The original intention of the invention of vapes is to replace the traditional tobacco. The cutting-edge innovations of the industry will also focus on improving the quality of smoke, making the use of vapes closer to the traditional tobacco while abandoning the poisonous components of traditional tobacco.
Nowadays, e-cigarettes have become an irresistible trend, and what technologies will possibly lead the new industry changes in the future?
First, heating non-combustion technology
Heating non-combustion-type e-cigarettes have gradually gained market recognition and are considered to be an important development direction of e-cigarettes. Among them, the brands that are popular among users are IQOS, PAX, etc.
Heating non-combustible e-cigarettes use traditional tobacco leaves and shredded tobacco as the raw material medium to reduce the significant release of harmful components in traditional tobacco. However, the sensory quality of such products isn’t ideal enough to meet the quality of smoke released from traditional tobacco products.
The conclusions are based on laboratory results:
- The temperature threshold for the heating non-combustion technology suitable for use is within 350°, which is more beneficial for reducing the mixed flavor of tobacco raw materials.
- tobacco raw materials in the traditional cigarettes need a higher temperature to release a pleasant sense of smoke.
- The higher the temperature, the greater the release of harmful components in tobacco, and it will lose the meaning of reducing poison.
Heating non-combustion technology isn’t suitable for reducing the taste of flue-cured tobacco in China, which is why more European and American mixed tobacco brands have launched heating non-combustible e-cigarette brands.
Second, low temperature ceramic atomization technology
The low temperature ceramic atomizer technology is precisely the combination of low temperature atomization and ceramic atomization. Low-temperature atomization is more healthy and safe, and ceramic media can perfectly solve the safety hazard of heavy metals exceeding the standard in the early stage of e-cigarette technology development.
In order to produce a pleasant aroma, some chemical components may be added to the e-cigarette. Among them, in addition to nicotine, it also includes secondary nicotine such as nornicotine, neonicotinoid and cotinine. The tobacco alkaloids in the e-cigarette oil are mainly dissolved in a propylene glycol solvent. The presence of propanol in vape oil is more of a carrier of smoke.
Advantages of low temperature ceramic atomization technology:
- Glycerol may be cracked to produce formaldehyde at high temperatures;
- Ceramic media atomization, abandoned the traditional wire heating, reducing the risk of heavy metals exceeding the standard;
Difficulties in technology realization: In the low temperature environment, the cooperation between flavor and tobacco and tobacco alkaloid is weaker than the high temperature environment. How to use low temperature perfume for blending is a technical obstacle that all major e-cigarette manufacturers is the problem need to solve.
However, as far as the current tobacco industry technology reserves are concerned, the tobacco flavors widely used in the traditional tobacco industry are low-temperature flavors, which means that they are mature technologies for traditional tobacco companies. Therefore, low temperature ceramic atomization technology is widely used in electronic brands with traditional tobacco backgrounds.
Third, saline-alkali technology
Saline-alkali smoke: Salt Nicotine, the form of nicotine in tobacco leaves. They are compounds containing nicotine and other organic ingredients. It may combine with one or more chemicals in the tobacco to form a more stable molecular structure.
The nicotine form commonly used in mainstream e-cigarettes called “freebase” nicotine. Salts Nicotine isn’t found in the tobacco industry as an epoch-making technological product. The research and development of Salt Nicotine have been reversed in the tobacco industry. In the preparation of traditional cigarettes, reducing the nicotine salt content in the tobacco leaf material increases the “freebase” nicotine which can bring a better mouthfeel and can significantly improve the sensory quality.
At present, the use of nicotine salt technology in the e-cigarette industry as the leading trend of technological change lies in the fact that the difference in the nature of the two nicotines leads to different experiences of feeling. The “free base” nicotine is dissolved in propylene glycol, and through atomization and evaporation, the body absorbs gaseous nicotine molecules, and the body absorbs and discharges quickly. Nicotine, a salt nicotine, can stay and absorb longer in the human lungs. That is, the same nicotine molecule has a higher transport rate in the composition of the Salt Nicotine.
The industry’s application prospects for such technologies are very broad and can significantly improve the taste of vapes. However, such technologies are currently firmly in the hands of major traditional tobacco companies.
