The ultmate atomizer that probably doesn't exist

[AnotherGigs]

Open cell nichrome/kanthal metal foam with very small diameter cells. Extremely high surface area, self wicking, no need for crazy high powers/low resistances.

The problem is that I've only ever seen conductive open cell expanded metal foam for heat sinks/radiators, so they are made from aluminum or copper.

Along those same lines, I've read papers where people have suspended nickel in a porous ceramic matrix to create conductive ceramics, but that's probably even more advanced.

 

[Izan]

Welcome!

Do you have a link to what you are talking about?
Wouldn't 500 or 600 mesh be really close to this already?

Have fun
I

 

[AnotherGigs]

No its foam like a sponge. Hmm. Metal foam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[dr g]

People were looking at metal foam here, but i don't think as a conductor. I wonder how consistent it would be as a conductor? http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/atomizer-mods/451930-nickel-foam.html

 

[AnotherGigs]

Ah pretty neat thread and very close to what I am proposing. Except using the foam itself as the heating element, so that the heating surface is massive. If they can make pure nickel foam they could probably make nichrome foam. You'd need a pretty thin ribbon of it, and a way to make solid electrical contact without mashing it.

 

[scrappy]

I wonder if you'd run into the same problem of slow heat up time like when you build a really long coil?