Patent Description:
Recently, the demand for alternative methods to overcome the disadvantages of traditional cigarettes has increased. For example, there is growing demand for an aerosol generating device which generates aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material, rather than by combusting cigarettes. Accordingly, research into a smoking article or device operating in various ways has been actively conducted. <CIT> relates to an aerosol-generating article including a plurality of components assembled within a wrapper to form a rod having a mouth end and a distal end upstream from the mouth end, the plurality of components including: an aerosol-forming substrate comprising plant material and an aerosol former, the aerosol-forming substrate having an aerosol former content of between <NUM>% and <NUM>% by weight on a dry weight basis; and a filter segment downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate, the filter segment including fibres of at least about <NUM> denier per filament. <CIT> relates to a including a section having a longitudinal axis and a cross sectional area measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The section comprises fibrous material having a denier per filament of between <NUM> and <NUM>/<NUM>. <CIT> relates to a heated aerosol-generating article comprising a rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the rod of aerosol-generating substrate comprises :a first plug of homogenised tobacco material; and a second plug of homogenised tobacco material. The first plug and the second plug are coaxially aligned, the first plug being provided downstream of the second plu, and the first plug and the second plug differ from each other in at least one property of the homogenised tobacco material such that upon heating of the aerosol-generating substrate, the first plug releases aerosol after a shorter time than the second plug. <CIT> relates to a cellulose acetate tow having at least <NUM> denier per filament. The cellulose acetate tows may have total denier of more than <NUM>,<NUM>.

A heated cigarette that generates aerosol as an aerosol generating material in the cigarette is heated provides a relatively less amount of smoke to a user than a previous traditional combustion cigarette, due to a relatively high absorption resistance and an aerosol removal capacity of a filter. Thus, research into increasing the amount of smoke provided to a user by the heated cigarette has been required.

The objectives of one or more embodiments are to provide an aerosol generating article including a cellulose acetate tow for realizing a filter having a low absorption resistance; and a filter having a low absorption resistance.

The problems to be solved by one or more embodiments are not limited to those described above, and other objectives that are not described may be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

As a means for achieving the technical objectives described above, the invention provides an aerosol generating article as defined in claim <NUM>.

An aerosol generating article according to the invention includes a cellulose acetate tow including relatively thick fibers, and thus, may have reduced absorption resistance and may provide improved smoking satisfaction to a user. Also, while a low absorption resistance is maintained, the amount of cellulose acetate tow may be increased, and thus, the rigidity of the filter may be increased, and the user convenience may be improved.

Effects of the embodiments are not limited thereto and may include all effects which may be derived from the configurations described below.

According to the invention, an aerosol generating article includes: a first portion including an aerosol generating material impregnated with an aerosol generating element; a second portion including a tobacco element; a third portion including a cooling element; and a fourth portion including a filter element, wherein the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article, and the filter element includes a cellulose acetate tow having a denier per filament of about <NUM> to about <NUM> and a total denier of about <NUM>,<NUM> to about <NUM>,<NUM>.

The cellulose acetate tow may have a denier per filament of about <NUM> to about <NUM> and a total denier of about <NUM>,<NUM> to about <NUM>,<NUM>.

The fourth portion includes about <NUM> to about <NUM> of the cellulose acetate tow.

A circumference of a cross-section of the fourth portion, the cross-section being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article, may be about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

An absorption resistance of the fourth portion may be about <NUM> mmH<NUM>O to about <NUM> mmH<NUM>O.

The second portion may further include the aerosol generating element, and the second portion may include the aerosol generating element in about <NUM> weight percent (wt%) or less with respect to a dry weight of the aerosol generating material.

The first portion may include the aerosol generating element in about <NUM> to about <NUM> weight percent (wt%) with respect to a dry weight of the aerosol generating material.

According to one or more embodiments, a filter included in an aerosol generating article includes: a cellulose acetate tow having a denier per filament of about <NUM> to about <NUM> and a total denier of about <NUM>,<NUM> to about <NUM>,<NUM>.

