excessively unless explicitly and specifically defined otherwise. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments and is not intended to limit the disclosure. In this specification, singular forms also include plural forms, unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0033] Additionally, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used to describe components of the present disclosure. These terms are only intended to distinguish the components from other components, and the nature, order, or sequence of the components are not limited by the terms. When a component is described as being "connected," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but another component may also be "connected," "coupled," or "connected" between each component.

[0034] As used herein, the terms “comprises” and / or “comprising” do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations and / or elements.

[0035] First, let's clarify some terms used in this specification.

[0036] As used herein, the term "smoking article" may mean any smokeable product or any product capable of providing a smoking experience, whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. For example, smoking articles may include smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars, and cigarillos.

[0037] In this specification, “smoking material” may mean any type of material that can be used in smoking articles.

[0038] In this specification, the term “user” may be used interchangeably with “consumer.”

[0039] In this specification, “upstream” or “upstream direction” may mean a direction away from the smoker’s mouth, and “downstream” or “downstream direction” may mean a direction approaching the smoker’s mouth.

[0040] As used herein, the term "longitudinal direction" may refer to a direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of a smoking article. The "longitudinal axis" of a smoking article may refer to an imaginary line extending along the main longitudinal direction of the smoking article. This axis typically extends from one end of the smoking article (e.g., the mouthpiece or filter end) to the opposite end (e.g., the combustion or heat source end).

[0041] As used herein, “lyocell filter” refers to a filter comprising or consisting of lyocell tow.

[0042] As used herein, “Lyocell tow” refers to a bundle comprising or consisting of a plurality of Lyocell fibers. In some embodiments, Lyocell tow may refer to a bundle formed by cross-linking adjacent Lyocell fibers.

[0043] As used herein, “Lyocell fiber” may mean a fiber made from lyocell cellulose. In particular, the lyocell fiber may be a fiber made from cellulose derived from or primarily derived from wood pulp, particularly a semi-synthetic fiber.

[0044] In this specification, the “single fiber” of lyocell tow or cellulose acetate tow means the fiber size of a single strand of monofilament separated from a multifilament of lyocell fibers or cellulose acetate fibers constituting the lyocell tow or cellulose acetate tow.

[0045] In this specification, the “total fineness” of lyocell tow or cellulose acetate tow means the fineness of the multifilaments of lyocell fibers or cellulose acetate fibers constituting the lyocell tow or cellulose acetate tow.

[0046] In this specification, “reconstituted tobacco leaves” may mean reconstituted tobacco leaves.

[0047] As used herein, the term "reconstituted tobacco leaf" or "reconstituted tobacco sheet" may refer to a sheet made by combining tobacco by-products selected from the group consisting of stems, dust, particulates, and combinations thereof with a binder. In some embodiments, the reconstituted tobacco leaf is homogenized tobacco leaf.

[0048] As used herein, the term "non-circular cross-section" is defined as a cross-section whose shape is not circular but includes a plurality of protrusions. For example, a cross-section having a shape in which a plurality of protrusions branch and / or extend from the center and / or the center of the cross-section may be referred to as a non-circular cross-section. Here, "protrusion" may mean a distinct, extended segment or arm extending outward from the central core or joint point of the lyocell fiber cross-section.

[0049] In some embodiments, the lyocell fibers may have a Y-shaped cross-section with three protrusions branching and / or extending from the center and / or center of the cross-section, a cruciform cross-section with four protrusions, and / or a star-shaped cross-section with five or more protrusions, or may have an O-shaped cross-section, but are not limited thereto.

[0050] In some embodiments, the lyocell fibers may include three or more protrusions branching and / or extending from the center and / or the center of the cross-section.

[0051]

[0052] *In some embodiments, the lyocell fibers included in the lyocell tow may have a Y-shaped cross-section for use in cigarette filters.

[0053] In this specification, "hollow" may mean a channel extending along the longitudinal direction. For example, a structure having a hollow structure may be referred to as a "tubular structure."

[0054] In this specification, "consisting of" an element may mean including or consisting of that element.

[0055] In this specification, "basis weight" refers to the mass per unit area of ​​the paper and / or wrapper. The basis weight of the paper and / or wrapper can be determined by measuring the mass and area of ​​the paper and / or wrapper and dividing the mass of the paper and / or wrapper by the area. The unit of basis weight is gsm (gram per square meter), i.e. g / m 2 It could be.

[0056] In this specification, “packaging” of a smoking article by a wrapper and / or a paper may refer to the wrapping of at least a portion of the periphery surface of the longitudinal axis of each part and / or structure of the smoking article by the wrapper.

[0057] In this specification, the hardness of the mouthpiece is a value that quantifies the degree to which the diameter of the mouthpiece is maintained when the mouthpiece is pressed with a certain level of force in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mouthpiece, and may be a percentage of the diameter of the mouthpiece after the force is applied compared to the diameter of the mouthpiece before the force is applied. For example, the hardness (%) of the mouthpiece can be calculated as (Da) / D × 100%. Here, D is the diameter of the mouthpiece, and a represents the distance lowered by a weight of 300 g (i.e., the mouthpiece is pressed). The measurement value required in calculating the hardness is, for example, DHT 200 of Filtrona. TM can be obtained using . In measuring hardness, the force applied to the mouthpiece can be considered as a value equivalent to the force applied to the smoking article by an actual user.

[0058] A filter of a smoking article according to one aspect of the present invention can capture at least a portion of smoke components generated when smoking the smoking article. In some embodiments, the filter of the smoking article can capture particulate matter (total particulate matter (TPM)) including at least a portion of at least one of nicotine (hereinafter abbreviated as “Nic”), tar, propylene glycol (hereinafter abbreviated as “PG”), and glycerin (hereinafter abbreviated as “Gly”) contained in the smoke components generated when smoking the smoking article.

