Aerosol generating component comprising a capillary structure

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating component (103e) comprising a capillary structure, wherein the capillarity of a first portion (140a) of the capillary structure varies relative to the capillarity of a second portion (140b) of the capillary structure.

1 . An aerosol generating component comprising a capillary structure, wherein the capillarity of a first portion of the capillary structure varies relative to the capillarity of a second portion of the capillary structure. 
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion have different rates of vaporization of aerosolizable material. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 2 , wherein the capillarity is greater in those areas having a greater rate of vaporization. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 3 , wherein the different rates of vaporization correspond with portions having greater and lesser propensity for the flow of electrical current. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 4 , wherein the portions having greater and lesser propensity for the flow of electrical current have different densities. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 3 , wherein the portions having a greater rate of vaporization have a density of up to 300% of the density of the portions having a lesser rate of vaporization. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 3 , wherein the portions having a greater rate of vaporization have a density of up to 250% of the density of the portions having a lesser rate of vaporization. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 3 , wherein the portions having a greater rate of vaporization have a density of up to 200% of the density of the portions having a lesser rate of vaporization. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 1 , wherein the portions having a greater rates of vaporization are disposed, relative to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating component, inwardly of the portions having a lesser rate of vaporization. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 1 , wherein the portions having a greater rates of vaporization are disposed, relative to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating component, outwardly of the portions having a lesser rate of vaporization. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 1 , wherein the component for transferring aerosolizable material to the aerosol generating component comprises a feed aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one feed aperture is located in greater proximity to the portion of the aerosol generating component having a greater rate of vaporization than the portion of the aerosol generating component having lesser rate of vaporization. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one feed aperture is located at the boundary of the portions having greater and lesser rates of vaporization. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 13 , wherein the profile of the boundary between the portions having greater and lesser rates of vaporization is non-linear. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 9 , wherein the portions having a lesser propensity for the flow of electrical current are disposed at the periphery of the aerosol generating component. 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol generating component is formed from a woven or weave structure, mesh structure, fabric structure, open-pored fiber structure, open-pored sintered structure, open-pored foam or open-pored deposition structure. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a different thickness to the second portion. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol generating component is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         19 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol generating component comprises one or more apertures. 
     
     
         20 . The aerosol generating component according to  claim 19 , wherein the one or more apertures originate from the periphery of the aerosol generating component. 
     
     
         21 . An article comprising an aerosol generating chamber and an aerosol generating component, the aerosol generating component comprising a capillary structure, wherein the capillarity of a first portion of the capillary structure varies relative to the capillarity of a second portion of the capillary structure, wherein the aerosol generating component is suspended within the aerosol generating chamber. 
     
     
         22 . The article according to  claim 21 , wherein the aerosol generating chamber comprises at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet. 
     
     
         23 . The article according to  claim 22 , wherein the air inlet and air outlet are aligned substantially parallel to the plane of the aerosol generating component. 
     
     
         24 . The article according to  claim 23 , wherein the air inlet and air outlet are aligned substantially transverse to the plane of the aerosol generating component. 
     
     
         25 . The article according to  claim 21 , wherein the article comprises a reservoir for aerosolizable material. 
     
     
         26 . The article according to  claim 25 , wherein the reservoir extends annularly around the aerosol generating chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The article according to  claim 26 , wherein an external wall of the aerosol generating chamber forms an internal wall of the reservoir. 
     
     
         28 . The article according to  claim 25 , wherein the reservoir comprises aerosolizable material. 
     
     
         29 . A non-combustible aerosol provision system, comprising:
 an article comprising an aerosol generating chamber and an aerosol generating component suspended within the aerosol generating chamber, the aerosol generating component comprising a capillary structure, wherein the capillarity of a first portion of the capillary structure varies relative to the capillarity of a second portion of the capillary structure; and   a device comprising a power source and a control unit.   
     
     
         30 . A method of forming an aerosol generating component, the method comprising the steps of: providing an aerosol generating component having a capillary structure, and compressing the aerosol generating component in one or more portions to increase the density in those compressed portions. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the aerosol generating component comprises a capillary structure, wherein the capillarity of a first portion of the capillary structure varies relative to the capillarity of a second portion of the capillary structure.