SMOKING ARTICLE WITH POLYMER-CONTAINING SMOKABLE MATERIALS

Abstract

The present disclosure teaches systems and methods for a polymer based smoking substitute material. Polyalkylene carbonates are clean burning polymers which have a range of glass transition temperatures and other properties. Cigarettes (10) having smokable material, wrapping material (14) and filter material (16) comprised of one or more polyalkylene carbonates are disclosed. These systems and methods will find industrial applicability in, for example, the tobacco products industry.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application filed on Nov. 27, 2013 and assigned U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/963,222, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This present invention relates generally to smoking materials, particularly the use of clean burning polymers in conjunction with, and as a substitute for, tobacco.

BACKGROUND

The effects of smoking tobacco products are well documented. According to the Centers for Disease Control, cigarette smoking causes hundreds of thousands of deaths in the United States each year. Cigarettes contain many known carcinogens and contribute to a myriad of health problems. In addition to tobacco, cigarettes contain a plethora of fillers, adhesives, preservatives, binders, and other additives. Acetone, ammonia, arsenic, benzene, cadmium, carbon monoxide, cyanide, lead, nitrosamines, and tar are all found in cigarette smoke.

Considerable effort has been expended in development of substitute materials for smoking as an alternative to tobacco. Tobacco companies have produced various different cigarettes marketed for different taste, strength, tar content and other characteristics. Various tobacco substitutes (fillers) have failed to gain success, and cigarette filters have been in use since the 1950's.

There is a need for improved smokable tobacco substitute materials, which offer a reduced amount of carcinogens and chemical irritants and overcome other known drawbacks in the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a smoking article comprising one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is disclosed. Additional aspects of the invention include:

Aspect 1: A smokable material comprising:

tobacco and one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates;

wherein said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates aggregately comprise at least 5% of said material;

wherein at least one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates has a glass transition temperature between 10 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius.

Aspect 2: The smokable material of Aspect 1 further comprising:

nicotine; and

one or more flavorants.

Aspect 3: The smokable material of any of Aspects 1 and 2 wherein one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is polyethylene carbonate.

Aspect 4: The smokable material of any of Aspects 1 and 2 wherein one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is polypropylene carbonate.

Aspect 5: The smokable material of any of Aspects 1 and 2 wherein one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is copolymer comprising two or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates.

Aspect 6: A smoking article comprising:

a rod, having a substantially cylindrical shape and smokable material contained within a wrapping material, the smokable material comprising:

one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates;

nicotine; and

one or more flavorants;

wherein said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates aggregately comprise at least 5% of said smokable material.

Aspect 7: The smoking article of Aspect 6 wherein said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is a copolymer comprising two or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates.

Aspect 8: The smoking article of Aspect 6 wherein one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is polyethylene carbonate.

Aspect 9: The smoking article of Aspect 6 wherein one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is polypropylene carbonate.

Aspect 10: The smoking article of any of Aspects 6 through 9 wherein the wrapping material is comprised of one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates.

Aspect 11: The smoking article of any of Aspects 6 through 10 further comprising a filter system having a filter element comprised of one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates.

Aspect 12: The smoking article of any of Aspects 6 through 11 wherein one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates has a glass transition temperature between 10 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius.

Aspect 13: A method of making a smoking article comprising:

• • a) blending smokable material comprising tobacco and one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates having a glass transition between 10 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius, the one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates aggregately comprising at least 5% of the smokable material;
  • b) forming a rod having a substantially cylindrical shape; and
  • c) wrapping said rod in a wrapping material.

Aspect 14: The method of Aspect 13 wherein step (a) comprises blending smokable material comprising tobacco and an aliphatic polyalkylene carbonate which is a copolymer comprising two or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates, the copolymer aggregately comprising at least 5% of the smokable material.

Aspect 15: The method of Aspect 13 wherein step (a) comprises blending smokable material comprising tobacco and polyethylene carbonate, the polyethylene carbonate aggregately comprising at least 5% of the smokable material.

Aspect 16: The method of Aspect 13 wherein step (a) comprises blending smokable material comprising tobacco and polypropylene carbonate, the polypropylene carbonate aggregately comprising at least 5% of the smokable material.

