Abstract: A cell-testing apparatus for testing one or more cells includes a cell-test enclosure that includes at least one internal vent. The cell-testing apparatus also includes an external housing that contains the cell-test enclosure and that includes at least one exhaust vent that vents to outside the external housing. During testing, the cell-test enclosure is located within the external housing so as to define at least one explosion-gas pathway from the at least one internal vent to the at least one exhaust vent. In some embodiments, the venting axis of the internal vent(s) is perpendicular to the venting axis of the exhaust vent(s). In some embodiments, the vents each comprise one or more fenestrated plates. In some embodiments, the cell-test enclosure is a drawer-type enclosure including a cabinet and a drawer that is designed and configured to receive a battery cell for testing.

Abstract: In some embodiments, temperature-testing apparatuses that each include a pair of spaced-apart pressure plates, a testing plate, and a pressure fixture. The testing plate may comprise a working face with a plurality of recesses that confronts a face of the battery cell being tested, a temperature sensor in each one of the plurality of recesses, and electronic circuitry in operative communication with each of the temperature sensors. In some embodiments, the pressure fixture is a constant-pressure mechanism. In some embodiments, the pressure fixture is a constant-gap pressure mechanism. Systems containing such temperature-testing apparatuses and methods of testing with such temperature-testing apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tobacco-free oral pouch product providing immediate and long lasting flavor release comprises a pouch wrapper and tobacco-free flavor beads contained within the pouch wrapper. The flavor beads comprise at least one of microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and sodium alginate, at least one polymer having a higher solubility in saliva than microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and/or sodium alginate, and at least one flavorant. The pectin and sodium alginate are cross-linked. The tobacco-free flavor beads provide immediate release of the flavorant upon placement of a pouch product in a user's mouth and long lasting release of the flavorant for about 15 minutes to about 80 minutes. The oral pouch product contains only tobacco-free flavor beads.

Abstract: A tobacco-free oral pouch product providing immediate and long lasting flavor release comprises a pouch wrapper and tobacco-free flavor beads contained within the pouch wrapper. The flavor beads comprise at least one of microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and sodium alginate, at least one polymer having a higher solubility in saliva than microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and/or sodium alginate, and at least one flavorant. The pectin and sodium alginate are cross-linked. The tobacco-free flavor beads provide immediate release of the flavorant upon placement of a pouch product in a user's mouth and long lasting release of the flavorant for about 15 minutes to about 80 minutes. The oral pouch product contains only tobacco-free flavor beads.

Abstract: Disclosed is a copolymer that includes a repeat unit containing a flavorant-containing pendant and a salt-containing repeating unit. In addition, a comestible, a smoking composition, a smoking article, a smokeless tobacco composition and a heatable or combustible product are provided which incorporate one or more of the flavorant-containing copolymer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a copolymer that includes a repeat unit containing a flavorant-containing pendant and a salt-containing repeating unit. In addition, a comestible, a smoking composition, a smoking article, a smokeless tobacco composition and a heatable or combustible product are provided which incorporate one or more of the flavorant-containing copolymer.

Abstract: The invention discloses a microencapsulated phase change material having a specific Thermal Efficiency Index (TEI). TEI=?(R?T)*?(R?H)*?(RMP)*?(RTGA@180)*?(RFW) The problem of achieving effective and efficient microencapsulated phase change material can be solved to yield a commercially useful material having the described combination of physical and chemical characteristics based on the parameters described in the specification. Microcapsules according to the invention are highly effective at delivering enhanced thermal performance as compared to conventional microcapsules.

Abstract: Disclosed is a copolymer that includes a repeat unit containing a flavorant-containing pendant and a salt-containing repeating unit. In addition, a comestible, a smoking composition, a smoking article, a smokeless tobacco composition and a heatable or combustible product are provided which incorporate one or more of the flavorant-containing copolymer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a copolymer that includes a repeat unit containing a flavorant-containing pendant and a salt-containing repeating unit. In addition, a comestible, a smoking composition, a smoking article, a smokeless tobacco composition and a heatable or combustible product are provided which incorporate one or more of the flavorant-containing copolymer.

Abstract: High strength, high integrity microcapsules containing a hydrophobic core material wherein said microcapsule walls are formed of copolymers of select monomers through a multistep oil-in-water emulsification polymerization process.

Abstract: A tobacco-free oral pouch product providing immediate and long lasting flavor release comprises a pouch wrapper and tobacco-free flavor beads contained within the pouch wrapper. The flavor beads comprise at least one of microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and sodium alginate, at least one polymer having a higher solubility in saliva than microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and/or sodium alginate, and at least one flavorant. The pectin and sodium alginate are cross-linked. The tobacco-free flavor beads provide immediate release of the flavorant upon placement of a pouch product in a user's mouth and long lasting release of the flavorant for about 15 minutes to about 80 minutes. The oral pouch product contains only tobacco-free flavor beads.

