Hollow acetate tube filters having high hardness values

Abstract

A filter product for use in a consumer product. The consumer product may comprise a tobacco product, such as a combustible cigarette or a heat-not-burn stick. The filter product may comprise a plurality of cellulose acetate fibers having hollow core sections.

1 . A filter product for use in a consumer product, said filter product comprising:
 a hollow tube formed from a plurality of cellulose acetate fibers, wherein the fibers include hollow core sections,   wherein said hollow tube includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter,   wherein the cellulose acetate within said hollow tube has a mass of no more than 495 mg, and said hollow tube has a hardness of at least 92.0% (Borgwaldt 3 Kg).   
     
     
         2 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose acetate has a degree of substitution (DS) from 2.2 to 2.8. 
     
     
         3 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein said hollow tube is wrapped in paper. 
     
     
         4 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein said fibers have a closed C shaped cross section, and wherein a fiber has a closed C shape cross section when the cross section presents a proximate first end and a proximate second end and satisfies at least one condition A (i) or A (ii) and at least one condition B (i) or B (ii):
 A. At least a portion of a first proximal end is either:
 i. oriented toward at least a portion of a second proximal end, or 
 ii. contacting a portion of the second proximal end; and 
   B. The first and second proximal ends form either:
 i. a channel defined by a gap or separation between the first proximal end and the second proximal end of the “C” shape and having a transverse distance D1, wherein the channel leads from an outer surface of the filament to a hollow core, wherein the hollow core is defined by an inner filament surface and having a diameter D2, and wherein D2/D1>1, or 
 ii. no channel resulting from at least a portion the first proximal end contacting at least a portion of the opposing second proximal end. 
   
     
     
         5 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein the consumer product is a tobacco product. 
     
     
         6 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco product is a combustible cigarette. 
     
     
         7 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco product is a heat-not-burn stick. 
     
     
         8 . The filter product of  claim 7 , wherein the fibers each has a denier per filament (dpf) from 3.4 to 8.0. 
     
     
         9 . The filter product of  claim 7 , wherein said filter product is formed from a tow of fibers, wherein the tow has a total denier from 20,000 to 40,000. 
     
     
         10 . The filter product of  claim 1 , further comprising a plasticizer. 
     
     
         11 . The filter product of  claim 10 , wherein the plasticizer is triacetin. 
     
     
         12 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose acetate within said hollow tube has a mass of no more than 492 mg, no more than 490 mg, no more than 487 mg, no more than 485 mg, no more than 483 mg, or no more than 481 mg. 
     
     
         13 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein said hollow tube has a hardness of at least at least 92.1%, at least 92.2%, at least 92.3%, at least 92.4%, or at least 92.5%. 
     
     
         14 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein said fibers have, on average, an area moment of inertia of at least 50,000 u m 4 , at least 60,000 μm 4 , at least 70,000 μm 4 , and/or at least 75,000 μm 4 . 
     
     
         15 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein said fibers have a fiber-to—metal coefficient of friction of no more than 0.565 or a fiber-to—fiber coefficient of friction of no more than 0.134. 
     
     
         16 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein said hollow tube has an external circumference C ext  from 12 to 28 mm, from 14 to 26 mm, from 16 to 24 mm, or from 18 to 22 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein said hollow tube includes a wall extending from an inner diameter dint to an external diameter d ext , wherein said wall has a thickness W t  from 0.2 mm to 1.8 mm, from 0.4 mm to 1.6 mm, from 0.6 mm to 1.4 mm, and/or 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The filter product of  claim 1 , wherein the consumer product is a botanical product. 
     
     
         19 . The filter product of any of  claim 18 , wherein the botanical product is configured to generate vaporized plant-based substances. 
     
     
         20 . A filter product for use in a consumer product, said filter product comprising:
 a hollow tube formed from a plurality of cellulose acetate fibers, wherein the fibers include hollow core sections,   wherein said hollow tube includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter,   wherein the cellulose acetate within said hollow tube has a mass of no more than 495 mg, and said hollow tube has a hardness of at least 92.2% (Borgwaldt 3 Kg).