"ceramic" wicks?

[rotohammer]

Based on my experience with cotton, fabric may be harder to handle and form into a circular wick, but I'd bet it would work. You'd have a lot of exposed fibers from the cut edges compared to a sleeve though. It may just fall apart in your fingers due to the weave separating if it is a thin section.

 

[Jimi D.]

Based on my experience with cotton, fabric may be harder to handle and form into a circular wick, but I'd bet it would work. You'd have a lot of exposed fibers from the cut edges compared to a sleeve though. It may just fall apart in your fingers due to the weave separating if it is a thin section.

Makes sense. That fabric might not be rigid enough. I'm hoping that the sleeve will be flexible so I could get a snug fit in the wick hole.

 

[Dougiestyle]

I use Nextel ceramic strands to make wicks in my A7. It wicks well, has the cleanest taste (after dry-burning) than any other wick I've tried. I've used silica, cotton and SS. SS gave me fits of trying to prevent shorts. Silica and cotton gave an "off" flavor. This ceramic can be dry-burn cleaned and it turns white after it's had a week of nicquid vaped through it.

I received sample sheets directly from 3M per request and use 2 strands per wick. From the 4 different sample sheets I received, I'll never have to buy wicking material again. Although, 3M sent the samples free.

I have been in contact with a ceramic company to investigate solid, porous ceramic tube for use with Genesis-type RBAs, but have yet to receive a response.

I think ceramic (whether solid/porous or fiber) is the best alternative regarding sustainablity, as it can stand high heat and is virtually sterile after heating. I'm unsure of the fibrosis fear that some members express, but I look at it this way... we used to inhale tar. We breath brake dust while driving down the road. We see the dust molecules that are in the air we breathe everyday when we look through a sunbeam that shines through the curtains.. beside than, once the wick is doing its job, and is moist, I fear that any fibers just remain adhered to the whole. Have you ever tried to get a floating hair out of a cup of coffee? You dip your tool of extraction (in my case, a finger)into th e liquid and the hair bonds to your extraction tool (finger) via the liquid that it was floating in.

Sorry to veer of track. My decision is to use ceramic. I like it.

 

[j4mmin42]

I, too, wonder about the use of solid ceramics. The biggest drawback of a solid ceramic rod would be its inflexibility, and possibly its wicking properties- ut that depends on the type of ceramic, and how it is produced. All that aside, I wish such a product existed!

 

[anavidfan]

geez, this has gotten quite complicated, Nextel is the company that makes it, so I guess if they sell it at the GG site and discount vapers. I will try it. It seems everything becomes so complicated and everything will kill us in some way. The whole thing is what is less deadly and the enjoyment and quality of my vape. wow. It is a braided ceramic fabric and I say another video on youtube where the owner of e-cig city uses it on his Odysseus set ups. thanks for all the input.

 

[j4mmin42]

From what I gather, 3M is the patent holder; Nextel is the contracted manufacturer. There are multiple distributors, but this stuff seems to be proprietary tech to the point that they do not want foreigners having it in their hands.

 

[PONKAW]

http://www.3m.com/market/industrial/ceramics/pdfs/312_braided_sleeving.pdf

In This memo it states:
Important Processing Information
NextelÔ 312 Ceramic Fibers are coated during manufacture
with sizings or finishes which serve as aids in textile
processing. These sizings or finishes consist of organic
polymers which may ignite and/or decompose to hazardous
byproducts or process contaminants when first heated.

Sooo
How do you get around this? Flash burn it with a lighter or torch?
Don

 

[rotohammer]

These sizings or finishes consist of organic
polymers which may ignite and/or decompose to hazardous
byproducts or process contaminants when first heated.

Heat it twice

But seriously, since the finish is organic, I'd think a few burnings/washing would remove it. I wonder if theres a definitive way to know for sure that theres no finish left? What is the finish and heated byproducts? Hopefully this isn't proprietary information. It would suck if the byproducts are hazardous in real small quantities.

 

[Dougiestyle]

A couple of the fabric samples that I received stated "Heat Treated". Since the stuff is used as a thermal barrier, I'd assume that anything that is produced or broken-down via heat is inert and non-hazardous. I taste nothing except what my flavors include when using it.