Abstract: A tobacco-free oral pouch product providing immediate and long lasting flavor release comprises a pouch wrapper and tobacco-free flavor beads contained within the pouch wrapper. The flavor beads comprise at least one of microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and sodium alginate, at least one polymer having a higher solubility in saliva than microcrystalline cellulose, pectin and/or sodium alginate, and at least one flavorant. The pectin and sodium alginate are cross-linked. The tobacco-free flavor beads provide immediate release of the flavorant upon placement of a pouch product in a user's mouth and long lasting release of the flavorant for about 15 minutes to about 80 minutes. The oral pouch product contains only tobacco-free flavor beads.

Abstract: The invention discloses a microencapsulated phase change material having a specific Thermal Efficiency Index (TEI). TEI=?(R?T)*?(R?H)*?(RMP)*?(RTGA@180)*?(RFW) The problem of achieving effective and efficient microencapsulated phase change material can be solved to yield a commercially useful material having the described combination of physical and chemical characteristics based on the parameters described in the specification.

Abstract: High strength, high integrity microcapsules containing a hydrophobic core material wherein said microcapsule walls are formed of copolymers of select monomers through a multistep oil-in-water emulsification polymerization process.

Abstract: The invention teaches a method of efficiently dewatering a microcapsule slurry to form a water re-suspendable filter cake of microcapsules. The process comprises providing an aqueous slurry of microcapsules dispersed in an aqueous solution; adding an agglomeration agent and dispersing the agglomeration agent into the aqueous slurry; adjusting the pH to a pH level sufficient to agglomerate the dispersed microcapsules; and filtering the aqueous slurry of microcapsules by gravity, vacuum or pressure filtration to thereby form a filter cake of dewatered microcapsules. The agglomeration agent is sodium polyphosphate, sodium tetrapolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and/or sodium tripolyphosphate; or with anionic microcapsules or coatings even alkaline earth metal salts such as magnesium chloride, calcium chloride or barium chloride, or even aluminum salt such as aluminum chloride.

Abstract: A microencapsulation process in which wall forming materials in a dispersed phase are polymerized to form a seed microcapsule after which an initiator or catalyst in the continuous phase is initiated or activated to effect, in whole or in part, full polymerization of the wall forming material of the dispersed phase.

Abstract: The invention teaches a method of efficiently dewatering a microcapsule slurry to form a water re-suspendable filter cake of microcapsules. The process comprises providing an aqueous slurry of microcapsules dispersed in an aqueous solution; adding an agglomeration agent and dispersing the agglomeration agent into the aqueous slurry; adjusting the pH to a pH level sufficient to agglomerate the dispersed microcapsules; and filtering the aqueous slurry of microcapsules by gravity, vacuum or pressure filtration to thereby form a filter cake of dewatered microcapsules. The agglomeration agent is sodium polyphosphate, sodium tetrapolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and/or sodium tripolyphosphate; or with anionic microcapsules or coatings even alkaline earth metal salts such as magnesium chloride, calcium chloride or barium chloride, or even aluminum salt such as aluminum chloride.

Abstract: The invention teaches a method of efficiently dewatering a microcapsule slurry to form a water re-suspendable filter cake of microcapsules. The process comprises providing an aqueous slurry of microcapsules dispersed in an aqueous solution; adding an agglomeration agent and dispersing the agglomeration agent into the aqueous slurry; adjusting the pH to a pH level sufficient to agglomerate the dispersed microcapsules; and filtering the aqueous slurry of microcapsules by gravity, vacuum or pressure filtration to thereby form a filter cake of dewatered microcapsules. The agglomeration agent is sodium polyphosphate, sodium tetrapolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and/or sodium tripolyphosphate; or with anionic microcapsules or coatings even alkaline earth metal salts such as magnesium chloride, calcium chloride or barium chloride, or even aluminum salt such as aluminum chloride.

Abstract: Disclosed is a copolymer that includes a repeat unit containing a flavorant-containing pendant and a salt-containing repeating unit. In addition, a comestible, a smoking composition, a smoking article, a smokeless tobacco composition and a heatable or combustible product are provided which incorporate one or more of the flavorant-containing copolymer.

Abstract: High strength, high integrity microcapsules containing a hydrophobic core material wherein said microcapsule walls are formed of copolymers of select monomers through a multistep oil-in-water emulsification polymerization process.