Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AEROSOL GENERATION
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method of making an aerosol-generating
material, aerosol-generating material obtainable or obtained by said method,
and
articles and systems incorporating said aerosol-generating material.
Background
Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during
use to create tobacco smoke. Alternatives to these types of articles release
an
inhalable aerosol or vapour by releasing compounds from a substrate material
by
heating without burning. These may be referred to as non-combustible smoking
articles or aerosol generating assemblies or non-combustible aerosol provision
systems.
One example of such a product is a heating device which release compounds
by heating, but not burning, a solid aerosol-generating composition. This
solid aerosol-
generating composition may, in some cases, contain a tobacco material. The
heating
volatilises at least one component of the material, typically forming an
inhalable
aerosol. These products may be referred to as heat-not-burn devices, tobacco
heating
devices or tobacco heating products. Various different arrangements for
volatilising at
least one component of the solid aerosol-generating material are known.
As another example, there are hybrid devices. These hybrid devices contain a
liquid source (which may or may not contain nicotine) which is vaporised by
heating to
produce an inhalable vapour or aerosol. The device additionally contains a
solid
aerosol-generating composition (which may or may not contain a tobacco
material)
and components of this material are entrained in the inhalable vapour or
aerosol to
produce the inhaled medium.
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Summary
A first aspect of the invention provides a method of forming an aerosol-
generating material comprising aerosol-former, gelling agent and active or
flavourant,
the method comprising:
(a) providing a slurry comprising the gelling agent, aerosol-former, a solvent
and any optional further components of the aerosol-generating material;
(b) forming a layer of the slurry;
(c) drying the slurry; and
(d) applying the active or flavourant during and/or after the drying step (c)
to
form the aerosol-generating material.
A second aspect of the invention provides a method of forming an aerosol-
generating material comprising aerosol-former, gelling agent and active or
flavourant,
the method comprising:
(a) providing a slurry comprising the gelling agent and a solvent;
(b) forming a layer of the slurry;
(c) drying the slurry; and
(d) applying (i) the active or flavourant and (ii) the aerosol-former, during
and/or
after the drying step (c).
In the second aspect, step (d) may comprise combining the active or flavourant
and the aerosol-former to form a mixture, and applying said mixture during
and/or after
the drying step (c). That is, the active or flavourant and the aerosol-former
may be
applied together. Alternatively, the active or flavourant and the aerosol-
former may be
applied separately.
A third aspect of the invention provides an aerosol-generating material
obtainable or obtained by methods of the first or second aspects.
A fourth aspect of the invention provides an article for use in a non-
combustible
aerosol provision system, the article comprising an aerosol-generating
material
according to the third aspect. Such articles may alternatively be referred to
herein as
an aerosol generating article, consumable or the like.
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A fifth aspect of the invention provides a non-combustible aerosol provision
system comprising the article according to the fourth aspect and a non-
combustible
aerosol provision device, the non-combustible aerosol provision device
comprising an
aerosol-generation device configured to generate aerosol from the article when
the
article is used with the non-combustible aerosol provision device. In some
cases, the
device may comprise a heater which is configured to heat the aerosol-
generating
material without burning. Such systems may alternatively be referred to herein
as an
aerosol generating assembly.
In embodiments, the active or flavourant is volatile or semi-volatile. In
embodiments, the active or flavourant is volatile.
In embodiments, the active or flavourant comprises (or is selected from the
group consisting of) ethyl isobutyrate, hexanal, isoamyl acetate, 2,3,5-
trimethyl
pyrazine,
6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, isovaleric acid, benzaldehyde, isoamyl
isovalerate, guaiacol, methyl cyclopentenolone, hexanoic acid, menthol, gamma-
hexalactone, benzyl carbinol, acetyl pyrazine, trans-anethole, piperonal, beta-
caryophyllene, beta-damascenone, phenylacetic acid, beta-ionone,
veratraldehyde,
vanillin, 5-propenyl guaethol, gamma-nonalactone, omega-pentadecalactone, or
combinations thereof.
In embodiments, the active or flavourant comprises (or is selected from the
group consisting of) ethyl isobutyrate, hexanal, isoamyl acetate, 2,3,5-
trimethyl
pyrazine,
6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, isovaleric acid, benzaldehyde, isoamyl
isovalerate, guaiacol, methyl cyclopentenolone, hexanoic acid, menthol, gamma-
hexalactone, benzyl carbinol, acetyl pyrazine, trans-anethole, or combinations
thereof.
In embodiments, the active or flavourant comprises or is menthol.
In embodiments, the active or flavourant comprises a constituent, derivative
or
extract of cannabis.
In embodiments, the active or flavourant comprises a cannabinoid.
In embodiments, the active or flavourant comprises CBD.
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In embodiments, the active or flavourant comprises one or more terpenes or a
derivative thereof. The one or more terpenes or a derivative thereof may be
selected
from linalool, limonene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-citronellol, linaly1
acetate, eucalyptol,
caryophyllene oxide, phytol, fenchol, nerolidol, alpha-terpineol, camphene,
alpha-
pinene, ocimene, alpha-bisabolol, valencene, geranyl acetate, myrcene, trans-
caryophyllene, terpinolene, beta-pinene, alpha-humulene, guaiol, and
combinations
thereof.
In embodiments, the active or flavourant is applied during the drying step
(c).
In embodiments, the active or flavourant is applied after the drying step (c).
In embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises 0.5-60 wt% gelling
agent; and/or the aerosol-generating material comprises 5-80 wt% aerosol-
former;
and/or the aerosol-generating material comprises up to 60 wt% active or
flavourant.
In embodiments, the aerosol-former comprises one or more of glycerol,
propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol,
1,3-
butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate,
a diethyl
suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate,
benzyl phenyl
acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene
carbonate.
The aerosol-former may comprise glycerol or a combination of glycerol and
propylene
glycol.
In embodiments, the gelling agent comprises one or more compounds selected
from polysaccharide gelling agents, such as alginate, pectin, starch or a
derivative
thereof, cellulose or a derivative thereof, pullulan, carrageenan, agar and
agarose;
gelatin; gums, such as xanthan gum, guar gum and acacia gum; silica or
silicone
compounds, such as PDMS and sodium silicate; clays, such as kaolin; and
polyvinyl
alcohol. The gelling agent may be a cellulose derivative, such as hydroxyl
methyl
cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl
cellulose
(CMC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose,
cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), or cellulose acetate
propionate (CAP). In embodiments, the gelling agent is CMC.
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In embodiments, the gelling agent is not crosslinked.
In embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises filler.
5
In embodiments, the active or flavourant is sprayed in step (d).
In embodiments, the solvent comprises or is water.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from
the following description, given by way of example only, and with reference to
the
accompanying figures.
Brief Description of the Fibures
Figure 1 shows a section view of an example of an article.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the article of Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a sectional elevation of an example of an article.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the article of Figure 3.
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an example of a non-combustible aerosol
provision system.
Figure 6 shows a section view of an example of a non-combustible aerosol
provision system.
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of an example of a non-combustible aerosol
provision system.
Figure 8 shows an exploded diagram of an example consumable.
Figure 9 shows an example of a consumable comprising a plurality of discrete
portions of aerosol-generating material.
Detailed Description
The method described herein generates an aerosol-generating material which
may be an "amorphous solid". In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating
material
comprises an aerosol-generating film that is an amorphous solid. In some
embodiments, the amorphous solid is a "monolithic solid". The aerosol-
generating
material may be non-fibrous or fibrous. For example, the aerosol-generating
material
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may be substantially non-fibrous. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating
material may be a "dried gel". The aerosol-generating material is a solid
material that
may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it.
As described above, the invention provides a method of forming an aerosol-
generating material comprising aerosol-former, gelling agent and active or
flavourant,
the method comprising:
(a) providing a slurry comprising the gelling agent, aerosol-former, a solvent
and any optional further components of the aerosol-generating material;
(b) forming a layer of the slurry;
(c) drying the slurry; and
(d) applying the active or flavourant during and/or after the drying step (c)
to
form the aerosol-generating material.
The invention also provides a method of forming an aerosol-generating material
comprising aerosol-former, gelling agent and active or flavourant, the method
comprising:
(a) providing a slurry comprising the gelling agent and a solvent;
(b) forming a layer of the slurry;
(c) drying the slurry; and
(d) applying (i) the active or flavourant and (ii) the aerosol-former, during
and/or
after the drying step (c).
The loss of active or flavourant during manufacture of the aerosol-generating
material can be a problem. For example, it has previously been found that up
to 40%
of menthol may be lost during manufacture of an aerosol-generating material
containing menthol. This loss of active or flavourant during manufacturer is
also an
issue for other actives or flavourants, particularly those which are semi-
volatile or
volatile, such as menthol. The active or flavourant is usually lost during the
drying
process by evaporation. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed
that
applying the active or flavourant during and/or after the drying step helps to
prevent or
minimise the loss of active and/or flavourant during the drying step. This is
particularly
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important if the active or flavourant is highly volatile. Loss of the active
or flavourant
can be minimised by applying the active or flavourant after the drying step.
Additionally, it is believed that applying the active or flavourant during
and/or
after the drying step can enable components which might be immiscible with the
slurry
(e.g. terpenes) to be more easily added to the aerosol-generating material.
Similarly, applying the aerosol-former during and/or after the drying step may
help to prevent or minimise the loss of aerosol-former during the drying step.
The active or flavourant and/or the aerosol-former are applied directly to the
Slurry.
In one aspect, the aerosol-former is applied during the drying step and the
active or flavourant is applied after the drying step.
In one aspect, the active or flavourant is applied during the drying step and
the
aerosol-former is applied after the drying step.
In one aspect, the active or flavourant and the aerosol-former are both
applied
after the drying step. In this case the active or flavourant and the aerosol-
former may
be applied together or separately.
In embodiments, the active or flavourant is applied neat (i.e. absent any
solvent), particularly if it is a liquid under the application conditions.
Alternatively, the
active or flavourant may be applied neat (i.e. absent any solvent) when the
active or
flavourant is solid under the application conditions, for example by applying
the active
or flavourant in powder or particulate form.
In embodiments, the active or flavourant is dissolved in a solvent before it
is
applied. Suitable solvents include, for example, ethanol. Thus, in embodiments
the
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active or flavourant is dissolved in a solvent such as ethanol, and the
solution is applied
during and/or after the drying step (c).
Alternatively, the aerosol-former may act as a suitable solvent. Thus, in
embodiments the active or flavourant is dissolved in the aerosol-former, and
the
solution is applied during and/or after the drying step (c).
In one aspect, the active or flavourant may be applied during the drying step
(c). This is useful where it is desired for the active or flavourant to be
dispersed within
the aerosol-generating material, and/or where the active or flavourant is not
volatile.
Thus, in one aspect, the active or flavourant comprises a cannabinoid, and
said
active or flavourant may be applied during the drying step (c).
In another aspect, the active or flavourant may be applied after the drying
step
(c). This is useful where it is not desired for the active or flavourant to be
dispersed
within the aerosol-generating material, and/or where the active or flavourant
is semi-
volatile or volatile.
Thus, in one aspect, the active or flavourant comprises menthol or a terpene
or
a derivative thereof, and said active or flavourant may be applied during the
drying step
(c).
If more than one active or flavourant is present one active or flavourant may
be
applied during the drying step (c), and another (different) active or
flavourant may be
applied after the drying step (c). This may be useful if the first active
(which is applied
during the drying step) is less volatile than the second active (which is
applied after the
drying step) and/or if it is important for the first active to be
homogeneously distributed
throughout the aerosol-generating material.
In one embodiment, the active or flavourant is sprayed during and/or after the
drying step (c). That is, in one embodiment the active or flavourant is
applied by
spraying the active or flavourant.
In some cases, the drying (c) may remove from about 50wt%, 60wt%, 70wtcY0,
80wt% or 90wt% to about 80wt%, 90wt% or 95wt% (VWVB) of water in the slurry.
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In some cases, the resulting aerosol-generating material comprises from about
1wt% to about 15wt% water, calculated on a wet weight basis. Suitably, the
resulting
aerosol-generating material comprises from about 5wV/0 to about 15wr/0 water,
calculated on a wet weight basis (NVVB). Suitably, the water content of the
aerosol-
generating material may be from about 5wt%, 7wt% or 9wt% to about 15wt%,
13wr/o
or 11wt% (VVWB), most suitably about lOwt%.
If the water content of the aerosol-generating material is too high, its
performance in use is compromised. The high heat capacity of water means that
if the
water content is too high, more energy is needed to generate an aerosol,
reducing
operating efficiency. Further, if the water content is too high, the puff
profile may be
less satisfactory to the consumer due to the generation of hot and humid puffs
(a
sensation known in the field as "hot puff"). Moreover, if the water content is
too high,
microbial growth may occur. Conversely, if the water content is too low, the
material
may be brittle and difficult to handle. The hygroscopic nature of the aerosol
forming
material may mean that water is drawn into the material from the atmosphere if
the
water content is too low, destabilising the material.
In some cases, the drying results in an aerosol-generating material which has
a thickness that is between about 5% and 20% of the slurry thickness, suitably
about
10%. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may have a thickness of
about
0.015mm to about 1.0mm. Suitably, the thickness may be in the range of about
0.05mm, 0.1mm or 0.15mm to about 0.5mm or 0.3mm. A material having a thickness
of 0.2mm is particularly suitable. The aerosol-generating material may
comprise more
than one layer, and the thickness described herein refers to the aggregate
thickness
of those layers.
In some cases, the method comprises forming a layer of the slurry which is
less
than about 4mm thick. Suitably, the thickness of the slurry layer is in the
range of about
1mm to about 3mm, suitably about 1.5mm to about 2.5mm. In some cases, the
thickness of the slurry layer is about 2mm.
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If the slurry layer is too thick, it can be difficult to dry to form an
aerosol-
generating material with the required water content, whilst minimising
cracking of the
solid on drying.
5
If the aerosol-generating material is too thick, then heating efficiency
is
compromised. This adversely affects the power consumption in use. Conversely,
if
the aerosol-generating material is too thin, it is difficult to manufacture
and handle; a
very thin material is harder to cast and may be fragile, compromising aerosol
formation
in use.
Any thickness stipulated herein is a mean thickness. In some cases, the
thickness may vary by no more than 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 5% or 1%.
In some cases, the drying (c) comprises flowing air over the gel, wherein the
air temperature is in the range of about 80 C to about 140 C. In some cases,
the air
flow speed is less than about 30m/s, and is suitably in the range of 10m/s to
30m/s. In
some cases, the air flow speed is about 20 m/s.
In some cases, the drying (c) comprises heating the gel for less than about 40
minutes, 30 minutes or 20 minutes. In some cases, it comprises heating the gel
for at
least about 10 minutes.
In some cases, the drying (c) comprises heating the gel to a temperature in
the
range of about 80 C, 85 C or 90 C to about 130 C, 120 C or 110 C.
In some cases, the surface temperature of the gel during drying does not
exceed about 100 C.
In some cases, the slurry is set to form a gel prior to drying step (c). In
this
case, the slurry may also comprise a setting agent. For example, the slurry
may
comprise sodium, potassium or ammonium alginate as a gelling agent, and a
setting
agent comprising a calcium source (such as calcium chloride or calcium
lactate), may
be added to the slurry to form a calcium alginate gel. In some cases, the
setting agent
may be sprayed onto the slurry after step (b).
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In examples, the setting agent comprises or consists of calcium acetate,
calcium formate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydrogencarbonate, calcium
chloride,
calcium lactate, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the setting agent
comprises or consists of calcium formate and/or calcium lactate. In particular
examples, the setting agent comprises or consists of calcium formate.
Typically,
employing calcium formate as a setting agent results in an aerosol-generating
having
a greater tensile strength and greater resistance to elongation.
The total amount of the setting agent, such as a calcium source, may be 0.5-
5wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis). Suitably, the total amount may be
from about
1wt%, 2.5wt% or 4wtcY0 to about 4.8wV/0 or 4.5wt%. The addition of too little
setting
agent may result in an aerosol-generating material which does not stabilise
the
aerosol-generating material components and results in these components
dropping
out of the aerosol-generating material. The addition of too much setting agent
results
in an aerosol-generating material that is very tacky and consequently has poor
handleability.
Suitably, the weight ratio of setting agent to gelling agent may be from about
1:5 to 1:15, suitably about 1:10.
When the aerosol-generating material does not contain tobacco, a higher
amount of setting agent may need to be applied. In some cases the total amount
of
setting agent may therefore be from 0.5-12wt% such as 5-10wt%, calculated on a
dry
weight basis. Suitably, the total amount may be from about 5wt%, 6wt% or 7wt%
to
about 12wt% or lOwt%. In this case the aerosol-generating material will not
generally
contain any tobacco.
Alginate salts are derivatives of alginic acid and are typically high
molecular
weight polymers (10-600 kDa). Alginic acid is a copolymer of 13-D-mannuronic
(M)
and a-L-guluronic acid (G) units (blocks) linked together with (1,4)-
glycosidic bonds to
form a polysaccharide. On addition of calcium cations, the alginate crosslinks
to form
a gel. Alginate salts with a high G monomer content more readily form a gel on
addition
of the calcium source. In some cases therefore, the slurry may comprise an
alginate
salt in which at least about 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60% or 70% of the monomer
units
in the alginate copolymer are a-L-guluronic acid (G) units.
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In some examples, the slurry has a viscosity of from about 10 to about 20 Pa-s
at 46.5 C, such as from about 14 to about 16 Pa.s at 46.5 C.
In some cases, the slurry layer is formed by casting the slurry.
In some cases, a carrier is provided and the slurry is shaped on the carrier.
The
carrier functions as a support on which the aerosol-generating material layer
forms,
easing manufacture. The carrier may provide rigidity to the aerosol-generating
material, easing handling. The carrier may be any suitable material which can
be used
to support an aerosol-generating material. In some cases, the carrier may be
formed
from materials selected from metal foil, paper, carbon paper, greaseproof
paper,
ceramic, carbon allotropes such as graphite and graphene, plastic, cardboard,
wood
or combinations thereof. In some cases, the carrier may comprise or consist of
a
tobacco material, such as a sheet of reconstituted tobacco. In some cases, the
carrier
may be formed from materials selected from metal foil, paper, cardboard, wood
or
combinations thereof. In some cases, the carrier comprises paper. In some
cases,
the carrier itself be a laminate structure comprising layers of materials
selected from
the preceding lists. In some cases, the carrier may also function as a flavour
carrier.
For example, the carrier may be impregnated with a flavourant or with tobacco
extract.
Suitably, the thickness of the carrier layer may be in the range of about
lOpm,
15pm, 17pm, 20pm, 23pm, 25pm, 50pm, 75pm or 0.1mm to about 2.5mm, 2.0mm,
1.5mm, 1.0mm or 0.5mm. The carrier may comprise more than one layer, and the
thickness described herein refers to the aggregate thickness of those layers.
