Starch Acetate Pore Blocking in Cigarette Paper

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cigarette designs that utilize fire-retardant materials like cellulose acetate to enhance self-extinguishing properties often alter the surface of the paper, leading to aesthetic changes and limitations in material distribution, prompting the need for an alternative that maintains compatibility with combustion products while improving self-extinguishing mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating starch acetate into the interior of cigarette paper using common solvents and application methods, which blocks paper pores rather than forming an outer film, thereby enhancing self-extinguishing properties without altering the paper's surface appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cellulose acetate is used to enhance self-extinguishing properties, then the self-extinguishing tendency is improved, but the surface of the paper is altered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveself-extinguishing tendencyVSAvoidsurface appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies starch acetate which incorporates into the paper structure and blocks pores rather than forming a surface film. This allows the self-extinguishing function to be achieved through internal pore blockage while maintaining the original surface appearance and texture of the cigarette paper.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by using starch acetate instead of cellulose acetate, and changes the mechanism parameter from surface film formation to internal pore blockage. This maintains the self-extinguishing function while preserving surface appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If cellulose acetate forms an outer film to block air access, then self-extinguishing is improved, but material distribution is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveself-extinguishing tendencyVSAvoidmaterial distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Starch acetate penetrates into the paper structure and distributes throughout the porous matrix, blocking pores from the interior rather than relying on a surface film. This enables more versatile material distribution throughout the paper thickness while maintaining effective air blockage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Shape

If starch acetate is incorporated into the paper interior, then self-extinguishing is enhanced without surface changes, but the mechanism changes from film formation to pore blocking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface appearanceVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the natural porous structure of cigarette paper and incorporates starch acetate into this matrix. The starch acetate blocks the pores through its incorporation into the paper structure, providing a straightforward mechanism that maintains surface appearance while achieving self-extinguishing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 use of starch acetate in cigarette paper significantly increases the self-extinguishing tendency of cigarettes, as demonstrated by high self-extinction rates in tests, while maintaining compatibility with combustion products and adhering to regulatory standards.

Implementation Method 1

starch acetate can be largely incorporated into the interior of the paper using common solvents and application methods, so that its overall effect is based on blocking the pores of the paper

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPore blocking: Porosity

Implementation Method 2

the paper surrounding the tobacco column has discrete areas, in particular in the form of bands, which are loaded with the acetate of a polysaccharide and thereby increase the self-extinguishing tendency of the cigarette by reducing the access of air to the glowing tobacco column

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir access restriction: Porosity

Data Source

PatentEP2244596B1Cigarette
Publication Date: 2012.03.28 DELFORTGROUP

AI summary

A cigarette, in which the paper surrounding the column of tobacco has discrete regions, in particular in the form of strips, which are loaded with the acetate of a polysaccharide and, as a result, increase the self-extinguishing tendency of the cigarette by reducing the amount of air that can reach the smouldering column of tobacco, wherein the polysaccharide is starch.