Smoking article

Abstract

A smoking article includes an aerosol-generating section and a filter section attached to the aerosol-generating section. The filter section contains a plurality of flavor-releasing particles each containing a water-soluble matrix containing a flavor component. The plurality of flavor-releasing particles has respective particle diameters ranging from 1 to 100 μm and has an average particle diameter of 20 μm or less.

1 . A smoking article comprising an aerosol-generating section and a filter section attached to the aerosol-generating section, the filter section containing a plurality of flavor-releasing particles each containing a water-soluble matrix containing a flavor component, the plurality of flavor-releasing particles having respective particle diameters ranging from 1 to 100 μm and having an average particle diameter of 20 μm or less. 
     
     
         2 . The smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the particle diameters range from 1 to 50 μm, and the average particle diameter is 10 μm or less. 
     
     
         3 . The smoking article according to  claim 2 , wherein with respect to the flavor-releasing particles, the number of particles each having a diameter greater than zero but not exceeding 50 μm accounts for 90% or more of a total number of particles. 
     
     
         4 . The smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble matrix comprises a water-soluble polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The smoking article according to  claim 4 , wherein the water-soluble polymer is at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of dextrin, gelatin, gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol and carboxymethylcellulose. 
     
     
         6 . The smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the flavor component is a hydrophilic flavor component. 
     
     
         7 . The smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the flavor component is a hydrophobic flavor component, and each of the flavor-releasing particles further contains an emulsifying agent capable of emulsifying the hydrophobic flavor component into the matrix. 
     
     
         8 . The smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-generating section when combusted generates an aerosol. 
     
     
         9 . The smoking article according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-generating section when heated involving no combustion generates an aerosol.