The most integral part of the cannabis vaporizer is the heating element, which directly determines the user’s taste experience. It regulates the temperature of the air and catalyzes the active ingredients as hot air passes through the precious extract. A major requirement of all heating elements is precision – you want the vaporizer to actually be at the temperature you set it at. But when one buys a vaporizer, health considerations may also come into play. This article will explain the importance of heating elements, exploring their different types, and answering the most frequently asked questions about vape heating elements.
What role does the heating element play in my cannabis vape?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of different vape heating elements?
Can metal, glass, or ceramic heating elements leave a “burnt” taste?
Are ceramic heating elements safe for cannabis vaporization?
The heating element of a cannabis vape is usually a coil of material that is connected to a power source that generates heat. The heating element then carries the heat and quickly disperses it into cannabis vaporizers, activating further the cannabis buds or concentrates. The cannabis compounds in the bud or concentrate include cannabinoids (which are the good stuff like THC, CBD, etc.) and terpenes (terpenes are natural plant oils that give cannabis strains their flavor, aroma, and enhancement). Heating these compounds causes them to separate and form a vapor that can be inhaled. Our bodies absorb the cannabinoids and terpenes through the vapor in our lungs.
Vaporization continues to be popular among cannabis users because it provides all the benefits of vaping weed without the negative byproducts of inhaling smoke and toxins. More specifically, when vapors burn tobacco, marijuana, or hemp to release the active ingredient during traditional smoking, whether it’s nicotine, CBD or THC, they inhale the smoke. We all know this is bad for our health. However, the more we learn about cannabis, the more we realize the importance of cannabis vaporization. Rather than burning, cannabis vapes heat liquid, wax, or even dried herbs to release vapor, and vape users inhale the vapor without causing any harm to their lungs or throat. The type of heating method used in a vaporizer can greatly affect the potency of the cannabis and its flavor and fragrance. Next we’ll take a deeper look at how different heating methods and elements affect the vaping experience.
The type of heating element in a vaporizer greatly affects the way vapor is absorbed into the human body and how enjoyable the vaping experience is.
Choosing the right vape heating element is so important since some materials are dangerous in vaporization. Just as our bodies absorb effective plant compounds, byproducts of certain metals or materials used in vape heating elements can also separate and enter the vapor. Inhalation of these unhealthy substances can cause truly harmful effects in addition to affecting the senses of taste and smell.
As we will discuss in the next part, different heating element materials produce and conduct heat in different ways. Let’s take a look at the most common types of heating elements used in cannabis vapes and how they compare to each other.
The most common heating elements in cannabis vape are made of metal, glass, and ceramic. Let’s examine each vape heating element separately and consider what’s important from a vape user’s perspective.
Metal heating elements conduct heat quickly, so they vaporize cannabis extract quickly and adapt well to temperature changes. However, metal heating elements probably pose the risk of metal precipitation. Some metal heating elements may pollute vapor with metal particles in heating. Inhalation of these particles can damage the respiratory organs and lead to health issues. Whether metal is completely safe, completely dangerous, or somewhere in between is unclear; even some high-end cannabis vapes use metal heating elements so they can obtain precise temperatures.
Another disadvantage of metal heating elements is that they easily produce a burnt or metallic taste, which can negatively affect the flavor and aroma of cannabis strains. For cannabis aficionados, the delivery of superior flavor is essential for enjoying the vaping experience. Many “Connoisseurs” like to explore and test with different cannabis strains and flavor profiles, so it is important to make sure that all the nuances of flavor are saved in vaporization. Vape users will often avoid using all metal heating elements to ensure they can taste the original flavor.
Glass is a popular heat conductor for making fine and intricate dab rigs. When applying, glass heating elements are preferred because they do not interfere with the flavor of the cannabis like metal does. However, for cannabis vapes and other portable devices, glass is not a suitable choice. Glass is too fragile for an entire portable vape. It’s also much more expensive than ceramic and doesn’t offer any additional benefits.
Ceramic heating elements (also known as ceramic heating coils) are considered to be the highest quality for cannabis vaporizers. First and foremost, ceramics are considered the safest heating material for vaporizers because they do not carry metal particles into the vapor.
Ceramic heating elements provide a clean vaping experience, which also means they don’t alter the flavor of the cannabis strain. In addition, ceramics are inert so that ceramic heating elements do not chemically react with cannabis products during the vaporization process.
It is worthy to note that ceramic also has the highest melting and boiling points. Ceramic heating elements can withstand extreme heat (even over 3,000°F) without degrading like metal, making it the safest and cleanest option for vaporizers. Lastly, it also has excellent corrosion and durability, being more unbreakable compared to glass heaters.
