Smoking tobacco has been a prevalent part of human society since 5000BC and has been a health concern since 1798. Part of this concern lies in the combustion method used to consume tobacco, which we now know produces a plethora of dangerous chemicals that users inhale into their lungs. However, despite the widespread dissemination of this knowledge, smoking has barely waned in popularity, with millions still smoking around the world.
In response to this growing epidemic, several companies, including IQOS have stepped up to reinvent the ways in which users consume tobacco, with a particular focus on innovating around the negative health effects associated with smoking. Much like vaping/e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn devices are increasing in popularity, due in part to the increased interest smoking alternatives.
What is heat-not-burn?
As the name suggests, heat-not-burn devices utilize heating technology to extract nicotine from tobacco. Unlike combustion, which ignites tobacco at temperatures above 1300°C, heat-not-burn devices utilize electronics to heat tobacco to 250–350 °C.
This controlled heating generates an aerosol, which contains nicotine, that can then be inhaled by the user. This process is believed to be a safer alternative to combustion, as it does not produce the same amount of harmful chemicals associated with traditional smoking.
It should also be noted that while heat-not-burn technology is often compared to vaping/e-cigarettes, the two are fundamentally different. Unlike e-cigarettes, which use e-liquid with nicotine, heat-not-burn devices still utilize tobacco. The only similarity between the two is the controlled heating, also known as vaporization, to create an inhalable aerosol.
How does heat-not-burn work?
Regardless of what heat-not-burn device you’re using, all devices are composed of three core components. These include the tobacco stick, a pen-like heater which holds the tobacco stick and heats it, and a charging unit used to recharge the heater after use.
The heater is where the primary heat-not-burn functions occur. This component utilizes an electronically controlled heating element which heats the tobacco stick to bout 250–350 °C. This results in nicotine-containing emissions, which are inhaled through a mouthpiece with a filter segment. This process is more akin to vaporization, as it does not fully combust the tobacco to create smoke.
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