In some cases, the carrier may be non-magnetic.
In some cases, the carrier may be magnetic. This functionality may be used to
fasten the carrier to the assembly in use, or may be used to generate
particular aerosol-
generating material shapes. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may
comprise one or more magnets which can be used to fasten the solid to an
induction
heater in use.
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In some cases, the carrier may be substantially or wholly impermeable to gas
and/or aerosol. This prevents aerosol or gas passage through the carrier
layer, thereby
controlling the flow and ensuring it is delivered to the user. This can also
be used to
prevent condensation or other deposition of the gas/aerosol in use on, for
example,
the surface of a heater provided in a non-combustible aerosol provision
system. Thus,
consumption efficiency and hygiene can be improved in some cases.
In some cases, the surface of the carrier that abuts the aerosol-generating
material may be porous. For example, in one case, the carrier comprises paper.
A
porous carrier such as paper is particularly suitable for the present
invention; the
porous (e.g. paper) layer abuts the aerosol-generating material layer and
forms a
strong bond. The aerosol-generating material is formed by drying a gel and,
without
being limited by theory, it is thought that the slurry from which the gel is
formed partially
impregnates the porous carrier (e.g. paper) so that when the gel sets and
forms cross-
links, the carrier is partially bound into the gel. This provides a strong
binding between
the gel and the carrier (and between the dried gel and the carrier).
Additionally, surface roughness may contribute to the strength of bond between
the aerosol-generating material and the carrier. The paper roughness (for the
surface
abutting the carrier) may suitably be in the range of 50-1000 Bekk seconds,
suitably
50-150 Bekk seconds, suitably 100 Bekk seconds (measured over an air pressure
interval of 50.66-48.00 kPa). (A Bekk smoothness tester is an instrument used
to
determine the smoothness of a paper surface, in which air at a specified
pressure is
leaked between a smooth glass surface and a paper sample, and the time (in
seconds)
for a fixed volume of air to seep between these surfaces is the "Bekk
smoothness")
Conversely, the surface of the carrier facing away from the aerosol-generating
material may be arranged in contact with the heater, and a smoother surface
may
provide more efficient heat transfer. Thus, in some cases, the carrier is
disposed so
as to have a rougher side abutting the aerosol-generating material and a
smoother
side facing away from the aerosol-generating material.
In one particular case, the carrier may be a paper-backed foil; the paper
layer
abuts the aerosol-generating material layer and the properties discussed in
the
previous paragraphs are afforded by this abutment. The foil backing is
substantially
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impermeable, providing control of the aerosol flow path. A metal foil backing
may also
serve to conduct heat to the aerosol-generating material.
In another case, the foil layer of the paper-backed foil abuts the aerosol-
generating material. The foil is substantially impermeable, thereby preventing
water
provided in the aerosol-generating material to be absorbed into the paper
which could
weaken its structural integrity.
In some cases, the carrier is formed from or comprises metal foil, such as
aluminium foil. A metallic carrier may allow for better conduction of thermal
energy to
the aerosol-generating material. Additionally, or alternatively, a metal foil
may function
as a susceptor in an induction heating system. In particular embodiments, the
carrier
comprises a metal foil layer and a support layer, such as cardboard. In these
embodiments, the metal foil layer may have a thickness of less than 20pm, such
as
from about 1pm to about lOpm, suitably about 5pm.
In some cases, the carrier may have a thickness of between about 0.017mm
and about 2.0mm, suitably from about 0.02mm, 0.05mm or 0.1mm to about 1.5mm,
1.0mm, or 0.5mm.
In some cases, the slurry may be shaped on a conductive support material.
Where a carrier is present, the carrier may be provided on the conductive
support
material and the slurry is shaped on the carrier. The drying (c) may comprise
heating
the conductive support material.
In some cases, the drying (c) may comprise heating the conductive support
material to at least about 100 C and flowing air over the gel, wherein the air
temperature is in the range of about 80 C to about 140 C. Thus, the gel is
heated from
both sides. This may reduce the likelihood of delamination of the aerosol-
generating
material from the substrate on which it is formed, as compared to simply
drying with a
hot-air flow.
In some cases, the drying (c) comprises (ci) heating the conductive support
material to at least about 100 C, (cii) flowing air over the gel, wherein the
air
temperature is in the range of about 80 C to about 140 C, and (ciii) heating
the
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conductive support material to at least about 100 C, wherein (ci) and (cii)
occur
simultaneously or sequentially and (ciii) occurs after (ci) and (cii) have
concluded.
The active or flavourant may be applied during or after the drying step (c).
In
5 some cases, the active or flavourant is applied during the drying
step (c). This generally
results in the active or flavourant being homogeneously dispersed throughout
the
aerosol-generating material.
In some cases, the active or flavourant is applied after drying step (c). This
10 generally results in the active or flavourant being located on the
surface of the aerosol-
generating material.
In some cases, the active or flavourant is applied during or after step (c) by
spraying.
As mentioned above, applying (e.g. spraying) the active or flavourant after
the
drying step (c) is particularly advantageous when the active or flavourant is
semi-
volatile or volatile. This is because applying (e.g. spraying) the active or
flavourant
during step (c), i.e. during drying, may still result in some of the active or
flavourant to
be lost during the remainder of the drying step (c). Thus, when the active or
flavourant
is semi-volatile or volatile, it is preferred that the active or flavourant is
applied after the
drying step (c). Volatile and semi-volatile actives and flavourants include,
for example,
menthol, terpenes or derivatives thereof, ketones and esters, such as ethyl
butyrate,
ethyl isovalerate and ethyl-2-methyl butyrate.
Other volatile and semi-volatile actives and flavourants include, but are not
limited to, ethyl isobutyrate, hexanal, isoamyl acetate, 2,3,5-trimethyl
pyrazine, 6-
methy1-5-hepten-2-one, isovaleric acid, benzaldehyde, isoamyl isovalerate,
guaiacol,
methyl cyclopentenolone, hexanoic acid, menthol, gamma-hexalactone, benzyl
carbinol, acetyl pyrazine, trans-anethole, piperonal, beta-caryophyllene, beta-
damascenone, phenylacetic acid, beta-ionone, veratraldehyde, vanillin, 5-
propenyl
guaethol, gamma-nonalactone and omega-pentadecalactone.
In one aspect, the active or flavourant comprises (or is selected from the
group
consisting of) ethyl isobutyrate, hexanal, isoamyl acetate, 2,3,5-trimethyl
pyrazine, 6-
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methyl-5-hepten-2-one, isovaleric acid, benzaldehyde, isoamyl isovalerate,
guaiacol,
methyl cyclopentenolone, hexanoic acid, menthol, gamma-hexalactone, benzyl
carbinol, acetyl pyrazine, trans-anethole, piperonal, beta-caryophyllene, beta-
damascenone, phenylacetic acid, beta-ionone, veratraldehyde, vanillin, 5-
propenyl
guaethol, gamma-nonalactone, omega-pentadecalactone, and combinations thereof.
In embodiments, when the active or flavourant comprises or is one or more of
these
compounds, the active or flavourant is applied after the drying step (c).
In one aspect, the active or flavourant comprises (or is selected from the
group
consisting of) ethyl isobutyrate, hexane!, isoamyl acetate, 2,3,5-trimethyl
pyrazine, 6-
methy1-5-hepten-2-one, isovaleric acid, benzaldehyde, isoamyl isovalerate,
guaiacol,
methyl cyclopentenolone, hexanoic acid, menthol, gamma-hexalactone, benzyl
carbinol, acetyl pyrazine, trans-anethole, and combinations thereof. In
embodiments,
when the active or flavourant comprises or is one or more of these compounds,
the
active or flavourant is applied after the drying step (c).
In one aspect, the active or flavourant comprises (or is) menthol. In
embodiments, when the active or flavourant comprises or is menthol, the active
or
flavourant is applied after the drying step (c).
In one aspect, the active or flavourant comprises (or is) one or more terpenes
or a derivative thereof. In embodiments, when the active or flavourant
comprises one
or more terpenes or a derivative thereof, the active or flavourant is applied
after the
drying step (c).
The one or more terpenes or a derivative thereof may be selected from
linalool,
limonene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-citronellol, linaly1 acetate, eucalyptol,
caryophyllene oxide, phytol, fenchol, nerolidol, alpha-terpineol, camphene,
alpha-
pinene, ocimene, alpha-bisabolol, valencene, geranyl acetate, myrcene, trans-
caryophyllene, terpinolene, beta-pinene, alpha-humulene, guaiol, and
combinations
thereof.
In one aspect, the active or flavourant comprises (or is) a constituent,
derivative
or extract of cannabis, for example a cannabinoid, such as CBD. In
embodiments,
when the active or flavourant comprises or is a constituent, derivative or
extract of
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cannabis, the active or flavourant is applied during or after the drying step
(c). In
embodiments, when the active or flavourant comprises or is a constituent,
derivative
or extract of cannabis, the active or flavourant is applied during the drying
step (c).
Aerosol-generating material composition
In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may comprise 1-60 wt% of a
gelling agent wherein these weights are calculated on a dry weight basis.
Suitably, the
aerosol-generating material may comprise from about 1wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, 15wV/0,
20wt% or 25wt% to about 60wt%, 50wt%, 45wt%, 40wt%, 35wt%, 30wt% or 27wt% of
a gelling agent (all calculated on a dry weight basis). For example, the
aerosol-
generating material may comprise 1-50wt%, 5-40wt%, 10-30wt% or 15-27wt% of a
gelling agent.
