Degradable filter for smoking articles

Abstract

A filter ( 14 ) for a smoking article ( 10 ) comprises a segment of filtration material ( 16 ), the filtration material ( 16 ) comprising randomly oriented regenerated cellulose fibres and cellulose acetate fibers. The filtration material ( 16 ) further comprises triacetin. The filter ( 14 ) also includes a wrapper ( 18 ) circumscribing the segment of filtration material ( 16 ).

1 . A filter for a smoking article, the filter comprising:
 a segment of filtration material, the filtration material comprising randomly oriented regenerated cellulose fibres and cellulose acetate fibers, the filtration material further comprising triacetin; and   a wrapper circumscribing the segment of filtration material.   
     
     
         2 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filtration material further comprises a low molecular weight polyether. 
     
     
         3 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filtration material comprises additional fibres selected from the group consisting of silk, cotton, polyester, linen, nylon, wool and combinations thereof 
     
     
         4 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the triacetin is present in an amount of 1% to 15% by weight of the filtration material. 
     
     
         5 . A filter for a smoking article, the filter comprising:
 a segment of filtration material, the filtration material comprising randomly oriented regenerated cellulose fibres and a low molecular weight polyether; and   a wrapper circumscribing the segment of filtration material.   
     
     
         6 . The filter of  claim 2 , wherein the low molecular weight polyether comprises polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         7 . The filter of  claim 6 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has a number average molecular weight of between 200 and 3600. 
     
     
         8 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the regenerated cellulose fibres are crimped staple fibres. 
     
     
         9 . The filter of  claim 8 , wherein the crimped staple fibres have a stretched length of between 10 mm and 30 mm under a tension of between 5 cN/denier and 10 cN/denier. 
     
     
         10 . The filter of  claim 8  or  9 , wherein the crimped staple fibres have a denier of between 0.5 and 8.0 and a crimped rate of between 3 and 10 curves per 10 mm fibre length. 
     
     
         11 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the regenerated cellulose fibres are Lyocell fibres. 
     
     
         12 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the wrapper comprises a dissolvable plug wrap consisting of a sheet of polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material comprises at least one water-soluble polymer. 
     
     
         13 . A smoking article comprising:
 an aerosol-forming substrate; and   a mouthpiece secured in axial alignment with the aerosol-forming substrate, the mouthpiece comprising a filter according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         14 . A smoking article comprising:
 an aerosol-forming substrate; and   a mouthpiece secured in axial alignment with the aerosol-forming substrate, the mouthpiece comprising a filter according to  claim 5 .   
     
     
         15 . The filter of  claim 5 , wherein the low molecular weight polyether comprises polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         16 . The filter of  claim 15 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has a number average molecular weight of between 200 and 3600. 
     
     
         17 . The filter of  claim 5 , wherein the regenerated cellulose fibres are crimped staple fibres. 
     
     
         18 . The filter of  claim 17 , wherein the crimped staple fibres have a denier of between 0.5 and 8.0 and a crimped rate of between 3 and 10 curves per 10 mm fibre length. 
     
     
         19 . The filter of  claim 5 , wherein the regenerated cellulose fibres are Lyocell fibres. 
     
     
         20 . The filter of  claim 5 , wherein the wrapper comprises a dissolvable plug wrap consisting of a sheet of polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material comprises at least one water-soluble polymer.