Here is a standard set of things we test for that are markers of VOCs. I do this test all the time.
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opinions on wick
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Here is a standard set of things we test for that are markers of VOCs. I do this test all the time.
ok so here is what i have come up with so far. some of these are chemicals used in the production of cotton. and some of them are the by product of decomposition. Levoglucosan is the BIG marker for thermal decomposition of polysaccharides. if we see any Levoglucosan come back on the test results the cotton is undoubtedly not holding up.
Levoglucosan
methane
ethene
benzene
Carbon monoxide
carbon dioxide
hexane
chloroform
sodium hydroxide
Benzo(a)pyrene
Dibenz(a,h)anthracene
Chrysene
Levoglucosan
methane
ethene
benzene
Carbon monoxide
carbon dioxide
hexane
chloroform
sodium hydroxide
Benzo(a)pyrene
Dibenz(a,h)anthracene
Chrysene
I am giving the ramie fiber a try as we speak. Seems to have a bit of a taste at first. Hopefully this will subside. It wicks fine. It is supposed to be longer lasting than cotton but i havent gotten that far yet.
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You do realize that 150° celsius is over 300° fahrenheit, correct? I highly doubt the wick is ever getting that hot, even in super low resistance builds. Vaporizing eliquid will cool the coil, which is why the coils do not get red hot and why the cotton does not burn. We are also drawing air directly over the coil, thus cooling it even further. We are not boiling the PG or VG, we are vaporizing it. Before you start tossing around claims like that without proof, try doing some research. Plenty of us use cotton every day and I have not once seen any issues with it "degrading". Further, what is this degrading you're talking about going to do? Mean it needs to be replaced? Of course, it generally lasts 1-2 days or more depending on the juice used. I'd rather replace cotton every few days than inhale silica fibers...
Also, a lot of us are using sterile rolled cotton. This is the same kind of cotton used in operating rooms and on open wounds. If it was not clean, do you think they would be using it for this? The rolled cotton is heated to just below the temperature of decomposition, which kills bacteria and removes almost anything left from the production of the cotton. Water is also composed of chemicals, do you drink water?
Also, a lot of us are using sterile rolled cotton. This is the same kind of cotton used in operating rooms and on open wounds. If it was not clean, do you think they would be using it for this? The rolled cotton is heated to just below the temperature of decomposition, which kills bacteria and removes almost anything left from the production of the cotton. Water is also composed of chemicals, do you drink water?
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^ Exactly the gist of what I was going to say.... bravo. I'll take cotton fibers over silica fibers in my lungs anyday. After all all types of wick we use is alot better than the cancer sticks we were all so in love with.
Actually there is a YouTube video of a guy who put a digital thermometer in side a wick and coil and yes it did get hot enough... Hotter than your thinking it would get. Lol you crack me up. I'll find the video Hang on.
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I prefer ekowool. I am using the ready wick from RBA supplies right now, and it is good, but to expensive. it also does not wick that well initially, but it picks up wicking after a while. I don't like cotton.
the only way you could get PG and VG to move from a liquid to a gas phase is by boiling it.
I believe our vapor is technically an aerosol...not true vapor. I cannot source this at the moment, but I believe I read a rational explanation of it.
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After trying various wick materials, I have found the easiest to use is cotton yarn.
I don't even wash it. Holds up longer than cotton balls and has no strange flavor ... Wicks great!
I don't even wash it. Holds up longer than cotton balls and has no strange flavor ... Wicks great!
aerosol has a broad definition. technically an aerosol could be the visible water vapor from boiling water (we commonly call steam).
Aerosol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An aerosol is defined as a colloidal system of solid or liquid particles in a gas
some of the E-liquid does actually reach the gas phase and is not visible to the eye.
if we take a look at this flow chart here you will see what im talking about.
File
hase change - en.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Try some Tiki Torch wick! Just kidding, why not go for cotton? its a great vape and cheap as ever.
OK Dave you got me hooked, I have been a huge cotton cheerleader mostly due to the ease of use, but also I believed it to be safer than silica.
Not to pull you of topic but would you mind educating me a bit on the dangers of cotton wicks, much appreciated. Do you think sterile cotton wood be any different?
As far as your search goes porous ceramic wicks were being tested by a couple guys, they look great, I'll find you a link...
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Not to pull you of topic but would you mind educating me a bit on the dangers of cotton wicks, much appreciated. Do you think sterile cotton wood be any different?
As far as your search goes porous ceramic wicks were being tested by a couple guys, they look great, I'll find you a link...
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http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362182
The Next Big thing.... Porous Ceramic Wicks
Here ya go I haven't read much, and not recently but it seems like mixed reviews. Asdaq is a bright guy he's involved with those I believe.
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The Next Big thing.... Porous Ceramic Wicks
Here ya go I haven't read much, and not recently but it seems like mixed reviews. Asdaq is a bright guy he's involved with those I believe.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
sterile cotton, organic cotton, raw cotton. does not matter for the sake of what im about to explain here.
Cotton is by weight mostly a polysaccharide.
this is common type of molecule. Thermal Decomposition of cotton starts at 150 Celsius. this means that the polysaccharide molecule breaks up and forms new chemicals. Levoglucosan is one of these chemicals. Levoglucosan in and of it self is not toxic but is product of Biomass under going thermal decomosistion. Levoglucosan is often tested for as a marker for thermal decomposition of biomass. now if we just test the vapor for Levoglucosan and it comes back positive. this tells me that the cotton wick is breaking down and forming new chemicals. from what i have found with other studies of people testing the thermal decomposition of cotton, shows a large amount of different and potentially hazardous chemicals can be produced.
Cotton is by weight mostly a polysaccharide.
this is common type of molecule. Thermal Decomposition of cotton starts at 150 Celsius. this means that the polysaccharide molecule breaks up and forms new chemicals. Levoglucosan is one of these chemicals. Levoglucosan in and of it self is not toxic but is product of Biomass under going thermal decomosistion. Levoglucosan is often tested for as a marker for thermal decomposition of biomass. now if we just test the vapor for Levoglucosan and it comes back positive. this tells me that the cotton wick is breaking down and forming new chemicals. from what i have found with other studies of people testing the thermal decomposition of cotton, shows a large amount of different and potentially hazardous chemicals can be produced.
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A liquid, any liquid, does not need to be boiled for it to produce vapor. Put a pot of water on the stove and you will see steam long before the water is boiling. I have no concern what-so-ever that the cotton I use in my Kayfun is getting hot enough to being decomposition.
if im vaping a 50/50 PG / VG blend with 0 nicotine and no flavor, why does my cotton wick turn yellow and brown?
FYI im doing this right as we speak... i also have a 30 X magnification loop that im using to periodicity to take a look at the wick and coil where the wire meets the wick is turning yellow and brown and this coloration is diffusing out away from the wire. further more it looks like the cotton fibers are breaking more and more with each puff... parts of the cotton that do not touch the wire are unaffected.
this tells me only one thing could be occurring, Thermal Decomposition.
the current test rig is a 4/5 wrap of 34 awg kanthal on a 2 mm drill bit. 3.2 ohms running at 3.9 volts (very under powered)
the cotton is sterile cotton gauze.
check out this chuck of wax i found in my gauze.
chuck of wax
for scale i put a bottle dropper top next to the chuck of wax and gauze
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