In some cases, the gelling agent comprises a hydrocolloid. In some cases, the
gelling agent comprises one or more compounds selected from the group
comprising
alginates, pectins, starches (and derivatives), celluloses (and derivatives),
gums, silica
or silicones compounds, clays, polyvinyl alcohol and combinations thereof. For
example, in some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises one or more of
alginates,
pectins, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose,
carboxymethylcellulose,
pullulan, xanthan gum guar gum, carrageenan, agarose, acacia gum, fumed
silica,
PDMS, sodium silicate, kaolin and polyvinyl alcohol. In some cases, the
gelling agent
comprises alginate and/or pectin, and may be combined with a setting agent
(such as
a calcium source) during formation of the aerosol-generating material. In some
cases,
the gelling agent comprises one or more compounds selected from the group
consisting of alginate and a cellulose derivative. In some cases, the aerosol-
generating
material may comprise a calcium-crosslinked alginate and/or a calcium-
crosslinked
pectin.
In some cases, the gelling agent is not cross-linked.
In some cases, the gelling agent comprises a cellulosic gelling agent.
Suitable
cellulosic gelling agents include hydroxmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl
cellulose,
hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose
(CMC), hydroxypropyl
methylcellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate
(CA),
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cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) and
combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises (or is) one or more of
hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
(HPMC), carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, or acacia gum.
In some embodiments, the cellulosic gelling agent is CMC.
Suitably, the aerosol-generating material may comprise from about 5wt%,
lOwt%, 15wt%, or 20vvr/0 to about 80wt%, 70wt%, 60wV/0, 55wrY0, 50wt%, 45wt%
40wt%, or 35wt% of an aerosol-former (all calculated on a dry weight basis).
The
aerosol-former material may act as a plasticiser. For example, the slurry may
comprise
10-60wt%, 15-50wt% 0r20-40wt% of an aerosol-former. In some cases, the aerosol-
former comprises one or more compound selected from erythritol, propylene
glycol,
glycerol, triacetin, sorbitol and xylitol. In some cases, the aerosol-former
comprises,
consists essentially of or consists of glycerol. If the content of the
plasticiser is too
high, the aerosol-generating material may absorb water resulting in a material
that
does not create an appropriate consumption experience in use. If the
plasticiser
content is too low, the aerosol-generating material may be brittle and easily
broken.
The plasticiser content specified herein provides an aerosol-generating
material
flexibility which allows the aerosol-generating material sheet to be wound
onto a
bobbin, which is useful in manufacture of articles for use in aerosol
generation.
In some embodiments, the aerosol-former comprises one or more polyhydric
alcohols, such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and
glycerin;
esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate;
and/or aliphatic
esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate
and
dimethyl tetradecanedioate.
In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may comprise a flavour.
Suitably, the aerosol-generating material may comprise up to about 60wt%,
50wt%,
40wt%, 30wt%, 20wt%, 10wt% or 5wt% of a flavour. In some cases, the aerosol-
generating material may comprise at least about 0.5wt%, 1wt%, 2wt%, 5wt%
lOwt%,
20wt% or 30wt% of a flavour (all calculated on a dry weight basis). For
example, the
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aerosol-generating material may comprise 0.1-60wt%, 1-60wt%, 5-60wt%, 10-
60wt%,
20-50wt% or 30-40wt% of a flavour. In some cases, the flavour (if present)
comprises,
consists essentially of or consists of menthol. In some cases, the aerosol-
generating
material does not comprise a flavour.
In some cases, the aerosol-generating material comprises an active
constituent. For example, in some cases, the slurry additionally comprises a
tobacco
material and/or nicotine.
For example, the aerosol-generating material may
additionally comprise powdered tobacco and/or nicotine and/or a tobacco
extract. In
some cases, the aerosol-generating material may comprise from about 1wt%,
5wt%,
lOwt%, 15wt%, 20wt% or 25wt% to about 60wt%, 50wt%, 45wt% or 40wt% (calculated
on a dry weight basis) of active constituent. In some cases, the aerosol-
generating
material may comprise from about 1wt%, 5wt%, lOwt%, 15wt%, 20wt% or 25wt% to
about 60wt%, 50wt%, 45wt% or 40wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of a
tobacco
material and/or nicotine.
In some cases, the aerosol-generating material comprises an active constituent
such as tobacco extract. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may
comprise 5-60wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of tobacco extract. In
some
cases, the aerosol-generating material may comprise from about 1wt%, 5wt%,
lOwt%,
15wt%, 20wt% or 25wt% to about 55wt%, 50wt%, 45wt% or 40wt% (calculated on a
dry weight basis) tobacco extract. For example, the aerosol-generating
material may
comprise 5-60wt%, 10-55wt% or 25-55wt% of tobacco extract. The tobacco extract
may contain nicotine at a concentration such that the aerosol-generating
material
comprises 1wt% 1.5wt%, 2wt% or 2.5wt% to about 6wt%, 5wt%, 4.5wt% or 4wt%
(calculated on a dry weight basis) of nicotine. In some cases, there may be no
nicotine
in the aerosol-generating material other than that which results from the
tobacco
extract.
In some embodiments the aerosol-generating material comprises no tobacco
material but does comprise nicotine. In some such cases, the aerosol-
generating
material may comprise from about 1wt%, 2wt%, 3wt% or 4wt% to about 20wt%,
15wt%, 10wt% or 5wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of nicotine. For
example,
the aerosol-generating material may comprise 1-20wt% or 2-5wt% of nicotine.
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In some embodiments, the active constituent comprises one or more
cannabinoid compounds selected from the group consisting of: cannabidiol
(CBD),
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic
acid
(CBDA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC),
5 cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabivarin (CBV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV),
cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabichromevarin (CBCV), cannabigerovarin (CBGV),
cannabigerol monomethyl ether (CBGM) and cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabicitran
(CBT).
10
The active constituent may comprise one or more cannabinoid compounds
selected from the group consisting of cannabidiol (CBD) and THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol).
The active constituent may comprise cannabidiol (CBD).
The active constituent may comprise nicotine and cannabidiol (CBD).
The active constituent may comprise nicotine, cannabidiol (CBD), and THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol).
In some embodiments, the active constituent comprises one or more terpenes,
or derivatives thereof. In this context, the term "derivatives thereof"
includes, for
example, terpenoids and terpene esters.
In some embodiments, the one or more terpenes or derivatives thereof are
monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, terpenoids, terpene esters, or combinations
thereof.
In some embodiments, the one or more terpenes or derivatives thereof may be
selected from linalool, limonene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-citronellol,
linalyl acetate,
eucalyptol, caryophyllene oxide, phytol, fenchol, nerolidol, alpha-terpineol,
camphene,
alpha-pinene, ocimene, alpha-bisabolol, valencene, geranyl acetate, myrcene,
trans-
caryophyllene, terpinolene, beta-pinene, alpha-humulene, guaiol, and
combinations
thereof.
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In some embodiments, the one or more terpenes or derivatives thereof may
comprise one or more of linalool, limonene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-
citronellol, linaly1
acetate, and combinations thereof.
In some cases, the total content of active constituent and/or flavour may be
at
least about 0.1wt%, 1wt%, 5wt%, lOwt%, 20wt%, 25wt% or 30wt%. In some cases,
the total content of active constituent and/or flavour may be less than about
60wt%,
50wt% or 40wt% (all calculated on a dry weight basis).
In some cases, the total content of tobacco material, nicotine and flavour may
be at least about 0.1wt%, 1wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, 20wt%, 25wt% or 30wt%. In some
cases, the total content of tobacco material, nicotine and flavour may be less
than
about 60wt%, 50wt% or 40wt% (all calculated on a dry weight basis).
In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises less than
60wt% of a filler, such as from 1wt% to 60wt%, or 5wt% to 50wt%, or 5wt% to
30wtcY0,
or 10wt% to 20wt% (all calculated on a dry weight basis).
In other embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises less than
20wt%, suitably less than 1 Owt% or less than 5wt% of a filler. In some cases,
the
aerosol-generating material comprises less than lwt% of a filler, and in some
cases,
comprises no filler.
The filler, if present, may comprise one or more inorganic filler materials,
such
as calcium carbonate, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal
silica,
magnesium oxide, magnesium sulphate, magnesium carbonate, and suitable
inorganic sorbents, such as molecular sieves. The filler may comprise one or
more
organic filler materials such as wood pulp, cellulose and cellulose
derivatives. In
particular cases, the aerosol-generating material comprises no calcium
carbonate such
as chalk.
In particular embodiments which include filler, the filler is fibrous. For
example,
the filler may be a fibrous organic filler material such as wood pulp, hemp
fibre,
cellulose or cellulose derivatives. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it
is believed
that including fibrous filler in an aerosol-generating material may increase
the tensile
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22
strength of the material. This may be particularly advantageous in examples
wherein
the aerosol-generating material is provided as a sheet, such as when an
aerosol-
generating material sheet circumscribes a rod of aerosol-generating
composition.
In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material does not comprise
tobacco fibres. In particular embodiments, the aerosol-generating material
does not
comprise fibrous material.
In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free
from tobacco. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material does not
comprise tobacco. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating composition is
substantially free from tobacco. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating
composition does not comprise tobacco.
In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free
from botanical material. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material
does
not comprise botanical material.
In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating composition is substantially
free from botanical material. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating
composition does not comprise botanical material.
The aerosol-generating material may have any suitable area density, such as
from 30 g/m2 to 120 g/m2, suitably about 30 to 70 g/m2, or about 40 to 60
g/m2. In some
embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may have an area density of from
about
80 to 120 g/m2, or from about 70 to 110 g/m2, or particularly from about 90 to
110 g/m2.
