Aerosol generating material

Abstract

Aerosol generating material for inclusion in an aerosol provision system, such as an apparatus for heating aerosol generating material to volatilize at least one component of thereof, the aerosol generating material including an active substance and a volatile component incorporated in liquid form. The invention also relates to methods for preparing such materials and apparatus comprising such materials.

1 . An aerosol generating material comprising at least one particle comprising an active substance, and a volatile component, wherein the volatile component has a vapor pressure at 20° C. which is greater than or equal to the vapor pressure of the active substance at 20° C., wherein the volatile component is incorporated into the aerosol generating material in liquid form, and wherein the release of the active substance from the aerosol generating material is controlled by competition with the release of the volatile component. 
     
     
         2 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , for inclusion in an aerosol provision system. 
     
     
         3 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the active substance is nicotine. 
     
     
         4 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the particles comprising the active substance are tobacco particles. 
     
     
         5 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vapor pressure of the volatile component is at least 6 Pa at 20° C. 
     
     
         6 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the volatile component is a volatile flavour. 
     
     
         7 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the volatile component is selected from the group consisting of menthol, limonene, linalool, camphene and eucalyptol. 
     
     
         8 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the volatile component does not have a distinctive or characteristic flavour. 
     
     
         9 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pH of the aerosol generating material is from about 4 to about 9.5. 
     
     
         10 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the pH of the aerosol generating material is increased by the addition of one or more bases or a basic buffer system. 
     
     
         11 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the one or more bases is selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, carbonates and hydrogen carbonates, optionally wherein the one or more bases is selected from the group consisting of: potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. 
     
     
         12 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the particles comprising an active substance have an average diameter no greater than 3 mm, no greater than 1 mm, no greater than 0.5 mm, or no greater than 0.3 mm. 
     
     
         13 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the liquid volatile component comprises the volatile component and a solvent. 
     
     
         14 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the solvent is propylene glycol. 
     
     
         15 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more aerosol forming agent. 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the aerosol forming agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol and glyceryl triacetate. 
     
     
         17 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more binder. 
     
     
         18 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the one or more binder is selected from the group consisting of: thermoreversible gelling agents, such as gelatin; starches; polysaccharides; pectins; celluloses; cellulose derivatives, such as carboxymethylcellulose; and alginates. 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a precursor composition comprising the particles comprising an active substance is granulated or spheronized to form the agglomerated structure. 
     
     
         20 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a precursor composition comprising the particles comprising an active substance is extruded to form the agglomerated structure. 
     
     
         21 . An aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , in the form of granules. 
     
     
         22 . An aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . A system as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the system is an aerosol generating material heating system comprising an aerosol generating material which is to be heated to volatilize constituents, and optionally including a filter or filter element. 
     
     
         24 . A system as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the system is a hybrid system comprising an aerosol generating material which is to be heated to volatilize constituents, and a liquid which is to be heated to form a vapor, and optionally including a filter or filter element. 
     
     
         25 . A system as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the aerosol generating material is heated by the vapor. 
     
     
         26 . A system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the liquid is a nicotine-free liquid. 
     
     
         27 . A system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the system includes a means for heating the liquid to form a vapor, but does not include a separate means for heating the aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         28 . A method for preparing an aerosol generating material comprising particles comprising an active substance and a volatile component for use in an aerosol provision system, the method comprising forming an agglomerated structure comprising the particles comprising an active substance and incorporating the volatile component into the agglomerated structure in liquid form, wherein the volatile component has a vapor pressure at 20° C. which is greater than or equal to the vapor pressure of the active substance at 20° C. 
     
     
         29 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the aerosol generating material is formed from a precursor composition comprising particles comprising an active substance and the liquid volatile component is applied to the surface of the agglomerated structure formed from the precursor composition. 
     
     
         30 . A method as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the precursor composition is granulated or spheronized to form the agglomerated structure. 
     
     
         31 . A method as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the precursor composition is extruded to form the agglomerated structure. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus for heating aerosol generating material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol generating material, and a nicotine-free liquid which is to be heated to form a vapor, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises an aerosol generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , and wherein the aerosol generating material is heated by the vapor. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , including a means for heating the liquid to form a vapor, but not including a separate means for heating the aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the pH is increased by the addition of one or more bases or a basic buffer system. 
     
     
         35 . A particle incorporating a volatile component in liquid form, wherein the volatile component has a vapor pressure at 20° C. which is greater than or equal to the vapor pressure of the active substance at 20° C., for use in controlling the release of nicotine in an aerosol generating material.