[0059] In this specification, the removal ability (%) of a specific component by a filter can be calculated as (amount remaining in the filter after smoking) / (amount remaining in the filter after smoking + amount transferred to aerosol after smoking) × 100%, and the transfer rate (%) of the specific component can be calculated as 100 (%) - removal ability (%).

[0060] In this specification, “suction resistance” means the static pressure difference between the two ends of a sample when an airflow crosses the sample. In this specification, “PDC” means the value of the suction resistance measured when the medium part is open, the perforations of the filter part are blocked, and the inflow of outside air is blocked, and “PDO” means the value of the suction resistance measured when the medium part is open, the perforations of the filter part are not blocked, and the inflow of outside air is allowed. For example, the suction resistance can be measured using the method specified in ISO standard 6565:2015. According to ISO standard 6565:2015, the suction resistance can mean the static pressure difference between the two ends of a sample when it is crossed by an airflow under normal conditions (22±2℃, 60±5% relative humidity) with a volumetric flow rate of 17.5 mm / s at the discharge end.

[0061] In this specification, organic acid is a general term for organic compounds that are acidic.

[0062] In some embodiments, room temperature may mean 20° C. to 25° C.

[0063] In this specification, when no separate physical quantity is indicated, component % and component ratio mean weight % of component and weight ratio of component, respectively.

[0064] As used herein, "puff" refers to the act of inhaling or drawing air through a smoking article to produce and inhale smoke or vapor. "Puff count" may refer to the total number of inhalations or draws made while using the smoking article. Alternatively, or in addition, the puff count may refer to the maximum number of inhalations or draws that the smoking article can provide before being completely consumed or ceases to function.

[0065] In this specification, the HC (Health Canada) conditions may be conditions in which the puff volume per puff is 55 ml, the puff frequency is every 30 seconds, and the puff duration is 2 seconds. In particular, the HC conditions may be conditions in which the perforations of the filter are blocked. The number of puffs measured under the HC conditions may be conditions in which 9 puffs are taken.

[0066] In this specification, the "ventilation rate (hereinafter may be abbreviated as "Vent")" of a smoking article may be defined as the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the total volumetric flow rate (e.g., ml / s) of air that enters the smoking article without being burned or heated, i.e., through the front area of ​​the smoking article, i.e., the longitudinal upstream end, to the total volumetric flow rate (e.g., ml / s) of air at the outlet of the smoking article, i.e., the longitudinal downstream end. For example, the ventilation rate may be measured according to ISO 9512:2019. For example, the total volumetric flow rate of air that enters the smoking article without being burned or heated, i.e., through the front area of ​​the smoking article, may be the total volumetric flow rate of air that enters in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the smoking article. For example, the total volumetric flow rate of air that enters the smoking article without being burned or heated, i.e., through the wrapper, may be the total volumetric flow rate of air that enters the smoking article.

[0067] The content of components in the total particulate matter (TPM) of the captured smoke can be analyzed using GC / MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). For example, in the case of tar or nicotine, the Cambridge filter (Cambridge Felter Pad (CFP)) containing the smoke components is immersed in IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) for a specified period of time (e.g., 20 minutes to 16 hours), and in the case of PG and Gly, the Cambridge filter (Cambridge Felter Pad (CFP)) containing the smoke components is immersed in methanol for a specified period of time (e.g., 2 hours to 16 hours), and then treated with a shaker device and passed through a PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) syringe filter to remove impurities. Then, the content of components contained in the total particulate matter (TPM) of the captured smoke can be measured using GC / MS equipment. The soaking time may be more than 20 minutes, especially for tar or nicotine, and more than 2 hours for PG and Gly.

[0068] The amount of components (particularly the amount of nicotine components) remaining inside the filter (particularly the lyocell filter and / or the lyocell tow, particularly the mouthpiece part) and / or the segments, etc. constituting the tobacco rod after smoking can be measured by immersing the tobacco rod, filter and / or segments, etc. in water after smoking, extracting the residual components (particularly the nicotine components), and analyzing them using GC / MS equipment. At this time, the tobacco rod, filter and / or segments, etc. (particularly the mouthpiece part) are immersed in a container containing distilled water overnight (for example, for 12 to 16 hours), and a solution containing the components thus extracted can be utilized for GC / MS analysis. The immersion time can be particularly 16 hours.

[0069] The above GC / MS may be, for example, a measuring device from Agilent.

[0070]

[0071] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0072]

[0073] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a smoking article according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 1, a smoking article (100) may include a medium portion (110), a support structure (120), a cooling structure (130), and a mouthpiece portion (140). The cooling structure (130) may be disposed spaced apart from one end of the medium portion (110) along the longitudinal direction of the medium portion (110). The mouthpiece portion (140) may be disposed in an opposite direction of the support structure (120) with respect to the cooling structure (130). In some embodiments, the smoking article (100) may further include a wrapper (150). In particular, the smoking article (100) may include a medium portion (110), a cooling structure (130) disposed on one side of the medium portion (110) and spaced apart from the medium portion (110), a support structure (120) disposed between the medium portion (110) and the cooling structure (130), and a mouthpiece portion (140) disposed on one side of the support structure (120) with the cooling structure (130) interposed therebetween. The medium portion (110), the support structure (120), the cooling structure (130), and the mouthpiece portion (140) may be sequentially disposed in the longitudinal direction. In some embodiments, the smoking article (100) may further include a wrapper (150) that wraps at least a portion of the medium portion (110), the support structure (120), the cooling structure (130), and the mouthpiece portion (140).

[0075]

[0076] The medium (110) may include an aerosol-forming substrate. The medium (110) may generate an aerosol when heated by including the aerosol-forming substrate. The length of the medium (110) may be about 10 mm to 14 mm (e.g., 12 mm), but is not limited thereto. The medium (110) may be inserted into an aerosol-generating device and generate an aerosol when heated, and the generated aerosol (e.g., mainstream smoke) may be inhaled through the user's mouth.

