KR20220133202A - aerosol generation - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to aerosol-generating compositions comprising an amorphous solid. The amorphous solid may be an aerosol-former material; gelling agents; optionally a filler; optionally active substances; and tobacco material. The present invention also relates to an article for use with a non-flammable aerosol providing device, the article comprising an aerosol-generating composition.

Description

aerosol generation

The present invention relates to aerosol generation.

Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, cigars, etc., produce tobacco smoke by burning a cigarette during use. Alternatives to these types of articles release inhalable aerosols or vapors by heating rather than burning to release compounds from the substrate material. These may be referred to as non-combustible smoking articles or aerosol generating assemblies.

One example of such an article is a heating device, which releases compounds by heating but not burning an aerosolable solid aerosol-generating composition. This solid aerosol-generating composition may optionally retain tobacco material. Heating volatilizes at least one component of the material, typically forming an inhalable aerosol. Such products may be referred to as heat-not-burn devices, tobacco heating devices or tobacco heating products. Various other arrangements are known for volatilizing at least one component of a solid aerosol-generating composition.

Another example is e-cigarette/cigarette heating product hybrid devices, also known as e-cigarette hybrid devices. These hybrid devices have a liquid source (which may or may not retain nicotine) that is evaporated by heating to generate an inhalable vapor or aerosol. The device further contains an aerosolable solid aerosol-generating composition, which may or may not have tobacco material, the components of which are entrained in an inhalable vapor or aerosol to generate an inhalation medium.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating composition, the aerosol-generating composition comprising:

- amorphous solid; and

- Tobacco material;

amorphous solids

- an aerosol-former material in an amount of about 40 to 80% by weight of the amorphous solid;

- gelling agents;

- optionally, a filler, wherein the amount of gelling agent and filler taken together is about 10 to 60 weight percent of the amorphous solid; and

- optionally, the active material in an amount of up to about 20% by weight of the amorphous solid,

The aerosol-generating composition has an aerosol-former material content of about 5 to 30% by weight of the aerosol-generating composition, these weights being calculated on a dry weight basis.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article for use with a non-flammable aerosol providing device, the article comprising an aerosol-generating composition as described herein.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol providing system comprising an article as described herein and a non-flammable aerosol providing device, wherein the non-combustible aerosol providing device comprises the article being a non-flammable aerosol providing device. configured to generate an aerosol from an article when used with the providing device.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for preparing an aerosol-generating composition, the method comprising:

providing an amorphous solid;

providing tobacco material; and

combining the amorphous solid and the tobacco material to provide an aerosol-generating composition;

amorphous solids

an aerosol-former material in an amount of about 40 to 80% by weight of the amorphous solid;

gelling agents;

optionally, a filler, wherein the amount of gelling agent and filler taken together is about 10 to 60 weight percent of the amorphous solid; and

optionally, the active material in an amount of up to about 20% by weight of the amorphous solid;

The aerosol-generating composition has an aerosol-forming agent content of about 5 to 30% by weight of the aerosol-generating composition, the weights being calculated on a dry weight basis.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided the use of a non-flammable aerosol providing system as described herein.

To the extent combinable, features described herein in connection with one aspect of the invention are expressly disclosed in combination with each and every other aspect.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of an aerosol-generating article.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the article of FIG. 1 ;
3 shows a cross-sectional elevation view of an example of an aerosol-generating article.
4 shows a perspective view of the article of FIG. 3 ;
5 shows a perspective view of an example of an aerosol generating assembly.
6 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of an aerosol generating assembly.
7 shows a perspective view of an example of an aerosol generating assembly.

An aerosol-generating composition described herein is a composition capable of generating an aerosol, for example, when heated, irradiated or energized in any other manner. The aerosol-generating composition may comprise, for example, features in solid, liquid or gel form that may or may not retain nicotine and/or flavoring agents. Aerosol-generating compositions include “amorphous solids,” which may alternatively be referred to as “monolithic solids” (ie, non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material capable of holding some fluid, such as a liquid, therein.

In examples, an aerosol-generating composition is provided. The aerosol-generating composition is suitable for inclusion in an article for use with a non-flammable aerosol providing device. The aerosol-generating composition comprises an amorphous solid and a tobacco material. The aerosol-generating composition has an aerosol-former material content of 5 to 30% by weight, the weight being calculated on a dry weight basis. In examples, the aerosol-generating composition comprises an aerosol-forming agent material in an amount of about 10 to 20% by weight, or about 13 to 17% by weight. In examples, the aerosol-generating composition comprises an aerosol-former material in an amount of about 15% by weight.

Cut rag tobacco blends, which can typically be used alone in conventional combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes, have been found to be unsuitable for use in non-combustible aerosol providing devices. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that cut filler tobacco blends for use in cigarettes typically cannot be loaded with sufficient aerosol-former material to provide the desired inhalable aerosol when heated by a non-flammable aerosol providing device. .

Previous attempts to address this problem have included replacing some or all of the cut filler tobacco in typical combustible tobacco blends with reconstituted tobacco, such as reconstituted paper tobacco. Recycled paper tobacco can typically have a greater proportion of aerosol-former material. However, the inventors have found that a tobacco blend comprising a high proportion of reconstituted paper tobacco may have undesirable sensory properties when heated by a non-combustible aerosol providing device.

The present inventors have found that by providing an amorphous solid having a high aerosol-former material content in combination with tobacco material, it is possible to generate an acceptable aerosol without requiring the presence of large amounts of reconstituted tobacco (and thereby providing a desirable aerosol associated with reconstituted tobacco). decreased sensory characteristics) was confirmed. In examples, the tobacco material comprises or consists of lamina tobacco (eg cut filler tobacco) that provides desirable sensory properties. In examples, the tobacco material comprises reconstituted tobacco in an amount of less than about 50%, 30%, 10%, 5%, or 1% by weight on a dry weight basis of the tobacco material. In examples, the tobacco material is substantially free of reconstituted tobacco.

Tobacco material is typically present in the aerosol-generating composition in an amount of about 50 to 95% by weight, or about 60 to 90% by weight, or about 70 to 90% by weight, or about 75 to 85% by weight.

Tobacco material can be in any format, but is typically fine-cut (eg, cut into shreds). The micro-cut tobacco material may advantageously be blended with the amorphous solid to provide an aerosol-generating composition having an even dispersion of the tobacco material and the amorphous solid throughout the aerosol-generating composition.

In examples, the tobacco material may comprise one or more of ground tobacco, tobacco fiber, tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stems, reconstituted tobacco and/or tobacco extract. Surprisingly, the inventors have found that it is possible to use relatively high amounts of lamina tobacco in aerosol-generating compositions, and still provide acceptable aerosols when heated by a non-flammable aerosol delivery system. Laminar cigarettes typically provide excellent sensory properties. In examples, the tobacco material comprises lamina tobacco in an amount of at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95% by weight of the tobacco material. In certain instances, the tobacco material comprises cut tobacco in an amount of at least about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% by weight of the tobacco material.

The tobacco used to make the tobacco material may be any suitable tobacco, such as single grades or blends, cut filler or whole leaf, including Virginia and/or Burley and/or Oriental.

The amorphous solid is present in the aerosol-generating composition in any amount such that the total aerosol-forming agent material content of the aerosol-generating composition is about 5 to 30% by weight of the aerosol-generating composition. In examples, the amorphous solid is included in the aerosol-generating composition in an amount of about 5 to 40% by weight, 10 to 30% by weight, 15 to 25% by weight, or 17 to 23% by weight. In examples, the aerosol-generating composition comprises an amorphous solid in an amount of about 20% by weight of the aerosol-generating composition. Surprisingly, by composing the amorphous solid to have a relatively high aerosol-former material content, a relatively small amount of amorphous solid (e.g., about 20% by weight) is still desirable for use with a non-flammable aerosol delivery system. can be used in aerosol-generating compositions while achieving

Amorphous solids include gelling agents, aerosol-former materials, optional fillers and optional active substances. In examples, the amorphous solid is

- an aerosol-former material in an amount of about 40 to 80% by weight of the amorphous solid;

- gelling agent and optional filler (i.e., in some instances the filler is present in the amorphous solid, and in other examples the filler is not present in the amorphous solid)—The amount of gelling agent and filler taken together is 10 to 60% by weight of the amorphous solid. is (ie, the gelling agent and filler together make up about 10 to 60 weight percent of the amorphous solid); and

- Optionally, the active material in an amount of up to about 20% by weight of the amorphous solid (ie, the amorphous solid comprises ≦20% by weight of the active material).

