Wick materials. Safe vs dangerous.

[Quigsworth]

One material I've not seen discussed here is porous ceramic. In a quick scan there is some discussion elsewhere. There are various types of ceramic materials. It seems prototyping costs for something specific to ecigs may be prohibitive.

It seems as if material and development cost concerns could be overcome, porous ceramic wicks might be near ideal for ecigs...non-conductive, rigid, etc.

Are there some here who have been down the full path of porous ceramic wicks?

I've searched ceramic "stick" wicks for some time...been trying to think of an application where they would be use and a non e-cig world so I could maybe source something like that...even thought of going down to a local pottery/porcelain school/shop to see if it can be done, you know, just to try???

 

[Quigsworth]

I saw something like this a while ago: Porous Ceramic Round Rod,Pure White,1 Bars Air Entry,2.5 Micron Pore Size,1/2" OD,2" Length (Pack of 1): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Obviously huge but if that kind of thing existed that was 2-3 mm in diameter...could be interesting...

 

[bjannr]

I saw something like this a while ago: Porous Ceramic Round Rod,Pure White,1 Bars Air Entry,2.5 Micron Pore Size,1/2" OD,2" Length (Pack of 1): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Obviously huge but if that kind of thing existed that was 2-3 mm in diameter...could be interesting...[/
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Well if you happen to find it in the right size, and say it works, I will definitely try it. I am really liking your method of wrapping the mesh wick. Thanks.

 

[MickeyRat]

Seems 2 me u guys know ur stuff been reading this thread 4 a bit. I havent yet tried modding a wick with cotton yet but seems pretty popular, has any one tryied hemp as a wick? Anythoughts on it, I think it would work pretty well but when it comes 2 modding im still a noob. Thx

I think Cyrus posted a while back about getting some hemp for stringing beads that he was thinking about trying. I he didn't post about it again. Not sure whether he tried it.

I saw something like this a while ago: Porous Ceramic Round Rod,Pure White,1 Bars Air Entry,2.5 Micron Pore Size,1/2" OD,2" Length (Pack of 1): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Obviously huge but if that kind of thing existed that was 2-3 mm in diameter...could be interesting...

It would work in a genesis, if you could find something small enough and it actually wicked. The only applications I've seen for ceramic in PVs are the AVA atomizer ($$$$) and there was a mod whose name escapes me right now. Alpha maybe? It used a chunk of porous ceramic that you loaded with juice. AVAs have some fans. Pricey though. That Alpha, if that's what it was, had a lot of problems. The ceramic was expensive and it broke easily.

 

[billy2boots]

thanks mickyrat. now taht im on a computer it will be ez to back track, smart phones are great but mine not that great

 

[Quigsworth]

I think Cyrus posted a while back about getting some hemp for stringing beads that he was thinking about trying. I he didn't post about it again. Not sure whether he tried it.



It would work in a genesis, if you could find something small enough and it actually wicked. The only applications I've seen for ceramic in PVs are the AVA atomizer ($$$$) and there was a mod whose name escapes me right now. Alpha maybe? It used a chunk of porous ceramic that you loaded with juice. AVAs have some fans. Pricey though. That Alpha, if that's what it was, had a lot of problems. The ceramic was expensive and it broke easily.

Apex Alpha with the RES (reservoir expansion system) ...looks like the stuff used in an aquarium bubbler...thing is, great to hold and release liquid but it's too porous for capillary action...there is a company called Porex that will make to your spec's...lab grade stuff...how much money do you have???

 

[TomCatt]

I'm still using my SS wick

Still not sure if my recent troubles (1 - 2 day rolled cotton wick life due to crap buildup) were due to my DIY juice or something else. I have a couple of different cotton cotton/bamboo yarns coming in the mail, so when I get them I'll play some more.

I only vape my DIY peppermint and just have 2 SRTs and a Phoenix clone for rebuildables (at the moment ), so no need or desire at the moment to have multiple setups going.