The filter may include about <NUM> to about <NUM> of the cellulose acetate tow.

A circumference of a cross-section of the filter, the cross-section being perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the filter, may be about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

An absorption resistance of the filter may be about <NUM> mmH<NUM>O to about <NUM> mmH<NUM>O.

According to one or more embodiments, a cellulose acetate tow has a denier per filament of about <NUM> to about <NUM> and a total denier of about <NUM>,<NUM> to about <NUM>,<NUM>.

With respect to the terms used to describe in the various embodiments, the general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, meanings of the terms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence, the appearance of a new technology, and the like.

Also, the terms used in this specification that include ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components shall not be limited by those terms. The terms may be used for distinguishing one component from another component.

Throughout the specification, an "aerosol generating article" refers to an article used for smoking. As another example, the aerosol generating article may refer to a general combustion cigarette that is ignited and combusted or a heated cigarette heated by an aerosol generating device. As another example, the aerosol generating article may refer to an article including a cartridge containing a liquid that is heated.

Throughout the specification, a "longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article" denotes a direction in which a length of the aerosol generating article extends or a direction in which the aerosol generating article is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

Throughout the specification, a "tobacco element" denotes an element including a tobacco material.

Throughout the specification, a "tobacco material" denotes all types of materials including a component originated from a tobacco leaf.

Throughout the specification, a "cooling element" denotes an element for cooling a material. For example, the cooling element may cool aerosol generated from an aerosol generating element or a tobacco element.

Throughout the specification, a "filter element" denotes an element including a filtering material. For example, the filter element may include a plurality of fiber strands.

Throughout the specification, a "denier per filament" denotes a denier of fibers, represented by a weight (g) of a strand of cellulose acetate fiber per <NUM> that is a unit length.

Throughout the specification, the "total denier" denotes a denier of a tow, represented by a weight (g) of the tow per <NUM> that is a unit length.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that one of ordinary skill in the art may easily execute the embodiments of the disclosure. However, the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

<FIG> are diagrams showing examples in which an aerosol generating article is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a battery <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a heater <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include a vaporizer <NUM>. Also, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

Also, <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate that the aerosol generating device <NUM> includes the heater <NUM>. However, as necessary, the heater <NUM> may be omitted.

When the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may operate the heater <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM> to generate aerosol from the aerosol generating article <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM>. The aerosol generated by the heater <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM> is delivered to a user by passing through the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

As necessary, even when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is not inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may heat the heater <NUM>.

For example, when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the heater <NUM> may be located outside the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Thus, the heated heater <NUM> may increase a temperature of an aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device <NUM> or may be set by a user.

In detail, the heater <NUM> may include an electrically conductive coil for heating an aerosol generating article in an induction heating method, and the aerosol generating article may include a susceptor which may be heated by the induction heater.

For example, the heater <NUM> may include a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-type heating element, and may heat the inside or the outside of the aerosol generating article <NUM>, according to the shape of the heating element.

Here, the plurality of heaters <NUM> may be inserted into the aerosol generating article <NUM> or may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Also, some of the plurality of heaters <NUM> may be inserted into the aerosol generating article <NUM> and the others may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

The vaporizer <NUM> may generate aerosol by heating a liquid composition and the generated aerosol may pass through the aerosol generating article <NUM> to be delivered to a user. In other words, the aerosol generated via the vaporizer <NUM> may move along an air flow passage of the aerosol generating device <NUM> and the air flow passage may be configured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporizer <NUM> passes through the aerosol generating article <NUM> to be delivered to the user.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include general-purpose components in addition to the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, and the vaporizer <NUM>. For example, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a display capable of outputting visual information and/or a motor for outputting haptic information. Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include at least one sensor (a puff sensor, a temperature sensor, an aerosol generating article insertion detecting sensor, etc.). Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be formed as a structure that, even when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, may introduce external air or discharge internal air.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may be similar to a general combustive cigarette. For example, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be divided into a first portion including an aerosol generating material and a second portion including a filter, etc. Alternatively, the second portion of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may also include an aerosol generating material. For example, an aerosol generating material made in the form of granules or capsules may be inserted into the second portion.

