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 smokeless tobacco product comprising:
a body including,
smokeless tobacco;
a binder binding the smokeless tobacco;
a polymeric fabric surrounding the smokeless tobacco, the polymeric fabric including a plurality of polymeric fibers, the polymeric fibers having a basis weight of less than 30 gsm, the polymeric fibers comprising a colorant, the colorant being configured to increase a hydraulic permittivity of the body.
2. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers include a compounded polymer.
3. The product of claim 1 , wherein the colorant is a brown colorant.
4. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise polypropylene.
5. The product of claim 1 , wherein the binder is present in an amount less than about 0.5 weight percent body.
6. The product of claim 1 , wherein the binder is present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 0.5 weight percent of the body.
7. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers have a basis weight of less than about 20 gsm.
8. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers have a basis weight of less than about 10 gsm.
9. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers have a basis weight of less than about 5 gsm.
10. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers have a diameter of less than about 100 microns.
11. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers have a diameter of less than about 30 microns.
12. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers are melt-blown fibers having a diameter ranging from about 0.5 to about 10.0 microns.
13. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun fibers having a diameter ranging from about 0.01 microns to about 1.0 micron.
14. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise at least two different polymeric materials.
15. The product of claim 14 , wherein the at least two different polymeric materials are coextruded to form composite polymeric fibers of the at least two polymeric materials.
16. A smokeless tobacco product comprising:
a body including,
smokeless tobacco;
a binder binding the smokeless tobacco;
a polymeric fabric surrounding the smokeless tobacco, the polymeric fabric including a plurality of polymeric fibers, the polymeric fibers having a basis weight of less than 30 gsm, the polymeric fibers comprising a colorant and a filler, the filler being configured to increase a hydraulic permittivity of the body.
17. The product of claim 16 , wherein the polymeric fibers include a compounded polymer.
18. The product of claim 16 , wherein the polymeric fibers have a basis weight of less than about 20 gsm.
19. The product of claim 16 , wherein the polymeric fibers have a diameter of less than about 100 microns.
20. The product of claim 16 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise at least two different polymeric materials.