Abstract
The morphological properties of various structure materials of domestic and foreign reconstituted tobacco products(RTP) were investigated by using the Bauer-McNett classifier and the image analyzer. The results of the fiber classification showed the fraction of the bigger size structure materials was larger in a domestic RTP than that in two foreign RTPs. In case of fine fraction, the domestic RTP had bigger fine fraction than two foreign RTPs. Images of each structure materials showed the scrap in the foreign RTPs kept the original shape which were rare in the domestic RTP fractions. Those results deduced that the raw materials in a foreign RTP process might be treated separately depending on the mechanical and morphological properties, which could reduce the amount of fine generation and increase the efficiency in raw material treatment.