For example, the external air may flow into at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, opening and closing of the air passage and/or a size of the air passage formed in the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be adjusted by the user. Accordingly, the amount and the quality of smoking may be adjusted by the user. As another example, the external air may flow into the aerosol generating article <NUM> through at least one hole formed in a surface of the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view of an example of an aerosol generating device using induction heating.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, a coil C, and a susceptor S. Also, at least a portion of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be accommodated in a cavity V of the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The aerosol generating article <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> of <FIG> may correspond to the aerosol generating article <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> of <FIG>. Also, the coil C and the susceptor S may be included in the heater <NUM>. Thus, the same descriptions are omitted.

With respect to the aerosol generating device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, components related to the present embodiment are illustrated. Therefore, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that other general-purpose components may further be included in the aerosol generating device <NUM>, in addition to the components illustrated in <FIG>.

The coil C may be located around the cavity V. <FIG> illustrates that the coil C is arranged to surround the cavity V. However, it is not limited thereto.

When the aerosol generating article <NUM> is accommodated in the cavity V of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may supply power to the coil C for the coil C to generate a magnetic field. As the magnetic field generated by the coil C penetrates through the susceptor S, the susceptor S may be heated.

The induction heating described above is a well-known phenomenon that is explained by the Faraday's law of induction. In detail, when magnetic induction in the susceptor S is changed, an electric field may be generated in the susceptor S so that an eddy current may flow in the susceptor S. The eddy current may generate heat that is proportional to a current density and an conductor resistance in the susceptor S.

When the susceptor S is heated by the eddy current, and an aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article <NUM> is heated by the heated susceptor S, aerosol may be generated. The aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material may be transferred to a user after passing through the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

The battery <NUM> may supply power for the coil C to generate a magnetic field. The controller <NUM> may be electrically connected to the coil C.

The coil C may be an electrically conductive coil configured to generate a magnetic field from the power supplied from the battery <NUM>. The coil C may be arranged to surround at least a portion of the cavity V. The magnetic field generated by the coil C may be applied to the susceptor S arranged at an inner end of the cavity V.

The susceptor S may be heated as the magnetic field generated from the coil C passes therethrough and may include metal or carbon. For example, the susceptor S may include at least one of a ferrite, a ferromagnetic alloy, stainless steel, and Al.

The susceptor S may include at least one of ceramics, such as graphite, Mo, silicon carbide, Nb, a nickel alloy, a metal film, zirconia, etc., a transition metal, such as Ni, Co, etc., and a metalloid, such as B, P. etc. However, the susceptor is not limited to the example described above and may include any material which may be heated to a desired temperature when a magnetic field is applied thereto. Here, the desired temperature may be predetermined in the aerosol generating device <NUM> or may be set as a desired temperature by a user.

When the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the cavity V of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the susceptor S may be arranged to surround at least a portion of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Thus, the heated susceptor S may increase a temperature of the aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates that the susceptor S is arranged to surround at least a portion of the aerosol generating article. However, the susceptor S is not limited thereto. For example, the susceptor S may include a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-type heating element and may heat inside or outside the aerosol generating article <NUM> according to a shape of the heating element.

Also, the susceptor S may be arranged in a multiple number in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. Here, the plurality of susceptors S may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article <NUM> or may be inserted into the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Also, some of the plurality of susceptors S may be inserted into the aerosol generating article <NUM>, and the others may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Also, a shape of the susceptor S is not limited to the shape illustrated in <FIG>, and the susceptor S may include various shapes.

