SMOKING ARTICLE WITH FUEL ELEMENT

The present invention preferably relates to a smoking article which is capable of producing substantial quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the useful life of the product, without significant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or incomplete combustion products or sidestream aerosol. The article of the present invention is able to provide the user with the sensations and benefits of cigarette smoking without the substantial combustion products produced by burning tobacco in a conventional cigarette. In addition, the article may be made virtually ashless so that the user does not have to remove any ash during use. Preferred embodiments of the present smoking article comprise a short combustible carbonaceous fuel element (10), a heat stable, preferably particulate alumina, substrate (14) bearing an aerosol forming substance, an efficient insulating means (16), and a relatively long mouthend piece (22). The fuel element (10) is provided with a plurality of peripheral passageways (11) which provides heat transfer from the burning fuel element to the aerosol generating means while reducing levels of carbon monoxide in the aerosol generated and delivered to the user.