The Evolution of Vaping

Vaping is a term commonly used to refer to the use of an electronic device that heats tobacco so that the user can inhale vapor instead of the smoke. The history of vaping has its origins in ancient times, and the first idea of an e-cigarette was from Joseph Robinson in 192. Trials began after this in search of a smokeless non-tobacco cigarette by Herbert A. Gilbert from Beaver Falls in 1963. It was long until 2003 when a Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik invented e-cigarettes.

The vaping industry has grown since the first generation of the first e-cigarette, and it’s predicted by the year 2025 it will grow to a $25 billion market. The growth recognizes the efficiency and effectiveness of electronic cigarettes, which become better after every generation of advancement. There are so many ways to vape, and many Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) devices for delivering nicotine including hookah, sticks, mod kits, pens and desktop vaporizers.

Pharmacist Hon Lik’s father, having died from lung cancer, motivated him to invent the Ruyan e-cigarette that vaporized the liquid containing nicotine. The electronic liquid comprises a diluted propylene glycol solution by using piezoelectric elements. By 2004, the vapes had gained popularity and maneuvered in the market with booming sales in Asia and China. In 2007, e-cigarettes entered the United States market, and the major tobacco companies developed their electronic cigarettes. So far, we have three generations of the e-cigarette.

The first generation of e-cigarettes was battery-powered, reusable and resembled regular cigarettes, cigars, USB sticks, among others. These e-cigarettes are also called vapes, e-cigs. The vapes are rechargeable and medium in size. The first e-cigarette that resembled the traditional cigarette contained a lithium battery with an LED indicator light that activates the device to change the atomizer or coil inside the cartridge.

The atomizer well known as the vaporizing chamber and LED indicator turns on when a user inhales and goes off when the user is not using it. All e-cigarettes use an electronic liquid. The liquid comes in the form of a suspension containing propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. It has different flavors like tobacco, chocolate, fruits, and candy contains different strengths from high, medium, low and zero flavors.

This e-cigarette generation was a midsize rechargeable which had two separate parts: the tank and the battery. In 2006, Umer and Tariq Sjeikh invented a cartomizer; a device containing the two individual pieces in one. It combined the flavor cartridge and atomizer. The cigarette was using resistant wiring elements wrapped around cotton, commonly referred to as cig-a-likes.

Then came the second-generation e-cigarette, which is slightly bigger than the first generation one, and it has several shapes and sizes. The size allows the user to customize the tank by controlling the amount of liquid and voltage it can outfit. This vaping device increases performance in the battery and atomizer thus generally referred to as the vape pens and most first-timers in vaping prefer them.

The vapes have a button pressed to release vapor, unlike the first generation e-cigarettes where one has to inhale to produce the steam. In 2009, the clearomizers of this e-cigarette began usage by use of a wicking material, reservoir and the atomizer coil in one unit. The clearomizers assist the user in seeing the level of the liquid in the tank using the silica wicking mechanism to deliver the e-liquid to the heating coil.

The vapes have top and bottom clearomizers with long and short wicks that are useful in delivering all the e-juice in the tank. The atomizer for the vapes can be replaced after a while depending on the frequency and usage. The vapes require a source of power, and so the package comes with a USB cable, a vehicle and a portable personal charger.

The third generation of e-cigarettes is the MODS, also known as Advanced Personal Vaping (APV) devices. This kind of vape pens use sub-ohm coils or atomizers, which allow high wattage and thus produce more vapor. The MODS are an improved vape pen that allows more power and personalization. They can be regulated or unregulated; the difference between the two is that regulated has a chip that controls the electric current going through the device while the unregulated one uses the resistance of the coil or atomizer to control the electric current.

The most exciting feature of this generation is the accurate number of digital displays that narrates the battery life, ohmmeter, puff counter, and temperature setting. The temperature setting feature allows the user to regulate power output to attain a stable temperature that prevents dry hits. The sub-ohm tanks hold more e-liquid than the other e-cigarettes. These vapes allow airflow control, and so the user can increase airflow to give a direct lung hit or reduce airflow to provide a mouth to lung hit.

These third-generation vapes are the most celebrated, which comprises a temperature regulating system while producing more flavored vapors. The e-liquid filled in the nicotine cartridges come in two major types: the introductory cartridges and disposable customizers. The difference between the two is that the cartridge is gotten rid of after consumption of all the e-juice. In contrast, cartridges have a refillable reservoir and the liquid drips into a puddle and usable cartomizer.

The future of the vaping industry is promising and highly dependent on legal guidelines and available technology. It is important to note that the manufacturing of the electronic liquids is regulated. Nevertheless, due to the growth of the industry, the legal restrictions may be open for revision. The modified vapes are likely to be reduced in size, increase the efficiency, be more user-friendly, safer and more personalized. The vaping industry developments are out of influence by the user experience and demand and also the innovation in vaping technology.

Some companies are looking for ways to use nickel or titanium wires in vape pens to produce higher thermal and electrical conductivity, thus giving better results for temperature regulation. The other exciting feature will be a Bluetooth model that enables the user to find their vaporizer in a situation where they misplaced it.