The purity and durability of ceramic means that it provides the cleanest vapor possible. However, the ceramic heating element is not the only part to check when buying a cannabis vape. If a vape device is poorly made overall, then other important parts and connections can be made of inferior materials while still claiming to have a “ceramic” heating element. If this is the case, the vapor purity may be affected by unhealthy metal and plastic particles. To avoid this, it is important to ensure that your cannabis vape is made entirely of quality materials, including the ceramic heating element.
One of the shortcomings of ceramic is that it does not conduct heat as fast as metal. Therefore, Cilicon® chose to take the technological revolution a step further by using a refined ceramic heating element that covers a high-quality metal heating wire. The specific metal wire transfers heat extremely quickly without the risk of metal precipitation, and the ceramic conducts heat evenly to maximize vapor and flavor without reaching the burn point or burning herbs. The ceramic micro porous absorption of wrapped oil beads will be vaporized into smoke in an instant. It only takes 1 second to vape!
Another potential downside of ceramic is that it can be less precise when targeting specific temperatures. A specific temperature range is key to exploring cannabis because different cannabinoids and terpenes are activated at a precise temperature range. Temperature control and maintenance are critical if trying to maximize the effects of specific cannabinoids and terpenes. Again, Cilicon’s ceramic heating technology solves this problem for us. the Reoregin™ mesh ceramic heating technology is capable of quickly reaching and maintaining any desired temperature in the 200 to 500 degree Fahrenheit range.
Just as important as rapid heat-up is rapid cooling. The metal vape heating element retains heat, even after vaping is complete. This lingering heat can continually heat cannabis, or at least its inefficiency can waste your precious cannabis extracts. In contrast, Reoregin™ ceramic heating element is able to quickly cool the temperature to preserve the active chemical substances of cannabis. This efficient temperature control means zero waste.
Ceramic heating elements are currently considered to be the safest and most efficient vaporizer heating methods in the cannabis vaping industry. As mentioned earlier, poor quality components have raised concerns about the longevity and integrity of ceramic vape elements. Some manufacturers even advertise their vape products as having “ceramic heating technology” when they actually have only a few ceramic components. In addition, poor quality ceramic heating elements can eventually produce unsafe vapor and pollute your cannabis extracts. When ceramic vaporizers first entered the cannabis vape market several years ago, these sub-standard materials raised concerns. However, well-made and high quality ceramic heating elements have been proven to operate safely for many years. Ceramic heating elements do not require frequent repair or replacement, and most well-known manufacturing brands offer warranties or guarantees on their products.
Again, the quality of the vape device is critical. Research continually ensures that the manufacturer enforces strict quality standards. Whether or not a cannabis vape is backed by a warranty is an indicator of quality, as well as industry reviews. Consider brands that are well known and trusted by building a reputation for quality vaporizers. While quality and brand may mean a higher price, it also means healthier vapor, longer lasting devices, and a more enjoyable overall experience.
Reoregin™ uses a pioneered ceramic heating elements for vaporization, creating a stream of hot air that surrounds the cannabis. This means that the cannabis does not come into direct contact with the embedded metal heating coil. Instead, the cannabis is activated by indirect heating, which causes the plant compounds to boil so they can be inhaled. This patented ceramics adopt higher porosity with a larger microporous diameter to achieve an instant and balanced vaporizing performance, which set the stage for the innovative heating unit – the mesh heating coil.
Reoregin™’s mesh heating wire is made of high quality ferrochrome aluminum, a metal that conducts heat very quickly without the risk of metal precipitation, and can withstand repeated high temperatures. The creative mesh heating coil with precise grid areas for each covers the entire hollow ceramic surface, and a lower heating temperature (as the distance between the mesh heating coil and the ceramic surface is shorter compared with the traditional helical heating coil) avoids ceramic overburning and embrittlement phenomenon which could destroy the terpene elements, letting the cannabis oil bring out the most original flavor and aroma.
Combining the feature of the larger porosity and the mesh heating coil, ReoreginTM promotes a higher heating rate, smoother vaporizing channel, even heat distribution, an immediate vaporizing effect, and a perfect heating temperature. Using this combination of ceramic heat conductors and high-quality mesh heating wire ensures completely safe and pure vapor – no unwanted particulates or metal byproducts, just pure and potent cannabinoids and delicious terpenes.
Flavor, purity, efficiency – these are the reasons why ceramic heating elements are considered the best choice for cannabis vapes. Thanks to innovations in vaping technology and smart design, ceramics are now an efficient and safe heating element.
