Evaporation is a process in which the active elements of a substance are released by the application of heating without combustion.
Simply put, the substance heats up but does not burn. This is an important difference because when a substance burns, it becomes denatured.
Denaturation of a substance is a chemical change that occurs at the molecular level. As a result, the molecular structure of the substance changes.
Denaturation occurs with increased heat release (as a result of combustion) known as pyrolysis.
Pyrolysis is the main disadvantage of the traditional method of smoking. When pyrolysis occurs, the molecular composition creates new elements that were not present in the source material of combustion.
An obvious example is a tobacco.
When smoking a cigarette, the smoker gets the expected effect from the active element of tobacco – nicotine.
The process of smoking, however, releases not only nicotine but also toxins and other harmful elements (smoke and tar), which are forming as a result of pyrolysis.
An alternative way to obtain the active element without harmful substances is evaporation, as evaporation usually requires a temperature below the combustion point of the substance, which cannot be achieved in the process of pyrolysis (combustion), so the substance never becomes denatured.
In other words, evaporation releases the active elements of the substance in a way that pyrolysis cannot occur.
Thus, the smoker receives pure steam, which consists only of active elements that were originally in the source material.
From a practical point of view, the evaporation process significantly reduces the load on the airways, lungs, and body of the smoker.
In this case, the steam, unlike smoke, is easier to evaporate from the room without leaving a pungent smoky odor, which is perfect in a situation where you need to avoid the smell of smoke.
Types of vaporizers
Modern manufacturers produce vaporizers of various shapes and sizes. It’s true. There are two types of vapors globally – portable (they are pocket) and stationary.
Portable vaporizers are compact, economical, and mobile. There are differences in the design of portable models, but often insignificant. In appearance, they resemble an electronic cigarette. They are often calling “vape pens”. The portable device can be compatible with both dry tobacco and concentrates – as in the case of stationary evaporators.
Stationary models tend to be larger and consume more power. Externally, such devices resemble a hookah – steam is inhaled through a flexible tube with a mouthpiece at the end. Some stationary vaporizers are equipped with steam accumulators made of food-grade plastic (hot steam flows from the device into a balloon-like accumulator).
8 easy steps to use any vaporizer
- Turn on the vaporizer so that it reaches the desired temperature.
- The second stage involves the preparation of tobacco. As a rule, tobacco is available in the form of whole leaves or grains. Chop the leaves to a uniform consistency.
- Now, it’s time to load the tip with the herbs you have prepared. Many people make the mistake of loading large amounts of tobacco in the hope that it will be more effective. But, in most cases, a small amount of tobacco is enough for a uniform evaporation effect.
- When the tobacco is properly loaded, it’s time to check the temperature. If your vaporizer is of the conductive type (has a metal heating element), it will become hot and red – a sure sign that everything is ready and it has reached the desired temperature.
- In most cases, it is necessary to shake the vaporizer a little so that it comes out not smoke but steam.
- Inhale.
- After using the appliance, switch it off and let it cool down.
- Once the vaporizer has cooled completely, clean it.
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