Such area densities may be particularly suitable where the aerosol-generating
material
is included in an article/a non-combustible aerosol provision system in sheet
form, or
as a shredded sheet (described further hereinbelow).
The aerosol-generating material may comprise an acid. The acid may be an
organic acid. In some of these embodiments, the acid may be at least one of a
monoprotic acid, a diprotic acid and a triprotic acid. In some such
embodiments, the
acid may contain at least one carboxyl functional group. In some such
embodiments,
the acid may be at least one of an alpha-hydroxy acid, carboxylic acid,
dicarboxylic
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acid, tricarbwvlic acid and keto acid. In some such embodiments, the acid may
be an
alpha-keto acid.
In some such embodiments, the acid may be at least one of succinic acid,
lactic
acid, benzoic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, levulinic acid,
acetic acid,
malic acid, formic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid, propanoic and pyruvic
acid.
Suitably the acid is lactic acid. In other embodiments, the acid is benzoic
acid.
In other embodiments the acid may be an inorganic acid. In some of these
embodiments the acid may be a mineral acid. In some such embodiments, the acid
may be at least one of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, boric acid and
phosphoric
acid. In some embodiments, the acid is levulinic acid.
The inclusion of an acid is particularly preferred in embodiments in which the
aerosol-generating material comprises nicotine. In such embodiments, the
presence
of an acid may stabilise dissolved species in the slurry from which the
aerosol-
generating material is formed. The presence of the acid may reduce or
substantially
prevent evaporation of nicotine during drying of the slurry, thereby reducing
loss of
nicotine during manufacturing.
In certain embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises a gelling
agent comprising a cellulosic gelling agent and/or a non-cellulosic gelling
agent, an
active substance and an acid.
The aerosol-generating material may comprise a colourant. The addition of a
colourant may alter the visual appearance of the aerosol-generating material.
The
presence of colourant in the aerosol-generating material may enhance the
visual
appearance of the aerosol-generating material and an aerosol-generating
composition
comprising the aerosol-generating material. By adding a colourant to the
aerosol-
generating material, the aerosol-generating material may be colour-matched to
other
components of the aerosol-generating composition or to other components of an
article
comprising the aerosol-generating material.
A variety of colourants may be used depending on the desired colour of the
aerosol-generating material. The colour of aerosol-generating material may be,
for
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example, white, green, red, purple, blue, brown or black. Other colours are
also
envisaged. Natural or synthetic colourants, such as natural or synthetic dyes,
food-
grade colourants and pharmaceutical-grade colourants may be used. In certain
embodiments, the colourant is caramel, which may confer the aerosol-generating
material with a brown appearance. In such embodiments, the colour of the
aerosol-
generating material may be similar to the colour of other components (such as
tobacco
material) in an aerosol-generating composition comprising the aerosol-
generating
material. In some embodiments, the addition of a colourant to the aerosol-
generating
material renders it visually indistinguishable from other components in the
aerosol-
generating composition.
The colourant may be incorporated during the formation of the aerosol-
generating material (e.g. when forming a slurry comprising the materials that
form the
aerosol-generating material) or it may be applied to the aerosol-generating
material
after its formation (e.g. by spraying it onto the aerosol-generating
material).
As noted above, further aspects of the invention provide
- an aerosol-generating material obtainable or obtained by methods of the
first aspect,
- an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system, the
article
comprising an aerosol-generating material obtainable or obtained by
methods of the first aspect, and
- a non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising the article
according to the third aspect and a non-combustible aerosol provision
device, the non-combustible aerosol provision device comprising an
aerosol-generation device to generate aerosol from the article when the
article is used with the non-combustible aerosol provision device. In some
cases, the device includes a heater which is configured to heat the aerosol-
generating material, without burning.
Articles and assemblies incorporating the aerosol-generating material
In some cases, the heater may heat, without burning, the aerosol-generating
material to between 120 C and 350 C in use. In some cases, the heater may
heat,
without burning, aerosol-generating material to between 140 C and 250 C in
use. In
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some cases in use, substantially all of the aerosol-generating material is
less than
about 4mm, 3mm, 2mm or 1mm from the heater. In some cases, the solid is
disposed
between about 0.010mm and 2.0mm from the heater, suitably between about 0.02
mm
and 1.0mm, suitably 0.1mm to 0.5mm. These minimum distances may, in some
cases,
5 reflect the thickness of a carrier that supports the aerosol-
generating material. In some
cases, a surface of the aerosol-generating material may directly abut the
heater.
The heater is configured to heat not burn the aerosol-generating material. The
heater may be, in some cases, an electrically resistive heater, such as a thin-
film,
10 electrically resistive heater. In other cases, the heater may
comprise an induction
heater or the like. The heater may be a combustible heat source or a chemical
heat
source which undergoes an exothermic reaction to product heat in use. The non-
combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a plurality of heaters. The
heater(s) may be powered by a battery.
The non-combustible aerosol provision system may additionally comprise a
cooling element and/or a filter. The cooling element, if present, may act or
function to
cool gaseous or aerosol components. In some cases, it may act to cool gaseous
components such that they condense to form an aerosol. It may also act to
space the
very hot parts of the apparatus from the user. The filter, if present, may
comprise any
suitable filter known in the art such as a cellulose acetate plug.
In some cases, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may be a heat-
not-burn device. That is, it may contain a solid tobacco-containing material
(and no
liquid aerosol-generating composition). In some
cases, the aerosol-generating
material may comprise the tobacco material. A heat-not-burn device is
disclosed in
WO 2015/062983 A2, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
In some cases, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may be a hybrid
system. That is, it may contain a solid aerosol-generating composition and a
liquid
aerosol-generating composition. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material
may
comprise nicotine. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may comprise
a
tobacco material. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may comprise
a
tobacco material and a separate nicotine source. The separate aerosol-
generating
materials may be heated by separate heaters, the same heater or, in one case,
a
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downstream aerosol-generating composition may be heated by a hot aerosol which
is
generated from the upstream aerosol-generating composition. A hybrid device is
disclosed in WO 2016/135331 Al, which is incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
The article for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system (which may
be referred to herein as an aerosol generating article, a cartridge or a
consumable)
may be adapted for use in a THP, a hybrid device or another aerosol generating
device.
In some cases, the article may additionally comprise a filter and/or cooling
element
(which have been described above). In some cases, the article may be
circumscribed
by a wrapping material such as paper.
The article may additionally comprise ventilation apertures. These may be
provided in the sidewall of the article. In some cases, the ventilation
apertures may be
provided in the filter and/or cooling element. These apertures may allow cool
air to be
drawn into the article during use, which can mix with the heated volatilised
components
thereby cooling the aerosol.
The ventilation enhances the generation of visible heated volatilised
components from the article when it is heated in use. The heated volatilised
components are made visible by the process of cooling the heated volatilised
components such that supersaturation of the heated volatilised components
occurs.
The heated volatilised components then undergo droplet formation, otherwise
known
as nucleation, and eventually the size of the aerosol particles of the heated
volatilised
components increases by further condensation of the heated volatilised
components
and by coagulation of newly formed droplets from the heated volatilised
components.
In some cases, the ratio of the cool air to the sum of the heated volatilised
components and the cool air, known as the ventilation ratio, is at least 15%.
A
ventilation ratio of 15% enables the heated volatilised components to be made
visible
by the method described above. The visibility of the heated volatilised
components
enables the user to identify that the volatilised components have been
generated and
adds to the sensory experience of the smoking experience.
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In another example, the ventilation ratio is between 50% and 85% to provide
additional cooling to the heated volatilised components. In some cases, the
ventilation
ratio may be at least 60% or 65%.
In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may be included in the
article/a
non-combustible aerosol provision system in sheet form. In some cases, the
aerosol-
generating material may be included as a planar sheet. In some cases, the
aerosol-
generating material may be included as a planar sheet, as a bunched or
gathered
sheet, as a crimped sheet, or as a rolled sheet (i.e. in the form of a tube).
In some
such cases, the aerosol-generating material may be included in an article/a
non-
combustible aerosol provision system as a sheet, such as a sheet
circumscribing a rod
of aerosol-generating composition (e.g. tobacco). In some other cases, the
aerosol-
generating material may be formed as a sheet and then shredded and
incorporated
into the article. In some cases, the shredded sheet may be mixed with cut rag
tobacco
and incorporated into the article.
In some examples, the aerosol-generating material in sheet form may have a
tensile strength of from around 200 N/m to around 900 N/m. In some examples,
such
as where the aerosol-generating material does not comprise a filler, the
aerosol-
generating material may have a tensile strength of from 200 N/m to 400 N/m, or
200
N/m to 300 N/m, or about 250 N/m. Such tensile strengths may be particularly
suitable
for embodiments wherein the aerosol-generating material is formed as a sheet
and
then shredded and incorporated into an article. In some examples, such as
where the
aerosol-generating material comprises a filler, the aerosol-generating
material may
have a tensile strength of from 600 N/m to 900 N/m, or from 700 N/m to 900
N/m, or
around 800 N/m. Such tensile strengths may be particularly suitable for
embodiments
wherein the aerosol-generating material is included in an article/a non-
combustible
aerosol provision system as a rolled sheet, suitably in the form of a tube.
The aerosol-generating material may comprise or be in the form of an
aerosol-generating film. The aerosol-generating film may be substantially free
from
botanical material. In particular, in some embodiments, the aerosol-generating
film is
substantially tobacco free.