[0077] In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise tobacco material, although the processed form of the tobacco material may vary. For example, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a reconstituted tobacco sheet, such as a sheet of leaf tobacco. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a sheet of leaf tobacco. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a plurality of tobacco strands (also referred to as "cut fillers") formed by cutting the reconstituted tobacco sheet. For example, the medium portion (110) may be filled with a plurality of tobacco strands arranged in the same direction (e.g., parallel) and / or randomly. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise leaf tobacco cut filler. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a reconstituted tobacco sheet and leaf tobacco cut filler.

[0078]

[0079] In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate or medium (110) may include at least one humectant. The humectant may include, but is not limited to, glycerin and / or propylene glycol.

[0080] In some embodiments, the aerosol forming substrate or medium portion (110) may contain at least one flavorant (or, may be referred to as a "flavoring agent") and / or other additives such as an organic acid. For example, the flavorant may be licorice, sucrose, fructose syrup, artificial sweetener (e.g., Isosweet TM ), cocoa, lavender, cinnamon, cardamom, celery, fenugreek, cascarilla, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, mint oil, cinnamon, caraway, cognac, jasmine, chamomile, menthol, cinnamon, ylang-ylang, sage, spearmint, ginger, coriander and / or coffee, but are not limited thereto.

[0081]

[0082] The support structure (120) is positioned downstream (on one side) of the medium portion (110), and the upstream side of the support structure (120) may be in contact with the downstream side of the medium portion (110). The support structure (120) may function as a support member for the medium portion (110). For example, when a heating element of an aerosol generating device is inserted into and / or aligned outside the medium portion (110), the support structure (120) may function to prevent the medium portion (110) from moving in the downstream direction. The support structure (120) may also function as a passage for aerosol (e.g., mainstream smoke) formed in the medium portion (110).

[0083] In some embodiments, the support structure (120) includes a tubular structure having a hollow space (120H) formed therein, which can function as a channel for the aerosol (i.e., through which the aerosol moves). The hollow space (120H) can extend along the longitudinal direction of the support structure (120). The hollow space (120H) is located at the center of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support structure (120) and can extend along the longitudinal direction of the support structure (120). The hollow space (120H) and the support structure (120) can have a coaxial structure along the longitudinal direction. The length of the support structure (120) can be about 8 mm to 12 mm (e.g., 10 mm), but is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the length of the support structure (120) may be shorter than or equal to the length of the cooling structure (130) described below, but is not limited thereto.

[0084] The upstream end of the tubular structure included in the support structure (120) may be in contact with the downstream end of the tubular structure included in the cooling structure (130). In other words, one end located on one side (downstream) of the support structure (120) may be in contact with an end located on the other side (upstream) opposite to one side of the cooling structure (130), and the other end located on the other side (upstream) of the support structure (120) may be in contact with one end of the medium portion (110). Accordingly, the aerosol formed in the medium portion (110) may be moved toward the mouthpiece portion (140) (i.e., in the downstream direction) through the hollow portions (120H, 130H).

[0085] The support structure (120) may include at least one of cellulose acetate, lyocell, and a tube. In particular, the support structure (120) may include a tubular structure made of cellulose acetate and / or a tubular structure made of lyocell including a plurality of lyocell fibers. In other words, the support structure (120) may be a tube filter made of cellulose acetate fibers and / or a tube filter made of lyocell fibers. The support structure (120) can effectively prevent the medium portion (110) from moving in the downstream direction when a heating element is inserted, and can also provide a filtration and cooling effect for the aerosol.

[0086] Preferably, the support structure (120) may include a tubular structure composed of lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers. However, the support structure (120) is not limited thereto, and alternatively, or in addition, the support structure (120) may also include a tubular structure made of cellulose acetate material. Since the support structure (120) includes a hollow space therein (i.e., includes a tubular structure) and is composed of lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers, the support structure (120) can prevent or minimize deformation of the support structure (120) due to heat applied to heat the smoking article (100) and / or high-temperature aerosol passing through the hollow space (120H) of the support structure (120) due to the high heat resistance of the lyocell tow that does not melt even at high temperatures. Accordingly, the support structure (120) can maintain its shape while smoking, so that the smoke component passing through the hollow portion (120H) of the support structure (120) can be maintained uniformly without variation depending on the smoking time, thereby providing a more improved smoking experience to the user.

[0087] Meanwhile, it may be desirable for the support structure (120) to be manufactured to have appropriate hardness and / or durability for its supporting role. In some embodiments, when the support structure (120) includes cellulose acetate, the hardness of the support structure (120) may be controlled by adjusting the amount of plasticizer added when manufacturing the support structure (120) using the cellulose acetate. For example, as the amount of plasticizer added increases, the hardness of the support structure (120) may increase. In addition, as the inner diameter of the support structure (120) increases (i.e., as the difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the support structure 120 decreases), the content of the added plasticizer may increase. In some other embodiments, the support structure (120) may be manufactured by inserting a structure such as a film or tube of the same or different material into the interior (i.e., the hollow 120H).

[0088] In some other embodiments, when the support structure (120) includes lyocell, the support structure (120) may be a lyocell filter having a hollow space (120H) formed therein and at least one binder added thereto. Unlike cellulose acetate, lyocell does not have a plasticizer material that hardens lyocell fibers, so by adding a binder instead, the support structure (120) can be provided with appropriate hardness. That is, by further including at least one binder, the support structure (120) can achieve excellent hardness even though it is a lyocell filter composed of lyocell tow.

