Laser perforation parameters' impact on ventilation rate and smoke indices of high-ventilation low-tar slim cigarettes

In the context of heightened societal emphasis on health and industry advocacy for harm reduction and tar reduction, the development of high-ventilation low-tar slim cigarettes has become particularly significant. Online laser perforation is a crucial means to achieve high ventilation rates. However, the compatibility of online laser perforation parameters with high-ventilation low-tar cigarettes remains an urgent issue to be addressed. This study focuses on 3 mg low-tar slim cigarettes, investigating the effects of laser focus position, the difference between inner and outer row ventilation, first hole position, number of perforations, perforation time, and machine startup time on hole shape, ventilation rate, and smoke indices. The results indicate that before official production, it is essential to confirm the appropriateness of the laser focus position and first hole position, with the difference in ventilation between inner and outer rows being less than 2.0%. On this basis, as the number of perforations and perforation time increase, the cigarette ventilation rate exhibits a linear positive correlation, with each additional perforation increasing the ventilation rate by 0.4975% (coefficient of determination R²=0.9188) and each additional unit of perforation time increasing the ventilation rate by 0.5563% (R²=0.8889). Simultaneously, the total particulate matter, nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide in cigarettes show a decreasing trend, while the average puff count increases. As machine startup time increases, the cigarette ventilation rate first decreases rapidly and then fluctuates and decreases slowly. The first 8 minutes constitute the preheating stage, followed by a gradual and fluctuating decrease due to laser attenuation or an increase in water tank temperature.