Zirconia Vs. Metal Cartridges: A Cost Benefit Analysis

In every industry, there’s always a product considered to be top-shelf or premium. With cartridges, it’s the same story. Not only can the quality of the contents vary, but the construction of the cartridges matters too. So, why are dental-grade zirconia carts becoming more popular? In this blog, we break down all the key differences you need to know about zirconia and metal cartridges. Here’s just a few ways full zirconia cartridges stand apart from the rest.

Safety

Until recently, metal cartridges ruled the industry. They were a cost-effective and reliable way of heating oil until lower-quality metal carts entered the market. These cartridges indeed contained dangerous levels of heavy metals and other materials leaching into oils. Leaching happens when the acidity from the oil begins to react with the metal material, which allows harmful metal compounds like lead to seep into the product

To prevent metal compounds from running your oils, make sure to invest in a quality cart. If you want the most from your cartridges, there’s no better choice than zirconia. They are the ideal consistency to prevent oxidation, meaning that they can stand up to the heat without disrupting the oil. The lack of protective coating on cotton wicks like the ones used for most metal carts can result in frequent failures of the wires. This is due to oxidation. The phenomenon is more likely to occur during repetitive heating and cooling periods. As a result, a layer of oxidized material can form, creating a risk of that layer peeling off and leaching particles into your oil.

Beyond the mechanics and construction, zirconia cartridges are safer and made to enhance your experience. They are proven to be safer than traditional metal carts. For example, in 2016, a famous cartridge reviewer named Phil Busardo became concerned with potential particulate release in vapor when reviewing ceramic coils. He mandated a third party for further analysis of the particles emitted. The analysis report did not confirm his concerns. It stated that no particulate matter could be found after using the ceramic coil. With that said, there is enough evidence to prove that cotton wicks are unsafe, and there is a wide range of devices with ceramic wicks available as an alternative.

The cartridge’s heating element is at the root of this problem. This part gets the hottest and has the most potential to give off toxic fumes. No one wants to inhale dangerous and toxic chemicals. Stay on the safe side and make sure to avoid cheap cartridges that contain low-quality metals or lead soldering around the heating element.

Better Taste

Because ceramic coils are more porous compared to metal, the oil absorbs better. The flavor is fuller and has a better taste overall. The high dental-grade consistency of zirconia cartridges is also purer than metal. It has no contaminants that affect the taste. These traits alone allow zirconia carts to be more capable of delivering clean and flavorful hits.

Metal cartridges can taste burnt if you take a dry hit. A dry hit is the moment when you take a drag on a cartridge that’s not fully saturated. This causes the heat to warm up the wick and burning it, producing a burnt taste. When this happens, aldehyde levels can become dangerous for the consumer. By using a zirconia cartridge, you can avoid this, because zirconia cartridges don’t use cotton for heat, and they don’t produce dry hits that taste burnt.

Improved Cloud

The porous nature of ceramic coils not only adds flavor but also increases the surface area of heat. The full spectrum of heat increases the amount of product that can be inhaled per puff, producing robust vapors and a big cloud. zirconia cartridges use less oil, have an improved taste, and last longer making it a more sensible choice.

Clear View of the Oil

The white background of the zirconia housing allows you to see the quality of the oil better than metal cartridges. Quality oils look similar to honey. Oils that are exceptionally dark should be avoided. The oil should be clear and free of any debris.

A Step Above the Rest

If you are looking for a safe, clean and pure cartridge, get one that is made from dental-grade zirconia. Don’t cut corners and buy cheaper cartridges. From a cost and health benefit standpoint, it makes sense to go with the best made products the industry has to offer. One reason why people use cartridges is to reduce the harm that’s associated with smoking. A simple way to avoid issues like this is to only buy from reputable brands and their authorized dealers.

That is why it is essential to find a manufacturer that produces high quality cartridges. At DMLift Inc, we place the highest priority on product safety and quality. We perform certified testing on all of our cartridges. You can be confident that our cartridges are safe and are made from the best materials like dental-grade zirconia.

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So Zirconia carts are the best?

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The word “best” might be oversimplifying the topic discussed here.

As a manufacturer and brand owner with a long track record of success in the metal cart space. We started to develop our own all-ceramic carts designed for ultimate purity and flavor a few years back.

We have worked with some of the prominent zirconia center posts suppliers here in China, and after going thru many trials and errors, today we use a specialized supplier that doesn’t supply anyone else in the industry today and we love the results.

Here’s what we’ve learned about zirconia carts along the way: While we continue to see increasing demands for zirconia/all-ceramic carts for their premium clean flavor profile, they have proved to be more expensive and less reliable. Due to the nature of the material and the molding and forming process that are involved, zirconia carts are more prone to clogging and spitting, and thus require extra attention during the filling and capping process.

Pros:

  • Maximum Biocompatibility
  • Maximum Flavor
  • Maximum Appearance

Cons:

  • Less Consistent
  • Faster Cooling
  • Thicker Walls

All things considered, I believe it would be difficult to generalize such a statement as “metal carts are the best” or “zirconia carts are the best”. What’s important is setting the right expectations for the customers, and let them make their own decision based on their most urgent needs.

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Actually, full ceramic cartridge has more advantage than metal cartridge, it is Heavy metal Free, looks cleaner, it will be the trend for future.

There is no best. Most premium metal carts are now stainless steel, the same stainless steel used to make and prepare the oil in the first place. If we really want to have a discussion of the best material for flavor, it would be boro-glass. Ceramic has its place, and can get you an amazing result at a very low cost. Zirconia ceramic is great when it works and terrible when it doesn’t.

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Sapphire and SiC dishes and quartz are my favorite for flavor chasing. Ceramic reminds me of domeless nails.

Even when speaking about carts. Ceramic is just metal coated.

This post and topic is full of erroneous information and claims, which leads me to question how much is really known about how these cartridges are made.

We design and engineer cartridges specifically for plant-based extracts and we were previous oil extractors in the medical and state-licensed markets before making our own cartridges in China.

We have seen testing on full-ceramic cartridges that actually resulted in higher lead content due to cross-contamination during the glazing and sintering process.

In addition, just because it is made with an all-ceramic body, typically, the exact same porous ceramic heating element used in both metal carts or ceramic/zirconia carts are also the same, exposing your oil to direct contact of the Nichrome/Kanthal based heating element.

Ceramic parts are often less consistent and refined compared to metal carts with failure rates that are extremely higher than metal today.

Their thicker wall construction impacts conductivity and heat distribution poorly compared to metal often leading to inconsistent user experience, clogging, spitting and leaking when a proper airlock seal isn’t made during the capping process.

The electro-plating process employed for either a lead-free copper is also a major point of concern as this is where often cross-contamination may happen. If done properly, leaching or lead contamination is nearly non-existent for lab tests done on carts filled with high terpene formulations for an extended shelf-life of up to 9-12 months.

And stainless steel, while appearing to be a logical can also pop for lead contamination as well, based on many recent tests of the thousands of unregulated tiny mom and pop e-cig factories in China that are simply sourcing rejected components from the grey market.

There is no best cartridge, it is simply knowing what the customer wants.

If they want superior look, feel and flavor - zirconia is an ideal option as long as proper filling and capping is done accurately.

If you’re wanting a reliable workhorse for large volume brands, chances are metal options will be your best option due to the lower failure rate and technical support needs.

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