<FIG> is a schematic view of a structure of the aerosol generating article <NUM> according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a first portion <NUM>, a second portion <NUM>, a third portion <NUM>, and a fourth portion <NUM>. In detail, the first portion <NUM>, the second portion <NUM>, the third portion <NUM>, and the fourth portion <NUM> may include an aerosol generating element, a tobacco element, a cooling element, and a filter element, respectively. For example, the first portion <NUM> may include an aerosol generating material, the second portion <NUM> may include a tobacco material and a moisturizer, the third portion <NUM> may cool a current passing through the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>, and the fourth portion <NUM> may include a filter material.

Referring to <FIG>, the first portion <NUM>, the second portion <NUM>, the third portion <NUM>, and the fourth portion <NUM> may be sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Here, the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be a direction in which a length of the aerosol generating article <NUM> extends. For example, the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be a direction from the first portion <NUM> toward the fourth portion <NUM>. Accordingly, aerosol generated from at least one of the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> may sequentially pass through the third portion <NUM> and the fourth portion <NUM> and may form a current, and thus, a smoker may absorb the aerosol from the fourth portion <NUM>.

The first portion <NUM> may include an aerosol generating element. Also, the first portion <NUM> may contain other additives, such as a flavor agent, a wetting agent, and/or an organic acid, or may contain a flavored liquid, such as menthol or a moisturizer. Here, the aerosol generating element may include, for example, at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol. However, the disclosure is not limited to the examples described above and may include all of various types of aerosol generating elements that are well-known in the art.

The first portion <NUM> may include an aerosol generating material impregnated with the aerosol generating element. An example of the aerosol generating material may include a wound sheet, and the aerosol generating element may be included in the first portion <NUM> by being impregnated in the wound sheet. Also, other additives, such as a flavor agent, a wetting agent, and/or an organic acid, and a flavored liquid may be included in the first portion <NUM> by being absorbed by the wound sheet.

The wound sheet may be a sheet including a polymer material. For example, the polymer material may include at least one of a paper, cellulose acetate, lyocell, and polylactic acid. For example, the wound sheet may be a paper sheet from which a smell is not generated due to heat even when the paper is heated to a high temperature. However, it is not limited thereto.

The first portion <NUM> may extend from an end of the aerosol generating article <NUM> by about <NUM> to about <NUM>, and the second portion <NUM> may extend from the last end of the first portion <NUM> by about <NUM> to about <NUM>. However, it is not necessarily limited to this numerical range. Each of the lengths in which the first potion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> extend may be appropriately adjusted within a range that may be easily changed by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The second portion <NUM> may include a tobacco element. The tobacco element may be a predetermined type of tobacco material. For example, the tobacco element may be a type of pipe tobacco, a type of tobacco particle, a type of tobacco sheet, a type of tobacco beads, a type of tobacco granule, a type of tobacco powder, or a type of tobacco extract. Also, the tobacco material may include, for example, at least one from a tobacco leaf, lateral veins of tobacco leaves, a puff tobacco, a cut tobacco pipe, a tobacco sheet, and a reformulated tobacco.

The third portion <NUM> may cool a current passing through the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>. The third portion <NUM> may be formed of a polymer material or a biodegradable polymer material and may have a cooling function. For example, the third portion <NUM> may be formed of polylactic acid (PLA) fibers, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the third portion <NUM> may be formed of a cellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes. However, the third portion <NUM> is not limited to the examples described above and may include any materials which may cool aerosol. For example, the third portion <NUM> may include a tube filter or a paper pipe including a cavity.

The fourth portion <NUM> may include a filter element. For example, the fourth portion <NUM> may be a cellulose acetate filter. A shape of the fourth portion <NUM> is not particularly limited. For example, the fourth portion <NUM> may be a cylindrical-type rod or a tubular-type rod including a hole. Also, the fourth portion <NUM> may be a recess-type rod. When the fourth portion <NUM> includes a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may be formed to have a different shape from the other segments.

