Vapour Generation Device Vaporisation Component

Abstract

A vaporisation component of a vapour generation device includes an evaporator component configured to generate a vapour flow by vaporising a vaporisable substance. The evaporator component has a first surface over which air flows in a vapour generation device. The first surface has hydrophobic properties configured to repel droplets from the vapour flow.

1 . A vaporisation component of a vapour generation device, wherein the vaporisation component comprises:
 an evaporator component configured to generate a vapour flow by vaporising a vaporisable substance, the evaporator component having a first surface over which air flows in a vapour generation device, wherein the first surface has hydrophobic properties configured to repel droplets from the vapour flow.   
     
     
         2 . The vaporisation component of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator component further comprises one or more evaporator channels arranged therethrough to connect the first surface to a reservoir configured to store the vaporisable substance, and wherein the evaporator channels are configured to transport the vaporisable substance from the reservoir to openings in the first surface. 
     
     
         3 . The vaporisation component of  claim 2 , wherein the evaporator component is a heater and the one or more evaporator channels are arranged through the heater. 
     
     
         4 . The vaporisation component of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface includes a structured surface configured to provide hydrophobic properties. 
     
     
         5 . The vaporisation component of  claim 4 , wherein the structured surface is a micro-structured and/or nano-structured surface. 
     
     
         6 . The vaporisation component of  claim 5 , wherein the structured surface includes a hierarchical structured surface having a micro-scale roughness covered by a nano-scale roughness. 
     
     
         7 . The vaporisation component of  claim 4 , wherein the first surface further includes a hydrophobic layer at least partially coating the structured surface. 
     
     
         8 . The vaporisation component of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator component includes a hydrophobic layer at least partially forming the first surface. 
     
     
         9 . The vaporisation component of  claim 8 , wherein the hydrophobic layer includes at least one of a high temperature polymer, a ceramic, a rare earth oxide, grafted organic molecules or polymers. 
     
     
         10 . The vaporisation component of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic properties are configured to provide a contact angle for a droplet of greater than or equal to 150°. 
     
     
         11 . The vaporisation component of  claim 2  further comprising the reservoir configured to store the vaporisable substance, the reservoir being connected with a second surface of the evaporator component, wherein the second surface is distinct from the first surface. 
     
     
         12 . A cartridge for use with a vapour generating device, the cartridge comprising the vaporisation component of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A vapour generating device comprising the vaporisation component of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A method of fabricating a vaporisation component of a vapour generation device, wherein the vaporisation component comprises an evaporator component configured to generate a vapour flow by vaporising a vaporisable substance, the evaporator component having a first surface over which air flows in a vapour generation device, the method comprising:
 modifying the first surface to provide hydrophobic properties configured to repel droplets from the vapour flow.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein modifying the first surface includes patterning the first surface such that first surface has a structured surface configured to provide the hydrophobic properties. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein modifying the first surface includes applying a hydrophobic layer to the first surface. 
     
     
         17 . The vaporisation component of  claim 7 , wherein the hydrophobic layer includes at least one of a high temperature polymer, a ceramic, a rare earth oxide, grafted organic molecules or polymers.