In examples, the amorphous solid comprises from about 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, or 35% to about 60%, 55%, 50% by weight of the gelling agent and filler taken together by weight of the amorphous solid. %, or 45% by weight. In examples, the amorphous solid comprises a gelling agent and a filler taken together in an amount of about 20 to 60%, 25 to 55%, 30 to 50%, or 35 to 45% by weight of the amorphous solid.

In examples, the amorphous solid comprises about 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, 25 wt%, 30 wt%, or 35 wt% of a gelling agent (i.e., not taking into account the amount of filler) of the amorphous solid. weight percent to about 60 weight percent, 55 weight percent, 50 weight percent, or 45 weight percent. In examples, the amorphous solid comprises from about 5 to 60 weight percent, 20 to 60 weight percent, 25 to 55 weight percent, 30 to 50 weight percent, or 35 weight percent of the amorphous solid (ie, not taking into account the amount of filler) of the gelling agent. to 45% by weight.

In embodiments, the gelling agent comprises a hydrocolloid. In some examples, the gelling agent is a group comprising alginates, pectins, starch (and derivatives), cellulose (and derivatives), gums, silica or silicone compounds, clays, polyvinyl alcohol and combinations thereof. one or more compounds selected from For example, in some embodiments, the gelling agent is alginates, pectins, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, pullulan, xanthan gum, guar gum, carrageenan, agarose, acacia gum, fuming one or more of silica, PDMS, sodium silicate, kaolin, and polyvinyl alcohol. In some examples, the gelling agent includes alginate and/or pectin and may be combined with a curing agent (eg, a calcium source) during formation of the amorphous solid. In some examples, the amorphous solid may include calcium-crosslinked alginate and/or calcium-crosslinked pectin.

The gelling agent may include one or more compounds selected from cellulosic gelling agents, non-cellulosic gelling agents, guar gum, acacia gum and mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, the cellulose gelling agent is hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate ( CA), cellulose acetate, butyrate (CAB), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises (or one or more of) hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, or acacia gum. to be).

In some embodiments, the gelling agent is one or more non-cellulose gels including, but not limited to, agar, xanthan gum, gum arabic, guar gum, locust bean gum, pectin, carrageenan, starch, alginates, and combinations thereof. agents (or one or more non-cellulosic gelling agents). In preferred embodiments, the non-cellulose based gelling agent is alginate or agar.

In some examples, the amorphous solid comprises alginate and/or pectin and/or guar gum.

In some examples, the alginate is included in the gelling agent in an amount of about 5-40% by weight, or 15-40% by weight of the amorphous solid. That is, the amorphous solid comprises alginate in an amount of about 5 to 40% by weight, or 15 to 40% by weight, based on the dry weight of the amorphous solid. In some examples, the amorphous solid comprises alginate in an amount of about 20 to 40% by weight, or about 15% to 35% by weight of the amorphous solid.

In some instances, pectin is included in the gelling agent in an amount of about 3 to 15% by weight of the amorphous solid. That is, the amorphous solid includes pectin in an amount of about 3 to 15% by weight based on the dry weight of the amorphous solid. In some examples, the amorphous solid comprises pectin in an amount of about 5-10% by weight of the amorphous solid.

In some instances, guar gum is included in the gelling agent in an amount of about 3 to 40 weight percent of the amorphous solid. That is, the amorphous solid comprises guar gum in an amount of about 3 to 40% by weight based on the dry weight of the amorphous solid. In some examples, the amorphous solid comprises guar gum in an amount of about 5 to 10% by weight of the amorphous solid. In some examples, the amorphous solid comprises guar gum in an amount of about 15-40%, or about 20-40%, or about 15-35% by weight of the amorphous solid.

In examples, the alginate is present in an amount of at least about 50% by weight of the gelling agent. In examples, the amorphous solid comprises alginate and pectin, wherein the ratio of alginate to pectin is from 1:1 to 10:1. The ratio of alginate to pectin is typically >1:1. That is, the alginate is present in an amount greater than the amount of pectin. In examples, the ratio of alginate to pectin is about 2:1 to 8:1, or about 3:1 to 6:1, or about 4:1.

The amorphous solid may include fillers. Taken together, amorphous solids typically include gelling agents and fillers (if present) in an amount of about 10 to 60 weight percent of the amorphous solid. In examples, the amorphous solid comprises filler in an amount of 1 to 15% by weight of the amorphous solid, such as 5% to 15% by weight, or 8% to 12% by weight of the amorphous solid. In examples, the amorphous solid comprises filler in an amount greater than 1%, 5% or 8% by weight of the amorphous solid. In examples, the amorphous solid comprises a filler in an amount of less than 40%, 30%, 20%, 15%, 12%, 10%, 5% or 1% by weight of the amorphous solid. In other examples, the amorphous solid does not include a filler.

The filler, if present, includes one or more inorganic filler materials such as calcium carbonate, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium carbonate, and suitable inorganic adsorbents such as molecular sieves. can do. The filler may include one or more organic filler materials, such as wood pulp, cellulose and cellulose derivatives. In special cases, the amorphous solid does not include calcium carbonate, such as chalk.

In some embodiments comprising a filler, the filler is fibrous. For example, the filler may be a fibrous organic filler material such as wood pulp, hemp fiber, cellulose or cellulose derivatives. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the inclusion of fibrous fillers in the amorphous solid may increase the tensile strength of the material. This may be particularly advantageous in instances where the amorphous solid is provided as a sheet, such as where the amorphous solid sheet surrounds a rod of tobacco material.

In examples, the amorphous solid does not include tobacco fibers. In certain instances, the amorphous solid does not include a fibrous material.

Amorphous solids typically comprise aerosol-former material in an amount of up to about 80% by weight of the amorphous solid, such as about 40-80%, 40-75%, 50-70%, or 55-65% by weight. do.

In examples, the tobacco material comprises an aerosol-former material. Typically, the tobacco material comprises micro-cut tobacco and the aerosol-former material is loaded onto pieces of tobacco. In examples, the tobacco material comprises the aerosol-former material in an amount of about 1 to 10 weight percent, such as 3 to 6 weight percent, of the tobacco material.

In examples, the aerosol-generating composition comprises the aerosol-forming agent material in an amount of about 5 to 30% by weight, such as 10 to 20% by weight, or 13 to 17% by weight of the aerosol-generating composition. In examples, the aerosol-generating composition comprises an aerosol-forming agent material in an amount of about 15% by weight of the aerosol-generating composition. This amount includes any aerosol-former material present in the aerosol-generating composition, such as aerosol-former material provided in an amorphous solid and aerosol-former material loaded onto finely cut tobacco.

Aerosol-former materials typically include glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate can In certain instances, the aerosol-former material comprises glycerol. For example, the amorphous solid and/or tobacco material comprises glycerol.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material is 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 embodiments, the amorphous solid consists essentially of, or consists of, a gelling agent, an aerosol-former material, an active substance and water. In examples, the amorphous solid consists essentially of, or consists of, a gelling agent, an aerosol-former material and water.

The aerosol-generating composition may comprise one or more active substances. In examples, the amorphous solid comprises one or more active substances, eg, up to about 20% by weight of the amorphous solid. In examples, the amorphous solid comprises the active material in an amount from about 1%, 5%, 10% or 15% to about 20%, 15%, 15% or 5% by weight of the amorphous solid. .

In examples, the amorphous solid does not include a flavoring agent; In certain instances, the amorphous solid does not include an active material.

The active substance may include a physiologically and/or olfactory active substance included in the aerosol-generating composition to achieve a physiological and/or olfactory response. The active substance may be selected, for example, from functional foods, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substances may be obtained naturally or synthetically. The active substance may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, thein, a vitamin such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, a cannabinoid, or a component, derivative or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12. Active substances may include components, derivatives or extracts of tobacco or other botanicas such as cannabinoids or cannabis such as terpenes. In some embodiments, the active substance is a physiologically active substance, including nicotine, nicotine salts (eg, nicotine ditartrate/nicotine bitartrate), nicotine-free tobacco substitutes, other alkaloids such as caffeine, cannabinoids or mixtures thereof. Cannabinoids are a class of natural or synthetic compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors (ie, CB1 and CB2) in cells that inhibit neurotransmitter release in the brain. Two of the most important cannabinoids are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabinoids occur naturally from plants such as cannabis (plant cannabinoids), from animals (endocannabinoids), or can be manufactured artificially (synthetic cannabinoids). Cannabinoids are cyclic molecules that exhibit certain properties, such as the ability to readily cross the blood-brain barrier, mild toxicity and some side effects. The cannabis species contains at least 85 different plant cannabinoids, including cannabigerols, cannabichromens, cannabidiols, tetrahydrocannabinols, cannabinols and cannabinodiols. subclasses, and other cannabinoids. Cannabinoids found in cannabis include, but are not limited to, cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) , cannabinol (CBN) and cannabinodiol (CBDL), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabivarin (CBV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin ( CBDV), cannabichrombarin (CBCV), cannabigerovarin (CBGV), cannabigerol monomethyl ether (CBGM), cannabinerolic acid, cannabinerolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol propyl variant ( Cannabinol propyl variant) (CBNV), cannabitriol (CBO), tetrahydrocannabmolic acid (THCA), and tetrahydrocannabivaric acid (THCV A).