The fourth portion <NUM> may be formed to generate spices. For example, a flavored liquid may be injected into the fourth portion <NUM>, or an additional fiber coated with a flavored liquid may be inserted into the fourth portion <NUM>.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a wrapper <NUM> surrounding at least one of the first through fourth portions <NUM> through <NUM>. Also, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may include the wrapper <NUM> surrounding all of the first through fourth portions <NUM> through <NUM>. The wrapper <NUM> may be located at an outermost end of the aerosol generating article <NUM>, and the wrapper <NUM> may include a single wrapper or a combination of a plurality of wrappers.

For example, the first portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a wound wrinkled sheet containing an aerosol generating material, the second portion <NUM> may include a tobacco sheet as a tobacco material and glycerin as a moisturizer, the third portion <NUM> may include a paper pipe, and the fourth portion <NUM> may include cellulose acetate (CA) fibers. However, the disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto.

Hereinafter, the fourth portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> is described in more detail.

As described above, the fourth portion <NUM> may include the filter element, and the filter element may include a CA tow having a denier per filament of <NUM> to <NUM> and a total denier of <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>.

The CA tow refers to an article formed by appropriately processing CA for forming a filter of the aerosol generating article. That is, the CA tow is CA made as thin fibers, and a thickness of the CA fibers affects physical factors such as the absorption resistance, a rigid circumference, etc. of the aerosol generating article. A CA tow used for a filter of a previous general combustion cigarette may have a denier per filament of <NUM> to <NUM>, and a CA tow used for a filter of a common heated cigarette may have a denier per filament of <NUM> in general.

The CA tow included in the filter element according to an embodiment may have a greater denier per filament and a greater total denier than the CA tow used in the previous general heated cigarette. Due to the increase of the denier per filament of fibers included in the CA tow, the fibers become thicker, and in the case of a tow having thicker fibers, more empty spaces are formed between the fibers than in the case of a tow having thinner fibers, and thus, the absorption resistance and an aerosol removal capacity of the filter may be reduced. Thus, when the filter including the CA tow according to an embodiment is used, the amount of smoke inhaled by a user may be increased.

Desirably, the CA tow may have a denier per filament of <NUM> to <NUM> and a total denier of <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>. Here, the absorption resistance and the aerosol removal capacity of the filter may be reduced, and at the same time, smoking satisfaction experienced by the user during smoking, with respect to a hitting sense, a harmonious flavor, stimulation, a sense of fulfillment, etc. may be increased.

According to the invention, the fourth portion <NUM> includes the CA tow of <NUM> to <NUM>. The fourth portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> according to an embodiment may include the CA tow having relatively thick fibers, and thus, even when a greater amount of tow than the previous CA tow having relatively thin fibers is injected, a low absorption resistance may be maintained. Because a relatively greater amount of CA tow may be included in the fourth portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM>, the roundness and the rigidity of the fourth portion <NUM> may be increased. For example, the fourth portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> according to an embodiment may have a roundness that is greater than or equal to <NUM>% and a rigidity that is greater than or equal to <NUM>%.

The roundness denotes a degree of roundness of a cross-section of the fourth portion <NUM> and may be measured by a well-known art. For example, the roundness of the cross-section of the fourth portion <NUM> may be measured by using a comparator, etc. by rotating the fourth portion <NUM> after supporting the central portion of the fourth portion <NUM>, and an error of a radius may be obtained based on the movement of the measurer.

The rigidity is a property related to elasticity and resilience of the fourth portion <NUM> and denotes a degree of resistance to the pressure applied in a vertical direction of the longitudinal direction of the fourth portion <NUM>. In order that a user may easily use an aerosol generating article, with the aerosol generating article maintaining its shape, a predetermined level of rigidity may have to be maintained.