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The aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.015 mm to
about 1 mm. For example, the thickness may be in the range of about 0.05 mm,
0.1
mm or 0.15 mm to about 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm.
The aerosol-generating film may be continuous. For example, the film may
comprise or be a continuous sheet of material. The sheet may be in the form of
a
wrapper, it may be gathered to form a gathered sheet or it may be shredded to
form
a shredded sheet. The shredded sheet may comprise one or more strands or
strips
of aerosol-generating material.
In one case, there is provided a consumable for use in a non-combustible
aerosol-provision system comprising a planar support with complete coverage of
the
aerosol-generating material (e.g. a continuous aerosol-generating film).
Figure 8
provides a schematic illustration of such a consumable, which includes a
support
layer 4 and an aerosol-generating material layer 2.
The aerosol-generating film may be discontinuous, For example, the aerosol-
generating film may comprise one or more discrete portions or regions of
aerosol-
generating material, such as dots, stripes or lines, which may be supported on
a
support. In such embodiments, the support may be planar or non-planar.
In some cases, the discrete portions of aerosol-generating material are
substantially round, cylindrical or hemispherical. In some cases, there is a
grid-
shaped distribution of the substantially round, cylindrical or hemispherical
aerosol-
generating material.
In some cases, there is provided a consumable for use in a non-combustible
aerosol-provision system comprising a planar support with a discontinuous
aerosol-
generating film (which comprises a plurality of discrete portions of aerosol-
generating
material) deposited on it.
Figure 9 provides an example of a consumable (401) wherein a discontinuous
aerosol-generating film (which comprises discrete portions of aerosol-
generating
material (403)) are provided on the consumable.
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The non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an integrated
article and heater, or may comprise a heater device into which the article is
inserted in
use.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there are shown a partially cut-away section
view
and a perspective view of an example of an article 101. The article 101 is
adapted for
use with a device having a power source and a heater. The article 101 of this
embodiment is particularly suitable for use with the device 1 shown in Figures
5 to 7,
described below. In use, the article 101 may be removably inserted into the
device
shown in Figure 5 at an insertion point 20 of the device 1.
The article 101 of one example is in the form of a substantially cylindrical
rod
that includes a body of aerosol-generating composition 103 and a filter
assembly 105
in the form of a rod. The aerosol-generating composition comprises the aerosol-
generating material described herein. In some embodiments, it may be included
in
sheet form. In some embodiments it may be included in the form of a shredded
sheet.
In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating composition described herein may
be
incorporated in sheet form and in shredded form.
The filter assembly 105 includes three segments, a cooling segment 107, a
filter segment 109 and a mouth end segment 111. The article 101 has a first
end 113,
also known as a mouth end or a proximal end and a second end 115, also known
as
a distal end. The body of aerosol-generating composition 103 is located
towards the
distal end 115 of the article 101. In one example, the cooling segment 107 is
located
adjacent the body of aerosol-generating composition 103 between the body of
aerosol-
generating composition 103 and the filter segment 109, such that the cooling
segment
107 is in an abutting relationship with the aerosol-generating composition 103
and the
filter segment 103. In other examples, there may be a separation between the
body
of aerosol-generating composition 103 and the cooling segment 107 and between
the
body of aerosol-generating composition 103 and the filter segment 109. The
filter
segment 109 is located in between the cooling segment 107 and the mouth end
segment 111. The mouth end segment 111 is located towards the proximal end 113
of the article 101, adjacent the filter segment 109. In one example, the
filter segment
109 is in an abutting relationship with the mouth end segment 111. In one
embodiment,
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the total length of the filter assembly 105 is between 37nnnn and 45nrinn,
more
preferably, the total length of the filter assembly 105 is 41mm.
In one example, the rod of aerosol-generating composition 103 is between
5 34mm and 50mm in length, suitably between 38mm and 46mm in length,
suitably
42mm in length.
In one example, the total length of the article 101 is between 71mm and 95mm,
suitably between 79mm and 87mm, suitably 83mm.
An axial end of the body of aerosol-generating composition 103 is visible at
the
distal end 115 of the article 101. However, in other embodiments, the distal
end 115
of the article 101 may comprise an end member (not shown) covering the axial
end of
the body of aerosol-generating composition 103.
The body of aerosol-generating composition 103 is joined to the filter
assembly
105 by annular tipping paper (not shown), which is located substantially
around the
circumference of the filter assembly 105 to surround the filter assembly 105
and
extends partially along the length of the body of aerosol-generating
composition 103.
In one example, the tipping paper is made of 58GSM standard tipping base
paper. In
one example the tipping paper has a length of between 42mm and 50mm, suitably
of
46mm.
In one example, the cooling segment 107 is an annular tube and is located
around and defines an air gap within the cooling segment. The air gap provides
a
chamber for heated volatilised components generated from the body of aerosol-
generating composition 103 to flow. The cooling segment 107 is hollow to
provide a
chamber for aerosol accumulation yet rigid enough to withstand axial
compressive
forces and bending moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the
article
101 is in use during insertion into the device 1. In one example, the
thickness of the
wall of the cooling segment 107 is approximately 0.29mm.
The cooling segment 107 provides a physical displacement between the
aerosol-generating composition 103 and the filter segment 109. The physical
displacement provided by the cooling segment 107 will provide a thermal
gradient
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across the length of the cooling segment 107. In one example the cooling
segment
107 is configured to provide a temperature differential of at least 40 degrees
Celsius
between a heated volatilised component entering a first end of the cooling
segment
107 and a heated volatilised component exiting a second end of the cooling
segment
107. In one example the cooling segment 107 is configured to provide a
temperature
differential of at least 60 C between a heated volatilised component entering
a first end
of the cooling segment 107 and a heated volatilised component exiting a second
end
of the cooling segment 107. This temperature differential across the length of
the
cooling element 107 protects the temperature sensitive filter segment 109 from
the
high temperatures of the aerosol-generating composition 103 when it is heated
by the
device 1. If the physical displacement was not provided between the filter
segment
109 and the body of aerosol-generating composition 103 and the heating
elements of
the device 1, then the temperature sensitive filter segment may 109 become
damaged
in use, so it would not perform its required functions as effectively.
In one example the length of the cooling segment 107 is at least 15mm. In one
example, the length of the cooling segment 107 is between 20mm and 30mm, more
particularly 23mm to 27mm, more particularly 25mm to 27mm, suitably 25mm.
The cooling segment 107 is made of paper, which means that it is comprised
of a material that does not generate compounds of concern, for example, toxic
compounds when in use adjacent to the heater of the device 1. In one example,
the
cooling segment 107 is manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube which
provides
a hollow internal chamber yet maintains mechanical rigidity. Spirally wound
paper
tubes are able to meet the tight dimensional accuracy requirements of high-
speed
manufacturing processes with respect to tube length, outer diameter, roundness
and
straightness.
In another example, the cooling segment 107 is a recess created from stiff
plug
wrap or tipping paper. The stiff plug wrap or tipping paper is manufactured to
have a
rigidity that is sufficient to withstand the axial compressive forces and
bending
moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the article 101 is in
use during
insertion into the device 1.
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The filter segment 109 may be formed of any filter material sufficient to
remove
one or more volatilised compounds from heated volatilised components from the
aerosol-generating material. In one example the filter segment 109 is made of
a mono-
acetate material, such as cellulose acetate. The filter segment 109 provides
cooling
and irritation-reduction from the heated volatilised components without
depleting the
quantity of the heated volatilised components to an unsatisfactory level for a
user.
In some embodiments, a capsule (not illustrated) may be provided in filter
segment 109. It may be disposed substantially centrally in the filter segment
109, both
across the filter segment 109 diameter and along the filter segment 109
length. In
other cases, it may be offset in one or more dimension. The capsule may in
some
cases, where present, contain a volatile component such as a flavourant or
aerosol-
former.
The density of the cellulose acetate tow material of the filter segment 109
controls the pressure drop across the filter segment 109, which in turn
controls the
draw resistance of the article 101. Therefore the selection of the material of
the filter
segment 109 is important in controlling the resistance to draw of the article
101. In
addition, the filter segment performs a filtration function in the article
101.
In one example, the filter segment 109 is made of a 8Y15 grade of filter tow
material, which provides a filtration effect on the heated volatilised
material, whilst also
reducing the size of condensed aerosol droplets which result from the heated
volatilised material.
The presence of the filter segment 109 provides an insulating effect by
providing further cooling to the heated volatilised components that exit the
cooling
segment 107. This further cooling effect reduces the contact temperature of
the user's
lips on the surface of the filter segment 109.
In one example, the filter segment 109 is between 6mm to 10mm in length,
suitably 8mm.
The mouth end segment 111 is an annular tube and is located around and
defines an air gap within the mouth end segment 111. The air gap provides a
chamber
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for heated volatilised components that flow from the filter segment 109. The
mouth
end segment 111 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation yet
rigid
enough to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that might
arise
during manufacture and whilst the article is in use during insertion into the
device 1. In
one example, the thickness of the wall of the mouth end segment 111 is
approximately
0.29mm. In one example, the length of the mouth end segment 111 is between 6mm
to 10mm, suitably 8mm.
The mouth end segment 111 may be manufactured from a spirally wound paper
tube which provides a hollow internal chamber yet maintains critical
mechanical
rigidity. Spirally wound paper tubes are able to meet the tight dimensional
accuracy
requirements of high-speed manufacturing processes with respect to tube
length, outer
diameter, roundness and straightness.
The mouth end segment 111 provides the function of preventing any liquid
condensate that accumulates at the exit of the filter segment 109 from coming
into
direct contact with a user.