Aspect 17: The method of any of Aspects 13 through 16 wherein step (c) comprises wrapping said rod in a wrapping material comprising one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates.

Aspect 18: The method of any of Aspects 13 through 17 further comprising:

• • d) attaching a filter system having a filter element comprising one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates.

Aspect 19: The method of Aspect 18 wherein step (d) comprises attaching a filter system having a filter element comprising polyethylene carbonate.

Aspect 20: The method of Aspect 18 through wherein step (d) comprises attaching a filter system having a filter element comprising polypropylene carbonate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that according to common practice the various features of the invention shown in the figures may not be to scale. On the contrary, for purposes of clarity, the dimensions of the various features of the invention shown in the figures may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced. The substitute smoking materials, and related methods therefor, are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a smoking article according to the present invention in the form of a cigarette;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a smoking article according to the present invention having the form of a cigarette;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section view of an embodiment of a smoking article according to the present invention having the form of cigarette.

FIG. 4 shows polymerization and combustion reactions involving polyalkylene carbonates.

FIG. 5 shows molecular structures of multiple polyalkylene carbonates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The ensuing detailed description provides preferred exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the herein disclosed inventions. Rather, the ensuing detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the preferred exemplary embodiments in accordance with the herein disclosed invention. It is understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

To aid in describing the invention, directional terms may be used in the specification and claims to describe portions of the present invention (e.g., upper, lower, left, right, etc.). These directional definitions are merely intended to assist in describing and claiming the invention and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. In addition, reference numerals that are introduced in the specification in association with a drawing figure may be repeated in one or more subsequent figures without additional description in the specification, in order to provide context for other features.

In the specification and claims, “%” means the percentage of a component in a weight percentage basis unless specifically indicated otherwise. In the specification and claims, the term “aliphatic” means a hydrocarbon moiety that may be straight-chain (i.e., unbranched), branched, or cyclic (including fused, bridging, and spiro-fused polycyclic) and may be completely saturated or may contain one or more units of unsaturation, but which is not aromatic.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the various figures that comprise the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the smoking article 10 having the form of a cigarette. Cigarettes have two ends: a lit end 22 and a mouth end 24. Cigarettes are comprised of three principal components: a rod 12, wrapping material 14, and a filter system 16. At one end of the rod 12 is the lit end 22, and at the opposite end is the filter system 16. The filter system 16 is comprised of a filter element 18, tipping material 20, and a plug wrap 26 (optional). The filter system 16 has a mouth end 24 and is attached to the rod 12 such that the filter system 16 and rod 12 are axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship, preferably abutting one another.

Referring to FIG. 2, the rod 12 has a surface area comprised of a distal end 12a, a proximal end 12b, and an outer wall 12c. The wrapping material 14 envelopes the outer wall 12c of the rod 12. The filter element 18 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the diameter thereof may be essentially equal to the diameter of the rod 12. The filter element 18 has a surface area comprised of a distal end 18a, a proximal end 18b, and an outer wall 18c. The tipping material 20 envelopes the outer wall 18c of the filter element 18.

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the smoking article 10. The rod 12 contains smokable material 28 that is contained by the wrapping material 14. Smoke passes from the lit end 22 through the smokable material, into the filter element 18 and out of the distal end 18a. In some embodiments, the plug wrap 26 envelopes the outer wall 18c of the filter element 18 and prevents the passage of air therethrough. This outer surface 26a of the plug wrap 26 is enveloped by the tipping material 20. A perforation 30 (optional) extends through the plug wrap 26 and tipping material 20 allows the passage of air therethrough to dilute the smoke that the smoker inhales through the distal end 18a of the filter element 18.