[0089] In some embodiments, the binder may include at least one of a cellulose-based binder, a vinyl-based binder, a polyester-based binder, a dextrin-based binder, a starch-based binder, guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic, carrageenan, konjac, and agar, but is not limited thereto as long as it is a material capable of binding between a plurality of lyocell fibers to impart appropriate hardness. For example, the cellulose-based binder may include hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose (EC), methylcellulose (MC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), etc., the vinyl-based binder may include polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVAc), etc., the polyester-based binder may be a polyester containing at least one selected from the group consisting of alkylene, arylene, and heteroarylene having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, the dextrin-based binder may include dextrin, etc., and the starch-based binder may include starch (e.g., tapioca, corn, wheat, potato, sweet potato, etc.), cationic starch, esterified starch, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0090] In some embodiments, the binder may include at least one of a polyester, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose (EC), methylcellulose (MC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVAc), dextrin, tapioca starch, corn starch, wheat starch, potato starch, sweet potato starch, cationic starch, esterified starch, guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic, carrageenan, konjac, and agar, wherein the polyester comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of alkylene, arylene, and heteroarylene having 5 to 12 carbon atoms.

[0091] In some embodiments, the support structure (120) may be a flavored filter to which a flavoring substance such as menthol has been added (i.e., flavored). In this case, the flavor development of the smoking article (100) may be enhanced.

[0092]

[0093] The cooling structure (130) can function as a cooling member for high-temperature aerosol generated as the medium portion (110) is heated. In particular, the cooling structure (130) can include a tubular structure having a hollow portion (130H) formed therein, and can cool the aerosol passing through the hollow portion (130H). In particular, the aerosol formed in the medium portion (1130) can move to the hollow portion (130H) of the cooling structure (130) through the hollow portion (120H) of the support structure (120), and can move in the direction of the mouthpiece portion (140) (i.e., downstream). The hollow portion (130H) can extend along the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure (130). The hollow portion (130H) is located at the center of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure (130), and can extend along the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure (130). The hollow body (130H) and the cooling structure (130) may have a coaxial structure along the longitudinal direction.

[0094] The hollow portion (120H) of the support structure (120) and the hollow portion (130H) of the cooling structure (130) are respectively positioned at the center of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support structure (120) and the cooling structure (130), and may extend along the longitudinal direction of the support structure (120) and the cooling structure (130). The hollow portion (120H) of the support structure (120) and the hollow portion (130H) of the cooling structure (130) may extend along the same axis along the longitudinal direction. The hollow portion (120H) of the support structure (120) and the hollow portion (130H) of the cooling structure (130) may have the same or different diameters in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis, respectively.

[0095] Accordingly, the user can inhale an aerosol of an appropriate temperature, and the mainstream smoke can be smoothly aerosolized to improve the amount of vapor.

[0096] In some embodiments, the cooling structure (130) may include at least one of a tubular structure made of paper, a tubular structure made of cellulose acetate, and a tubular structure made of lyocell. The length of the cooling structure (130) may be about 12 mm to 16 mm (e.g., 14 mm), but is not limited thereto.

[0097] Preferably, the cooling structure (130) may include a tubular structure composed of lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cooling structure (130) may also include a tubular structure and / or a pipe made of cellulose acetate. Since the cooling structure (130) is composed of lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers and a hollow space therein, the cooling structure (130) can prevent or minimize deformation of the cooling structure (130) due to heat applied to heat the smoking article (100) and / or high-temperature aerosol passing through the hollow space (130H) of the cooling structure (130) due to the high heat resistance of the lyocell tow that does not melt even at high temperatures. Accordingly, the cooling structure (130) can maintain its shape while smoking, so that the smoke component passing through the hollow space (130H) of the cooling structure (130) can be maintained uniformly without variation depending on the smoking time, thereby providing a more improved smoking experience to the user. When the cooling structure (130) is composed of lyocell tow, the cooling structure (130) may further include a binder dispersed in the lyocell tow in order to provide a predetermined degree of hardness.

[0098] In some embodiments, the binder may include, but is not limited to, the exemplary materials listed as binders included in the support structure (120).

[0099] In some embodiments, the binder included in the cooling structure (130) may be the same as or different from the binder included in the support structure (120).

[0100] In some embodiments, the binder may include at least one of a polyester, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose (EC), methylcellulose (MC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVAc), dextrin, tapioca starch, corn starch, wheat starch, potato starch, sweet potato starch, cationic starch, esterified starch, guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic, carrageenan, konjac, and agar, wherein the polyester comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of alkylene, arylene, and heteroarylene having 5 to 12 carbon atoms.

[0101]

[0102] The mouthpiece (140) is a mouthpiece that comes into contact with the user's mouth and can serve as a filter that ultimately delivers the aerosol delivered from upstream to the user. The mouthpiece (140) is located downstream of the cooling structure (130), and its upstream end can be in contact with the downstream end of the cooling structure (130), and can form the downstream end of the smoking article (100).

[0103] In one embodiment, the mouthpiece portion (140) may include a lyocell filter composed of lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers. The length of the mouthpiece portion (140) may be, but is not limited to, about 10 mm to 14 mm (e.g., 12 mm).

[0104] In the present invention, the lyocell fiber included in the mouthpiece portion (140) is an environmentally friendly fiber made from cellulose extracted from wood pulp. The lyocell tow may refer to a bundle formed by cross-linking adjacent lyocell fibers.

[0105] In some embodiments, lyocell fibers may have a non-circular cross-section. A non-circular cross-section is defined as a cross-section that is not circular but includes multiple protrusions. For example, a cross-section having multiple protrusions extending from a center may be considered non-circular.

[0106] In some embodiments, the lyocell fibers may have a Y-shaped cross-section with three protrusions branching from the center, a cross-shaped cross-section with four protrusions, a star-shaped cross-section with five or more protrusions, or an O-shaped cross-section, but are not limited thereto.

