Combustible Heat Source Composition for Fast Ignition and Long Burn

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing combustible heat sources for smoking articles, primarily composed of charcoal, face challenges with ignitability due to their difficulty in igniting easily.

Innovation Solution

A combustible heat source composition comprising carbon powder, an organic binder, and an ignition accelerator with a specific ratio of potassium nitrate and reducing sugar, which facilitates ignition and maintains combustion for an extended period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If charcoal is used as the main component of combustible heat source, then combustion persistency is improved, but ignitability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion persistencyVSAvoidignitability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines charcoal (providing combustion persistency) with potassium nitrate and reducing sugar (providing ignitability) to create a composite heat source composition. This composite material approach allows the heat source to both ignite easily and sustain combustion for extended periods, resolving the contradiction between ignitability and combustion persistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the weight ratio of potassium nitrate to reducing sugar at 5:3:2 to achieve optimal ignitability. By carefully controlling the parameters of the ignition accelerator composition, the patent enables easy ignition while maintaining the combustion persistency provided by charcoal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If ignition accelerator is added to improve ignitability, then ease of operation is improved, but composition complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveignitabilityVSAvoidcomposition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies precise weight ratios (5:3:2) for potassium nitrate, reducing sugar, and charcoal. By optimizing these parameters, the patent achieves good ignitability while keeping the composition relatively simple and manageable, avoiding excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses conventional, readily available materials (charcoal, potassium nitrate, reducing sugar) rather than exotic or complex substances. This approach maintains composition simplicity while achieving the desired ignitability improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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 composition achieves improved ignitability and combustibility, allowing the heat source to ignite within 30 seconds and sustain combustion for 140 seconds or more, with optimal performance at a 5:3:2 weight ratio of potassium nitrate to reducing sugar.

Implementation Method 1

the ignition accelerator comprises potassium nitrate and reducing sugar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction (oxidation): Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

combustion may continue for 140 seconds or more

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

an organic binder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4233567B1Combustible heat source composition for smoking article and smoking article including same
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 KT&G CO LTD
  • EP4233567B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a combustible heat source composition, and more particularly, to a combustible heat source composition comprising a carbon powder, an organic binder, and an ignition accelerator, wherein the ignition accelerator comprises potassium nitrate and a reducing sugar, and the potassium nitrate and the reducing sugar are contained at a weight ratio of 5 to 3: 2. A smoking article to which a combustible heat source composed of the composition is applied is characterized by having excellent ignitability and combustibility.