In some embodiments, the active substance is cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidioic acid (CBDA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabide Rol (CBG), cannabichromen (CBC), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabivarin (CBV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabichrombarin ( CBCV), cannabigerovarin (CBGV), cannabigerol monomethyl ether (CBGM) and cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabicitran (CBT).

The active substance may comprise one or more cannabinoid compounds selected from the group consisting of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

The active substance may include cannabidiol (CBD).

Active substances may include nicotine and cannabidiol (CBD).

Active substances may include nicotine, cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

In some embodiments, the active substance is an olfactory active substance and, if local regulations permit, is used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensory sensation in a product for adult purchasers. may be selected from "flavour" and "flavourant" which may be used. In some cases, these ingredients may be referred to as flavoring agents, flavoring agents, cooling agents, heat-sensitizing agents, or sweetening agents. These are naturally occurring flavoring ingredients, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained ingredients, or combinations thereof (eg, tobacco, cannabis, licorice, hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf). , chamomile, fenugreek, cloves, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spice, Asian spice, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, redberry, cranberry, peach, apple , Orange, Mango, Clementine, Lemon, Lime, Tropical Fruit, Papaya, Rhubarb, Grape, Durian, Dragon Fruit, Cucumber, Blueberry, Mulberry, Citrus, Dram V, Bourbon, Scotch, Whiskey, Gin, Tequila, Rum, Spearmint , peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, kart, naswar, betel nut, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange Oil, Orange Blossom, Cherry Blossom, Cassia, Caraway, Cognac, Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Sage, Fennel, Wasabi, Chili, Ginger, Coriander, Coffee, Hemp, Mint Oil from Any Species of Mint, Eucalyptus, Octagonal , cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, green or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, paprika , Rosemary, Saffron, Lemon Peel, Mint, Leaflet, Curcuma, Coriander, Myrtle, Cassis, Valerian, Pimento, Mace, Damian, Marjoram, Olive, Lemon Balm, Lemon Basil, Chive, Carbi, Verbena, Tarragon, Limonene , thymol, camphene), flavor enhancers, bitter receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or stimulants, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g. sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclin) ramates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals or bad breath agents. All. "Flavor" and "flavoring agent" may be artificial, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. “Flavor” and “flavoring agent” may be in any suitable form, for example, a liquid such as an oil, a solid such as a powder, or a gas.

In some embodiments, the flavor comprises menthol, spearmint and/or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavor includes flavoring ingredients of cucumber, blueberry, citrus and/or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises flavor ingredients extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises flavor ingredients extracted from cannabis. In some embodiments, a flavor is a sensate intended to achieve a somatosensory sensation that is generally chemically induced and perceived by stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve) in addition to or in lieu of smell or taste nerves. ), and these may include agents that provide a feeling of heat, cold, tingling, and numbness. A suitable cooling agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether, and a suitable cooling agent may be, but is not limited to, eucalyptol, WS-3.

The term "botanical" refers to any plant derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, bark, integuments, and the like. includes materials. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally present in the botanical obtained synthetically. A material may be in the form of a liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, pulverized particles, granules, granules, pieces, strips, sheets, and the like. Exemplary botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo, hazelnut, hibiscus, laurel, licorice, matcha, mate, orange Skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green or black tea, thyme, cloves, cinnamon, coffee, anise, basil, bay leaf, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron , lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, wintergreen, leaflet, turmeric, turmeric, sandalwood, coriander, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damian, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carbi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof . The mint may be selected from the following mint varieties: Mentha arvensis, Mentha cv, Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata cv, Mentha piperita cv, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cordifolia, Mentha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium Mentha spicata cv 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.

The aerosol-generating composition or amorphous solid 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 monoproton, a diprotic, and a triprotic. In some such embodiments, the acid may contain at least one carboxyl functional group. In some such embodiments, the acid can be at least one of an alpha-hydroxy acid, a carboxylic acid, a dicarboxylic acid, a tricarboxylic acid, and a keto acid. In some such embodiments, the acid can be an alpha-keto acid.

In some such embodiments, the acid can 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 acid and pyruvic acid.

Suitably the acid is lactic acid. In other embodiments, the acid is benzoic acid. In other embodiments, the acid can be an inorganic acid. In some of these embodiments, the acid can be an inorganic acid. In some such embodiments, the acid may be at least one of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, boric acid, and phosphoric acid. In some embodiments, the acid is levulinic acid.

Comprising an acid is particularly preferred in embodiments where the aerosol-generating composition or amorphous solid comprises nicotine. In such embodiments, the presence of the acid may stabilize the dissolved species in the aerosol-generating composition or slurry from which an amorphous solid 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 manufacture.

In certain embodiments, the aerosol-generating composition or amorphous solid comprises a gelling agent, including a cellulosic gelling agent and/or a non-cellulosic gelling agent, an active substance and an acid.

The amorphous solid may include a colorant. The addition of colorants can change the visual appearance of the amorphous solid. The presence of a colorant in the amorphous solid can enhance the visual appearance of the amorphous solid and aerosol-generating composition. By adding a colorant to the amorphous solid, the amorphous solid can be color-matched to other components of the aerosol-generating composition or other components of an article comprising the amorphous solid.

Various colorants may be used depending on the desired color of the amorphous solid. The color of the amorphous solid may be, for example, white, green, red, purple, blue, brown or black. Also, other colors are contemplated. Natural or synthetic colorants may be used, such as natural or synthetic dyes, food-grade colorants and pharmaceutical-grade colorants. In certain embodiments, the colorant is caramel, which can give an amorphous solid with a brown appearance. In such embodiments, the color of the amorphous solid may be similar to the color of other components (eg, tobacco material) in the aerosol-generating composition comprising the amorphous solid. In some embodiments, the addition of a colorant to the amorphous solid makes it difficult to visually distinguish the amorphous solid from other components in the aerosol-generating composition.

The colorant may be incorporated during formation of the amorphous solid (e.g., when forming a slurry comprising materials that form the amorphous solid), or the colorant may be applied to the amorphous solid after formation of the amorphous solid (e.g., by spraying the colorant onto the amorphous solid).

The amorphous solid may have any suitable water content, such as from 1% to 15% by weight. Suitably, the water content of the amorphous solid is from about 5%, 7% or 9% to about 15%, 13% or 11% by weight (WWB). The water content of the amorphous solid may be determined, for example, by Karl-Fischer-titration or Gas Chromatography with Thermal Conductivity Detector (GC-TCD).

The amorphous solid is present in the aerosol-generating composition in any suitable form. In examples, the amorphous solid is in sheet form. In examples, the amorphous solid exists as a shredded sheet (eg, the aerosol-generating composition comprises pieces of the amorphous solid). In examples, the amorphous solid is present as a shredded sheet and blended with micro-cut and/or shredded tobacco material, eg, the amorphous solid and tobacco material are in a similar form. Advantageously, providing both the amorphous solid and the tobacco material as pieces/micro-cut parts enables an aerosol-generating composition blend with an even dispersion of the amorphous solid and the tobacco material throughout the aerosol-generating composition .

The amorphous solid may be present on or within a support to form a substrate. The support functions as a support on which an amorphous solid layer is formed to facilitate fabrication. The support may provide rigidity to the amorphous solid layer to facilitate handling.

The support can be any suitable material that can be used to support an amorphous solid. In some cases, the support may be formed of materials selected from metal foil, paper, carbon paper, oil resistant paper, carbon allotropes such as ceramic, graphite and graphene, plastic, cardboard, wood, or combinations thereof. In some cases, the support may comprise or consist of tobacco material, such as a sheet of reconstituted tobacco. In some cases, the support may be formed of materials selected from metal foil, paper, cardboard, wood, or combinations thereof. In some cases, the support comprises paper. In some cases, the support itself may be a laminate structure comprising layers of materials selected from the previous lists. In some cases, the support may also function as a flavor support. For example, the support may be impregnated with a flavoring agent or tobacco extract.

Suitably, the thickness of the support layer is from about 10 μm, 15 μm, 17 μm, 20 μm, 23 μm, 25 μm, 50 μm, 75 μm or 0.1 mm to about 2.5 mm, 2.0 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.0 mm or It may be in the range of 0.5 mm. The support may include more than one layer, and the thicknesses described herein refer to the total thickness of these layers.

