DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

This invention relates to a device in a form of a scented stick or other forms that is burnt to give a fragrance.

Background Art

Joss sticks are a type of incense used in many East Asian countries, traditionally burned to release fragrant smoke before a religious image, idol or shrine. In modern days, joss sticks can be used for any purpose, such as to enhance the smell of a room;, it is also used in medicine and for its aesthetic value. The forms and shapes taken by incense have changed with advances in technology, differences in the underlying culture, and diversity in the reasons for burning it.

The combustible base of a direct burning incense mixture comprises charcoal or wood powder or plant based materials. Incense smoke contains various contaminants including gaseous pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and adsorbed toxic pollutants The solid particles range between ~10 and 500 nm. There is a concern that the contaminants could be carcinogenic and can affect respiratory health, but the risk of those depends on the degree of exposure.

For the immediate effect, the smoke irritates the respiratory tract and produces great discomfort to the eyes.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to provide a useful alternative to the known incense sticks which are producing harmful and irritating smoke. The incense sticks come in many different forms, e.g. straight rod of different dimension, spiral shape rod, odd shape object , etc.

The present invention of this new type of joss stick, which is known as nanoparticle joss stick. This type of joss stick uses flammable nanoparticles to act as the combustible base. The materials are nano iron, nano aluminium, etc. The combustion of these nanoparticles give rise to solid metal oxides, which are non gaseous, except nano-carbon, which gives rise to carbon dioxide. So, there is no emission of smoke and airborne particles resulting from this chemical reaction of combustion. The tecluiique utilizes the following method to fabricate the different forms of the joss stick :

Sticks made from porous materials of clay and ceramic or other non-combustible porous materials, are immersed in a solution of suspended nano-particles. The suspended nanoparticles from the solution penetrate into the porous surface. The liquid used to hold the suspended nanoparticles could be either alcohol or any volatile nonflammable fluorochemical inert liquid. Another alternative method of applying the nanoparticles is by using a spray gun. The sticks are subsequently dried by natural or forced evaporation of the volatile solution, and finally a layer of nano-particle is formed on the porous surface. The sticks are then coated with fragrant essential oil by dipping in a bath containing the said oil. The incense joss stick is then formed.

Essential oils are volatile compounds, and when the stick is ignited from one end, the heat of combustion will vaporize the fragrant oil close to the heat spot. The flash point of each essential oil is different. Many of the common essential oils such as tea tree, lavender, and citrus have a flash point of 50-60 °C. Since the essential oils are mostly evaporated by the heat spot, the burning of the oils are minimum.

The combustion will propagate from one end to the other end. The rate of propagation of the combustion could be adjusted by diluting the concentration of the nano particles with non combustible materials or by adjusting the particle size of the nano materials. To control the chemical reactivity of the nanoparticles, passivated nanoparticles could be employed. Passivated nanoparticles are nanoparticles which are coated with a layer of oxide.

Due to the fragile nature of the porous ceramic and clay material and to prevent breakage, the rod is strengthened by incorporating a central core body made from metal rod or some fracture resistant material.