Charcoal having encapsulated igniter material

Abstract

The properties of charcoal can be improved by providing microcapsules containing an ignitable material on or within the charcoal. The microcapsules can be made of polyacrylate and the ignitable material includes hydrocarbons such as a paraffin combination, alcohols, and combinations.

1 . A charcoal composition, comprising charcoal and microcapsules disposed on the surface thereof or within the charcoal composition, wherein said microcapsules contain an ignitable material. 
     
     
         2 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said microcapsules have a median size within the range of 1 to 30 microns. 
     
     
         3 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said ignitable material comprises at least one hydrocarbon, at least one alcohol, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 3 , wherein said ignitable material is a liquid at room temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 3 , wherein said ignitable composition comprises C5 to C13 alkanes. 
     
     
         6 . The charcoal according to  claim 3 , wherein said ignitable material contains a C1-C13 alcohol. 
     
     
         7 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said microcapsules have a wall comprising a polyacrylate, gelatin, or melamine-formaldehyde. 
     
     
         8 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said microcapsules have a wall comprising polyacrylate. 
     
     
         9 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said microcapsules have an aspect ratio of core to wall such that the cores are at least 70% by weight of said microcapsules. 
     
     
         10 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 9 , wherein said cores are 80 to 95% by weight of said microcapsules. 
     
     
         11 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said microcapsules are contained in a coating layer on said charcoal. 
     
     
         12 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 11 , wherein said coating layer further comprises a binder. 
     
     
         13 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said microcapsules provide the ignitable material in an amount of 2% to 25% based on the weight of the charcoal. 
     
     
         14 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said charcoal is in the form of a briquette. 
     
     
         15 . The charcoal composition according to  claim 14 , wherein said microcapsules provide 0.5 g to 7 g of the ignitable material to the briquette. 
     
     
         16 . A process for making a charcoal composition, which comprises:
 (a) coating charcoal with a slurry comprising a liquid having microcapsules dispersed therein, said microcapsules containing an ignitable material, to form a wet coated charcoal; and   (b) drying said wet coated charcoal to form charcoal having said microcapsules disposed on the surface thereof   
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 16 , wherein said charcoal is in the form of a briquette. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein said slurry liquid contains water and polyvinyl alcohol and said drying step removes substantially the water from the wet coated charcoal to form a coating layer of microcapsules dispersed in a polyvinyl alcohol binder.