Tobacco sheet reinforced with hardwood pulp
First Claim
1. A formable composition comprising comminuted tobacco or tobacco substitute, an adhesive agent therefor, and from about 2 to about 12 percent by weight (dry basis) of unrefined short cellulose fiber, said fiber having an average length of less than 2.0 mm effective to enhance tensile or tear properties in sheet formed therefrom said tobacco or tobacco substitute, adhesive agent, and cellulose fiber being dispersed in an aqueous slurry at a level of at least about 10 percent solids by weight wherein said cellulose fiber is selected from the group consisting of unrefined hardwood pulp, bagasse, bamboo, rice straw, wheat straw and Esparto grass.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Tobacco sheet is prepared from high solids aqueous slurries incorporating a reinforcing agent constituted by unrefined short cellulose fiber, having an average length of less than 2.0 mm.
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Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A formable composition comprising comminuted tobacco or tobacco substitute, an adhesive agent therefor, and from about 2 to about 12 percent by weight (dry basis) of unrefined short cellulose fiber, said fiber having an average length of less than 2.0 mm effective to enhance tensile or tear properties in sheet formed therefrom said tobacco or tobacco substitute, adhesive agent, and cellulose fiber being dispersed in an aqueous slurry at a level of at least about 10 percent solids by weight wherein said cellulose fiber is selected from the group consisting of unrefined hardwood pulp, bagasse, bamboo, rice straw, wheat straw and Esparto grass.
- 4. A coherent integral tobacco or tobacco substitute sheet comprising tobacco or tobacco substitute, an adhesive and 2 to 12 percent by weight of delignified unrefined hardwood pulp comprising cellulose fibers having an average length of less than about 2.0 mm effective to enhance tensile or tear properties in the sheet.
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6. A method for improving the physical properties of reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitute sheet comprising incorporating in said sheet from about 2 to 12% of delignified unrefined hardwood pulp comprising cellulose fiber having an average length of less than 2.0 mm effective to enhance tensile or tear properties in the sheet.
- 7. A method of preparing tobacco or tobacco substitute sheet comprising combining dry comminuted tobacco or tobacco substitute with a baseweb composition comprising an aqueous slurry consisting essentially of an adhesive for said tobacco or tobacco substitute and cellulose fiber having an average length of less than 2.0 mm effective to enhance tensile or tear properties in the sheet to form a castable composition having a solids content of at least 10 percent by weight, wherein said cellulose fiber is selected from the group consisting of unrefined hardwood pulp, bagasse, bamboo, rice straw, wheat straw and Esparto grass, casting said composition as a thin sheet, and drying.
Specification