Fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product
A fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a plurality of polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco. The polymeric fibers can have a basis weight of 5 gsm or less and a diameter of less than 100 microns. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are melt-blown polymeric fibers. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun polymeric fibers. A method of preparing a fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone and passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone. In some cases, an electrostatic charge can be applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof. In some cases, a spin is applied to the body when passing through the polymer deposition zone.
1. A method of preparing a smokeless tobacco product comprising:
melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone;
passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone; and
applying an electrostatic charge with one or more holding devices to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a surfactant is applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers as they exit spinners.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the deposited polymeric fibers have a basis weight of less than 30 gsm.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the deposited polymeric fibers have a basis weight of less than 5 gsm.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the deposited fibers have a diameter of less than 100 microns.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body is has a spin when passing through the polymer deposition zone.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers are above a melt temperature for the polymer when impacting the body such that they conform to tobacco fibrous structures.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers have a diameter of less than 30 microns.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers are melt-blown fibers having a diameter of between 0.5 and 10.0 microns.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun fibers having a diameter of between 0.01 microns and 1.0 micron.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the melt-blown polymeric fibers are quenched with a mist such that the polymeric fibers are quenched below a melt temperature of the polymer upon impacting the body.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mist comprises water vapor, a surfactant, or air.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise polypropylene.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise at least two different materials.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise a colorant.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least two different polymeric materials are coextruded to form composite polymeric fibers of the two polymeric materials.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the polymeric materials is mouth-stable and at least one of the polymeric materials is mouth-dissolvable.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body has an overall oven volatiles content of about 4% by weight to about 61% by weight.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a binder.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the body comprises between 0.1 and 0.5 weight percent of a binder.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the binder comprises guar gum, xanthan gum, cellulose ether, or a combination thereof.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body is held by one or more holding devices during the passage of that body through the polymer deposition zone.
23. A method of preparing a smokeless tobacco product comprising:
melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone; and
passing a body through the polymer deposition zone while rotating the body with one or more holding devices; and
applying an electrostatic charge to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof, with the one or more holding devices.
24. The method of claim 1 or claim 23 , wherein each of the one or more holding devices is a needle-like structure.
25. The method of claim 1 or 23 , wherein the needle-like structure has a diameter of less than 500 microns.