In some cases, the surface of the support facing the amorphous solid may be porous. For example, in one case, the support comprises paper. The inventors have found that a porous support, such as paper, is particularly suitable for the present invention, wherein the porous (eg, paper) layer abuts the amorphous solid layer to form a strong bond. An amorphous solid is formed by drying the gel, and although not limited by theory, the slurry from which the gel is formed partially impregnates a porous support (eg, paper) so that the support partially adheres to the gel when the gel hardens and forms crosslinks. is believed to be coupled to This provides a strong bond between the gel and the support (and between the dried gel and the support).

Moreover, the surface roughness can contribute to the bond strength between the amorphous material and the support. We find that the paper roughness (for the surface abutting the support) is suitably 50 to 1000 Bekk seconds, suitably 50 to 150 Bekk seconds, suitably 100 Bekk seconds (over an atmospheric pressure interval of 50.66 to 48.00 kPa). was found to be in the range of ). (The Bekk smoothness tester is a tool used to determine the smoothness of a paper surface that leaks air at a specified pressure between a smooth glass surface and a paper sample, and the time (in seconds) that a fixed volume of air permeates between these surfaces. is "beck smoothness")

In some cases, the support is formed from or comprises a metal foil, such as an aluminum foil. The metallic support may allow better conduction of thermal energy to the amorphous solid. Additionally or alternatively, the metal foil may function as a susceptor in an induction heating system.

In some cases, the support may have a thickness of from about 0.017 mm to about 2.0 mm, suitably from about 0.02 mm, 0.05 mm or 0.1 mm to about 1.5 mm, 1.0 mm, or 0.5 mm.

The amorphous solid may have any suitable areal density, such as 30 g/m 2 to 120 g/m 2 . In examples, the amorphous solid has an areal density of about 30 to 70 g/m 2 , or about 40 to 60 g/m 2 . In examples, the amorphous solid has an areal density of about 80 to 120 g/m 2 , or about 70 to 110 g/m 2 , or particularly about 90 to 110 g/m 2 . Such areal densities may be particularly suitable where the amorphous solid is incorporated into an aerosol-generating article/assembly in sheet form or as a shredded sheet (described further below).

In examples, the amorphous solid has an areal density that is between about 90 and 110% of the areal density of the tobacco material. That is, the amorphous solid and the tobacco material have similar areal densities. The inventors have found that composing the amorphous solid and the tobacco material to have similar areal densities allows for better mixing of the amorphous solid and the tobacco material, typically when provided as a shredded sheet. For example, crushed amorphous solid sheet and cut filler tobacco having similar areal densities are blended to provide a more homogeneous aerosol-generating composition (eg, a better distribution of each component throughout the aerosol-generating composition). can be

Fine cut tobacco (eg, cut filler tobacco) has a cut width, typically expressed as cuts per inch (CPI), which refers to the width of a piece of tobacco. The amorphous solid provided as a solid sheet has a cut width. In some instances where the tobacco material is microcut (eg, the tobacco material comprises cut filler) and the amorphous solid is a crushed sheet, the cut width of the amorphous solid is about 90 to 110% of the cut width of the cut filler. That is, the amorphous solid and tobacco material have cut widths or crush widths. The inventors have found that configuring the amorphous solid and the tobacco material to have similar cut widths allows for better mixing of the amorphous solid and the tobacco material. For example, crushed amorphous solid sheet and cut filler tobacco having similar cut widths are blended to provide a more homogeneous aerosol-generating composition (eg, a better distribution of each component throughout the aerosol-generating composition). can be

In some examples, the amorphous solid in the form of a sheet may have a tensile strength of from about 150 N/m to about 1,200 N/m. In some examples, such as where the amorphous solid does not include a filler, the amorphous solid has a tensile strength of 150 N/m to 500 N/m, or 200 N/m to 300 N/m, or about 250 N/m. can have In some examples, such as when the amorphous solid includes a filler, the amorphous solid can have a tensile strength of 600 N/m to 1,200 N/m, or 700 N/m to 900 N/m, or about 800 N/m. have.

One aspect of the present invention relates to an article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision system. The article comprises an aerosol-generating composition described herein. A consumable is an article, some or all of it, intended to be consumed during use by a user. The consumable may comprise or consist of an aerosol-generating composition. The consumable may include one or more other elements such as a filter or an aerosol modifying substance. The consumable may include a heating element that, in use, emits heat such that the aerosol-generating composition generates an aerosol. The heating element may comprise, for example, a combustible material, or it may comprise a susceptor that is heatable by penetration by a variable magnetic field.

A susceptor is a material that can be heated by penetration by a variable magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. Since the heating material may be an electrically conductive material, penetration of the heating material by the variable magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. Since the heating material may be a magnetic material, penetration of the heating material by the variable magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. Since the heating material can be both electrically conductive and magnetic, the heating material is heatable by both heating mechanisms.

Induction heating is a process in which an electrically conductive object is heated by a variable magnetic field penetrating the object. The process is described by Faraday's law of induction and Ohm's law. An induction heater may include an electromagnet and a device for passing a variable current, such as an alternating current, through the electromagnet. When the electromagnet and the object to be heated are properly positioned relative to each other such that the resulting variable magnetic field generated by the electromagnet penetrates the object to be heated, one or more eddy currents are created within the object. An object has resistance to the flow of currents. Therefore, when these eddy currents are generated in the object, the object is heated by the flow of the eddy currents against the electrical resistance of the object. This process is called Joule, ohmic, or resistance heating.

In examples, the susceptor is in the form of a closed circuit. It has been found that when the susceptor is in the form of a closed circuit, in use the magnetic coupling between the susceptor and the electromagnet is enhanced, which results in greater or improved Joule heating.

Magnetic hysteresis heating is a process in which an object made of a magnetic material is heated by penetrating a variable magnetic field into the object. A magnetic material may be considered to include many atomic-scale magnets or magnetic dipoles. When a magnetic field penetrates these materials, the magnetic dipoles are aligned with the magnetic field. Thus, when a variable magnetic field, for example an alternating magnetic field generated by an electromagnet, penetrates a magnetic material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles changes according to the applied variable magnetic field. This magnetic dipole reorientation causes heat to be generated in the magnetic material.

When an object is both electrically conductive and magnetic, when a variable magnetic field penetrates the object, both Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating can be induced in the object. Moreover, the use of magnetic material may enhance the magnetic field, which may intensify Joule heating.

Since, in each of the preceding processes, heat is generated within the object itself rather than by heat conduction by an external heat source, in particular through selection of suitable object materials and geometries, and suitable variable magnetic field magnitudes and orientations for the object, the object A rapid temperature rise inside and a more uniform heat distribution can be achieved. Moreover, induction heating and magnetic hysteresis heating can provide greater design freedom and control over the heating profile and lower cost, as no physical connection must be provided between the source of the variable magnetic field and the object. have.

The articles of the present invention may be provided in any suitable shape. In some examples, the article is provided as a rod (eg, substantially cylindrical).

In examples, the aerosol-generating composition comprises an amorphous solid as a crushed sheet, optionally blended with a tobacco material (eg, chopped tobacco). In examples, an article having a substantially cylindrical shape is provided comprising an aerosol-generating composition comprising an amorphous solid as a crushed sheet blended with a tobacco material.

Alternatively, or additionally, an article provided as a rod may include the amorphous solid as a sheet, such as a sheet surrounding the rod of tobacco material.

One aspect of the present invention provides a non-combustible aerosol providing system comprising an article as described herein, and a non-combustible aerosol providing device comprising a heater configured to heat but not burn the aerosol-generating article. A non-combustible aerosol delivery system may also be referred to as an aerosol generating assembly. A non-flammable aerosol providing device may be referred to as an aerosol generating device.

In some cases, in use, the heater can heat the aerosol-generating composition to a temperature of 350° C. or less, such as between 120° C. and 350° C. without burning the aerosol-generating composition. In some cases, the heater can heat the aerosol-generating composition without burning it to 140° C. to 250° C., or 220° C. to 280° C. in use.

The heater is configured to heat but not burn the aerosol-generating article, and thus the aerosol-generating composition. The heater may in some cases be a thin film electrical resistance heater. In other cases, the heater may include an induction heater or the like. The heater may be a combustible heat source or a chemical heat source that undergoes an exothermic reaction that produces heat in use. The aerosol generating assembly may include a plurality of heaters. The heater(s) may be powered by a battery.