[0107] In some embodiments, the single denier of the lyocell fiber included in the mouthpiece portion (140) ranges from 2.22 to 16.67 dtex (2 to 15 denier), preferably from 2.44 to 15.56 dtex (2.2 to 14 denier), more preferably from 2.78 to 14.44 dtex (2.5 to 13 denier), and even more preferably from 3.33 to 13.33 dtex (3 to 12 denier), and from 1,111 to 4,444 tex (10,000 to 40,000 denier), preferably from 2,222 to 4,333 tex (20,000 to 39,000 denier), and even more preferably from 2,778 to 4,222 tex (25,000 to 38,000 denier). It may include lyocell tow having a total denier of 100 denier.

[0108] In some embodiments, the suction resistance of the mouthpiece portion (140) may be 5 mmH2O (mmWG) to 14 mmH2O (mmWG), preferably 5.5 mmH2O (mmWG) to 13 mmH2O (mmWG), more preferably 6 mmH2O (mmWG) to 12.5 mmH2O (mmWG), even more preferably 6.2 mmH2O (mmWG) to 12 mmH2O (mmWG), even more preferably 6.4 mmH2O (mmWG) to 6.8 mmH2O (mmWG), even more preferably 8.7 mmH2O (mmWG) to 9.3 mmH2O (mmWG), even more preferably 11 mmH2O (mmWG) to 12 mmH2O (mmWG), even more preferably The suction resistance of the mouthpiece portion (140) may range from 11.5 mmH2O (mmWG) to 11.8 mmH2O (mmWG). By having the suction resistance in the above range, the amount of moisture transferred within the aerosol generated during smoking can be reduced, so that the heat sensation of the smoker's initial puff can be reduced and the nicotine removal ability within the aerosol can be improved.

[0109] Hardness is a property related to the elasticity and resilience of the mouthpiece (140), and refers to the degree to which the mouthpiece (140) resists pressure applied in a vertical direction along the length. In order for the smoking article to maintain its shape and be easily used by the user, it is desirable to maintain a certain level of hardness.

[0110] In some embodiments, the hardness of the mouthpiece portion (140) may be, but is not limited to, 60% to 100%, preferably 70% to 99%, more preferably 75% to 98%, even more preferably 80% to 97%, and even more preferably 85% to 95%. The hardness of the mouthpiece portion (140) is a value that quantifies the degree to which the diameter of the mouthpiece portion (140) is maintained when the mouthpiece portion (140) is pressed with a certain level of force in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mouthpiece portion (140), and may be a value that is a percentage ratio between the diameter of the mouthpiece portion (140) before applying the force and the diameter of the mouthpiece portion (140) after applying the force.

[0111] The circumference of the cross-section of the mouthpiece portion (140) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the smoking article (100) may be 14 mm to 25 mm, for example, 22 mm to 23 mm, but is not limited thereto.

[0112] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece portion (140) may further include a binder dispersed in the lyocell tow. The mouthpiece portion (140) may achieve a predetermined hardness by further including a binder dispersed in the lyocell tow.

[0113] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece portion (140) may have at least one flavor capsule inserted therein.

[0114] For reference, the support structure (120), the cooling structure (130), and the mouthpiece portion (140) may each function as a filter for the aerosol, and each component may be referred to as a “filter segment” to emphasize its function as a filter. For example, the support structure (120), the cooling structure (130), and the mouthpiece portion (140) may be referred to as a first filter segment, a second filter segment, and a third filter segment, respectively.

[0115] The wrapper (150) surrounds and may wrap at least one of the medium portion (110), the support structure (120), the cooling structure (130), and the mouthpiece portion (140). Although not shown, at least one of the medium portion (110), the support structure (120), the cooling structure (130), and the mouthpiece portion (140) may be wrapped with a separate wrapper before being wrapped by the wrapper (150). For example, the medium portion (110) may be wrapped by a medium portion wrapper (not shown), and the support structure (120), the cooling structure (130), and the mouthpiece portion (140) may be wrapped by a first filter wrapper (not shown), a second filter wrapper (not shown), and a third filter wrapper (not shown), respectively. However, the method of wrapping the smoking article (100) and its components is not limited thereto and may vary.

[0116] In some embodiments, the wrapper (150) may be formed with perforations (160, see FIG. 1) arranged along the perimeter of the cooling structure (130), or may not have perforations (no perforations, see FIG. 2). In some embodiments, the wrapper (150) may be formed with perforations (160, see FIG. 1) arranged along the perimeter of the cooling structure (130), particularly along the perimeter of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure (130). When perforations are formed in the wrapper (150), outside air may be introduced into the cooling structure (130) through the plurality of perforations (160). The plurality of perforations (160) may serve to lower the surface temperature of the mouthpiece portion and the temperature of mainstream smoke delivered to the smoker through the introduction of outside air. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the wrapper (150) may not have perforations. Even if no perforations are formed in the wrapper (150), as described later, the moisture absorption performance in the mainstream smoke is excellent due to the excellent moisture affinity of the lyocell material constituting the support structure (120), so that the heat sensation of the mainstream smoke passing through the support structure (120) can be significantly reduced.

[0117]

[0118] Below, the composition and resulting effects of the present invention will be described in more detail through examples and comparative examples. However, these examples are intended to illustrate the present invention more specifically, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0119]

[0120] Example 1

[0121] A smoking article having a structure as shown in Fig. 1, including a medium portion having a length of 12 mm, a support structure made of cellulose acetate material having an inner diameter of 2.7 mm as a hollow body, an outer diameter of 7 mm, and a length of 10 mm, a cooling structure made of a tube having an inner diameter of 6 mm and a length of 14 mm, and a mouthpiece portion made of lyocell tow having a length of 12 mm, was manufactured under conditions as shown in Table 1.

