How do Heated Tobacco
Products work?

Understand the differences between directly and indirectly heated tobacco products with this guide from JT Science.

Heated tobacco products create an inhalable vapor by applying heat to tobacco directly or indirectly.

From combustion to heating

Below is the figure that compare temperatures of familiar phenomenon and that of various type of tobacco products. Generally, heating process of heated tobacco products does not include combustion. In the heated tobacco products, the heating temperature of indirectly heating (vapor) type is lower than that of indirectly heating (hot air) type and directly

Types of Heated tobaccoproducts

There are three types of heated tobacco products: directly heated, indirectly heated (hot air), and indirectly heated (vapor).

  • Directly heatedtobacco products

    Tobacco is heated directly, usually by electronic means, to generate a vapor containing nicotine and flavors.

    Directly heated
  • Indirectly heated tobacco products

    Hot air

    In these products, air is heated, either electronically or using a heat source such as charcoal, which then heats the tobacco to generate an inhalable vapor.

    Indirectly heated hot air
  • Vapor

    In these products, a liquid is heated, usually by electronic means, to generate a vapor which then passes through tobacco before being inhaled.

    Indirectly heated vapor

How direct
heating works

Tobacco is heated directly, usually by electronic means, to generate a vapor containing nicotine and tobacco flavors.

This is a similar process to placing something directly on a hot surface, such as a frying pan.

How hot air
heating works

In these products, air is heated, either electronically or using a heat source such as charcoal, which then heats the tobacco to generate an inhalable vapor.

This is a similar process to placing something in a fan oven.

How vapor
heating works

In these products, a liquid is heated, usually by electronic means, to generate a vapor which then passes through tobacco before being inhaled. In doing so, the tobacco is gently warmed and constituents from the tobacco, such as nicotine and tobacco flavors, pass into the vapor.

This is a similar process to placing something in a steamer.

Find out more

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Electronic Cigarettes
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What is Vaping?
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About Nicotine