When the aerosol generating article <NUM> includes the CA tow that is less than <NUM>, a recess phenomenon in which the CA tow located at the central portion of the cross-section of the fourth portion <NUM> is recessed in the longitudinal direction of the fourth portion <NUM> may occur. When the aerosol generating article <NUM> includes the CA tow that is greater than <NUM>, the amount of CA tow may become excessive, and thus, a wrapping state using the wrapper <NUM> is inferior or the wrapper <NUM> is damaged, and a standard deviation of results of repeated measurements of the absorption resistance is too high, and thus, it is difficult to provide the uniform performance.

A circumference of the cross-section of the fourth portion <NUM>, the cross-section being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article <NUM>, may be <NUM> to <NUM>. As described above, the aerosol generating article <NUM> according to an embodiment may include the CA tow having relatively thick fibers, and thus, the rigidity of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be improved. The circumferential range described above corresponds to a relatively smaller numerical value compared to a circumference of a cross-section of a general aerosol generating article <NUM>. Even when a thickness, that is, a sectional circumference, of the fourth portion <NUM> and the aerosol generating article <NUM> is decreased, the rigidity of the fourth portion <NUM> and the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be improved to maintain the shape of the fourth portion <NUM> and the aerosol generating article <NUM>, and thus, the usability may be secured.

An absorption resistance of the fourth portion <NUM> may be <NUM> mmH<NUM>O to <NUM> mmH<NUM>O. The fourth portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> according to an embodiment may include the CA tow having relatively thick fibers, and thus, a low absorption resistance may be realized. The corresponding absorption resistance may provide satisfaction to the user by preventing an excessive force from being taken to absorb aerosol when the user uses the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Also, the aerosol generating article <NUM> according to an embodiment not only may have the low absorption resistance, but also may maintain the rigidity by including the tow including thick fibers, which allows the usability to be secured.

A tensile strength of the CA tow may be less than about <NUM> kgf, and more desirably, may be equal to or less than about <NUM> kgf. Due to relatively thick fibers of the CA tow according to an embodiment, a yield rate of the CA tow according to an embodiment may be improved at a tensile strength that is less than about <NUM> kgf. When the tensile strength of the CA tow is equal to or greater than about <NUM> kgf, due to thick fibers, a folding property may become insufficient during a process of crimping the tow, and a mass production may become difficult.

The second portion <NUM> may further include an aerosol generating element, wherein the second portion <NUM> may include the aerosol generating element in <NUM> weight percent (wt%) or less with respect to a dry weight of an aerosol generating material. Also, the first portion <NUM> may include the aerosol generating element in <NUM> to <NUM> wt% with respect to the dry weight of the aerosol generating material. The filter including the CA tow according to an embodiment may have a low aerosol removal capacity, and thus, even when a relatively small amount of aerosol generating element is included in the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>, a sufficient amount of smoke and satisfaction may be provided to the user.

Because it may be possible to improve the smoking satisfaction of the user during smoking, with respect to a hitting sense, a harmonious flavor, stimulation, fulfillment, etc., the second portion <NUM> may further include an aerosol generating element, wherein the second portion <NUM> may include the aerosol generating element in <NUM> wt% or less with respect to a dry weight of an aerosol generating material. Also, the first portion <NUM> may include the aerosol generating element in <NUM> to <NUM> wt% with respect to the dry weight of the aerosol generating material.

A CA tow having a denier per filament of <NUM> and a total denier of <NUM>,<NUM> is formed.

Filters including the CA tow of Embodiment <NUM> are formed under conditions shown in Table <NUM> below. The formed filters are referred to by Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM>, Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM>, Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM>, and Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively, according to weights (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) of the AC tow included in the filters. As a wrapper for forming the filters, a general paper having a basis weight of <NUM> gsm is used, and as a plasticizer, triacetin is used.