[0122]

[0123] Comparative Example 1

[0124] A smoking article was manufactured under the same conditions as in Example 1, except that the mouthpiece was manufactured using cellulose acetate tow, as shown in Table 1.

[0125]

[0126] ClassificationWeight(mg)Circumference(mm)Vent(%)PDO(mmH20)PDC(mmH20)Example 1616.322.65658.01121.8156.4Comparative example 1604.922.64657.17118.6151.4

[0127] (In Table 1 above, PDC refers to the value of suction resistance measured when the medium section is open, the perforations of the filter section are blocked, and the inflow of external air is blocked; PDO refers to the value of suction resistance measured when the medium section is open, the perforations of the filter section are not blocked, and the inflow of external air is blocked; and Vent refers to the air dilution rate (VR).)

[0128] Experimental Example 1. Measurement of mainstream smoke temperature by puff according to mouthpiece material

[0129]

[0130] In order to compare the mainstream smoke temperature per puff of the smoking articles of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, the medium portion of the smoking articles according to Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 was heated to a heating temperature of 190°C to 280°C by an external heating method, and the temperature of the generated mainstream smoke was measured, and is shown in Table 2 below.

[0131] In particular, the experiment was conducted in a smoking room (specifically, a temperature of about 21.9°C and a humidity of 64.3%) with an internal temperature of about 22±2°C and an internal humidity of about 60±5%, targeting smoking articles according to Comparative Example 1 and Example 1, and the smoking conditions were HC conditions (Puff volume: 55 ml / Puff frequency: 30 s / Puff duration: 2 s / Number of puffs: 9 puffs), and a thermocouple sensor was positioned 5 mm inside from the tip of the mouthpiece to measure the mainstream smoke temperature.

[0132]

[0133] Puff degree 123456789 Example 152.3℃55.0℃51.3℃48.0℃45.8℃43.3℃41.1℃38.9℃35.9℃ Comparative example 166.3℃63.4℃59.7℃56.7℃53.4℃49.6℃44.9℃40.3℃36.6℃

[0134] Referring to Table 2 above, when comparing the mainstream smoke temperatures of the smoking articles of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 having similar physical properties, it can be confirmed that the mainstream smoke temperature of the smoking article of Example 1 is lower than that of the smoking article of Comparative Example 1 throughout the entire puff, and that the mainstream smoke temperature of the smoking article of Example 1 is lower by at least 8°C than that of the smoking article of Comparative Example 1 in the initial puff (particularly, the 1st to 4th puffs). This confirms that the lyocell material has a superior cooling effect compared to the cellulose acetate material, particularly a superior cooling effect for the initial puff.

[0135] Example 2

[0136] Lyocell tow having a single denier of 3.33 dtex (mono denier of 3.0) and a total denier of 3,889 tex (total denier of 35,000) was manufactured.

[0137]

[0138] Examples 3 to 5

[0139] A filter (i.e., mouthpiece portion) comprising the lyocell tow of Example 2 was manufactured with a length of 12 mm under the conditions shown in Table 3 below. The manufactured filters (i.e., mouthpiece portions) were named as Examples 3, 4, and 5, respectively, depending on the magnitude of the suction resistance, and the wrapper used in the manufacture of the filters was a (non-oil-resistant) paper having a basis weight of 75 gsm.

[0140]

[0141] Classification Example 3 Example 4 Example 5 Weight (mg) 11.64 10.39 9.14 Suction resistance (mmH2O (mmWG)) 11.75 8.9 16.59 Hardness (%) 93.49 91.43 85.91

[0142] Next, using the filters of Examples 3 to 5, a smoking article having a structure as shown in FIG. 1, including a medium portion having a length of 12 mm, a support structure made of cellulose acetate material having a hollow inner diameter of 2.7 mm, an outer diameter of 7 mm, and a length of 10 mm, a cooling structure made of a tube having an inner diameter of 6 mm and a length of 14 mm, and a mouthpiece portion having a length of 12 mm made of each of Examples 3 to 5, was manufactured under conditions as shown in Table 4.

[0143] ClassificationWeight(mg)Circumference(mm)Vent(%)PDO(mmH20)PDC(mmH20)Smoking article of Example 3657.122.67714.56124.2128.3Smoking article of Example 4648.122.66313.87102.7106.9Smoking article of Example 5633.522.67814.2278.782.8

[0144] (In Table 4 above, PDC refers to the value of suction resistance measured when the medium section is open, the perforations of the filter section are blocked, and the inflow of external air is blocked, and PDO refers to the value of suction resistance measured when the medium section is open, the perforations of the filter section are not blocked, and the inflow of external air is allowed.)

[0145] Experimental Example 2. Analysis of smoke components according to suction resistance of the mouthpiece.

[0146]

[0147] In order to compare the components in smoke according to the suction resistance of the mouthpiece, the medium portion of the smoking article according to Examples 3 to 5 was heated to a heating temperature of 190°C to 280°C using an external heating method, and the total particulate matter (TPM), nicotine components, moisture content, etc. were measured, and the results are shown in Table 5 below.

[0148] In particular, the experiment was conducted in a smoking room (specifically, a temperature of about 21.9°C and a humidity of 64.3%) with an internal temperature of about 22±2°C and an internal humidity of about 60±5%, targeting smoking articles according to Examples 3 to 5, and the smoking conditions were HC conditions (Puff volume: 55 ml / Puff frequency: 30 s / Puff duration: 2 s / Number of puffs: 9 puffs), and the generated smoke was captured and analyzed on a Cambridge filter (i.e., Cambridge filter pad (CFP)). The total particulate matter (TPM) was a value obtained by measuring the change in the weight of the Cambridge filter before smoking and after smoking using the smoking device, and the remaining components were analyzed by GC (Gas Chromatography) of the captured smoke.

