EFFECTS OF ADSORBED WATER ON COMPRESSIVE PROPERTIES OF TOBACCO CUT-FILLER AGGREGATE

Effects of adsorbed water on the compressive properties of tobacco cut -filler aggregate were examined. The water content of tobacco cut-fill ers was adjusted by adsorption in various humidities. Thermoanalysis w as done to examine the characteristics of the water adsorbed on tobacc o cut-fillers. The compressed volume of the tobacco aggregate was meas ured after pressurizing the aggregate at 24.5 kPa. Melting points of t he adsorbed water measured by a Differential Scanning Calorimeter agre ed with the values calculated from the Hildebrand-Scott equation. The thermogravimetric analysis showed that the water content at the second falling rate period corresponds with amounts of bound water measured by proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. From these and previous results, we consider that the water adsorbed on tobacco is in different states as: (1) bound water formed with a few layers of water molecules, (2) capillary water condensate between 2.5 and 5.3 nm in radius, and, (3) multi-layers of water molecules. The compressed volume was dependent o n the water content, and changed at the water content corresponding to the states of water described above. Therefore, we concluded that the states in which water is adsorbed on tobacco affect the compressive p roperties of the tobacco aggregate.