The Science of Vaporizing

Here's your chance to do some important research, Ph.D. not required!

We all know that vaporizing 'works', but have you ever wondered what's happening from a scientific point of view? I've been waiting for National Geographic to do a special on it but it's time to take matters into our own resin coated hands.

If you're like me, you lack formal training and the ability to write a simple forum post. Thankfully, science minded members like nicelytoasted have expressed an interest in doing the work for us... just like that smart kid high school.

At this point we're just gathering information. If you know of any relevant or interesting links please share them in this thread or on the wiki page we're using as a scratchpad.

http://www.vaporpedia.com/wiki/The_Science_of_Vaporizing

At the very least you can just post some nice trichome photos. Here are some to whet your appetite.

reserved for future use

Thanks vtac.

I recently acquired a camera/microscope and took a couple of pics to illustrate what goes on as we vape our herb:

Before/after pictures of vaporizing @ ~ 120X mag.:


Before:

My number 1 quality herb, loaded in E, bowl about 2/3 full.

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5836/nestoftrics.jpg


http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/2848/tricssideshot2.jpg


After:

Then, the same herb, after one E bag @ 160C (fan speed =2). This was a random sample taken from near middle of bowl.


http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5557/tricsvaped160c120x2.jpg

That's amazing, toasted...thanks for posting those pics! It's clear to see how we are clearing the surface of all the goodies!

I don't get any results at that low of a temp, but I haven't tried in a while...which E version do you have?

It would be interesting to see pics after exposure to higher temps.

Ya, I second that on seeing what it's like at a higher temp. The lowest I've tried is 185 and that gives a very light mist. Still very tasty though.

If you could post up a pic of some bud vaped at 200-225 that would be great. You can go higher if you're in the mood.

I've posted part of this before but thought I'd post the entire list here. For those interested you can almost tailor your cannabinoids by the temp. you vape at:

Cannabinoids, their boiling points, and properties

?-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Boiling point: 157*C / 314.6 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Euphoriant, Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antiemetic

cannabidiol (CBD)
Boiling point: 160-180*C / 320-356 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Anxiolytic, Analgesic, Antipsychotic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic

Cannabinol (CBN)
Boiling point: 185*C / 365 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Oxidation, breakdown, product, Sedative, Antibiotic

cannabichromene (CBC)
Boiling point: 220*C / 428 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Antiinflammatory, Antibiotic, Antifungal

?-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (?-8-THC)
Boiling point: 175-178*C / 347-352.4 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Resembles ?-9-THC, Less psychoactive, More stable Antiemetic

tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
Boiling point: < 220*C / <428 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Analgesic, Euphoriant





Terpenoid essential oils, their boiling points, and properties

?-myrcene
Boiling point: 166-168*C / 330.8-334.4 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Analgesic. Antiinflammatory, Antibiotic, Antimutagenic

?-caryophyllene
Boiling point: 119*C / 246.2 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Antiinflammatory, Cytoprotective (gastric mucosa), Antimalarial

d-limonene
Boiling point: 177*C / 350.6 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Cannabinoid agonist?, Immune potentiator, Antidepressant, Antimutagenic

linalool
Boiling point: 198*C / 388.4 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Sedative, Antidepressant, Anxiolytic, Immune potentiator

pulegone
Boiling point: 224*C / 435.2 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Memory booster?, AChE inhibitor, Sedative, Antipyretic

1,8-cineole (eucalyptol)
Boiling point: 176*C / 348.8 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: AChE inhibitor, Increases cerebral, blood flow, Stimulant, Antibiotic, Antiviral, Antiinflammatory, Antinociceptive

?-pinene
Boiling point: 156*C / 312.8 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Antiinflammatory, Bronchodilator, Stimulant, Antibiotic, Antineoplastic, AChE inhibitor

?-terpineol
Boiling point: 217-218*C / 422.6-424.4 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Sedative, Antibiotic, AChE inhibitor, Antioxidant, Antimalarial

terpineol-4-ol
Boiling point: 209*C / 408.2 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: AChE inhibitor. Antibiotic

p-cymene
Boiling point: 177*C / 350.6 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Antibiotic, Anticandidal, AChE inhibitor

borneol
Boiling point: 210*C / 410 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Antibiotic, ?-3-carene 0.004% 168 Antiinflammatory

?-3-carene
Boiling point: 168*C / 334.4 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Antiinflammatory





Flavonoid and phytosterol components, their boiling points, and properties

apigenin
Boiling point: 178*C / 352.4 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Anxiolytic, Antiinflammatory, Estrogenic

quercetin
Boiling point: 250*C / 482 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Antioxidant, Antimutagenic, Antiviral, Antineoplastic

cannflavin A
Boiling point: 182*C / 359.6 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: COX inhibitor, LO inhibitor

?-sitosterol
Boiling point: 134*C / 273.2 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Antiinflammatory, 5-?-reductase, inhibitor

wow thanks for the pix nicelytoasted it's really nice to see it that big !!! also thanks for that list ScientistRX ,I just love how that thread go ! super informatif stuff here ,I love scientific data ...d-limonene hummm ...is there any list that explain what taste what ??