Oh, btw, did you know burning cotton is toxic? Yeah, it's true ... it's called smoke inhallation

 

[Cool_Breeze]

I've seen some reference to 'mosquito repelent torch wicks' of ceramic...something like that. I've also seen mention of Aluminum Silicate used in some ceramics. Also a fellow did some looking into have some protos made. It came to around $31/each for a minimum order of 50. It seems that the porosity of ceramic can be controlled in the manufacturing process and can be on the scale of the openings in 400 mesh and so forth.

There's some significant discussion out there, but I'm headed in about 5 different directions at present and haven't had time to give it any real study. Google "porous ceramic wick" for clues.

 

[Quigsworth]

It seems that the porosity of ceramic can be controlled in the manufacturing process and can be on the scale of the openings in 400 mesh and so forth.

Yup, Porex will apparently manufacture to whatever spec you give them (within reason)...then I started looking at how (in the engineer/scientific community) wicking is measured...there seems to be all this time over length, factoring in viscosity/temperature/barometric pressure/cubic mm material area, etc, etc...all neatly tied up into some algorithm...but then I got sleepy and went to bed ...but how cool would that be, if they came up with their formula, extruded it out into say 1' sticks, fired it...you could just snap off what you needed...I could see a wick lasting indefinitely, drain batts dry burning it, mini torch it and turn any crap to ash, rince and re-use...dare to dream

 

[Quigsworth]

Not sure if you can see this as a guest (if you're not a member)...but here's a thread over on VW with a fair amount of info and links re ceramic rod wick

www.vaporwall.com • View topic - Aromizer Wick Alternatives

 

[TomCatt]

Wouldn't ceramic at the size of a wick be brittle?

 

[Quigsworth]

It'll be about as brittle as you can get...the kind of alumina ceramic or bioceramic we're talking about requires diamond tools to machine it but will it take bouncing around in a mod, repeated ripping out and re-coiling?, I'd think no problem...would it take a drop to a concrete floor?, hmmm

 

[bjannr]

I can see this ceramic wick becoming reality within a few months. All these great minds at work. I will start saving my money now.

 

[beamrider]

I think that someone in raidy's mod thread tried some sort of ceramic, but as that thread is ~2400 posts or so, it might be hard to track down....

 

[Quigsworth]

I can see this ceramic wick becoming reality within a few months. All these great minds at work. I will start saving my money now.

I think it may be a while yet Bjannr ...from what I'm reading the big issue is getting one of these manufacturers to put any kind of R&D into it...market is just way to small...wouldn't hold my breath but it would be cool.

 

[bjannr]

I have the Alpha mod that uses the ceramic. It worked well, but it was not easy for me to use because of how it was activated. It has been sitting in storage. I remember good flavor and vapor. But a bit bothersome to use. It would be nice to be able to use ceramic like we use cotton and mesh.
But then what do I do with all my cotton and mesh? Box them with my cartos?

 

[Quigsworth]

Ya, they have that strange slide tube to activate don't they?, never owned on but a nice looking piece...peeps must like them though, you don't see them on the classy's very often...

anywho, back to cotton/bamboo...I rebuilt my Ody with 7 strands of Lydia's #10 (was 8) last night...with 1 pin (normally I used 2 to incorporate swell)...laid 3 more strand pieces on top of my usual 1.7 coil (which btw on 32 awg A1 is exactly 33mm of Kanthal between the NR wires)...been vaping on it all day and I think this one can go in the book as solved, awesome taste, wicks perfect, good flow control, good chain vapeability...god I can't wait for my GGTS/Ody base

 

[Cool_Breeze]

...saw the VW bit. Broad brushstroke, it seems there can be quite a bit variety in cooking up ceramic. Maybe delicacy might not be a concern. Yes, incentive needs to be in place for development. I suspect a fair amount of fine tuning will be necessary to find the right recipe. That's not to say something less than perfect might not pop up.

Then, there's always nanotech...

 

[Quigsworth]

Nanotech!...ah Cool, I love that dry humour of yours ...gonna get me some carbon and a $100,000 plasma chamber and grow me a wick...

 

[beamrider]

Hmm, carbon nanotubes.....I like this idea! Can we get a co-op?!