Aerosol-generating material and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to aerosol-generating material comprising tobacco granules comprising tobacco material, and an expansion agent, wherein the expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to cause movement of the tobacco granules within the aerosol-generating material and to expose further tobacco material. The invention also relates to tobacco granules comprising tobacco material and an expansion agent. Such aerosol-generating material and tobacco granules may be used in a non-combustible aerosol provision system.

1 . An aerosol-generating material comprising tobacco granules comprising tobacco material, and an expansion agent, wherein the expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to cause movement of the tobacco granules within the aerosol-generating material and to expose further tobacco material. 
     
     
         2 . An aerosol-generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the expansion agent, based upon the weight of the aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         3 . An aerosol-generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the expansion agent is selected from the group consisting of: carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and croscarmellose sodium (CCS). 
     
     
         4 . An aerosol-generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the expansion agent is included within the tobacco granules. 
     
     
         5 . An aerosol-generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the expansion agent is distributed throughout the tobacco granules. 
     
     
         6 . An aerosol-generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the expansion agent is present on the surface of the tobacco granules. 
     
     
         7 . An aerosol-generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , the tobacco granules comprising a core of expansion agent surrounded by tobacco material. 
     
     
         8 . An aerosol-generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco granules are formed by extrusion. 
     
     
         9 . An aerosol-generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising separate particles of expansion agent, located between tobacco granules. 
     
     
         10 . An aerosol-generating material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco material has a pH of at least about 7. 
     
     
         11 . An aerosol-generating material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the tobacco has a pH of from about 8 to about 9.5, or from about 8.5 to about 9. 
     
     
         12 . A tobacco granule comprising tobacco material and an expansion agent, wherein the expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to rupture and/or break open the tobacco granule. 
     
     
         13 . A tobacco granule as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the expansion agent, based upon the weight of the tobacco granule. 
     
     
         14 . A tobacco granule as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the tobacco granule is formed by co-extrusion of the tobacco material and expansion agent. 
     
     
         15 . A consumable comprising the aerosol-generating material as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A consumable as claimed in  claim 15 , comprising a first chamber containing the aerosol-generating material or one or more tobacco granules, and a second chamber containing an aerosolisable material. 
     
     
         17 . A non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising aerosol-generating material as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising an aerosolisable material, wherein the system is configured to heat the aerosolisable material to form a vapour and/or an aerosol, wherein the vapour/aerosol contacts the aerosol-generating material or one or more tobacco granules to entrain one or more components thereof, and thus forming an inhalable medium. 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the vapour/aerosol contains moisture which causes the expansion agent to expand. 
     
     
         20 . Use of an expansion agent in an aerosol-generating material comprising tobacco granules to cause movement of the tobacco granules within the aerosol-generating material and to expose further tobacco material upon exposure to moisture. 
     
     
         21 . The use as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the expansion agent is included in at least one tobacco granule and wherein the expansion agent expands on contact with moisture to rupture and/or break open the tobacco granule. 
     
     
         22 . The use as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the expansion agent is exposed to moisture as a result of the aerosol-generating material being exposed to a moisture-containing vapour. 
     
     
         23 . The use as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the vapour is generated by a non-combustible aerosol provision system.