The heater may include one or more electrical resistance heaters, including, for example, one or more nichrome resistance heater(s) and/or one or more ceramic heater(s). The one or more heaters may include one or more induction heaters comprising one or more susceptors capable of forming a chamber into which an article comprising an aerosolizable material is inserted or otherwise positioned in use. It can contain arrays. Alternatively or additionally, the aerosolizable material may be provided with one or more susceptors. Other heating arrangements may also be used.

The aerosol-generating article may further comprise a cooling element and/or a filter. The cooling element, if present, may act or function to cool the gas or aerosol components. In some cases, the gas components may act to cool the gas components to condense to form an aerosol. It may also act to space the ultra-hot portions of the non-flammable aerosol providing device away 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 aerosol generating assembly may be a heat-not-burn device. That is, the aerosol-generating assembly may retain the solid tobacco-retaining material (but not the liquid aerosol-generating material). In some cases, the amorphous solid may comprise tobacco material. A non-combustion heating device is disclosed in WO 2015/062983 A2, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Aerosol-generating articles (which may be referred to herein as articles, cartridges or consumables) may be adapted for use in THPs, electronic tobacco hybrid devices or other aerosol-generating devices. In some cases, the article may further include a filter and/or a cooling element (as described above). In some cases, the aerosol-generating article may be surrounded by a wrapping material, such as paper. In certain instances, the article is adapted for use with a tobacco heating product.

The aerosol-generating article may further include ventilation apertures. They may be provided on the sidewall of the article. In some cases, vent holes may be provided in the filter and/or cooling element. These apertures may allow cooling air to be drawn into the article during use, which may mix with the heated volatile components, thereby cooling the aerosol.

Ventilation enhances the production of visible heated volatilized components from the article when the article is heated in use. The heated volatilized components are made visible by a process of cooling the heated volatilized components such that supersaturation of the heated volatilized components occurs. The heated volatilized components are then subjected to droplet formation—otherwise known as nucleation—and, eventually, the size of the aerosol particles of the heated volatilized components is It is increased by further condensation of the heated components and coagulation of newly formed droplets from the heated volatilized components.

In some cases, the ratio of the cold air to the sum of the heated volatilized components and the cold air (also known as the aeration ratio) is at least 15%. An aeration rate of 15% enables the heating volatilized components to be visualized by the method described above. The visibility of the heated volatilized ingredients enables the user to identify which volatilized ingredients were produced, adding to the sensory experience of the smoking experience.

In another example, the aeration rate is between 50% and 85% to provide additional cooling to the heated volatilized components. In some cases, the ventilation rate may be at least 60% or 65%.

In some cases, the aerosol generating material may be included in an article/assembly in the form of a sheet. In some cases, the aerosol generating material may be included as a flat sheet. In some cases, the aerosol generating material may be incorporated as a flat sheet, as a bundled or corrugated sheet, as a crimped sheet, or as a rolled sheet (ie, in the form of a tube). In some such cases, the amorphous solid of these embodiments may be included in the aerosol-generating article/assembly as a sheet, such as a sheet surrounding a rod of tobacco material. In some other cases, the aerosol generating material may be formed as a sheet and then crushed to be incorporated into an article. In some cases, the shredded sheet may be mixed with cut filler tobacco and incorporated into an article.

The assembly may comprise an integral aerosol-generating article and a heater, or it may comprise a heater device into which the article is inserted in use.

1 and 2 , shown are partially cut-away cross-sectional and perspective views of an example of an aerosol-generating 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 51 illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 described below. In use, the article 101 may be removably inserted into the device shown in FIG. 5 at an insertion point 20 of the device 51 .

One example article 101 is in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod comprising a body of aerosol generating material 103 in the form of a rod and a filter assembly 105 . Aerosol generating materials include the amorphous solid materials described herein. In some embodiments, it may be included in the form of a sheet. In some embodiments, it may be included in the form of shredded sheets. In some embodiments, the amorphous solids described herein can be incorporated in sheet form and crushed form.

The filter assembly 105 comprises 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 or proximal end, and a second end 115 , also known as a distal end. The body of the aerosol generating material 103 is positioned towards the distal end 115 of the article 101 . In one example, the cooling segment 107 is positioned adjacent the body of the aerosol-generating material 103 between the body of the aerosol-generating material 103 and the filter segment 109 such that the cooling segment 107 is aerosol-generating. is in abutting relationship with material 103 and filter segment 109 . In other examples, there may be a gap between the body of the aerosol generating material 103 and the cooling segment 107 , and between the body of the aerosol generating material 103 and the filter segment 109 . The filter segment 109 is positioned between the cooling segment 107 and the mouth end segment 111 . The mouth end segment 111 is positioned toward the proximal end 113 of the article 101 adjacent the filter segment 109 . In one example, filter segment 109 is in abutting relationship with mouth end segment 111 . In one embodiment, the overall length of the filter assembly 105 is between 37 mm and 45 mm, and more preferably the overall length of the filter assembly 105 is 41 mm.

In one example, the rod of aerosol generating material 103 is between 34 mm and 50 mm in length, suitably between 38 mm and 46 mm in length, suitably between 42 mm in length.

In one example, the overall length of the article 101 is between 71 mm and 95 mm, suitably between 79 mm and 87 mm, suitably between about 83 mm.

The axial end of the body of the aerosol generating material 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 include an end member (not shown) covering the axial end of the body of the aerosol generating material 103 .

The body of the aerosol generating material 103 is bonded to the filter assembly 105 by an annular tipping paper (not shown), which tipping paper substantially surrounds the filter assembly 105 ( It is located around the circumference of 105 and extends partially along the length of the body of the aerosol generating material 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 42 mm and 50 mm, suitably about 46 mm.

In one example, cooling segment 107 is an annular tube, positioned around the cooling segment and defining an air gap within the cooling segment. The voids provide a chamber through which the heated volatilized components generated from the body of the aerosol generating material 103 flow. The cooling segment 107 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation, but avoids axial compressive forces and bending moments that may arise during manufacture and while the article 101 is being inserted into the device 51 in use. It has enough strength to withstand it. In one example, the thickness of the wall of the cooling segment 107 is approximately 0.29 mm.

The cooling segment 107 provides a physical displacement between the aerosol generating material 103 and the filter segment 109 . The physical displacement provided by the cooling segment 107 will provide a thermal gradient over the length of the cooling segment 107 . In one example, the cooling segment 107 is at least 40° C. between the heated volatilized component entering the first end of the cooling segment 107 and the heated volatilized component exiting the second end of the cooling segment 107 . is configured to provide a temperature difference of In one example, the cooling segment 107 is at least 60° C. between the heated volatilized component entering the first end of the cooling segment 107 and the heated volatilized component exiting the second end of the cooling segment 107 . is configured to provide a temperature difference of This temperature difference across the length of the cooling element 107 protects the temperature sensitive filter segment 109 from the high temperatures of the aerosol generating material 103 when the aerosol generating material 103 is heated by the device 51 . If no physical displacement is provided between the filter segment 109 and the body of the aerosol generating material 103 and the heating elements of the device 51 , the temperature sensitive filter segment 109 is damaged in use, so its requirements It will not perform its functions effectively.

In one example, the length of the cooling segment 107 is at least 15 mm. In one example, the length of the cooling segment 107 is between 20 mm and 30 mm, more specifically between 23 mm and 27 mm, more specifically between 25 mm and 27 mm, suitably 25 mm.

The cooling segment 107 may be made of paper, which states that the cooling segment 107 is constructed of a material that does not generate compounds of interest, eg, toxic compounds, when in use adjacent to the heater of the device 51 . means that In one example, the cooling segment 107 is made of a spirally wound paper tube that provides a hollow inner chamber, but maintains mechanical rigidity. Spirally wound paper tubes can meet the stringent 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 stiff plug wrap or recess created in tipping paper. The rigid plug wrap or tipping paper is manufactured to have sufficient stiffness to withstand bending moments and axial compressive forces that may occur during manufacture and while the article 101 is being inserted into the device 51 in use.

Filter segment 109 may be formed of any filter material sufficient to remove one or more volatilized compounds from heated volatilized components from the aerosol generating material. In one example, filter segment 109 is made of a mono-acetate material such as cellulose acetate. Filter segment 109 provides cooling and irritation-reduction from heated volatilized components without depleting the amount of heated volatilized components to an unsatisfactory level for the user.

In some implementations, a capsule (not illustrated) may be provided in the filter segment 109 . It may be disposed substantially centrally of the filter segment 109 across the filter segment 109 diameter and along the length of the filter segment 109 . In other cases, one or more dimensions may be offset. Capsules, if present, may in some cases retain volatile ingredients such as flavoring agents or aerosol generators.

The density of the cellulose acetate tow material in the filter segment 109 controls the pressure drop across the filter segment 109 , which in turn controls the draw resistance of the article 101 . Accordingly, the material selection of the filter segment 109 is important in controlling the resistance to aspiration of the article 101 . In addition, the filter segment performs a filtering function in the article 101 .

