Tobacco Product And Method For Manufacture

Abstract

The tobacco products incorporate binder systems. The binder systems exhibit thermoplastic properties, characteristics, or behaviors. The binder system can incorporate at least one type of binding agent that exhibits thermoplastic properties. Additionally, the binder system can incorporate materials to provide a binding agent that exhibits thermoplastic characteristics, for example at least one thermoplastic binding material in combination with a plasticizer. Also, tobacco products can incorporate a plasticizer blend. Tobacco products are produced by contacting tobacco, with other desired ingredients, in the presence of a binder system, and forming the resulting mixture into a shape. Of particular interest are processing conditions that involve exposing a tobacco formulation to less than about 100° C. during processing, using relatively low amounts of a binding agent that exhibits desirable thermoplastic behavior at such processing temperatures, and using relatively low to moderate amounts of liquid processing aids. Other processing conditions include adding a plasticizer blend to the tobacco formulation.

1 . A tobacco product in a form suitable for insertion into the mouth of a user comprising: tobacco and a thermoplastic binder system, the amount of the thermoplastic binder system being present in an amount less than about 30 weight percent of the dry weight of the tobacco product. 
     
     
         2 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic binder system incorporates at least one thermoplastic polymeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The tobacco product of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoplastic polymeric material comprises an amount less than about 20 weight percent of the dry weight of the tobacco product. 
     
     
         4 . The tobacco product of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoplastic polymeric material exhibits thermoplastic behavior at temperatures less than about 100° C. 
     
     
         5 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic binder system incorporates at least one thermoplastic binding material and at least one plasticizer. 
     
     
         6 . The tobacco product of  claim 5 , wherein the thermoplastic binding material comprises pullulan. 
     
     
         7 . The tobacco product of  claim 5 , wherein the thermoplastic binding material comprises pullulan and gum arabic. 
     
     
         8 . The tobacco product of  claim 5 , wherein the thermoplastic binding material comprises pullulan, gum arabic, and xanthan. 
     
     
         9 . The tobacco product of  claim 5 , wherein the plasticizer comprises at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         10 . The tobacco product of  claim 5 , wherein the tobacco product further comprises a plasticizer blend. 
     
     
         11 . The tobacco product of  claim 10 , wherein the plasticizer blend comprises at least one of sorbitol liquid, maltitol syrup, or polyglycitol. 
     
     
         12 . The tobacco product of  claim 10 , wherein the plasticizer blend comprises at least one of erythritol, isomalt, xylitol, or mannitol. 
     
     
         13 . The tobacco product of  claim 10 , wherein the plasticizer blend comprises at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         14 . The tobacco product of  claim 10 , wherein the plasticizer blend comprises
 at least one of sorbitol liquid, maltitol syrup, or polyglycitol;   at least one of erythritol, isomalt, xylitol, or mannitol; and   at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or polyethylene glycol.   
     
     
         15 . The tobacco product of  claim 5 , wherein the thermoplastic binding material exhibits thermoplastic behavior at temperatures less than about 100° C. 
     
     
         16 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic binder system exhibits thermoplastic behavior at temperatures less than about 100° C. 
     
     
         17 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , further comprising a plasticizer blend. 
     
     
         18 . A method for making a smokeless tobacco product comprising:
 contacting tobacco material and a thermoplastic binder system to provide a mixture;   subjecting the mixture to an elevated temperature;   forming the mixture into a desired shape of a tobacco product; and   cooling the tobacco product.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , whereby the thermoplastic binder system incorporates at least one thermoplastic binding material and at least one plasticizer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , whereby the thermoplastic binder system incorporates at least one thermoplastic polymeric material. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , whereby the thermoplastic polymeric material comprise an amount less than about 20 weight percent of the dry weight of the tobacco product. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , whereby the mixture comprises less than about 30 weight percent of the thermoplastic binder system, based on a total dry weight of the tobacco product. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , whereby the forming of the mixture involves subjecting the mixture to a temperature of less than about 100° C. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18  whereby during forming, the mixture possesses a moisture content greater than about 5 weight percent, based on a total weight of the tobacco product and moisture. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising contacting a plasticizer blend with the mixture, prior to subjecting the mixture to an elevated temperature. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plasticizer blend is heated prior to contacting the plasticizer blend with the mixture. 
     
     
         27 . A tobacco product in a form suitable for insertion into the mouth of a user comprising: tobacco, a binder system, and a plasticizer blend, wherein the plasticizer blend is melted prior to mixing with the tobacco and the binder system. 
     
     
         28 . The tobacco product of  claim 27  wherein the tobacco product is chewable.