The smokable material 28 is typically comprised of three components: (1) a burning material, (2) additives, and (3) a binder material. The principal burning material in conventional cigarettes is tobacco. Tobacco can be in the form of tobacco leaves (whole or shredded), or reconstituted tobacco sheets (whole or shredded). Additives include nicotine, flavorants and smoke producing compounds. Nicotine is present in tobacco leaves and provides a stimulant effect to users of tobacco products. Nicotine is readily absorbed into the bloodstream when a tobacco product is chewed, inhaled, or smoked. In addition to the nicotine present in tobacco, more nicotine can be added to the smoking material to achieve the appropriate nicotine content depending on the particular market in which the smoking article is sold.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the smokable material 28 comprises at polymeric material consisting of one or more polyalkylene carbonates (PACs). PACs have physical properties which are useful as tobacco substitutes. Polyalkylene carbonates are comprised of CO₂ and epoxides and are clean burning. FIG. 4 shows the basic polymerization reaction 410. Polyethylene carbonate is 50% CO₂ by weight.

These clean burning PAC polymers offer utility as a burning material. The products of the combustion reaction 420 are principally carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O) and, as used in cigarettes, PACs can lower the amount of carcinogens produced during the smoking process.

PACs are a family of polymers formed by catalytic polymerization reaction of carbon dioxide and epoxides in the presence of a solid catalyst containing zinc. A common catalyst used to carry out this reaction is zinc glutarate (ZnGa). The following nonexclusive list of epoxides includes several PAC precursors: ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, cyclohexene oxide, 1-hexene oxide, and 1-butene oxide. FIG. 5 shows the basic structures of a nonexclusive list of aliphatic PACs includes: polyethylene carbonate 510, polypropylene carbonate 520, polybutylene carbonate 530, and polycyclohexene carbonate (not shown).

In addition, multiple aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates may be employed as a copolymer (consisting of at least two structural units/monomers) (e.g., -A-B-A-B-A-B-A- and -A-A-B-A-B-B-A-), as a terpolymer (a copolymer consisting of three distinct monomers) (e.g., -A-B-C-A-B-C-A- and -B-A-B-C-A-B-C-) or block polymers, polymers made up of blocks of different homopolymer subunits (e.g., -A-A- . . . -A-A-B-B- . . . -B-B-).

Polyalkylene carbonates can be produced in a wide variety of forms, including but not limited to: fibers, ribbons, pellets, sheets, granules, foams and powder. A variety of fibers may be made using different spinning processes (dry, wet or melt spinning). PAC fibers can be made into sheets and shredded to mimic the size and shape of tobacco used in cigarettes, pipes, cigars, and chewing tobacco. The polymers can be made into pellets or fibers (and mixed with tobacco) or extruded foam to form multiple shapes. Foam extruded PACs can also be produced in the shape of a rod. PACs may also be incorporated in a reconstituted tobacco sheet to mimic the form of tobacco in modern cigarettes.

Because of their clean burning characteristics, PACs may be used in several different ways in the smoking article 10. PACs may be used as a binder in the smokable material, which dictates that the PAC be a small portion (typically less than 3%) of the smokable material. In the present invention, PACs are used as a significant portion of the burning material—preferably at least 3% of the smokable material, more preferably at least 10% of the smokable material, and most preferably, 20-100% of the smokable material. The desired characteristics of a specific cigarette will determine how much PAC filler can be used. Typically, it will be desirable to include some tobacco in the smokable material for the purpose of providing a desirable flavor, odor, and color. However, in embodiments of the invention where reduction of carcinogens is paramount, the smokable material could include no tobacco and at least 90% PACs. In addition and as explained in greater detail below, in the present invention, PACs may also optionally be used as a component of the wrapper and/or filter.

As the amount of tobacco present in the rod is reduced and replaced with one or more PACs, it may be appropriate to add flavorants to achieve a desired taste when smoking article is smoked. Examples of flavorants include ammonia, glycerol, licorice, menthol, cocoa, sugars, chlorogenic, cafeic and quinic acids, essential oils, and tobacco extracts. Ammonia is added to cigarettes to increase the pH of the smoke which increases the amount of free base nicotine level in the smoke. Sugars are added to cigarettes because the burning process converts them to acetaldehyde which produces an additive effect when combined with nicotine.

Because PACs are colorless polymers, colorants could optionally be added to give the PAC filler a brown color to mimic that of tobacco. Examples of suitable colorants include corn syrup based, molasses based or synthetic colorants. The burning of PACs also produces very little odor and smoke. In order to mimic cigarette smoke, one or more smoke producing compounds, such as calcium carbonate, could be included.

