Why is cotton used in vape pods and vape coils?

Cotton functions as a wick in many coils and pods: it absorbs e-liquid and delivers it to the heating element. It is often located inside the coil head or pod and is therefore not visible from the outside. How the liquid is fed, where the cotton is located, and which part is replaced depend on the design.

What does the cotton do in a vape?

The cotton absorbs and holds liquid while connecting the liquid reservoir to the heating element. When liquid is consumed at the heating surface, new liquid needs to be able to reach it. This function exists in both refillable designs and pre-filled pods.

When heated, liquid vaporizes at the wick and contributes to aerosol formation. The aerosol is often called vapor, but it is not solely water vapor. Sealed, pre-filled pods should not be opened and filled with liquid from a bottle.

How does the cotton work together with the coil?

The heating element heats the liquid, and the cotton transports it forward. The cotton is located around or near the element. Feeding continues even while the coil is activated.

1. E-liquid is present in the tank or pod reservoir.
2. The cotton absorbs the liquid through capillary action.
3. When activated, the coil's heating element heats up.
4. Liquid at the moistened wick vaporizes and contributes to aerosol formation.
5. New liquid is transported forward as liquid is consumed at the heating surface.

Why is cotton used instead of other materials?

Cotton fibers can absorb liquid and function as a wick near the heating element. The material can be positioned and sized according to the coil's design, including in compact pods. Cotton is also one of several possible wick materials.

Silica and porous ceramic are also used as wick materials, sometimes together with cotton. Wick is the English term for veke.

Is it ordinary cotton in a vape?

In ready-made coils and pods, the amount, material, and placement are selected for the design's liquid feed and power range.

Wotofo Xfiber Cotton for Profile 6 mm is long-fiber cotton intended for a rebuildable design.

Household cotton is not an intended replacement part for a ready-made coil or pod. Such parts should not be opened to replace the cotton with another material.

What happens if the cotton becomes dry?

Too little liquid at the heating surface can cause a dry or burnt taste when activated. Stop activating the device when these signs occur. Dry cotton means insufficient liquid feeding and is not the same as the material having already become burnt.

• Low liquid level: liquid does not reach the wick as intended by the design.
• Power too high for the coil: liquid may be consumed faster than it is fed forward.
• Unsuitable viscosity: the liquid is too viscous for the feed openings and wick.
• Frequent activations: the feed does not have time to replace the liquid that is consumed.
• Changed or consumed coil: deposits or damaged material may impair liquid feeding.

What does dry hit mean?

Dry hit describes an activation with a wick that has insufficient liquid moisture, which can cause a dry, sharp, or burnt taste. It can occur in both pod systems and tanks when liquid feeding does not correspond to consumption at the heating surface.

Stop when there is a dry or burnt taste. Replace a burnt coil or a part with a built-in coil instead of trying to use the taste away.

How does the e-liquid affect the cotton?

The liquid's VG/PG ratio and other ingredients affect viscosity and deposits. VG, vegetable glycerin, is more viscous than PG, propylene glycol. A higher VG proportion usually makes the mixture thicker, but temperature and recipe also affect feeding.

Sucralose can contribute to deposits when heated. Flavorings, feeding, power, and usage patterns also affect performance over time.

Pod size alone does not determine which mixture is suitable. Innokin, for example, specifies both 50 VG/50 PG and 70 VG/30 PG for the Go-Z tank's MTL use. The information concerns mixing ratios, not every flavor recipe. More design differences are explained in the article about which e-juice is suitable for different vapes.

Can the cotton in a vape be replaced?

In a ready-made replacement coil, the entire coil head is replaced, while a pod or tank with a built-in coil is replaced as the complete intended part. The cotton is not replaced separately inside ready-made coils for e-cigarettes.

Aspire Flexus Pro has both a pod variant with a replaceable AF coil and a variant with a built-in coil. In the first, the AF coil is replaced; in the second, the pod part is replaced. Innokin GoMax has a built-in coil and is replaced as a tank, not as a complete battery unit. Sealed, pre-filled pods are replaced as the intended pod part.

In rebuildable designs, such as the original Wotofo Profile RDA and Profile Unity RTA, mesh and cotton are separate parts. This distinguishes them from ready-made coil heads. The materials, fit, and installation of the parts belong to their respective designs. Use only materials and parts intended for the design.

How do you know that the cotton or coil is consumed?

Burnt cotton needs to be replaced together with the coil or the part in which it is fixed. Several other faults can cause similar symptoms:

• Burnt or changed taste: a burnt taste is a stop signal. Other taste changes may also be related to the liquid, deposits, or feeding.
• Weaker aerosol production: this may also be due to the connection, power, or battery function.
• Muffled taste: this may be due to the liquid, deposits, or feeding.
• Impaired liquid feeding: this may be due to deposits, damaged material, or a liquid that is unsuitable for the design.
• Leakage or uneven performance: this may also be due to filling, assembly, seals, overfeeding, or condensation.

Disconnect the charging cable, switch off the device, and allow the parts to cool before handling intended removable parts. In the event of unusual heat, damage, swelling, or suspected liquid in the electronics, stop both use and charging.

Why does the cotton become dark or discolored?

Liquid residue, flavorings, deposits, and heat exposure can make the cotton darker. Color alone is not enough to distinguish deposits from burnt material.

Some ingredients can leave deposits. Excessive power in relation to the liquid feed can also dry out and damage the wick, but the wattage alone does not indicate any definite discoloration rate. In the event of a burnt taste, stop and replace the intended part, regardless of color. The same distinction between appearance and cause is discussed in the article about why a vape coil can turn black or taste burnt.

What happens if you use the wrong e-liquid?

Liquid that is too thick can cause insufficient feeding. Liquid that is too thin can contribute to overfeeding and leakage. The materials and openings determine what the design can handle.

This can cause a dry taste, uneven performance, and increased wear. Leakage can also be due to seals or filling.