Carboxylic Acid Nicotine Formulation for Aerosol Cartridge Corrosion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid nicotine formulations for aerosol-generating systems face stability issues during storage, particularly when exposed to non-precious metal components, leading to corrosion and reduced flavor stability.
Innovation Solution
A liquid nicotine formulation comprising nicotine, a liquid carrier, and a plurality of carboxylic acids such as benzoic acid and fumaric acid, with a molar ratio of total carboxylic acid to nicotine greater than or equal to 0.65:1 and benzoic acid to nicotine greater than or equal to 0.2:1, which inhibits corrosion of metal components and improves flavor stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an acid is included in the liquid nicotine formulation to improve aerosol sensory properties and nicotine satisfaction, then the flavor stability of the liquid nicotine formulation deteriorates during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the acid component by specifying particular carboxylic acids (benzoic acid, fumaric acid, or combinations thereof) within defined concentration ranges (0.1-10% w/v). This parameter optimization allows the formulation to achieve both improved aerosol sensory properties and maintained flavor stability during storage, resolving the contradiction between performance enhancement and stability preservation.
2Reliability
If a liquid nicotine formulation comprising an acid is included in a cartridge, then the corrosion of metal components (particularly non-precious metals) increases during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces specific carboxylic acids (benzoic acid, fumaric acid) as intermediary substances that mediate between the nicotine formulation and metal components. These acids form protective complexes with metal ions, preventing direct corrosive interactions while maintaining the desired aerosol generation performance. This intermediary action resolves the contradiction between performance reliability and corrosion prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of carboxylic acids within specific ranges (0.1-10% w/v, with preferred ranges of 0.5-5% w/v). This parameter control ensures sufficient corrosion inhibition without excessive acid concentration that could cause other stability issues, thereby resolving the contradiction between performance maintenance and corrosion prevention.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the carboxylic acid concentration is increased to improve corrosion inhibition and flavor stability, then the formulation complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes specific concentration ranges for carboxylic acids (0.1-10% w/v, preferably 0.5-5% w/v) that optimize both stability and manufacturability. These parameter specifications provide clear manufacturing guidelines, avoiding excessive complexity while ensuring sufficient corrosion inhibition and flavor stability. The defined ranges balance performance requirements with manufacturing ease.
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 formulation significantly enhances the stability of the liquid nicotine during storage, preventing corrosion of non-precious metal components and maintaining flavor stability, thereby ensuring consistent performance of aerosol-generating systems.
Implementation Method 1
the plurality of carboxylic acids comprises at least one carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid and fumaric acid... Inclusion of a liquid nicotine formulation comprising an acid in a cartridge for use in an aerosol-generating system may disadvantageously lead to corrosion of components of the cartridge during storage
Implementation Method 2
Some known aerosol-generating systems comprise a thermal atomiser that is configured to heat the liquid nicotine formulation to generate an aerosol
Implementation Method 3
a thermal atomiser that is configured to heat the liquid nicotine formulation to generate an aerosol
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid nicotine formulation for an aerosol-generating system, the liquid nicotine formulation including: nicotine; a liquid carrier; and a plurality of carboxylic acids, the plurality of carboxylic acids including benzoic acid and one or more carboxylic acids selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, adipic acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid, levulinic acid, malic acid, and succinic acid, a molar ratio of total carboxylic acid to nicotine in the liquid nicotine formulation being greater than or equal to about 0.65:1, and a molar ratio of benzoic acid to nicotine in the liquid nicotine formulation being greater than or equal to about 0.2:1. A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system is also provided, the cartridge including a liquid storage portion including the liquid nicotine formulation; and a fluid-permeable heating element in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion.