SIDESTREAM SMOKE REDUCING CIGARETTE PAPER WITH IMPROVED PHYSICALS AND IMPROVED SIDESTREAM ODOR/AROMA

Sheet material containing sodium carboxymethyl cellulose especially useful in forming wrappers for smokeable articles such as cigarettes that results in reduced sidestream smoke. The sheet is preferably formed by incorporating as a filler in a cellulosic web an amount of high superficial surface area filler in the range generally of from about 5 to 50 percent by weight in the finished sheet. The cellulosic material may be flax fiber or other natural cellulosic fibers conventionally used for such wrappers. Additional fillers may be used up to a total of about 50 percent, and, preferably, a burn modifier, carboxylic acid salt, preferably a nonhydroxy acid salt such as succinic acid salt is included in an amount of 4 to 15 percent by weight. The sheet can be formed by any conventional papermaking method. When such papers are used as cigarette wrappers, they effect a reduction of the total particulate matter in sidestream smoke of up to about 75 percent with improved taste and odor and without serious deterioration of other desirable properties. In addition, the sheet of the invention provides normal ash appearance in a smoking article.