Hollow Cellulose Acetate Filters for Hardness and Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional filter materials for smoking products, particularly heat-not-burn (HNB) products, face challenges in achieving optimal Filtrona hardness, filtration performance, and reduced draw resistance while maintaining cost-effectiveness and cooling properties, especially for slim or ultra-slim cigarettes, where high filament titer increases production costs and reduces hardness.
Innovation Solution
The use of hollow-shaped cellulose acetate filaments with a higher filling value and lower density, which can be crimped or multi-lumen, provides a filter material with adjustable tensile resistance and filtration performance, enabling high Filtrona hardness and efficient cooling without increasing material compaction, and can be produced economically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high filament titer is used to increase Filtrona hardness, then Filtrona hardness is improved, but production cost increases and draw resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical structure parameter of the filament from solid to hollow, creating a hollow filament with higher filling value. This structural parameter change allows achieving high Filtrona hardness without increasing material titer, thus avoiding increased production costs and excessive draw resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hollow filaments which can be considered as porous materials with internal voids. These hollow structures provide higher filling value and improved Filtrona hardness while maintaining lower material density and cost, resolving the contradiction between hardness and production cost
2Strength
If high filament titer is used to increase Filtrona hardness, then Filtrona hardness is improved, but draw resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the filament structure from solid to hollow, altering the density and filling value parameters. This allows achieving high Filtrona hardness with lower material compaction, thereby reducing draw resistance while maintaining the desired hardness level
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow filament structure can be viewed as a composite of cellulose acetate material and internal void space. This composite structure provides high filling value and Filtrona hardness while maintaining lower overall density, thus reducing draw resistance compared to solid high-titer filaments
3Strength
If material compaction is increased to improve Filtrona hardness, then Filtrona hardness is improved, but cooling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compaction parameter by using hollow filaments with higher filling value, achieving high Filtrona hardness without excessive material compaction. The hollow structures maintain porosity that allows adequate airflow, preserving cooling performance while achieving the desired hardness
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow filament structure inherently provides porosity and void space that facilitates airflow and heat dissipation. This porous structure enables achieving high Filtrona hardness through filling value rather than compaction, thereby maintaining cooling performance
4Strength
If filter material density is increased to improve Filtrona hardness, then Filtrona hardness is improved, but filtration performance increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the density parameter by introducing hollow structures with internal voids. The hollow filaments have lower material density but higher filling value, allowing achievement of high Filtrona hardness without increasing the quantity of filtering material, thus avoiding excessive filtration performance
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
This approach allows for the production of filters with high Filtrona hardness, reduced filtration performance, and adjustable cooling, enhancing user experience by minimizing draw resistance and maintaining pleasant smoke taste, while being cost-effective and suitable for various smoking product applications.
Implementation Method 1
the filter material enables an especially effective cooling of a particle-laden gas to be flowing through the filter material
Implementation Method 2
cooling of a particle-laden gas, in particular of an aerosol, which can be flowed through the filter material
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a filter material and/or filler material for mouthpieces for use with smoking products or HNB products, the filter material and/or filler material being based on cellulose acetate filaments, at least parts of which are in the form of hollow cellulose acetate filaments. The invention also relates to a mouthpiece for use with smoking products or HNB products, the mouthpiece comprising a filter material and/or filler material of the type according to the invention. The invention also relates to a cigarette filter comprising such a filter material and/or filler material, and to a corresponding method for manufacturing a filter material and/or filler material for mouthpieces for use with smoking products or HNB products.