As far as the braided sleeve material, i received a couple of those sizes, as well. It was not as functional to me as the individual double-strand strands of the fabric.

 

[gdeal]

No silica in this material. Is this wickable? Safe?

3M™ Nextel™ Woven Fabric 610

3M™ Nextel™ Fabric 610 is >99% alumina and offers the highest strength of all Nextel™ Fibers. High strength makes Nextel™ Fibers and Fabric 610 ideal for polymer, metal and lower temperature ceramic matrix composites used in industrial and aerospace applications.

 

[anavidfan]

It is silica, and I just got some in. It is not nearly as linty or prone to the sheding as reg silica. Looks really nice and it does unbraid for use in odys and other forms of wicking. It is not solid, at least the one I got, its like a tubed strand, with many strands.It seems nice and porous, but much less wiggly than reg silica. As soon as I make up a wick I will post to let you know my experience. Looks like I will have enough for the apocalypse.

PS I just remembered that you need to heat it up before use, so I will do that and update

 

[silversx]

where can i get this in bulk.. i looked every where..

 

[scalewiz]

I've got a piece of this laying in front of me; got it from DV. It looks like silica, feels like silica, but seems to be a little stronger. The wick is actually braided, into a hollow rope about 1/4 inch in diameter. To use it, you must unbraid the rope; its diameter is much too large to use in any device I've seen. You then possess a bunch of really fine strands of wicking material. I have wound a couple wicks with the stuff, and it works okay, but not really any better than other materials. It seems stronger than silica, but it still seems to be able to fracture down to smaller pieces. Since I started using cotton, I have pretty much laid the other stuff down.

 

[silversx]

does it fray like regular silica? into fuzzy furry stuff? lol

 

[gdeal]

It is silica, and I just got some in. It is not nearly as linty or prone to the sheding as reg silica. Looks really nice and it does unbraid for use in odys and other forms of wicking. It is not solid, at least the one I got, its like a tubed strand, with many strands.It seems nice and porous, but much less wiggly than reg silica. As soon as I make up a wick I will post to let you know my experience. Looks like I will have enough for the apocalypse.

PS I just remembered that you need to heat it up before use, so I will do that and update

Hmm. sound promising.

BTW .. 3M™ Nextel™ Woven Fabric 610 has no silicon dioxide ie silica. 3M Nextel Fiber 610 is a fine grained single-phase composition of alpha-Al2O3. How long did it take for 3m to provide a sample?

 

[anavidfan]

well, I wanted to update this, I am using it in my Odysseus and Vivi Nova, I cant be more pleased. It wicks great, easy to work with.
It is much less flaky and firmer so it makes wrapping the coils so much better. The Vivi Nova is performing much much better. I didnt heat it, I dont have a kiln nor a torch. The flavour is much better than cotton, and no dry hits, even on the Vivi.

Dry burning is such a breeze also.

 

[gdeal]

well, I wanted to update this, I am using it in my Odysseus and Vivi Nova, I cant be more pleased. It wicks great, easy to work with.
It is much less flaky and firmer so it makes wrapping the coils so much better. The Vivi Nova is performing much much better. I didnt heat it, I dont have a kiln nor a torch. The flavour is much better than cotton, and no dry hits, even on the Vivi.

Dry burning is such a breeze also.

anavidfan....Any pics?

I sent a request to 3m for a sample. They want me to call some Specialist Chemist in their
3M Advanced Materials Division to discuss my application....

 

[anavidfan]

Really? wow talk about covering their backsides. But kinda cool. Im sure they will probably let you know if its safe.

 

[gdeal]

No so sure about that..looks like they will deny my request for the "intended" application.

Here is what they said in the email:

Thanks for your interest in 3MTM NextelTM Ceramic Fiber products.

The material you have requested is intended for industrial applications only. In addition, 3M does not recommend this material for food, cosmetic, medical, or pharmaceutical use. It is not clear, based on our review of your inquiry whether your application is an industrial application or not. If it makes sense to have a technical discussion at this point, please contact me directly as below.

 

[anavidfan]

Here is a pict, I hope this helps,