In one example, the filter segment 109 is made of a filter tow material of grade 8Y15, which provides a filtering effect to the heated volatilized material while reducing the size of condensed aerosol droplets arising from the heated volatilized material. .

The presence of the filter segment 109 provides an insulating effect by providing additional cooling to the heated volatilized components exiting the cooling segment 107 . This additional cooling effect reduces the contact temperature of the user's lips on the surface of the filter segment 109 .

In one example, filter segment 109 is between 6 mm and 10 mm in length, more suitably about 8 mm.

The mouth end segment 111 is an annular tube and is positioned around it and defines a void within the mouth end segment 111 . The voids provide a chamber for the heated volatilized components flowing from the filter segment 109 . Mouth end segment 111 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation, but to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that may occur during manufacture and while the article is being inserted into device 51 in use. have sufficient rigidity. In one example, the thickness of the wall of the mouth end segment 111 is approximately 0.29 mm. In one example, the length of the mouth end segment 111 is between 6 mm and 10 mm, suitably about 8 mm.

Mouth end segment 111 may be made of a spirally wound paper tube that provides a hollow inner chamber but maintains critical mechanical stiffness. Spirally wound paper tubes can meet the stringent dimensional accuracy requirements of high-speed manufacturing processes with respect to tube length, outer diameter, roundness and straightness.

The mouth end segment 111 serves to prevent any liquid condensate that has accumulated at the outlet of the filter segment 109 from direct contact with the user.

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 positioned within that tube separating the mouth end segment 111 and the cooling segment 107 . It should be understood that

3 and 4 , a partially cut-away cross-sectional and perspective view of an example of an article 301 is shown. Reference numerals shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are the same as those shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but incremented by 200.

In the example of the article 301 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , a ventilation region 317 is provided in the article 301 so that air can flow from the outside of the article 301 to the interior of the article 301 . . In one example, the ventilation area 317 takes the form of one or more ventilation holes 317 formed through the outer layer of the article 301 . Vent holes may be located in the cooling segment 307 to aid in cooling the article 301 . In one example, the ventilation area 317 includes one or more rows of holes, preferably each row of holes is an article in a cross section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the article 301. 301) are arranged circumferentially around the perimeter.

In one example, there are one to four rows of ventilation holes to provide ventilation for the article 301 . Each row of vent holes may have 12 to 36 vent holes 317 . The ventilation holes 317 may have a diameter of 100 to 500 μm, for example. In one example, the axial separation between the rows of vent holes 317 is between 0.25 mm and 0.75 mm, suitably 0.5 mm.

In one example, the vent holes 317 are uniform in size. In another example, the vent holes 317 vary in size. Vent holes may be manufactured using any suitable technique, for example one or more of the following techniques: laser technique, mechanical drilling of cooling segment 307 , or cooling segment 307 into article 301 . Pre-drilling of cooling segments 307 before forming. Vent holes 317 are positioned to provide effective cooling to article 301 .

In one example, the rows of vent holes 317 are located at least 11 mm from the proximal end 313 of the article, suitably the vent holes are between 17 mm and 20 mm from the proximal end 313 of the article 301 . is located in The location of the ventilation holes 317 is positioned such that the user does not block the ventilation holes 317 when the article 301 is used.

Providing rows of vent holes between 17 mm and 20 mm from the proximal end 313 of the article 301 allows the article 301 to be fully inserted into the device 51 , as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 . When done, it allows the vent holes 317 to be located on the exterior of the device 51 . By locating the vent holes on the outside of the device, unheated air can enter the article 301 through the vent holes from the outside of the device 51 to help cool the article 301 .

The length of the cooling segment 307 is such that when the article 301 is fully inserted into the device 51 , the cooling segment 307 is partially inserted into the device 51 . The length of the cooling segment 307 determines the first function of providing a physical gap between the heater arrangement of the device 51 and the heat-sensitive filter arrangement 309 , and the vent holes 317 being positioned in the cooling segment. It also provides a second function that allows the article 301 to be positioned outside of the device 51 when fully inserted into the device 51 . 6 and 7 , most of the cooling element 307 is located within the device 51 . However, there is a portion of the cooling element 307 extending out of the device 51 . It is this part of the cooling element 307 that extends out of the device 51 in which the vent holes 317 are located.

Referring now in more detail to FIGS. 5-7 , a device arranged to heat an aerosol-generating material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol-generating material, typically to form an aerosol that can be inhaled. An example of (51) is shown. Device 51 is a heating device, which releases compounds by heating but not burning the aerosol generating material.

The first end 53 is sometimes referred to herein as the mouth or proximal end 53 of the device 51 , and the second end 55 is sometimes referred to herein as the distal end 55 of the device 51 . do. The device 51 has an on/off button 57 that allows the entire device 51 to be switched on and off as desired by the user.

Device 51 includes a housing 59 for positioning and protecting various internal components of device 51 . In the example shown, the housing 59 comprises a top panel 17 that generally defines the 'top' of the device 51 and a top panel 17 that generally defines the 'bottom' of the device 51 . and a uni-body sleeve 11 surrounding the perimeter of the device 51 which is capped with a bottom panel 19 . In another example, the housing includes a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels in addition to a top panel 17 and a bottom panel 19 .

The top panel 17 and/or the bottom panel 19 may be removably secured to the single-body sleeve 11 to allow easy access to the interior of the device 51 , or ) to "permanently" to prevent, for example, a user from accessing the interior of the device 51 . In one example, panels 17 and 19 are made of a plastic material including, for example, glass-filled nylon formed by injection moulding, and a single-body sleeve. (11) is made of aluminum, although other materials and other manufacturing processes may be used.

The top panel 17 of the device 51 has an opening 20 at the mouth end 53 of the device 51 through which an article 101 comprising an aerosol generating material in use through this opening 20 . , 301 may be inserted into and removed from the device 51 by the user.

The housing 59 locates or secures the heater arrangement 23 , the control circuit 25 and the power source 27 therein. In this example, the heater arrangement 23 , the control circuit 25 and the power source 27 are connected to the side, with the control circuit 25 being generally located between the heater arrangement 23 and the power source 27 . directionally (ie, adjacent when viewed from one end), but other locations are possible.

The control circuit 25 may include a controller, such as a microprocessor arrangement, constructed and arranged to control heating of the aerosol generating material within the articles 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, lithium-ion batteries, nickel batteries (eg, nickel-cadmium batteries), alkaline batteries, and/or the like. The battery 27 is electrically connected to the heater arrangement 23 to supply power as needed and to heat the aerosol generating material in the article under the control of the control circuit 25 (as discussed, the aerosol generating material volatilizes aerosol-generating material without burning).

An advantage of positioning the power supply 27 laterally adjacent to the heater arrangement 23 is that a physically large power supply 25 can be used without unduly elongating the entire device 51 . As will be appreciated, in general, a physically larger power source 25 has a greater capacity (ie, the total electrical energy that can be supplied, often measured in Amp-hours, etc.), and thus The battery life will be longer.

In one example, the heater arrangement 23 is generally in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube having a hollow inner heating chamber 29 , in which an article comprising an aerosol generating material. (101, 301) are 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 a plurality of heating elements aligned along a longitudinal axis of the heater arrangement 23 . The or each heating element, around its circumference, may be annular or tubular, or may be at least partially-annular or partially-tubular. In one 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 ceramic material. Examples of suitable ceramic materials include alumina and aluminum nitride and silicon nitride ceramics that can be laminated and sintered. For example, inductive heating, infrared heater elements that heat by emitting infrared radiation, or other heating including resistive heating elements formed by, for example, resistive electrical windings Arrays are possible.

In one particular example, the heater arrangement 23 is supported by a stainless steel support tube and includes a polyimide heating element. The heater arrangement 23 is configured such that substantially all of the body of the aerosol generating material 103 , 303 of the article 101 , 301 is inserted into the device 51 when the article 101 , 301 is inserted into the device 51 . ) is dimensioned to be inserted into

The or each heating element may be arranged such that selected zones of aerosol generating material are heated independently, for example, as needed, one after another (over time, as discussed above) or together (simultaneously). have.

The heater arrangement 23 in this example is surrounded along at least part of its length by a thermal insulator 31 . The insulation 31 helps reduce heat passing from the heater arrangement 23 to the outside of the device 51 . The insulation helps to lower the power requirements for the heater arrangement 23 because it generally reduces heat loss. Insulation 31 also helps to keep the exterior of device 51 cool during operation of heater arrangement 23 . In one example, the insulation 31 may be a double-walled sleeve that provides a low pressure region between the two walls of the sleeve. That is, the insulation 31 may be, for example, a “vacuum” tube, ie, a tube that is at least partially evacuated to minimize heat transfer by conduction and/or convection. In addition to or instead of the double-walled sleeve, insulating material 31 , comprising, for example, the use of heat insulating materials comprising a suitable foam-type material. Other arrangements for this are possible.

