The Control of Cigarette Smoke Deliveries Using Heat-Shrinkable Films

A ventilating filter for cigarettes has been developed which reduces the delivery of smoke constituents from the final two to three puffs. Since the normaI delivery for these three puffs can account for up to half the total particulate matter and nicotine delivered by the whole cigarette, usefuI reductions per cigarette can be produced. The ventilating filter consists of cellulose acetate tow wrapped in heat-shrinkable film and attached to a tobacco rod using perforated tipping paper. When the cigarette is smoked, the perforations remain closed by contact with the impermeable film until transfer of heat to the filter is sufficient to soften the filter tow and shrink the film. Ventilating air now enters the cigarette and reduces the smoke deliveries. The effectiveness of the ventilating filter is increased by using films which have a low shrink temperature, high shrink tension and a high degree of biaxiaI shrinkage. Increases in filter plasticiser level, tipping perforation area and puff volume improve the effectiveness of the ventilating filter but increases in cigarette paper porosity and tobacco butt length reduce the effectiveness