[0149]

[0150] ClassificationTPM(mg)Tar(mg)Nic(mg)PG(mg)Gly(mg)Moisture(mg)Example 334.5517.870.490.281.9916.19Example 437.6919.430.620.352.5417.65Example 539.1019.230.720.422.9719.15

[0151] Referring to Table 5 above, the smoke components transferred during smoking may differ depending on the difference in suction resistance of the mouthpiece. In particular, the moisture transferred amount of the smoking article of Example 3, which has a large suction resistance of the mouthpiece, is 16.19 mg, and the moisture transferred amount of the smoking article of Example 5, which has a small suction resistance, is 19.15 mg. It can be confirmed that the greater the suction resistance, the less moisture transferred within the mainstream smoke, resulting in an excellent effect of reducing the heat sensation when the user puffs. (Smokers feel a greater heat sensation for the same temperature when there is a lot of moisture within the mainstream smoke.)

[0152] Experimental Example 3. Nicotine removal ability according to suction resistance of the mouthpiece

[0153]

[0154] Next, in order to compare the nicotine removal performance according to the suction resistance of the mouthpiece, the medium part of the smoking article according to Examples 3 to 5 was heated at a heating temperature of 190°C to 280°C by an external heating method, and the amount of nicotine component included in the transferred aerosol and the amount of nicotine component remaining inside the mouthpiece part (filter) were measured, and the measurement results were substituted into the following mathematical expression 1 to calculate the nicotine removal ability of the filter, and the nicotine transfer rate of the filter was calculated by substituting the results into the following mathematical expression 2, and the results are shown in Table 6 below.

[0155] The amount of nicotine contained in the aerosol was measured by capturing the smoke generated in Experimental Example 2 on a Cambridge filter (i.e., Cambridge Filter Pad (CFP)) and analyzing it with GC (Gas Chromatography). The amount of nicotine remaining inside the mouthpiece was measured by extracting it by immersing the mouthpiece in water after smoking and analyzing it with GC / MS equipment. At this time, the mouthpiece was immersed in a container containing distilled water overnight, and the solution containing the extracted components was used for GC / MS analysis.

[0156]

[0157] [Mathematical Formula 1]

[0158] Removal capacity (%) = (residual amount in mouthpiece (filter) after smoking) / (residual amount in mouthpiece (filter) after smoking + aerosol transfer after smoking) x 100

[0159]

[0160] [Equation 2]

[0161] Transmission rate (%) = 100 (%) - Removal ability (%)

[0162]

[0163] Classification Aerosol migration amount (mg) Residual amount in filter (mg) Migration rate (%) Removal ability (%) Example 30.490.9035.164.9 Example 40.620.8442.257.8 Example 50.720.7050.649.4

[0164] Referring to Table 6 above, the nicotine removal ability of the smoking article of Example 3, which has a large suction resistance due to the difference in suction resistance of the mouthpiece portion, is 64.9%, and the nicotine removal ability of the smoking article of Example 5, which has a small suction resistance, is 49.4%, confirming that the greater the suction resistance, the better the nicotine removal ability.

[0165] Figures 3 to 5 illustrate various types of aerosol generating devices to which smoking articles according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied. In particular, Figure 3 is an exemplary schematic diagram illustrating a cigarette-type aerosol generating device (1000), and Figures 4 and 5 are exemplary schematic diagrams illustrating a hybrid aerosol generating device (1000) that utilizes both liquid and cigarette vapor. Hereinafter, the aerosol generating device (1000) will be briefly described.

[0166] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the aerosol generating device (1000) may be a device that generates an aerosol through a cigarette (2000) inserted into an internal space. Here, the cigarette (2000) may correspond to the smoking article (100) described above. Accordingly, the cigarette (2000) may include the medium portion (110), the support structure (120), the cooling structure (130), and the mouthpiece portion (140) described above. More specifically, when the cigarette (2000) is inserted into the aerosol generating device (1000), the aerosol generating device (1000) may operate the heater portion (1300) to generate an aerosol from the cigarette (2000). The generated aerosol may pass through the cigarette (2000) and be delivered to the user.

[0167] As illustrated, the aerosol generating device (1000) may include a battery (1100), a control unit (1200), and a heater unit (1300). However, only components related to the embodiment of the present disclosure are illustrated in FIG. 3. Therefore, a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains may recognize that other general components may be included in addition to the components illustrated in FIG. 3. For example, the aerosol generating device (1000) may further include a display capable of outputting visual information, a motor for outputting tactile information, and / or at least one sensor (such as a puff detection sensor, a temperature detection sensor, and / or a cigarette insertion detection sensor). Hereinafter, each component of the aerosol generating device (1000) will be described.

[0168] The battery (1100) supplies power used to operate the aerosol generating device (1000). For example, the battery (1100) can supply power to heat the heater unit (1300) and supply power required for the control unit (1200) to operate. In addition, the battery (1100) can supply power required for the operation of displays, sensors, motors, etc. (not shown) installed in the aerosol generating device (1000).

[0169] Next, the control unit (1200) can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device (1000). In particular, the control unit (1200) can control the operation of not only the battery (1100) and the heater unit (1300), but also other components that may be included in the aerosol generating device (1000). In addition, the control unit (1200) can check the status of each component of the aerosol generating device (1000) to determine whether the aerosol generating device (1000) is in an operable state.

[0170] The control unit (1200) may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates, or as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program executable on the microprocessor. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the processor may be implemented using other types of hardware.

[0171] Next, the heater unit (1300) can heat the cigarette (2000) by power supplied from the battery (1100). For example, when the cigarette (2000) is inserted into the aerosol generating device (1000), the heating element of the heater unit (1300) can be inserted into a certain area inside the cigarette (2000) to increase the temperature of the aerosol forming material inside the cigarette (2000).

