A cigarette filter is a small block of cylindrical shape wrapped in paper. Designed to hold a portion of nicotine while inhaling tobacco smoke by a smoker. The filtering effect is determined by its length, composition and material from which it is made.
Composition
The production of filter cigarettes began in 1925, when a patent was officially registered. Then the filters were made of folded paper, and over time in the production began to use better materials, having established the cigarette industry. However, they were not popular among smokers because the first cigarettes were crooked and broken up. There were no technologies for connecting the filter to the tobacco sleeve. The first automated machine was invented in 1935, in England. Since then, demand for products has grown significantly. What are cigarette filters made of? There are several product options depending on the material used:
- acetate;
- activated carbon acetate;
- acetate with polymer fibers;
- cellulose with salicylic acid;
- porous carbon;
- with the addition of granular sorbent.
In 1954, they began to produce cigarettes with an acetate filter, and it is still the most popular around the world. Industry uses recycled cellulose acetate containing 10% glycerol triacetate. Such fibers are made from a solution of cellulose acetate in acetone or a mixture of methylene chloride and alcohol. At the end, the so-called "acetate silk" is obtained, from which cigarette filters are then formed.
Below are a few more patented filters around the world.
The filter is made from organic fibers of the polymer and impregnated with lignin, which is a kind of adsorbing agent.
Acetate or cellulose cigarette adsorbents are also impregnated with a 5% salicylic acid solution. According to manufacturers, such a composition is able to reduce the content of nicotine, resins and volatile metals from smoke up to 47%.
Another patented filter for cigarettes consists of two parts: the outer side of the filter is made of acetate fiber, and the part on the side of the tobacco mixture is formed from carbon particles, which increase the filter's properties.
To increase the efficiency of adsorption of toxins and carcinogens from tobacco smoke, a special sorbent in granules of synthetic or natural zeolites is also added. Today, manufacturers continue to modify filters and cigarette cases, looking for other suitable materials for their manufacture.
Manufacture
The filter manufacturing process is as follows. Acetate or cellulose is melted. By blowing, fibers with a diameter of not more than 10 microns are obtained. The formation of transverse thin sections allows to increase the area of the material, thereby saving air consumption during the blowing process. The manufacturing cycle is continuous, as some molten substances are destroyed under the influence of the environment. Then the material for the filter core by heating is combined with the fibers of the acetate shell, cooled and cut into separate parts.
The core serves only to increase structural strength and reduce production costs. Only the outer shell and additives, for example, activated carbon or granular sorbent, are adsorbing.
The filter hardness is one of the parameters by which smokers choose cigarettes. Since cellulose fibers are not particularly hard, triacetin plasticizer is added to the filters. There are consumers who prefer harder filters for cigarettes, in the manufacture of which the amount of this substance is significantly exceeded. And this, as a rule, reduces the efficiency of absorption of smoke components.
Benefit or harm
The creation of the filter was dictated by attempts to make the smoking process more enjoyable and less dangerous for the smoker. In the 50s of the last century, research by scientists about the dangers of smoking forced many to abandon cigarettes, which markedly reduced sales. To correct the situation, it was decided to influence the minds of smokers with the legend that the filter reduces the ingress of harmful toxins into the body. Thus, customers were left with the opportunity to experience the joy of the smoking process. However, the materials from which cigarette filters are made are no less dangerous to humans.
Homemade Filter
You can make a homemade filter for cigarettes. To do this, we take dense, clean paper 2 x 7 cm in size. Crumple some of the paper on the narrow side with an accordion 3-4 times, and wrap the rest around. We put the cylinder and tobacco on special paper, and then roll up the cigarette.