Uses
Function
AnPerception
Vaping is different fromConstruction
E-cigarettes come in many variations, such as cigarette-shaped, pen-shaped, and tank-shaped styles. Some e-cigarettes look like traditional cigarettes, but others do not. There are three main types of e-cigarettes: cigalikes, looking like cigarettes; eGos, bigger than cigalikes with refillable liquid tanks; and mods, assembled from basic parts or by altering existing products. E-cigarette components include a mouthpiece, a cartridge (liquid storage area), a heating element/atomizer, aDevice generations
As the e-cigarette industry continues to evolve, new products are quickly developed and brought to market. The early devices looked like a traditional cigarette, often including a small light on the tip that lit when the user puffed. These early systems were generally inefficient at delivering nicotine, in part because the particle sizes of the aerosol were too large to penetrate deep into the lungs. Newer versions feature replaceable or refillable reservoirs and rechargeable batteries that generate smaller particles and more efficient nicotine delivery. Since e-cigarettes are not regulated in many countries, the device designs can change often. There is wide differences in the quality of e-cigarettes, such as the airflow rate,First-generation
First-generation e-cigarettes started off as patents in periods of 1927-1936 and 1963-1998, but becoming commercially mainstream in 2003. They tend to look like tobacco cigarettes and so are called "cigalikes". The three parts of a cigalike e-cigarette initially were a cartridge, an atomizer, and a battery. A cigalike e-cigarette currently contains a cartomizer (cartridge atomizer), which is connected to a battery. Most cigalikes look like cigarettes but there is some variation in size. They may be a single unit comprising a battery, coil and filling saturated with e-liquid in a single tube to be used and discarded after the battery or e-liquid is depleted. They may also be a reusable device with a battery and cartridge called a cartomizer. The cartomizer cartridge can be separated from the battery so the battery can be charged and the empty cartomizer replaced when the e-liquid runs out. The battery section may contain an electronicSecond-generation
Second generation devices started in 2013, and tend to be used by people with more experience. They are larger overall and look less like tobacco cigarettes. They usually consist of two sections, basically a tank and a separate battery. Their batteries have higher capacity, and are not removable. Being rechargeable, they use a USB charger that attaches to the battery with a threaded connector. Certain batteries have a "passthrough" feature so they can be used even while they are charging. Second-generation e-cigarettes commonly use a tank or a "clearomizer". Clearomizer tanks are meant to be refilled with e-liquid, while cartomizers are not. Because they're refillable and the battery is rechargeable, their cost of operation is lower. However, they can also use cartomizers, which are pre-filled only. Some cheaper battery sections use a microphone that detects the turbulence of the air passing through to activate the device when the user inhales. Other batteries like the eGo style can use anThird-generation
The third-generation started in 2013, it included mechanical mods and variable voltage devices. Battery sections are commonly called "mods," referencing their past when user modification was common. Mechanical mods do not contain integrated circuits. They are commonly cylindrical or box-shaped, and typical housing materials are wood, aluminium, stainless steel, or brass. A larger "box mod" can hold bigger and sometimes multiple batteries. Mechanical mods and variable devices use larger batteries than those found in previous generations. Common battery sizes used are 18350, 18490, 18500 and 18650. The battery is often removable, so it can be changed when depleted. The battery must be removed and charged externally. Variable devices permit setting wattage, voltage, or both. These often have a USB connector for recharging; some can be used while charging, called a "passthrough" feature. The power section may include additional options such as screen readout, support for a wide range of internal batteries, and compatibility with different types of atomizers. Third-generation devices can have rebuildable atomizers with different wicking materials. These rebuildables use handmade coils that can be installed in the atomizer to increase vapor production. Hardware in this generation is sometimes modified to increase power or flavor. The larger battery sections used also allow larger tanks to be attached that can hold more e-liquid. Recent devices can go up to 8 V, which can heat the e-liquid significantly more than earlier generations.Fourth-generation
A fourth-generation e-cigarette became available in the United States in 2014. Fourth-generation e-cigarettes can be made from stainless steel and pyrex glass, and contain very little plastics. Included in the fourth-generation are sub ohm tanks and temperature control devices. The e-cigarette user can breathe in large puff volumes, which results in a significant usage of e-liquid per puff. Usually used by experienced e-cigarettes users.Atomizer and tank
An atomizer consists of a smallCartomizers
A "cartomizer" (aClearomizers
The clearomizer was invented in 2009 that originated from the cartomizer design. It contained the wicking material, an e-liquid chamber, and an atomizer coil within a single clear component. This allows the user to monitor the liquid level in the device. Clearomizers or "clearos", are like cartotanks, in that an atomizer is inserted into the tank. There are different wicking systems used inside clearomizers. Some rely onRebuildable atomizers
A rebuildable atomizer (RBA) is an atomizer that allows the user to assemble or "build" the wick and coil themselves instead of replacing them withRebuildable tank atomizers
RTAs have a tank to hold liquid that is absorbed by the wick. They can hold up to 4 ml of e-liquid. The tank can be either plastic, glass, or metal. One form of tank atomizers was the Genesis style atomizers. They can use ceramic wicks, stainless steel mesh or rope for wicking material. The steel wick must be oxidized to prevent arcing of the coil. Another type is the Sub ohm tank. These tanks have rebuildable or RBA kits. They can also use coil heads of 0.2 ohm, 0.4 ohm, and 0.5 ohm. These coil heads can have stainless steel coils.Rebuildable dripping atomizers
