Tobacco material containing non-isometric calcium carbonate microparticles

Abstract

A smoking article formed from a tobacco material that includes tobacco non-isometric precipitated calcium carbonate microparticles is provided. The non-isometric microparticles typically have a mean diameter of from about 50 nanometers to about 3 micrometers, in some embodiments from about 80 nanometers to about 1 micrometer, in some embodiments from about 100 nanometers to about 400 nanometers, and in some embodiments, from about 200 nanometers to about 300 nanometers. Such non-isometric particles may have an elongated morphology so that the length of the microparticles is greater than the diameter. This may be characterized by the 'aspect ratio' of the microparticles (length divided by width), which is typically from about 1 to about 15, in some embodiments from about 2 to about 12, and in some embodiments, from about 3 to about 10. For example, the average length of the microparticles may range from about 100 nanometers to about 8 micrometers, in some embodiments from about 300 nanometers to about 5 micrometers, in some embodiments from about 500 nanometers to about 4 micrometers, and in some embodiments, from about 1 micrometer to about 3 micrometers.