Population of particles for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system

Abstract

The invention relates to a population of particles for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system, wherein each particle comprises (i) a binder, (ii) an absorbent, wherein the absorbent comprises silica or a silicate, and (iii) an aerosol-generating material, wherein the population of particles has a bulk density of between about 0.5 and about 1.1 g·cm−3 or wherein the median particle size, D50, is between about 1 mm and about 2 mm. The invention also relates to a cartridge for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system, to a non-combustible aerosol provision system and to a method of manufacturing the particles.

1 . A population of particles for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system, wherein each particle comprises (i) a binder, (ii) an absorbent, wherein the absorbent comprises silica or a silicate, and (iii) an aerosol-generating material, wherein the population of particles has a bulk density of between about 0.5 and about 1.1 g·cm 3 . 
     
     
         2 . The population of particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol generating material comprises an aerosol-former material. 
     
     
         3 . The population of particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol generating material comprises an active substance and/or a flavour. 
     
     
         4 . The population of particles according to  claim 1  wherein the binder comprises a cellulose or cellulose derivative, suitably microcrystalline cellulose. 
     
     
         5 . The population of particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent comprises silica. 
     
     
         6 . The population of particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of absorbent to binder is between about 1:1 to 2:1. 
     
     
         7 . The population of particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-generating material is present in an amount of between about 50 wt % and 90 wt %, of the total weight of the particles. 
     
     
         8 . The population of particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the median particle size D50 is between about 1 mm and about 2 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The population of particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the population of particles has a Hausner ratio value of less than about 1.25. 
     
     
         10 . A population of particles for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system, wherein each of the particles comprises (i) a binder, (ii) an absorbent, wherein the absorbent comprises silica or a silicate, and (iii) an aerosol-generating material, wherein the median particle size, D50, is between about 1 mm and about 2 mm. 
     
     
         11 . A cartridge for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system, wherein the cartridge contains a population of particles according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge according to  claim 11 , wherein the cartridge contains between about 80 and 120 particles. 
     
     
         13 . A non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising a population of particles according  claim 10 , and an aerosol generator, wherein the aerosol generator is configured to aerosolise one or more components of the aerosol generating material in use. 
     
     
         14 . The non-combustible aerosol provision system according to  claim 13 , wherein the aerosol generator comprises a heater, wherein the heater is configured to heat the particles to a maximum temperature of less than about 250° C. in use. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a population of particles as claimed in any one of  claim 10 , comprising: combining (i) a binder, (ii) an absorbent comprising silica or a silicate, and (iii) an aerosol-generating material to form a slurry; extruding the slurry to form an extrudate; and spheronizing the extrudate to form the population of particles.