Filter materials and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to filter materials comprising cellulose acetate and polylactide in a ratio of about 95:5 to about 75:25 by weight, and to filters ( 2 ) or filter elements comprising such filter materials. The invention also relates to smoking articles ( 1 ) comprising the filter materials, filters ( 2 ) or filter elements.

1 . A filter material comprising: cellulose acetate and polylactide in a ratio of about 95:5 to about 75:25 by weight, the polylactide including one of a fibrous polylactide tow and an at least one non-woven polylactide sheet. 
     
     
         2 . The filter material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose acetate and polylactide are present in a ratio of about 80:20 by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The filter material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose acetate comprises cellulose acetate tow. 
     
     
         4 . The filter material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polylactide comprises a fibrous polylactide tow. 
     
     
         5 . The filter material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polylactide comprises at least one non-woven polylactide sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The filter material as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the cellulose acetate tow includes a plasticizer. 
     
     
         7 . The filter material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polylactide includes a plasticizer. 
     
     
         8 . The filter material as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of triacetin, triethyl citrate, polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         9 . The filter material as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the amount of plasticizer included in the filter material is 0 to 20% by weight of the filter material. 
     
     
         10 . A filter element for a smoking article, comprising: filter material including cellulose acetate and polylactide in a ratio of about 95:5 to about 75:25 by weight, the polylactide having one of a fibrous polylactide tow and an at least one non-woven polylactide sheet. 
     
     
         11 . A smoking article comprising: a filter material including cellulose acetate and polylactide in a ratio of about 95:5 to about 75:25 by weight, the polylactide having one of a fibrous polylactide tow and an at least one non-woven polylactide sheet. 
     
     
         12 . The filter material as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of triacetin, triethyl citrate, polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         13 . The filter material as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the amount of plasticizer included in the filter material is 0 to 20% by weight of the filter material. 
     
     
         14 . The filter element according to  claim 10 , wherein the cellulose acetate and polylactide are present in a ratio of about 80:20 by weight. 
     
     
         15 . The filter element as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the cellulose acetate comprises cellulose acetate tow. 
     
     
         16 . The filter element as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the cellulose acetate tow includes a plasticizer. 
     
     
         17 . The filter element as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the polylactide includes a plasticizer. 
     
     
         18 . The smoking article according to  claim 11 , wherein the cellulose acetate and polylactide are present in a ratio of about 80:20 by weight. 
     
     
         19 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the cellulose acetate comprises cellulose acetate tow. 
     
     
         20 . The smoking article as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the polylactide includes a plasticizer.