Pod Including Temperature-Switchable Material for an Aerosol-Generating Device, and Aerosol- Generating Device Comprising the Same

Abstract

A pod includes a temperature-switchable material for an aerosol-generating device, a porous wick and a reservoir including a discharge opening for an aerosol-generating liquid material, wherein (i) the porous wick is coated with a temperature-switchable material on a surface of the porous wick sealing the discharge opening of the reservoir; or (ii) the porous wick is coated with a temperature-switchable material on a surface of the porous wick opposite of the surface of the porous wick sealing the discharge opening; or (iii) the porous wick is made of the temperature-switchable material and is arranged so that a surface of the porous wick seals the discharge opening of the reservoir. The temperature-switchable material is an amphiphilic material impermeable for an aerosol-generating liquid material below a transition temperature of between 25° C. and 300° C. and becoming permeable for an aerosol-generating liquid material when exposed to a temperature above the transition temperature.

1 . A pod for an aerosol-generating device comprising
 a porous wick; and   a reservoir including a discharge opening for an aerosol-generating liquid material, wherein   
       (i) the porous wick is coated with a temperature-switchable material on a surface of the porous wick sealing the discharge opening of the reservoir so that the temperature-switchable material is arranged between the discharge opening of the reservoir and the porous wick; or 
       (ii) the porous wick is coated with a temperature-switchable material on a surface of the porous wick opposite of the surface of the porous wick sealing the discharge opening so that the porous wick is arranged between the temperature-switchable material and the reservoir; or 
       (iii) the porous wick is made of the temperature-switchable material and is arranged so that a surface of the porous wick seals the discharge opening of the reservoir, wherein the temperature-switchable material is an amphiphilic material being impermeable for an aerosol-generating liquid material below a transition temperature of between 25° C. and 300° C. and becoming permeable for an aerosol-generating liquid material when being exposed to a temperature above said transition temperature. 
     
     
         2 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transition temperature is between 50° C. and 100° C. 
     
     
         3 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-switchable material is a porous material made from silicon alkoxide. 
     
     
         4 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein the silicon alkoxide contains at least one of phenyltriethoxysilane (PhTEOS), methyltriethoxysilane (MTEOS) and tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS). 
     
     
         5 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the silicon alkoxide contains phenyltriethoxysilane (PhTEOS) or methyltriethoxysilane (MTEOS) and tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS) in a ratio of 1:3 to 2:1. 
     
     
         6 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein the porous material made from silicon alkoxide is a sol-gel foam. 
     
     
         7 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to option (ii) or option (iii) of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-switchable material comprises a vapor channel structure forming channels in a surface of the porous wick opposite of the surface sealing the discharge opening. 
     
     
         8 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the vapor channel structure has a geometrical structure selected from the group consisting of pin fins, rectangular channels, circular channels, re-entrant cavities and flow mixer structures. 
     
     
         9 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a heat transfer material layer arranged adjacent to the vapor channel structure comprised in the temperature-switchable material. 
     
     
         10 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a metal mesh with a temperature-switchable coating, the metal mesh being arranged between the vapor channel structure of the temperature-switchable material and the heat transfer material layer and the metal mesh being in direct contact with the heat transfer material layer. 
     
     
         11 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the temperature-switchable material is between 0.001 mm and 10 mm in a pod according to option (i) or option (ii) and wherein the thickness of the temperature-switchable material is between 0.01 mm and 10 mm in a pod according to option (iii). 
     
     
         12 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to option (i) or (ii) of  claim 1 , wherein the porous wick is made of ceramic, silica or cotton. 
     
     
         13 . The pod for an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an airflow channel configured to allow air entering the pod through an inlet, being guided through a porous wick and/or along a surface of the porous wick, and exiting the pod though an outlet. 
     
     
         14 . An aerosol-generating device comprising the pod as defined in  claim 1  and a heater unit configured to distribute heat to the porous wick and the temperature-switchable material of the pod.