Aerosol Substrate Viscosity Control via Pre-dissolved Binder
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol-forming substrates often experience agglomeration and high viscosity issues due to low solubility of components, leading to difficult handling and excessive foaming during production, which complicates the production and storage of these substrates.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the formation of a first slurry with hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, water, and an aerosol-former, with a viscosity of 0.9 Pa·s to 5 Pa·s, allowing for easy mixing and processing without the need for dough mixer equipment, and subsequent combination with a cellulose-based strengthening agent and binder to create a final slurry that can be easily dried, reducing foam formation and agglomeration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If components are mixed to form aerosol-forming substrate, then the substrate is formed with necessary components, but agglomeration and high viscosity occur making the solution difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The binder is pre-dissolved in water to create a binder solution before mixing with other components. This preliminary action ensures the binder is fully dissolved and distributed, preventing localized high-viscosity regions and agglomeration during subsequent mixing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies controlling the viscosity of the first slurry (hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, water, and aerosol-former mixture) to be between 0.9 Pa·s and 5 Pa·s. By controlling this parameter, the mixture remains handleable while achieving adequate film-forming properties
2Ease of manufacture
If components are mixed to form aerosol-forming substrate, then the substrate is formed with necessary components, but excessive foaming occurs complicating handling
Solution Approach 1:
The binder is pre-dissolved in water before mixing with other components. This preliminary dissolution prevents air entrapment and foam formation during mixing, as the binder solution provides a uniform base that reduces气穴 formation
Solution Approach 2:
The controlled viscosity range (0.9-5 Pa·s) of the first slurry affects foam stability and formation. This viscosity range allows adequate mixing while minimizing foam generation and facilitating foam collapse if it does form
3Ease of manufacture
If hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and binder are directly mixed, then all components are combined, but a dough-like mixture with very high viscosity is formed that is difficult to handle and pump
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing process is segmented into distinct stages: first preparing a hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose slurry with controlled viscosity, then separately preparing a binder solution, and finally combining them. This segmentation prevents the formation of a dough-like mixture by ensuring proper dispersion at each stage
Solution Approach 2:
Water serves as an intermediary medium that facilitates the separate dissolution of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and binder before their combination. The water-based slurries act as intermediaries that prevent direct interaction between the two polymers that would otherwise create high-viscosity dough-like mixtures
4Productivity
If slurry is dried to produce aerosol-forming substrate, then the substrate is obtained, but the drying process takes time
Solution Approach 1:
The controlled viscosity and composition of the final slurry (achieved through proper mixing ratios and the use of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose) optimize drying characteristics. The slurry formulation allows for faster evaporation of the aerosol-former and water, reducing drying time while maintaining substrate quality
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method results in an aerosol-forming substrate with improved handling and drying properties, allowing for stable storage and efficient production by maintaining sufficient viscosity for easy processing and reducing the formation of agglomerates and foam, facilitating the production of aerosol-forming substrates with enhanced cohesion and gel properties.
Implementation Method 1
the first slurry having a viscosity of between 0.9 Pa·s and 5 Pa·s, preferably between 0.9 Pa·s and 4 Pa·s
Implementation Method 2
The final slurry is dried in order to obtain the aerosol-forming substrate
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing an aerosol-forming substrate comprising: providing a cellulose based strengthening agent, providing a binder, mixing of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, water and an aerosol-former to form a first slurry, the first slurry having a viscosity of between 0.9 Pa s and 5 Pa s, and combining the cellulose based strengthening agent, the binder and the first slurry in order to obtain a final slurry, and drying the final slurry to obtain the aerosol-forming substrate. This method provides a first slurry having reduced viscosity and less water content.