It should be appreciated that, in one example, the mouth end segment 111 and
the cooling segment 107 may be formed of a single tube and the filter segment
109 is
located within that tube separating the mouth end segment 111 and the cooling
segment 107.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, there are shown a partially cut-away section and
perspective views of an example of an article 301. The reference signs shown
in
Figures 3 and 4 are equivalent to the reference signs shown in Figures 1 and
2, but
with an increment of 200.
In the example of the article 301 shown in Figures 3 and 4, a ventilation
region
317 is provided in the article 301 to enable air to flow into the interior of
the article 301
from the exterior of the article 301. In one example the ventilation region
317 takes the
form of one or more ventilation holes 317 formed through the outer layer of
the article
301. The ventilation holes may be located in the cooling segment 307 to aid
with the
cooling of the article 301. In one example, the ventilation region 317
comprises one or
more rows of holes, and preferably, each row of holes is arranged
circumferentially
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around the article 301 in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular
to a
longitudinal axis of the article 301.
In one example, there are between one to four rows of ventilation holes to
provide ventilation for the article 301. Each row of ventilation holes may
have between
12 to 36 ventilation holes 317. The ventilation holes 317 may, for example, be
between
100 to 500pm in diameter. In one example, an axial separation between rows of
ventilation holes 317 is between 0.25mm and 0.75mm, suitably 0.5mm.
In one example, the ventilation holes 317 are of uniform size. In another
example, the ventilation holes 317 vary in size. The ventilation holes can be
made
using any suitable technique, for example, one or more of the following
techniques:
laser technology, mechanical perforation of the cooling segment 307 or pre-
perforation
of the cooling segment 307 before it is formed into the article 301. The
ventilation
holes 317 are positioned so as to provide effective cooling to the article
301.
In one example, the rows of ventilation holes 317 are located at least 11 mm
from the proximal end 313 of the article, suitably between 17mm and 20mm from
the
proximal end 313 of the article 301. The location of the ventilation holes 317
is
positioned such that user does not block the ventilation holes 317 when the
article 301
is in use.
Providing the rows of ventilation holes between 17mm and 20mm from the
proximal end 313 of the article 301 enables the ventilation holes 317 to be
located
outside of the device 1, when the article 301 is fully inserted in the device
1, as can be
seen in Figures 6 and 7. By locating the ventilation holes outside of the
device, non-
heated air is able to enter the article 301 through the ventilation holes from
outside the
device 1 to aid with the cooling of the article 301.
The length of the cooling segment 307 is such that the cooling segment 307
will be partially inserted into the device 1, when the article 301 is fully
inserted into the
device 1. The length of the cooling segment 307 provides a first function of
providing
a physical gap between the heater arrangement of the device 1 and the heat
sensitive
filter arrangement 309, and a second function of enabling the ventilation
holes 317 to
be located in the cooling segment, whilst also being located outside of the
device 1,
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when the article 301 is fully inserted into the device 1. As can be seen from
Figures 6
and 7, the majority of the cooling element 307 is located within the device 1.
However,
there is a portion of the cooling element 307 that extends out of the device
1. It is in
this portion of the cooling element 307 that extends out of the device 1 in
which the
5 ventilation holes 317 are located.
Referring now to Figures 5 to 7 in more detail, there is shown an example of a
device 1 arranged to heat aerosol-generating composition to volatilise at
least one
component of said aerosol-generating composition, typically to form an aerosol
which
10 can be inhaled. The device 1 is a heating device which
releases compounds by
heating, but not burning, the aerosol-generating material.
A first end 3 is sometimes referred to herein as the mouth or proximal end 3
of
the device 1 and a second end 5 is sometimes referred to herein as the distal
end 5 of
15 the device 1. The device 1 has an on/off button 7 to allow
the device 1 as a whole to
be switched on and off as desired by a user.
The device 1 comprises a housing 9 for locating and protecting various
internal
components of the device 1. In the example shown, the housing 9 comprises a
uni-
20 body sleeve 11 that encompasses the perimeter of the device
1, capped with a top
panel 17 which defines generally the lop' of the device 1 and a bottom panel
19 which
defines generally the 'bottom' of the device 1. In another example the housing
comprises a front panel, a rear panel and a pair of opposite side panels in
addition to
the top panel 17 and the bottom panel 19.
The top panel 17 and/or the bottom panel 19 may be removably fixed to the
uni-body sleeve 11, to permit easy access to the interior of the device 1, or
may be
"permanently" fixed to the uni-body sleeve 11, for example to deter a user
from
accessing the interior of the device 1. In an example, the panels 17 and 19
are made
of a plastics material, including for example glass-filled nylon formed by
injection
moulding, and the uni-body sleeve 11 is made of aluminium, though other
materials
and other manufacturing processes may be used.
The top panel 17 of the device 1 has an opening 20 at the mouth end 3 of the
device 1 through which, in use, the article 101, 301 including the aerosol-
generating
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composition may be inserted into the device 1 and removed from the device 1 by
a
user.
The housing 9 has located or fixed therein a heater arrangement 23, control
circuitry 25 and a power source 27. In this example, the heater arrangement
23, the
control circuitry 25 and the power source 27 are laterally adjacent (that is,
adjacent
when viewed from an end), with the control circuitry 25 being located
generally
between the heater arrangement 23 and the power source 27, though other
locations
are possible.
The control circuitry 25 may include a controller, such as a microprocessor
arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating of the aerosol-
generating
composition in the article 101, 301 as discussed further below.
The power source 27 may be for example a battery, which may be a
rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable
batteries
include for example a lithium-ion battery, a nickel battery (such as a
nickel¨cadmium
battery), an alkaline battery and/ or the like. The battery 27 is electrically
coupled to
the heater arrangement 23 to supply electrical power when required and under
control
of the control circuitry 25 to heat the aerosol-generating material in the
article (as
discussed, to volatilise the aerosol-generating material without causing the
aerosol-
generating material to burn).
An advantage of locating the power source 27 laterally adjacent to the heater
arrangement 23 is that a physically large power source 25 may be used without
causing the device 1 as a whole to be unduly lengthy. As will be understood,
in general
a physically large power source 25 has a higher capacity (that is, the total
electrical
energy that can be supplied, often measured in Amp-hours or the like) and thus
the
battery life for the device 1 can be longer.
In one example, the heater arrangement 23 is generally in the form of a hollow
cylindrical tube, having a hollow interior heating chamber 29 into which the
article 101,
301 comprising the aerosol-generating material is inserted for heating in use.
Different
arrangements for the heater arrangement 23 are possible. For example, the
heater
arrangement 23 may comprise a single heating element or may be formed of
plural
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heating elements aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heater arrangement
23.
The or each heating element may be annular or tubular, or at least part-
annular or part-
tubular around its circumference. In an example, the or each heating element
may be
a thin film heater. In another example, the or each heating element may be
made of a
ceramics material. Examples of suitable ceramics materials include alumina and
aluminium nitride and silicon nitride ceramics, which may be laminated and
sintered.
Other heating arrangements are possible, including for example inductive
heating,
infrared heater elements, which heat by emitting infrared radiation, or
resistive heating
elements formed by for example a resistive electrical winding.
In one particular example, the heater arrangement 23 is supported by a
stainless steel support tube and comprises a polyimide heating element. The
heater
arrangement 23 is dimensioned so that substantially the whole of the body of
aerosol-
generating composition 103, 303 of the article 101, 301 is inserted into the
heater
arrangement 23 when the article 101, 301 is inserted into the device 1.
The or each heating element may be arranged so that selected zones of the
aerosol-generating composition can be independently heated, for example in
turn (over
time, as discussed above) or together (simultaneously) as desired.
The heater arrangement 23 in this example is surrounded along at least part of
its length by a thermal insulator 31. The insulator 31 helps to reduce heat
passing from
the heater arrangement 23 to the exterior of the device 1. This helps to keep
down the
power requirements for the heater arrangement 23 as it reduces heat losses
generally.
The insulator 31 also helps to keep the exterior of the device 1 cool during
operation
of the heater arrangement 23. In one example, the insulator 31 may be a double-
walled sleeve which provides a low pressure region between the two walls of
the
sleeve. That is, the insulator 31 may be for example a "vacuum" tube, i.e. a
tube that
has been at least partially evacuated so as to minimise heat transfer by
conduction
and/or convection. Other arrangements for the insulator 31 are possible,
including
using heat insulating materials, including for example a suitable foam-type
material, in
addition to or instead of a double-walled sleeve.
The housing 59 may further comprises various internal support structures 37
for supporting all internal components, as well as the heating arrangement 23.
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The device 1 further comprises a collar 33 which extends around and projects
from the opening 20 into the interior of the housing 9 and a generally tubular
chamber
35 which is located between the collar 33 and one end of the vacuum sleeve 31.
The
chamber 35 further comprises a cooling structure 35f, which in this example,
comprises
a plurality of cooling fins 35f spaced apart along the outer surface of the
chamber 35,
and each arranged circumferentially around outer surface of the chamber 35.
There
is an air gap 36 between the hollow chamber 35 and the article 101, 301 when
it is
inserted in the device 1 over at least part of the length of the hollow
chamber 35. The
air gap 36 is around all of the circumference of the article 101, 301 over at
least part
of the cooling segment 307.
The collar 33 comprises a plurality of ridges 60 arranged circumferentially
around the periphery of the opening 20 and which project into the opening 20.