It has been discovered that glass transition temperature (T_g) is an important characteristic in the selection of the specific PACs used in the smoking article. In addition, the preferred range of T_g may differ depending upon the component of the smoking article in which the PAC is used.

When an amorphous polymer is below its glass transition temperature it is hard and brittle; as a powder the polymer is dry and easy to handle. Above its glass transition temperature, the polymer becomes flowable under physical pressure or exhibits a rubber-like state. Polymers with low glass transition temperatures are relatively soft and flexible at ambient temperature (15° C.-25° C.), whereas those with high transition temperatures are relatively hard and stiff. Glass transition temperature affects the handling processes when making a cigarette. Different epoxide building blocks may be used to achieve higher or lower glass transition temperatures. Polyethylene carbonate and polypropylene carbonate have glass transition temperatures of 25° C. and 40° C. respectively. Aromatic polyalkylene carbonates, such as polyvinylene carbonate 540, typically have high glass transition temperatures (greater than 200° C.), are not elastomeric, and contain less CO₂ by weight, and are to be distinguished from aliphatic PACs (such as polyethylene carbonate and polypropylene carbonate) which have lower glass transition temperatures (25° C. and 40° C. respectively).

It is preferred to obtain a polymer or polymer combination with a glass transition temperature that will facilitate handling by machinery used to produce tobacco cigarettes.

Tobacco products are made in production facilities located in warm climates in close proximity to where the tobacco is grown. The processing, blending and rolling of the smokable material occur at a range of temperatures. The glass transitions temperature of different PAC polymers will affect how the blended product is handled in the tobacco processing equipment. The T_g will also affect the desired characteristics of a cigarette as a finished product. With this goal in mind, it may be beneficial to use multiple PACs with different T_g in each smoking article.

Polyethylene carbonate will act as a binder at ambient temperature. Alternatively other PACs be used as binder material by heating the PAC to above its T_g, it becomes soft and functions as a binder, and then cooling the material to ambient temperature.

In uses other than cigarettes, such as cigars, pipe tobacco, smokeless tobacco or bulk tobacco, the smoking material may or may not require handlability in temperatures above the ambient range (15-25). In those applications, it may be useful to utilize one or more PACs with higher T_g in applications that require the tobacco/PAC blend to be flowable or handled. Conversely in applications where the smoking material is self contained, like cigarettes, a lower T_g may be desirable because the PAC can provide binding characteristics at ambient temperature. To address handlability issues of one or more PACs having a low T_g, air conditioning and refrigeration systems are employed to maintain flowability when processing the smokable material (PACs, tobacco, additives, and binder) when producing cigarettes, cigars or bulk tobacco blends.

PACs offer utility in chewable applications. Below the PAC's T_g, it will be soft and chewable. PACs may be added to chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco pouches, and shredded tobacco products.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to blend multiple PACs together in the burning material. For example, in one preferred embodiment, two PACs with different T_g could be used in the burning material, with the first PAC having a T_g in the range of 25° C., to allow the first PAC to be soft and relatively “sticky” at typically ambient temperatures and the second PAC having a T_g in the range of 40° C., which will remain solid throughout the manufacturing process and until burned.

Cigarette wrappers are typically made of cellulose. In addition to cellulose they often contain additives to provide white color, improve ash appearance, and help insure uniform burning. However, to reduce carcinogens, cigarette wrapping material can be made using polymer sheets comprised of one or more PACs as replacement for or in addition to cellulose. When used in the cigarette wrapping material, PACs having a T_g of at least 40° C. is preferable, so that cigarettes do not stick to one another in an ambient environment.

