Biodegradable cigarette filter
AssigneeR.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
InventorsAndries D. Sebastian, Alan B. Norman, Leigh Ann Joyce, Huamin Gan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A biodegradable bi-component fiber may include a polyhydroxyalkanoate and/or polylactic acid with cellulose acetate and/or plasticized cellulose acetate for use in a filter material configured for use in a filter of a smoking article. The bi-component fiber may have a sheath-core construction where one component of the bi-component forms the core, and the other component forms the sheath of each fiber. A filter made in accordance with this design may also include non-biodegradable material.
Claims19
A filter material configured for use as part of a smoking article, comprising:
- a plurality of bi-component fibers assembled as fibrous filter tow, each fiber including a core comprising a first degradable polymer material including polylactic acid or a polyhydroxyalkanoate and a sheath comprising a second polymer material including at least one of a cellulose ester and a plasticizer;
- wherein the core comprises a higher melt temperature than the sheath;
- wherein the fibrous filter tow comprises particles of starch and/or particles of cellulose;
- and
- wherein the second polymer material further comprises polylactic acid.
A filter material configured for use as part of a smoking article, comprising:
- a plurality of bi-component fibers assembled as fibrous filter tow, each fiber including a core comprising a first degradable polymer material including polylactic acid or a polyhydroxyalkanoate and a sheath comprising a second polymer material including at least one of a cellulose ester and a plasticizer;
- wherein the core comprises a higher melt temperature than the sheath;
- wherein the fibrous filter tow comprises particles of starch and/or particles of cellulose;
- and
- where the second polymer material further comprises a degradable material selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxypropionate, polyhydroxyvalaerate, polyhydroxybutyrate, polyhydroxyoctanoate, polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, polybutylene succinate adipate, polyvinyl alcohol, starch, polyesteramide, and regenerated cellulose.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.