That was my first attempt on my version 3 of the E.

I'm still on the learning curve as far as this mic/cam device goes...

I plan on going through the temp range and taking pics along the way, as well as illustrating the same herb after mulitple runs at the same temp.

But even at this lower temp, the taste was very smooth and the head buzz was strong and long lasting, IMO. I also got a very distinct, light mist upon exhales.

I may even try at lower temps to get just the terpenes to test the high and to see of the tric heads remain...

Its not really the boiling point its the burning point. anthing boiled off in your vape would condense in the tube or on the side of the bag.

Fixed the double post.

Toasted...I am really interested in doing some sort of research regarding temps and what we get out of them...experimentally, of course!
Please post your temps and results/experience here. I will do the same once I get to it.

Scientist...that info is helpful. I wonder if I can dial in a temp to get a specific experience...

Its not really rocket science. compounds burn at different temperatures, so you can burn selective compunds by controlling temperatures.

stevebeast said:

Its not really rocket science. compounds burn at different temperatures, so you can burn selective compunds by controlling temperatures.

Click to expand...

Since we're not smoking, there is no combustion and hence, no burning (hopefully!).

When vaporizing, controlling temps allows for control of proportions of active ingredients released. This also affects the flavor and the experience,,,

Its burning your smoking. its smoke/vapor whatever you call it. it is burning or a chemical reaction whatever same thing. in fact smoke is in the websters definition of vapor. Its burning, the temp controll is to controll what burns and what doesnt, that is what affects the flavor etc...

Vapor is not smoke and if you don't understand the difference this is not the thread (or forum) for you to be posting in. Please stay out of it.

Thank you Stickstones and ClearDome and to ScientistRX for providing that excellent index/properties list.

Same stick, here's a couple of pics of the same herb after 2nd bag at 170C.

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6789/2ndvape170c2.jpg

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3074/2ndvape170c5.jpg

180C next....

if vaopr isnt smoke what then is the difference?

modnote: I don't know if you're just trolling or what, but post in this thread again and you're gone.

smoke is defined as cloudy mass of suspended solid particles. vapor is defined as cloudy mass of smoke or fog. fog is defined as a cloudy mass of liquid particles. there is no liquid comming out the end of your vaporizer. if you want proof run it through a bong with ice and water. guess what smoke comes out try the same thing with steam no steam comes out

modnote: Vapor / Smoke

same herb after run #3 @ 180C:

still some trics, most of CBDs should have released, with CBNs next..

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/8545/3rdvape180c.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/1561/3rdvape180c2.jpg

the lastly (and final run tonight) @ 190C with same herb:

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/685/4thvape190c.jpg

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/8164/4thvape190c2.jpg

next up: 200-230C

Great pics, toasted. How hard would it be to always photo the same section? If using the cyclone bowl, near impossible. But if you used the screen pack method, could you get pics of the same surface area after each bag?

^^good point....but he stated that he took herb from the near middle of the bowl...thats the fairest thing to do...the top of the elbow packed bowl is always a lil darker on the top....but hey I'm not saying he still cant try

prove me wrong...I love the pics either way

Thanks Stick & Henn

I was thinking along the same lines as far as isolating a small piece for direct, apples-to-apples, before/after comparison. Not sure if can get it exactly, but may try a test run with as small an amount as possible at low fan speed. Will let you know if there's any success! Please feel free to convey any ideas that you guys have, either on here or by my listed email.

Clear Dome said :


I love scientific data ...d-limonene hummm ...is there any list that explain what taste what ??
The chemistry of terpenes and tastes is amazingly complex and studies are just starting to unlock the mysteries.

Here's a link to some good info on the subject: http://www.420magazine.com/forums/seeds-clones-strains/79952-terpenes-cannabis-breeding-flavor.html

what if you isolated one small chunk with a needle through the screen. have the needle poke through one of the screens and stab into a small stem on a chunk of bud. would that work to help capture one piece as it changes through all the stages of vaping?

I can give it a try Fricker, thanks...

Here are the last of my temperature range vaping pics: (200C, 220C & 240C).

I started with fresh herb and tried to maintain the same conditions (for consistency) as for the lower temp range (160-190C), that is:

Started with ~ 2/3 of a bowl in my E, version 3. One bag filled, with pre-conditioning of glass and mixing of sample before/after each bag. I then took a random sample from the middle of each bowl and carefully used tweezers to handle the herb throughout.

First, at 200C -

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6450/tricsvaped200c6.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5026/tricsvaped200c7.jpg

Then at 220C -

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6830/tricsvaped220c2.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6987/tricvaped220c3.jpg

And lastly, at 240C -

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6136/tricsvaped240c1.jpg

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/4262/tricvaped240c4.jpg

In summary, it was fun to do, and interesting to see the differences in the herb as I went along, both visually, then magnified.

Hope you enjoyed!

Toke it ez...

Nt'd