Convection VS Conduction Vaping

When it comes to vaporizer pens, the expression "you can't always judge a book by its cover" applies best. While from the outside, most vaporizers may appear to produce the same end result - a vapor cloud and a clean drag, whether your device is small or large, loaded with lights and LEDs or plain and simple. However, what goes on internally has a great impact on the efficacy of a given vaporizer and what method is used to create that clean, efficient vapor. Here's a look at the two types of vaporizer - conduction and convection - and how they each work.

Conduction

In a conduction vaporizer, the material being heated is placed in direct or near direct contact with the actual heating element. In these cases, dry herb is loaded into the vaporizer and placed directly adjacent to the vaporizer's heating coil. As the user activates the vaporizer, the element warms, releasing the vapors from the herb and passing them through to the mouthpiece. This method of vaporization is most common with portable vape pens and other devices as it is often a more compact solution, making it ideal for vapers on the go.

However, with conduction, combustion is also more possible. As the heat is being directly applied to the herbs, the heat can actually cause the plant material to smolder or burn, resulting in a degree of smoke instead of vapor. This can be managed by using a screen or glass contact that provides a barrier of separation, while still keeping the herbs in close enough contact to vaporize. In addition, herbal vaporizers that offer temperature control functionality can help users moderate the warmth of the heating element, keeping it in a range of vapor production without combusting.

Convection

Convection, by contrast, separates the material from the heating element, instead using heated air to produce vapors. In these vaporizers, the coil or heating element warms a chamber or column of air which is forced all around the container where vaporizable material is packed. This can be oil, wax or dry herbs, as there's no risk of the material coming into direct contact with the element and causing it to fail. As the warmed air surrounds the material, it begins to release the vaporized elements, producing the smooth and flavorful taste without the risk of burning.

Achieving convection in a portable device is more complicated, meaning that these devices tend to have a larger form factor and be more expensive than conduction alternatives. However, convection is also more effective at vaporizing, as the packed material is heated consistently and evenly from all sides, whereas conduction heats strictly from the bottom, requiring users stir packed materials to ensure an even heating and vapor release. Conversely, though, these units also tend to require more energy, and as a result can run out of charge more rapidly than conduction vape pens.

Regardless of your own personal preferences, vaporizing for medicinal use has been shown time and time again to be one of the most effective ways of administering doses for treatment. Between the cleaner and less harsh vapor, the reduction in tars and combustion byproducts, and the greater ability to adjust dosing on the fly by managing the length and frequency of drags, vaporizing is a clearly preferred method by patients from coast to coast. For even more on vaporization and a look at how temperature adjustments can help even further refine the positive benefits of medical cannabis, check out our previous blog that includes a comprehensive chart of cannabinoids and compounds released at different heating levels.