The housing 59 may further include various internal support structures 37 for supporting the heating arrangement 23 as well as all internal components.

The device 51 is positioned between the collar 33 and one end of the vacuum sleeve 31 and the collar 33 extending around the opening 20 and projecting from the opening 20 into the interior of the housing 59 . It further comprises a generally tubular chamber (35). The chamber 35 further includes a cooling structure 35f which, in this example, is spaced along an outer surface of the chamber 35 and circumferentially around the outer surface of the chamber 35 . It includes a plurality of cooling fins (fins) 35f each arranged. An void 36 exists between the hollow chamber 35 and the articles 101 , 301 when inserted into the device 51 over at least a portion of the length of the hollow chamber 35 . The void 36 is around the entire circumference of the articles 101 , 301 over at least a portion of the cooling segment 307 .

A collar 33 is arranged circumferentially around the perimeter of the opening 20 and includes a plurality of ridges 60 projecting into the opening 20 . The ridges 60 are such that the open span of the opening 20 at the positions of the ridges 60 is less than the open span of the opening 20 at the positions without the ridges 60 . It takes up space within the opening 20 . Ridges 60 are configured to engage articles 101 , 301 that are inserted into device 51 to help secure the device within device 51 . The open spaces (not shown in the figures) defined by an adjacent pair of ridges 60 and article 101 , 301 form ventilation paths around the outer perimeter of article 101 , 301 . These ventilation paths allow hot vapors escaped from the articles 101 , 301 to exit the device 51 and cooling air to the device 51 around the articles 101 , 301 in the voids 36 . allow flow in.

In operation, the articles 101 , 301 are removably inserted into the insertion point 20 of the device 51 as shown in FIGS. 5-7 . In particular, referring to FIG. 6 , in one example, the body of aerosol generating material 103 , 303 positioned towards the distal end 115 , 315 of the article 101 , 301 is a heater arrangement of the device 51 ( 23) is fully accommodated in The proximal ends 113 , 313 of the articles 101 , 301 extend from the device 51 and serve as a mouthpiece assembly for the user.

In operation, the heater arrangement 23 will heat the articles 101 , 301 to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol generating material from the body of the aerosol generating material 103 , 303 .

The primary flow path for the heated volatilized components from the body of the aerosol generating material 103 , 303 is axially, through the articles 101 , 301 , inside the cooling segments 107 , 307 . through the chamber of, through filter segments 109, 309, and through mouth end segments 111, 313 to the user. In one example, the temperature of the heated volatilized components generated from the body of the aerosol generating material is between 60° C. and 250° C., which may exceed the user-acceptable inhalation temperature. As the heated volatilized components move through the cooling segments 107 , 307 , the cooled and some volatilized components will condense on the inner surface of the cooling segments 107 , 307 .

In the examples of article 301 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , cooling air may enter cooling segment 307 through vent holes 317 formed in cooling segment 307 . This cooling air will mix with the heated volatilized components to provide further cooling to the heated volatilized components.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of making the aerosol-generating composition described herein.

The method typically comprises the steps of providing an amorphous solid as described above, providing a tobacco material as described above, and combining the amorphous solid and the tobacco material with an aerosol of 5 to 30% by weight of the aerosol-generating composition. - combining in proportions so as to provide an aerosol-generating composition having a former material content.

In examples, the amorphous solid is provided as a crushed sheet. In certain instances, providing the amorphous solid comprises crushing the sheet of amorphous solid to provide the amorphous solid as a crushed sheet. In examples, the tobacco material is micro-cut and combining the amorphous solid with the tobacco material comprises blending the shredded sheet of amorphous solid with the micro-cut tobacco material.

In examples, providing an amorphous solid comprises (a) forming a slurry comprising components of the amorphous solid or precursors thereof, (b) forming a layer of the slurry, (c) curing the slurry to form a gel and (d) drying to form an amorphous solid.

Forming the layer of the slurry (b) typically comprises spraying, casting or extruding the slurry. In examples, the slurry layer is formed by electrospraying the slurry. In examples, the slurry layer is formed by casting the slurry.

In some examples, (b) and/or (c) and/or (d) occur at least partially simultaneously (eg, during electrospray). In some examples, (b), (c) and (d) occur sequentially.

In some examples, the slurry is applied to a support. The layer may be formed on a support.

In examples, the slurry comprises a gelling agent, an aerosol-former material and an active substance. The slurry may include these components in any proportions given herein relative to the composition of the amorphous solid. For example, a slurry (by dry weight)

- a gelling agent and, optionally, a filler, wherein the amount of the gelling agent and filler taken together is about 10 to 60 weight percent of the slurry;

- an aerosol-former material in an amount of about 40 to 80 weight percent of the slurry; and

- Optionally, the active material in an amount of up to about 20% by weight of the slurry.

Curing the gel (c) may include supplying a curing agent to the slurry. For example, the slurry may include sodium, potassium or ammonium alginate as a gel-precursor, and a curing agent comprising a calcium source (eg, calcium chloride) may be added to the slurry to form a calcium alginate gel.

In embodiments, the curing agent comprises or consists of calcium acetate, calcium formate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydrogen carbonate, calcium chloride, calcium lactate, or combinations thereof. In some examples, the curing agent comprises or consists of calcium formate and/or calcium lactate. In certain instances, the curing agent comprises or consists of calcium formate. The inventors have found that typically the use of calcium formate as a curing agent results in an amorphous solid having greater tensile strength and greater resistance to elongation.

The total amount of curing agent, such as calcium source, may be 0.5 to 5% by weight (calculated on a dry weight basis). Suitably, the total amount may be from about 1%, 2.5% or 4% to about 4.8% or 4.5% by weight. The inventors have discovered that the addition of too little curing agent can result in the amorphous solid not being able to stabilize the amorphous solid components and causing these components to detach from the amorphous solid. The inventors have found that the addition of too much curing agent is very sticky and results in an amorphous solid with poor handleability.

If the amorphous solid does not hold tobacco, a higher amount of hardener may have to be applied. Thus, in some cases the total amount of curing agent may be 0.5 to 12% by weight, such as 5 to 10% by weight, calculated on a dry weight basis. Suitably, the total amount may be from about 5%, 6% or 7% to about 12% or 10% by weight. In this case, the amorphous solid will generally not retain any tobacco.

In examples, supplying the curing agent to the slurry comprises spraying the curing agent onto the top surface of the slurry, such as the slurry.

Alginate salts are derivatives of alginic acid, typically high molecular weight polymers (10 to 600 kDa). Alginic acid is a copolymer of β-D-mannuronic acid (M) and α-L-guluronic acid (G) units (blocks) joined together by (1,4)-glycosidic bonds to form a polysaccharide . Upon addition of calcium cations, the alginate crosslinks to form a gel. We have determined that alginate salts with high G monomer content form a gel more readily upon addition of a calcium source. Thus, in some cases, the gel-precursor comprises at least about 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60% or 70% of the monomer units of the alginate copolymer are α-L-guluronic acid (G) units. alginate salts.

In examples, drying step (d) removes from about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% to about 80%, 90% or 95% (WWB) by weight of the water in the slurry. do.

In examples, drying step (d) reduces the casting material thickness by at least 80%, suitably 85% or 87%. For example, the slurry is cast to a thickness of 2 mm, and the resulting dried amorphous solid material has a thickness of 0.2 mm.

Also, the slurry itself forms part of the present invention. In some instances, the slurry solvent consists essentially of, or consists of, water. In some examples, the slurry comprises about 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% by weight solvent (WWB).

In examples where the solvent consists of water, the dry weight content of the slurry may match the dry weight content of the amorphous solid. Accordingly, the discussion herein regarding solid compositions is expressly disclosed in combination with the slurry embodiments of the present invention.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of generating an aerosol using a non-flammable aerosol providing system as described herein. In examples, the method comprises heating the aerosol-generating composition to a temperature of 350° C. or less. The method typically comprises heating the aerosol-generating composition to a temperature of about 220°C to about 280°C. In some examples, the method comprises heating at least a portion of the aerosol-generating composition to a temperature of from about 220°C to about 280°C during the use session.