RDAs are atomizers where the e-liquid is dripped directly onto the coil and wick. The common nicotine strength of e-liquids used in RDA's is 3 mg and 6 mg. Liquids used in RDA's tend to have more vegetable glycerin. A fully saturated wick can give you as many as 10-20 puffs. They typically consist only of an atomizer "building deck", commonly with three posts with holes drilled in them, which can accept one or more coils. The user needs to manually keep the atomizer wet by dripping liquid on the bare wick and coil assembly, hence their name.Resistance elements
Squonk mods
The origins of a squonk mod bottom-feeding system go as far back as 2009. A member of the E-Cigarette Forum (ECF) named "Carlos49" was largely credited with developing the first squonker available in the marketplace. Squonk mods differ from other mod boxes with their construction. Squonk mods have a 510 connection that have been modified with the use of an e-liquid bottle placed inside the mod. The user squeezes an e-liquid bottle through an opening in the device to send e-liquid through a tube into the attached atomizer. Extra liquid goes back into the bottle when it is unsqueezed.Pod mods
Pod mods heat up a liquid containing nicotine, flavors, and other ingredients that creates an aerosol. Pod mods are lightweight, portable, small, and reusable. Pod mods do not require pushing a button. A pod mod does not require much of a learning curve. With the majority of pod mods, users can just open their new package, put a pod into the device, and begin vaping. They are charged using a USB port. There are numerous pod mods in the marketplace and there are many kinds of pod mods. The three categories for the different kinds of pod mods are an open system, a closed system, or those that use both. Pod mods come in varying colors and flavors. Many devices rely on replaceable liquid pods that may contain propylene glycol, glycerin, benzoic acid, nicotine, and artificial flavors. Some pod mods can be refillable, with flavors such as cotton candy, donut cream, and gummy bear. Pod mods that containPower
Variable power and voltage devices
Variable devices are variable wattage, variable voltage or both. VariableTemperature control devices
Mechanical devices
Mechanical PVs or mechanical "mods", often called "mechs", are devices without integrated circuits, electronic battery protection, or voltage regulation. They are activated by a switch. They rely on the natural voltage output of the battery and the metal that the mod is made of often is used as part of the circuit itself. The term "mod" was originally used instead of "modification". Users would modify existing hardwares to get better performance, and as an alternative to the e-cigarettes that looked like traditional cigarettes. Users would alsoE-cigarette liquid
Composition
E-cigarette liquid, E-Cig liquid, e-liquid, juice, vapor juice, vape juice, smoke juice, vaping fluid, vaping juice, e-juice, e-fluid, or vape oil is the mixture used in vapor products including e-cigarettes. Since e-cigarettes are not regulated in many countries, the composition of the liquid can change often. There is a great amount of variability in e-liquid formulations due to fast growth and changes in the manufacturing designs of e-cigarettes. The composition of the e-liquid for additives such as nicotine and flavors vary across and within brands. E-liquids come in many variations, including different nicotine strengths and many different flavors. The main ingredients areLevels of aldehydes in e-liquid
∗A 2013 analysis tested a total of 42 bottles of e-liquids.Contents
The e-liquid is sold in bottles, pre-filled disposable cartridges, or as a kit for consumers to make their own e-liquids. E-liquids are made with various tobacco, fruit, and other flavors, as well as variable nicotine concentrations (including nicotine-free versions). The standard notation "mg/ml" is often used on labels to denote nicotine concentration, and is sometimes shortened to "mg". Some flavors are created to resemble the flavors used in traditional cigarettes such as tobacco and menthol-tobacco. Adults in general also preferred sweet flavors (though smokers like tobacco flavor the most) and disliked flavors that elicit bitterness or harshness. Young adults overall preferred sweet, menthol, and cherry flavors, while non-smokers in particular preferred coffee and menthol flavors. In surveys of regular e-cigarette users, the most popular e-liquids had a nicotine content of 18 mg/ml, and the preferred flavors were largely tobacco, mint and fruit. Men tend to favor flavors with tobacco, while women tend to favor chocolate or sweet flavors. The most favorite flavors among regular e-cigarette users reported in a 2017 UK survey were fruit, tobacco, and menthol/mint. The survey also found 2.6% regular e-cigarette users used no flavors. A 2013 study examined 33 countries and found that only 1% of the adult smokers exclusively used non-nicotine e-cigarettes. A cartridge may contain 0 to 20 mg of nicotine. Refill liquids are often sold in the size range from 15 to 30 ml. E-liquids are frequently sold in dropper bottles. One cartridge may typically last as long as one pack of cigarettes. A refill bottle can contain up to 100 mg/ml of nicotine, which is meant to be diluted before use. Some users, probably due to financial reasons and the willingness to experiment, are opting to make homemade e-liquids. A small percentage of liquids without flavoring is also sold. The flavorings may be natural or artificial.Manufacturing
E-liquids are manufactured by many producers, both in the US and across the world. First tier manufacturers use lab suits, gloves, hair covers, inside of certified clean rooms with air filtration similar to pharmaceutical-grade production areas.Standards
E-liquid manufacturing requirements under the USRegulation
Effective August 8, 2016, under the FDA rules, a company that mixes or prepares e-liquids is regulated as a tobacco product manufacturer. Under the same regulation, a company that sells e-liquids is regulated as a tobacco retailer. Companies who import or try to sell for import into the US must conform to the