PACs exhibit oxygen barrier characteristics and offer utility in packaging applications. Different PACs may be used to produce cigarette wrappers having different oxygen permeability characteristics. This serves multiple functions. First, variable oxygen permeability provides a control for burn characteristics. Cigarettes with porous wrapping material allow air to be drawn in which dilutes the smoke that the smoker inhales. Second, the use of PACs will work to limit oxidation of any of the tobacco inside the smoking article. This will decrease the need for cigarette manufacturers to add preservatives to maintain the freshness and moisture content of the tobacco. Additionally the use of PACs will prevent the smokable material and wrapping material from drying out. This will decrease the propensity of the smoking article to become brittle and prone to breaking in half

A filter system is comprised of a filter element 18, plug wrap 26 (optional) and a tipping material 20. Mouthfeel is important aspect in cigarette filter construction. Accordingly, the filter element 18 preferably includes PACs having a T_g in the range of 10° C. to 200° C., which is near the normal body temperature of a human (37° C.). In certain embodiments it is preferable to construct the tipping material from a different combination of PACs than the filter element. When using one or more PACs in the in the filter system, a plug wrap 26 may be unnecessary. Due to the oxygen barrier characteristics of PACs, a tipping material containing one or more PACs will serve the function of the plug wrap—preventing air from passing through the outer wall of the filter element 18.

In a filterless application, such as a cigar, the mouthfeel will be an important consideration when selecting a wrapping material. In filterless embodiments having PACs as a component of the smokable material, it may be preferable to use tobacco leaves as the wrapping material.

The biodegradability of PACs is yet another a suitable factor for their use in cigarettes, particularly in the most often discarded component of the cigarette, the filter. Traditionally, cigarette filters are made from non-biodegradable materials such as cellulose acetate. Use of PACs in cigarette filters will allow natural processes, such as water adsorption, weathering, enzymatic degradation and hydrolysis, to facilitate decomposition of the polymers in various environmental conditions.

Filter systems comprised of PACs will decrease the amount of cigarette butts that take up space in landfills and will reduce the pollutants produced by the burning of cigarette filters in waste management incinerators every day.

Due to the range of T_g and oxygen permeability of different PACs, one or more PACs can be used to construct the filter element, plug wrap and the tipping material. Polyethylene carbonate has excellent oxygen barrier and elasticity properties, and offers utility on the inside of wrapping material.

The raw materials of which the PACs are comprised are relatively inexpensive to make or otherwise obtain. Carbon dioxide is a waste gas produced from a wide variety of industrial processes. Epoxides are simple molecules that have been mass produced for decades. This presents a cost saving opportunity in addition to the health and environmental benefits to be gained from using these polymers in cigarettes.

The following are specific examples of smoking articles that incorporate the principles of the present invention.

Example 1

In the example, the smoking article is a filtered cigarette having smokable material comprising 90% polypropylene carbonate (as the primary burning material), 8% polyethylene carbonate (as a binder), and no tobacco. The polypropylene carbonate is provided in the form of a fiber prepared in a dry spinning process. The smokable material further includes additives comprising nicotine (between 0.1 and 0.25 mg), flavorants comprising ammonia and glycerol, and calcium carbonate as smoke producing compound. The wrapping material consists of polycyclohexene carbonate in sheet form. The filter system is comprised of cellulose acetate and polypropylene carbonate.

Example 2

In a second example, the smoking article is a filtered cigarette having smokable material comprising 80% polyethylene carbonate (as the primary smokable material and binder material) and shredded, reconstituted tobacco sheets. The polyethylene carbonate is produced in a fiber form using a dry spinning process. The PAC is colored to mimic the brown color of natural tobacco. The cigarette contains additives: nicotine (between 0.1 and 0.25 mg), flavorants (ammonia, glycerol and licorice) and a smoke producing compound (calcium carbonate). The wrapping material is comprised of polycyclohexene carbonate and cellulose formed in sheets. The filter system is comprised of cellulose acetate and PACs.

Example 3

In a third example, the smoking article is a filtered cigarette having smokable material comprising a blend of tobacco and PAC polymer in a three to one ratio. The PAC is a block polymer of polypropylene carbonate and polyethylene carbonate made in the form of extruded pellets. A molasses based colorant is added to the PACs to mimic the color of natural tobacco. Additives include nicotine (between 0.05 and 0.20 mg), flavorants (ammonia, glycerol, oil extract from cedar and coriander, and tobacco extract) and a smoke producing compound (calcium carbonate). Polyethylene carbonate is used as a binder. The wrapping material is comprised of polycyclohexene carbonate and cellulose formed in sheets. The filter system includes a high performance filter element comprised of cellulose acetate.