Also, a quality factor of a cross-section of the filter and a quality factor of an operation are evaluated in the process of forming the filter. Here, the quality factor of the cross-section of the filter is a value evaluated with respect to whether the cross-section of the filter is uniformly formed in a process of cutting the filter, and the quality factor of the operation is a value evaluated with respect to whether a wrapping operation using the wrapper in the process of forming the filter is processed well. As shown in Table <NUM>, in the case of Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM> in which the tow weight is <NUM>, a recess phenomenon in which the CA tow in the central portion of the cross-section of the filter is recessed in a longitudinal direction of the filter occurs, and because the amount of injected CA tow is excessively low, the wrapping state using the wrapper is bad. Also, in the case of Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM> in which the tow weight is <NUM>, the filter is not formed to have a uniform cross-section, and because the amount of injected CA tow is excessively high, the wrapping state using the wrapper is bad.

A common CA tow used for a filter of a heated cigarette is used.

A filter including the CA tow of Comparative Embodiment <NUM> is formed under a condition shown in Table <NUM> below. Also, like Embodiments <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-<NUM>, the quality factor of a cross-section of the filter and the quality factor of an operation in a process of forming the filter are evaluated and described in Table <NUM> below.

Experimental Embodiment <NUM> Assessment of an absorption resistance and the physical performance of the filters including the CA tow.

The absorption resistance, the roundness, and the rigidity of the filters of Embodiments <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-<NUM> and Comparative Embodiment <NUM> are assessed, and results thereof are indicated in Table <NUM> below.

As shown in Table <NUM>, the absorption resistances of Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM> and Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM> are <NUM> and <NUM> mmH<NUM>O, respectively, which are lower than the absorption resistance of Comparative Embodiment <NUM>. However, the roundness and the rigidity of Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM> and Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM> maintain a similar level to those of Comparative Embodiment <NUM>. Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM> and Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM> have absorption resistances proportional to the weights of the injected tow. Also, as expected from the evaluation of the quality factor of the cross-section of the filter and the quality factor of the operation described above, the roundness is decreased, and the wrapping state using the wrapper is bad, and thus, it is impossible to measure the rigidity.

An aerosol generating article is formed by using the filters of Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM>, Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM>, and Comparative Embodiment <NUM>. The component amounts of nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), glycerin (Gly), and water, either included in aerosol fulfilled through the formed aerosol generating article or remaining in the filters after smoking, are measured, and results of the measurement are substituted in Equation <NUM> below to calculate removal capacities of the filters.

The aerosol generating article is formed as two types to include different configurations from each other, and the results of analysis with respect to the amount of aerosol fulfillment of the formed two types of aerosol generating articles are separately indicated in Table <NUM> and Table <NUM> below.

As shown in Table <NUM> and Table <NUM>, compared to the aerosol generating article using the filter of Comparative Embodiment <NUM>, the aerosol generating article using the filters of Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM> and Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM> generally has the improved amount of aerosol fulfillment.

A sensory evaluation using the aerosol generating articles including the filters of Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM> and Comparative Embodiment <NUM>-<NUM> is performed on <NUM> adults. The aerosol generating article is formed as two types like the case of Experimental Embodiment <NUM>. The sensory evaluation is performed on the total <NUM> factors including a hitting sense, a force taken for absorbing smoke, a harmonious flavor, the amount of smoke, stimulation, and satisfaction, and a score for each item is recorded after a single use of an aerosol generating device into which the aerosol generating article is inserted. An average value of each item is indicated in Table <NUM> and Table <NUM> below according to the type of aerosol generating article.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generating article (<NUM>) comprising:
a first portion (<NUM>) including an aerosol generating material impregnated with an aerosol generating element;
a second portion (<NUM>) including a tobacco element;
a third portion (<NUM>) including a cooling element; and
a fourth portion (<NUM>) including a filter element,
wherein the first portion (<NUM>), the second portion (<NUM>), the third portion (<NUM>), and the fourth portion (<NUM>) are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article (<NUM>), and
the filter element includes a cellulose acetate tow having a denier per filament of about <NUM> to about <NUM> and a total denier of about <NUM>,<NUM> to about <NUM>,<NUM>,
wherein the fourth portion (<NUM>) includes about <NUM> to about <NUM> of the cellulose acetate tow.