The
ridges 60 take up space within the opening 20 such that the open span of the
opening
at the locations of the ridges 60 is less than the open span of the opening 20
at the
locations without the ridges 60. The ridges 60 are configured to engage with
an article
101, 301 inserted into the device to assist in securing it within the device
1. Open
spaces (not shown in the Figures) defined by adjacent pairs of ridges 60 and
the article
20 101, 301 form ventilation paths around the exterior of the article
101, 301. These
ventilation paths allow hot vapours that have escaped from the article 101,
301 to exit
the device 1 and allow cooling air to flow into the device 1 around the
article 101, 301
in the air gap 36.
In operation, the article 101, 301 is removably inserted into an insertion
point
20 of the device 1, as shown in Figures 5 to 7. Referring particularly to
Figure 6, in one
example, the body of aerosol-generating composition 103, 303, which is located
towards the distal end 115, 315 of the article 101, 301, is entirely received
within the
heater arrangement 23 of the device 1. The proximal end 113, 313 of the
article 101,
301 extends from the device 1 and acts as a mouthpiece assembly for a user.
In operation, the heater arrangement 23 will heat the article 101, 301 to
volatilise at least one component of the aerosol-generating material from the
body of
aerosol-generating composition 103, 303.
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The primary flow path for the heated volatilised components from the body of
aerosol-generating composition 103, 303 is axially through the article 101,
301,
through the chamber inside the cooling segment 107, 307, through the filter
segment
109, 309, through the mouth end segment 111, 313 to the user. In one example,
the
temperature of the heated volatilised components that are generated from the
body of
aerosol-generating composition is between 60 C and 250 C, which may be above
the
acceptable inhalation temperature for a user. As the heated volatilised
component
travels through the cooling segment 107, 307, it will cool and some
volatilised
components will condense on the inner surface of the cooling segment 107, 307.
In the examples of the article 301 shown in Figures 3 and 4, cool air will be
able
to enter the cooling segment 307 via the ventilation holes 317 formed in the
cooling
segment 307. This cool air will mix with the heated volatilised components to
provide
additional cooling to the heated volatilised components.
DEFINITIONS
The active constituent as used herein may be a physiologically active
material,
which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response.
The
active constituent may for example be selected from nutraceuticals,
nootropics,
psychoactives. The active constituent may be naturally occurring or
synthetically
obtained. The active constituent may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine,
taurine,
theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or
constituents,
derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active constituent may comprise one
or more
constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another
botanical.
In one embodiment the active substance is a legally permissible recreational
drug.
In some embodiments, the active constituent comprises nicotine.
In some embodiments, the active constituent comprises caffeine, melatonin or
vitamin B12.
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As noted herein, the active constituent may comprise one or more constituents,
derivatives or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or
terpenes.
The active substance may be CBD or a derivative thereof.
5
Cannabinoids are a class of natural or synthetic chemical compounds which
act on cannabinoid receptors (i.e., CB1 and CB2) in cells that repress
neurotransmitter
release in the brain. Cannabinoids may be naturally occurring
(phytocannabinoids)
from plants such as cannabis, from animals (endocannabinoids), or artificially
10 manufactured (synthetic cannabinoids). Cannabis species express at
least 85 different
phytocannabinoids, and are divided into subclasses, including cannabigerols,
cannabichromenes, cannabidiols, tetrahydrocannabinols, cannabinols and
cannabinodiols, and other cannabinoids. Cannabinoids found in cannabis
include,
without limitation: cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidiol
(CBD),
15 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabinodiol (CBDL),
cannabicyclol
(CBL), cannabivarin (CBV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin
(CBDV),
cannabichromevarin (CBCV), cannabigerovarin (CBGV), cannabigerol monomethyl
ether (CBGM), cannabinerolic acid, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), Cannabinol
propyl
variant (CBNV), cannabitriol (CB0), tetrahydrocannabmolic acid (THCA), and
20 tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCV A).
The active constituent may comprise one or more cannabinoid compounds
selected from the group consisting of: cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC),
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol
(CBN),
25 cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabicyclol (CBL),
cannabivarin
(CBV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV),
cannabichromevarin
(CBCV), cannabigerovarin (CBGV), cannabigerol monomethyl ether (CBGM) and
cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabicitran (CBT).
30
The active constituent may comprise one or more cannabinoid compounds
selected from the group consisting of cannabidiol (CBD) and THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol).
The active constituent may comprise cannabidiol (CBD).
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The active constituent may comprise nicotine and cannabidiol (CBD).
The active constituent may comprise nicotine, cannabidiol (CBD), and THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol).
As noted herein, the active constituent may comprise or be derived from one
or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used
herein, the
term "botanical" includes any material derived from plants including, but not
limited to,
extracts, leaves, bark, fibres, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen,
husk, shells
or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound
naturally
existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the
form of liquid,
gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds,
strips, sheets, or
the like. Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa,
cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax,
ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha,
mate, orange
skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove,
cinnamon,
coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin,
nutmeg,
oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper,
elderflower,
vanilla, wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood,
cilantro,
bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien,
marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon,
geranium,
mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana,
chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from
the
following mint varieties: Mentha arvensis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha
piperita,
Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha piperita c.v., Mentha spicata crispa,
Mentha
cordifolia, Mentha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium,
Mentha
spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens.
In some embodiments, the botanical is selected from eucalyptus, star anise,
cocoa and hemp.
In some embodiments, the botanical is selected from rooibos and fennel.
As used herein, the terms "flavour" and "flavourant" refer to materials which,
where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma
or other
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somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include
naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals,
synthetically
obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice
(liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile,
fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise),
cinnamon,
turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, red
berry,
cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical
fruit,
papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry,
citrus
fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint,
peppermint,
lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood,
bergamot,
geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla,
lemon oil,
orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine,
ylang-
ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, pinnent, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint
oil from
any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass,
rooibos,
flax, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea
such as green
tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderrlower, basil, bay leaves, cumin,
oregano,
paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma,
cilantro,
myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm,
lemon
basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavour
enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site
activators or
stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame
potassium,
aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose,
sorbitol, or
mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals,
botanicals, or
breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural
ingredients or
blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, liquid such as
an oil,
solid such as a powder, or gas.
The flavour may suitably comprise one or more mint-flavours suitably a mint
oil
from any species of the genus Mentha. The flavour may suitably comprise,
consist
essentially of or consist of menthol.
In some embodiments, the flavour comprises menthol, spearmint and/or
peppermint.
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In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber,
blueberry, citrus fruits and/or redberry.
In some embodiments, the flavour comprises eugenol.
In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted
from tobacco.
In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted
from cannabis.
In some embodiments, the flavour may comprise a sensate, which is intended
to achieve a sonnatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced
and
perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in
addition to
or in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing
heating,
cooling, tingling, numbing effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is
not limited
to, vanillyl ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited
to eucalyptol,
WS-3.
As used herein, the term "aerosol-former" refers to an agent that promotes the
generation of an aerosol. An aerosol-former may promote the generation of an
aerosol
by promoting an initial vaporisation and/or the condensation of a gas to an
inhalable
solid and/or liquid aerosol.
Suitable aerosol-formers include, but are not limited to: a polyol such as
erythritol, sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols like propylene glycol or
triethylene glycol; a
non-polyol such as monohydric alcohols, high boiling point hydrocarbons, acids
such
as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as diacetin, triacetin,
triethylene glycol
diacetate, triethyl citrate or myristates including ethyl myristate and
isopropyl myristate
and aliphatic carboxylic acid esters such as methyl stearate, dimethyl
dodecanedioate
and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. The aerosol-former may suitably have a
composition
that does not dissolve menthol. The aerosol-former may suitably comprise,
consist
essentially of or consist of glycerol.
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In some embodiments, the aerosol-former comprises one or more polyhydric
alcohols, such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and
glycerin;
esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate;
and/or aliphatic
esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate
and
dimethyl tetradecanedioate.
As used herein, the term "tobacco material" refers to any material comprising
tobacco or derivatives thereof. The term "tobacco material" may include one or
more
of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or
tobacco
substitutes. The tobacco material may comprise one or more of ground tobacco,
tobacco fibre, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stem, reconstituted
tobacco
and/or tobacco extract.
The tobacco used to produce tobacco material may be any suitable tobacco,
such as single grades or blends, cut rag or whole leaf, including Virginia
and/or Burley
and/or Oriental. It may also be tobacco particle 'fines' or dust, expanded
tobacco,
stems, expanded stems, and other processed stem materials, such as cut rolled
stems.
The tobacco material may be a ground tobacco or a reconstituted tobacco
material.
The reconstituted tobacco material may comprise tobacco fibres, and may be
formed
by casting, a Fourdrinier-based paper making-type approach with back addition
of
tobacco extract, or by extrusion.
All percentages by weight described herein (denoted wt%) are calculated on a
dry weight basis, unless explicitly stated otherwise. All weight ratios are
also calculated
on a dry weight basis. A weight quoted on a dry weight basis refers to the
whole of the
extract or slurry or material, other than the water, and may include
components which
by themselves are liquid at room temperature and pressure, such as glycerol.
Conversely, a weight percentage quoted on a wet weight basis refers to all
components, including water.
For the avoidance of doubt, where in this specification the term "comprises"
is
used in defining the invention or features of the invention, embodiments are
also
disclosed in which the invention or feature can be defined using the terms
"consists
essentially of" or "consists of" in place of "comprises". Reference to a
material
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"comprising" certain features means that those features are included in,
contained in,
or held within the material.
The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the
5 invention. It is to be understood that any feature described in
relation to any one
embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described,
and
may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the
embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore,
equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without
10
departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the
accompanying claims.
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