Skip to main content
TSRC, Tob. Sci. Res. Conf., 2010, 64, abstr. 49

Theoretical approach for predicting plasticized firmness of cellulose acetate filter rods

NORFLEET K.
Celanese Acetate LLC, Narrows, VA, USA

The firmness of a cellulose acetate filter rod depends on a variety of factors that make predicting firmness challenging. Obvious parameters such as time and plasticizer application play a significant role but variables such as circumference, denier per filament, total denier and weight also impact filter firmness. Adding to the challenge, firmness exhibits highly non-linear behaviors that make predictions using standard least-squares regressions difficult and often highly limited in effective range. Celanese has developed an improved model for predicting the effect of plasticizer and time on dry filter rod firmness across the range of commercial filters, from super-slim to standard sizes. Experimental data and previous studies have shown that firmness increases in a logarithmic fashion with time after plasticizer is applied. Other work has shown that varying plasticizer results in a quadratic relationship between firmness and plasticizer level. This study combines the separate equations using experimental work and mathematical derivations to develop a highly accurate equation form for predicting firmness as a function of time and plasticizer level.