As used herein, “use session” refers to a single period of use of a non-combustible aerosol delivery system by a user. A use session begins at a point where power is preferentially supplied to at least one heating unit present in the heating assembly. The device will be ready for use after a period of time has elapsed from the start of the use session. The use session ends at the point where any heating elements of the aerosol generating device are not energized. The end of the use session may coincide with the point at which the smoking article is depleted (the point at which the total particulate matter yield (mg) in each puff is deemed unacceptably low by the user). A session will have a duration of a plurality of puffs. The session may have a duration of less than 7 minutes, or 6 minutes, or 5 minutes, or 4 minutes and 30 seconds, or 4 minutes, or 3 minutes and 30 seconds. In some implementations, a use session may have a duration of 2 to 5 minutes, or 3 to 4.5 minutes, or 3.5 to 4.5 minutes, or suitably 4 minutes. A session may be initiated by the user actuating a button or switch on the device, causing the at least one heating element to initiate a temperature rise.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided the use of a non-flammable aerosol providing system as described herein. Uses of a non-combustible aerosol providing system may include interacting with a non-combustible aerosol providing device (eg, activating an actuator) to initiate a smoking session.

Examples

Example 1

Two amorphous solids (AS1 and AS2) were prepared according to the methods described herein. Each amorphous solid was formed from a slurry comprising water and the following ingredients:

Table 1

AS1 was formed by feeding calcium lactate as a curing agent to the slurry; AS2 was formed by feeding calcium formate to the slurry as a curing agent. The compositions exhibited the following physical properties (measurements obtained from standard protocols known to those skilled in the art):

Table 2

*Data collected by Karl-Fischer-titration

Example 2

Third, fourth and fifth amorphous solids (AS3, AS4 and AS5) were prepared according to the methods described herein. Amorphous solids were formed from a slurry comprising water and the following ingredients:

Table 3

AS3 was formed without the addition of curing agent; AS4 was formed by feeding calcium lactate as a curing agent to the slurry; AS5 was formed by feeding calcium formate to the slurry as a curing agent. The compositions exhibited the following physical properties (measurements obtained from standard protocols known to those skilled in the art):

Table 4

Each of the amorphous solids prepared in Examples 1 and 2 were blended with cut tobacco to provide an aerosol-generating composition that was found to have desirable sensory properties and aerosol generation.

All weight percentages (expressed in weight percent) described herein are calculated on a dry weight basis, unless expressly stated otherwise. All weight ratios are also calculated on a dry weight basis. The weight given on a dry weight basis refers to the entire extract or slurry or material other than water, and may include components that are liquid by themselves at room temperature and pressure, such as glycerol. Conversely, weight percentages given on a wet weight basis refer to all components including water.

For the avoidance of doubt, when the term "comprises" is used herein to define the invention or features of the invention, the invention or feature consists of the terms "essentially comprised of" instead of "comprises". Embodiments that may be defined using “consists essentially of” or “consisting of” are also disclosed. Reference to a material “comprising” a characteristic means that that characteristic is included, retained, or maintained in the material. it means.

Any feature described in connection with one aspect of the invention is expressly disclosed in combination with any other aspect described herein.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the present invention. Additional embodiments of the invention are contemplated. Any feature described in connection with any one implementation may be used alone or in combination with other features described, and also one or more features of any other implementations or any other features of any other implementations. It should be understood that combinations may be used in combination. Moreover, equivalents and modifications not described above may be used without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (38)

An aerosol-generating composition comprising:
- amorphous solids; and
- contains tobacco material;
The amorphous solid is
- aerosol-former material in an amount of about 40 to 80% by weight of said amorphous solid;
- gelling agents;
- optionally a filler, wherein the amount of gelling agent and filler taken together is about 10 to 60 weight percent of said amorphous solid; and
- optionally comprising active substance in an amount of up to about 20% by weight of said amorphous solid;
wherein the aerosol-generating composition has an aerosol-former material content of about 5 to 30% by weight of the aerosol-generating composition, these weights being calculated on a dry weight basis. The aerosol-generating composition of claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-forming agent content is about 10 to 20% by weight of the aerosol-generating composition. 3. The aerosol-generating composition of claim 1 or 2, wherein the amorphous solid is included in the aerosol-generating composition in an amount of about 5 to 40% by weight of the aerosol-generating composition. 4. The aerosol-generating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the filler is included in the amorphous solid in an amount of about 1 to 15% by weight of the amorphous solid. 4. The aerosol-generating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amorphous solid comprises no fillers. 6 . The aerosol-generating composition according to claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-forming agent material is comprised in the amorphous solid in an amount of from 50 to 70% by weight of the amorphous solid. 7. The aerosol-generating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the gelling agent is included in the amorphous solid in an amount of about 5 to 50% by weight of the amorphous solid. 8. The aerosol-generating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the active substance comprises a flavorant. 8. The aerosol-generating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the amorphous solid does not comprise an active substance. 10. The aerosol-generating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the aerosol-forming agent material comprises glycerol. 11. The aerosol-generating composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gelling agent comprises alginate and/or pectin and/or guar gum. The aerosol-generating composition of claim 11 , wherein the alginate is present in an amount of at least 50% by weight of the gelling agent. 13. The aerosol-generating composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tobacco material is micro-cut. 14. The aerosol-generating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the tobacco material comprises lamina tobacco. 15. The aerosol-generating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the tobacco material comprises cut rag tobacco. The aerosol-generating composition of claim 15 , wherein the cut filler tobacco is present in an amount of at least 90% by weight of the tobacco material. 17. The aerosol-generating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the tobacco material comprises an aerosol-former material in an amount of 1 to 10% by weight of the tobacco material. 18. The aerosol-generating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the amorphous solid is a shredded sheet. 19. The aerosol-generating composition of claim 18, wherein the crushed sheet of amorphous solid is blended with the tobacco material. 20. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein the tobacco material comprises cut filler tobacco having an arbitrary cut width, the shredded sheet of amorphous solid has an arbitrary cut width, and wherein the cut width of the amorphous solid is about 90 to 110% of the cut width of the cut filler tobacco. 21. The method of any one of claims 1-20, wherein the tobacco material has an arbitrary areal density, the amorphous solid has an arbitrary areal density, and the amorphous solid has an areal density of about 90 of the areal density of the tobacco material. to 110% of an aerosol-generating composition. 22. An article for use with a non-flammable aerosol providing device, said article comprising an aerosol-generating composition according to any one of claims 1-21. 22. An article for use with a non-flammable aerosol providing device, said article comprising an aerosol-generating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 17 and 21 , wherein said amorphous solid is in the form of a sheet. An article provided for an article. 24. The article of claim 23, wherein the tobacco material is in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod and the sheet of amorphous solid surrounds the rod of tobacco material. 25. The article of any one of claims 22-24, wherein the article is in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod. 26. A non-combustible aerosol providing system comprising an article according to any one of claims 22 to 25 and a non-combustible aerosol providing device, wherein the non-flammable aerosol providing device comprises: a system configured to generate an aerosol from the article when used with The system of claim 26 , wherein the non-combustible aerosol providing device comprises a heater configured to heat but not burn the article. A method for preparing an aerosol-generating composition, said method comprising:
providing an amorphous solid;
providing tobacco material; and
combining the amorphous solid with the tobacco material to provide the aerosol-generating composition;
The amorphous solid is
an aerosol-former material in an amount of about 40 to 80% by weight of the amorphous solid;
gelling agents;
optionally, a filler, wherein the amount of gelling agent and filler taken together is about 10 to 60 weight percent of said amorphous solid; and
optionally, the active material in an amount of up to about 20% by weight of the amorphous solid,
wherein the aerosol-generating composition has an aerosol-forming agent content of about 5 to 30% by weight of the aerosol-generating composition, the weights being calculated on a dry weight basis. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein providing the amorphous solid comprises:
providing a slurry comprising a gelling agent, an aerosol-former material, optionally a filler, and optionally an active material;
forming a layer of the slurry;
curing the slurry to form a gel; and
drying the gel to form the amorphous solid 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the curing step comprises supplying a curing agent to the slurry. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein supplying the curing agent comprises spraying the curing agent onto the surface of the slurry. 32. The method of claim 30 or 31, wherein the curing agent comprises calcium formate. 33. The method of any one of claims 28-32, wherein providing the amorphous solid comprises crushing the sheet of amorphous solid to provide the amorphous solid as a crushed sheet. 33. The method of any one of claims 28-32, wherein the amorphous solid is a crushed sheet. 35. The method of any one of claims 28-34, wherein the tobacco is micro-cut. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein combining the amorphous solid and the tobacco material comprises blending the fine-cut tobacco material with the shredded sheet of amorphous solid. 28. A method of generating an aerosol using the non-flammable aerosol providing system according to claim 26 or 27, the method comprising heating the aerosol-generating composition to a temperature of less than 350°C. Use of a non-flammable aerosol providing system according to claim 26 or 27 .

Images