[0172] In some embodiments, the heater unit (1300) may alternatively, or in addition to, include an external heating element, as depicted in FIG. 3 . In this case, the heating element of the heater unit (1300) may be positioned externally of the cigarette (2000) inserted into the device (1000). Furthermore, as depicted, the heater unit (1300) may include multiple heating elements. For example, the heater unit (1300) may include multiple internal heating elements and / or multiple external heating elements. As another example, the heater unit (1300) may include one or more internal heating elements and one or more external heating elements.

[0173] The heating element may include or be made of any electrically resistive material and / or any material capable of induction heating. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any material may be used as long as it can be heated to a desired temperature under the control of the control unit (1200). Here, the desired temperature may be preset in the aerosol generating device (1000) or may be set to a desired temperature by the user.

[0174] Meanwhile, although FIG. 3 illustrates that the battery (1100), the control unit (1200), and the heater unit (1300) are arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device (1000) is not limited to the example illustrated in FIG. 3. In other words, the arrangement of the battery (1100), the control unit (1200), and the heater unit (1300) may vary depending on the design of the aerosol generating device (1000).

[0175] Hereinafter, a hybrid aerosol generating device (1000) will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. For clarity of the present disclosure, descriptions of overlapping components (1100, 1200, 1300) will be omitted.

[0176] As illustrated in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, the aerosol generating device (1000) may further include a vaporizer (1400).

[0177] When a cigarette (2000) is inserted into an aerosol generating device (1000), the aerosol generating device (1000) can operate the heater unit (1300) and / or the vaporizer (1400) to generate an aerosol from the cigarette (2000) and / or the vaporizer (1400). The aerosol generated by the heater unit (1300) and / or the vaporizer (1400) can pass through the cigarette (2000) and be delivered to the user. When the cigarette (2000) is inserted into the aerosol generating device (1000), the heating element of the heater unit (1300) can be placed in contact with or adjacent to an outer portion of the cigarette (2000) to increase the temperature of the aerosol forming substrate within the cigarette (2000) from the outside.

[0178] The vaporizer (1400) can heat the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, and the generated aerosol can be delivered to the user through the cigarette (2000). In other words, the aerosol generated by the vaporizer (1400) can travel along the airflow passage of the aerosol generating device (1000), and the airflow passage can be configured so that the aerosol generated by the vaporizer (1400) can pass through the cigarette (2000) and be delivered to the user.

[0179] The vaporizer (1400) may include, but is not limited to, a liquid reservoir, a liquid delivery means, and a liquid heating element. For example, the liquid reservoir, the liquid delivery means, and the liquid heating element may be included as independent modules in the aerosol generating device (1000).

[0180] The liquid reservoir can store a liquid composition (i.e., a liquid aerosol-forming substrate). The liquid reservoir can be constructed to be detachable from / attached to the vaporizer (1400) or can be constructed integrally with the vaporizer (1400).

[0181] Next, the liquid delivery means can deliver the liquid composition from the liquid storage tank to the liquid heating element. For example, the liquid delivery means can be a wick such as, but not limited to, cotton fibers, ceramic fibers, glass fibers, or porous ceramics.

[0182] A liquid heating element is an element for heating a liquid composition delivered by a liquid delivery means. For example, the liquid heating element may include, but is not limited to, a metal heating wire, a metal heating plate, a ceramic heater, etc. In addition, the liquid heating element may be composed of a conductive filament, such as a nichrome wire, and may be arranged in a structure that is wound around the liquid delivery means. The liquid heating element may be heated by the current supplied from the control unit (1200) and may transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the liquid heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, an aerosol may be generated.

[0183] As illustrated in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, the vaporizer (1400) and the heater unit (1300) may be arranged in parallel or series. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to this arrangement.

[0184] For reference, the term vaporizer (1400) may be used interchangeably with terms such as cartomizer or atomizer in the relevant technical field.

[0185] The control unit (1200) can additionally control the operation of the vaporizer (1400), and the battery (1100) can additionally supply power so that the vaporizer (1400) can operate.

[0186] With reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 so far, various types of aerosol generating devices (1000) to which smoking articles (100) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied have been described.

[0187]

[0188] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the attached drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical concepts or essential features thereof. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of protection of the present disclosure should be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical ideas within a scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the technical ideas defined by the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A smoking article comprising a portion containing a medium; a mouthpiece portion located at a distance from one side of the portion containing the medium; a support structure located between the portion containing the medium and the mouthpiece portion; and a cooling structure located between the support structure and the mouthpiece portion, wherein the mouthpiece portion includes a lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibres.

2. A smoking article according to claim 1, characterized in that the lyocell fibers included in the lyocell tow have a monofilament fineness of 2 to 15 denier, and the lyocell tow has a total fineness of 10,000 to 40,000 denier.

3. A smoking article according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the draw resistance of the mouthpiece portion with its length of 12 mm is from 5 to 14 mm H2O.

4. A smoking article according to paragraph 3, characterized in that the draw resistance of the mouthpiece portion with its length of 12 mm is from 6.2 to 12 mm H2O.

5. A smoking article according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the mouthpiece portion has a hardness of 60 to 100%.

6. A smoking article according to paragraph 5, characterized in that the mouthpiece portion has a hardness of 85 to 95%.

7. A smoking article according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling structure has a tubular shape with a cavity formed therein, the supporting structure has a tubular shape with a cavity formed therein, and the cavity of the cooling structure and the cavity of the supporting structure communicate with each other.

8. The smoking article of claim 7, wherein the supporting structure comprises at least one of cellulose acetate, lyocell, and a paper tube.

9. A smoking article according to claim 7, characterized in that the cooling structure includes at least one of the following tubular structures: a tubular structure made of paper material, a tubular structure made of cellulose acetate material, and a tubular structure made of lyocell material.