Example 4

In a fourth example, the smoking article is a cigarette having a smokable material comprising tobacco and PAC polymer in equal parts. The PAC polymer is a terpolymer of polypropylene carbonate, polyethylene carbonate and polycyclohexene carbonate. The PAC polymer is formed in a reconstituted tobacco sheet which is shredded and colored with a synthetic colorant to mimic the tobacco sheets used in modern cigarettes. Additives include nicotine (between 0.03 and 0.15 mg), flavorants (ammonia and glycerol) and a smoke producing compound (calcium carbonate). Polyethylene carbonate is used as a binder. The wrapping material is comprised of a blockpolymer of polypropylene carbonate and polycyclohexene carbonate mixed with cellulose formed in sheets and colored white. The filter system is comprised of cellulose acetate and polycyclohexene carbonate.

Example 5

In a fifth example, the smoking article is a cigarette containing smokable material comprising tobacco and PAC polymer in a 9 to 1 ratio. The PAC polymer is a copolymer of polypropylene carbonate and polyethylene carbonate formed in a reconstituted tobacco sheet which is shredded and colored with a synthetic colorant to mimic the tobacco sheets used in modern cigarettes. This example is a cigar having no filter. Additives include nicotine (between 0.01 and 0.10 mg), flavorants (ammonia and licorice) and a smoke producing compound (calcium carbonate). Polyethylene carbonate is used as a binder. The wrapping material is comprised of whole tobacco leaves.

Although exemplary implementations of the herein described systems and methods have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many additional modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the herein described systems and methods. Accordingly, these and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the herein described systems and methods. The herein described systems and methods may be better defined by the following exemplary claims.

Claims

1. A smokable material comprising:

tobacco and one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates;

wherein said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates aggregately comprise at least 5% of said material;

wherein at least one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates has a glass transition temperature between 10 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius.

2. The smokable material of claim [0012] further comprising:

nicotine; and

one or more flavorants.

3. The smokable material of claim 1 wherein one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is polyethylene carbonate.

4. The smokable material of claim 1 wherein one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is polypropylene carbonate.

5. The smokable material of claim 1 wherein one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is copolymer comprising two or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates.

6. A smoking article comprising:

a rod, having a substantially cylindrical shape and smokable material contained within a wrapping material, the smokable material comprising: one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates; nicotine; and one or more flavorants; wherein said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates aggregately comprise at least 5% of said smokable material.

7. The smoking article of claim 6 wherein said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is a copolymer comprising two or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates.

8. The smoking article of claim 6 wherein one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is polyethylene carbonate.

9. The smoking article of claim 6 wherein one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates is polypropylene carbonate.

10. The smoking article of claim 6 wherein the wrapping material is comprised of one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates.

11. The smoking article of claim 6 further comprising a filter system having a filter element comprised of one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates.

12. The smoking article of claim 6 wherein one of said one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates has a glass transition temperature between 10 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius.

13. A method of making a smoking article comprising:

a) blending smokable material comprising tobacco and one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates having a glass transition between 10 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius, the one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates aggregately comprising at least 5% of the smokable material;

b) forming a rod having a substantially cylindrical shape; and

c) wrapping said rod in a wrapping material.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein step (a) comprises blending smokable material comprising tobacco and an aliphatic polyalkylene carbonate which is a copolymer comprising two or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates, the copolymer aggregately comprising at least 5% of the smokable material.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein step (a) comprises blending smokable material comprising tobacco and polyethylene carbonate, the polyethylene carbonate aggregately comprising at least 5% of the smokable material.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein step (a) comprises blending smokable material comprising tobacco and polypropylene carbonate, the polypropylene carbonate aggregately comprising at least 5% of the smokable material.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein step (c) comprises wrapping said rod in a wrapping material comprising one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

d) attaching a filter system having a filter element comprising one or more aliphatic polyalkylene carbonates.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein step (d) comprises attaching a filter system having a filter element comprising polyethylene carbonate.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein step (d) comprises attaching a filter system having a filter element comprising polypropylene carbonate.