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 seamless fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product comprising:
smokeless tobacco;
a binder binding the smokeless tobacco, the smokeless tobacco product comprising less than 0.5 weight percent binder; and
a plurality of melt-blown polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco, the melt-blown polymeric fibers having a hydrophilic surface coating and having a basis weight of less than 10 gsm; and
wherein the polymeric fibers comprise surfactant-quenched fibers.
2. The product of claim 1 , wherein the melt-blown polymeric fibers have a basis weight of less than 5 gsm.
3. The product of claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco comprises a high moisture tobacco.
4. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers have a diameter of less than 100 microns.
5. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers conform to fibrous structures of the smokeless tobacco.
6. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers have a diameter of less than 30 microns.
7. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers are melt-blown fibers having a diameter of between 0.5 and 10.0 microns.
8. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise polypropylene.
9. The product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise at least two different materials.
10. The product of claim 9 , wherein the polymeric fibers comprise fibers formed by a compounded polymer comprising a colorant.
11. The product of claim 9 , wherein polymeric fibers are composite polymeric fibers formed by the coextrusion of at least two different polymeric materials.
12. The product of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the polymeric materials is mouth-stable and at least one of the polymeric materials is mouth-dissolvable.
13. The product of claim 1 , wherein the product has an overall oven volatiles content of about 4% by weight to about 61% by weight.
14. A seamless pouched smokeless tobacco product comprising:
a non-tobacco cellulosic mixture;
a binder dispersed in the non-tobacco cellulosic mixture; and
a plurality of melt-blown or centrifugal force spun polymeric fibers surrounding the non-tobacco cellulosic mixture, the polymeric fibers having a hydrophilic surface coating and having a basis weight of less than 10 gsm;
wherein the polymeric fibers comprise surfactant-quenched fibers.
15. The product of claim 14 , wherein the non-tobacco cellulosic mixture comprises bamboo fiber.
16. The product of claim 14 , wherein the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun fibers having a diameter of between 0.01 microns and 1.0 micron.
17. The product of claim 14 , wherein the product comprises between 0.1 and 0.5 weight percent of the binder.
18. The product of claim 17 , wherein the binder comprises guar gum, xanthan gum, cellulose ether, or a combination thereof.
19. A seamless fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product comprising:
smokeless tobacco; and
a fiber wrap comprising a plurality of melt-blown polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco, the melt-blown polymeric fibers comprise a colorant for improving the hydraulic permittivity of the fiber wrap.