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As vaping becomes an increasingly popular form of cannabis and herbal consumption, consumers are becoming more conscious of their products and how they impact their experience. There are typically three primary categories for cartridges: ceramic, quartz or a cotton-based wick. While ceramic currently dominates the market due to mass availability and cost, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee quality results.
Manufacturers should consider that the first quartz cartridge wasn’t introduced into the market until 2020. Anecdotal evidence has since shown a growing consumer preference for quartz over ceramic. This was later validated by a blind taste test where 83% preferred quartz. This raises questions about the difference between ceramic, quartz, and other materials and their effects on cannabis vapor oil.
Up until recently, vaping research has primarily been focused on nicotine but has expanded into the field of cannabis. Vuber Technologies is one such company involved in this expansion. They reached out to an ISO-certified lab that specializes in vapor analysis to conduct tests for heavy metal, harmful constituents, and silica particles. Results showed ceramic-based cartridges produced significantly more harmful constituents and shed far more silica particles than quartz, potentially impacting users’ medicinal and recreational experience.
It is no secret that a common complaint in the cannabis community is the “burnt” aftertaste associated with cartridges. While the factors involved vary, the taste is often accompanied by a harsher hit, which can cause some consumers to prematurely dispose of their cartridge — wasting product and money. Excessive coughing, throat irritation, and shortness of breath have also been reported. This could be a direct result of the degradant products, harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs), created during the vaporization process since many of these chemicals are lung irritants that are associated with similar respiratory symptoms.
The results reported above support the data collected during the blind taste test since HPHCs tend to have a foul smell and taste which is indicative of excessive heat, burning and degradation. This offers some explanation as to why consumers can literally taste the difference between different hardware types.
When determining what harmful chemicals to look for in the vapor cloud, the lab relied on prior vaping studies to pinpoint a set of harmful constituents associated with e-cigarettes. The most prominent and cited chemicals of concern are commonly referred to as aldehydes due to their common makeup. These aldehydes are referred to as degradant products as it relates to the decomposition of sensitive volatile cannabinoids/terpenes into unwanted products.
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Compounds like terpenes, THC or CBD can break down into harmful constituents when under the right conditions. In this case, extreme heat is likely the cause of degradation, however, certain types of ceramic can also act as a catalyst, making reactions like these more likely to occur. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports many of these chemicals can irritate the lungs, causing symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, headaches, dizziness, congestion, and fluid buildup in the airway passages.
These aldehydes could potentially be responsible for the foul taste and respiratory symptoms associated with vaping, but replicated studies and more in-depth analysis are needed to confirm this. Although these results shed light on the quality of product performance, it’s important to remember that the reported results are well within a margin of safety and do not pose any immediate medical danger.
Ceramic is a popular material used across a variety of industries that utilize its versatile properties to fit more specific needs. We associate ceramic with coffee mugs, but a less visible application for ceramic is its use in electronic components as an insulator to protect surrounding materials by absorbing heat. Ceramic’s ability to keep heat is usually deemed as a desirable property; however, in this application, it may compromise the user’s experience.
Silica (quartz) is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth and is used in construction materials, jewelry, drug delivery systems and much more due to its unique properties. Quartz is a conductor, which means it allows electrical current to flow between itself and other conducting materials. Instead of retaining heat, it transfers heat/energy, allowing it to dissipate quickly whereas ceramic continues to hold onto the heat. Further insight into the properties and structure of the heating elements will draw more light to potential differences between ceramic and quartz cartridges.
One of the primary concerns associated with vaping is the silica particles found in the vapor produced by e-cigarettes and other electronic and hardware-based devices. Despite quartz cartridges being made of silica, Vuber’s study showed that they shed significantly fewer silicate-based and harmful particles than ceramic-based cartridges. Based on the information presented by the researchers, quartz cartridges appear to be a notably better option for consumers for health and overall taste preferences. As this is a newer technology, more research is needed to better understand the overall effects and impact of quartz on the consumption of cannabis and herbal vape products.
Quartz-based cartridges offer a promising look into a bright future within the cannabis industry. Specifically, one that includes prioritizing users’ overall experience and health. With the DEA’s recent announcement that cannabis will now be a Schedule 3 drug in the United States, further opportunities will arise for more cannabis-based product testing, opening the potential for more consumer-focused products in the cannabis space.
