Ceramic vaping core with surface treatment

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to vaporizing devices that can include a radially graded porous ceramic structure. Disclosed devices can include center post having proximal and distal ends and a body extending therebetween. In some embodiments, the distal end of the center post includes a proximal portion defining one or more voids in fluid communication with the internal channel. The distal end of the center post also includes a distal portion, and a median flange between the proximal and distal portions, with the median flange extending radially outward from a longitudinal axis of the distal end of the center post (e.g., a longitudinal axis of the center post). The distal portion can define a cavity to receive an atomizer (e.g., a core and/or heating element) and a wick. In some embodiments, the atomizer includes a radially graded porous ceramic structure with a surface treatment.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An atomizer comprising:
 a radially graded porous ceramic structure having a heating element at least partially embedded therein; and   a surface treatment disposed on the radially graded porous ceramic structure, the atomizer to be received by a vaporizing device to generate vapor from a fluid contained within a reservoir of the vaporizing device, wherein the fluid flows from the reservoir into one or more pores of the radially graded porous ceramic structure to be atomized by the embedded heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The atomizer of  claim 1 , wherein the radially graded porous ceramic structure has a length of from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm, a width of from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm, and a height of from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The atomizer of  claim 1 , wherein the radially graded porous ceramic structure has at least one of a pre-defined porosity and a pre-defined permeability. 
     
     
         4 . The atomizer of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a coil. 
     
     
         5 . The atomizer of  claim 1 , wherein the surface treatment comprises a carbon surface treatment. 
     
     
         6 . The atomizer of  claim 5 , wherein the carbon surface treatment comprises pyrolytic carbon. 
     
     
         7 . The atomizer of  claim 5 , wherein the carbon surface treatment comprises graphite. 
     
     
         8 . The atomizer of  claim 5 , wherein the carbon surface treatment comprises graphite, synthetic graphite, pyrolytic carbon, graphene, carbon black, carbon nanotubes, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The atomizer of  claim 1 , wherein the surface coating or treatment is disposed on the radially graded porous ceramic structure via chemical vapor deposition or plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. 
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a porous ceramic atomizer having a surface treatment, the method comprising:
 depositing a first layer of ceramic material on a substrate, the first layer having a first porosity;   depositing a second layer of ceramic material on the first layer, the second layer having a second porosity, the second porosity being different than the first porosity;   depositing a third layer of ceramic material on the second layer, the third layer having a third porosity, the third porosity being different than the second porosity and/or the first porosity;   embedding a heating element within the first, second, and/or third layers; and   depositing a surface treatment on an outermost layer of ceramic material, the surface treatment comprising a carbon surface treatment.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein embedding the heating element comprises providing the heating element and depositing a first, second, and/or third layer of ceramic material around the heating element. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a space exists between the heating element and the first, second, and/or third layer of ceramic material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein depositing a surface treatment on an outermost layer of ceramic material comprises depositing the carbon surface treatment through chemical vapor deposition or plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the carbon surface treatment comprises graphite, synthetic graphite, pyrolytic carbon, graphene, carbon black, carbon nanotubes, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the porous ceramic atomizer is a radially graded porous ceramic structure and a pore size at a center of the radially graded porous ceramic structure is smaller than a pore size at an edge or perimeter of the radially graded porous ceramic structure. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the porous ceramic atomizer is a radially graded porous ceramic structure and a pore size at a center of the radially graded porous ceramic structure is smaller than a pore size at an edge or perimeter of the radially graded porous ceramic structure in the first layer of ceramic material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the porous ceramic atomizer is a radially graded porous ceramic structure and a pore size at a center of the radially graded porous ceramic structure is smaller than a pore size at an edge or perimeter of the radially graded porous ceramic structure in the second layer of ceramic material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the porous ceramic atomizer is a radially graded porous ceramic structure and a pore size at a center of the radially graded porous ceramic structure is smaller than a pore size at an edge or perimeter of the radially graded porous ceramic structure in the third layer of ceramic material. 
     
     
         19 . An atomizer comprising:
 a heating element at least partially embedded within a ceramic structure; and   a carbon-based surface treatment disposed on the ceramic structure, the atomizer to be received by a vaporizing device to generate vapor from a fluid contained within a reservoir of the vaporizing device, wherein the fluid flows from the reservoir into one or more pores of the ceramic structure to be atomized by the embedded heating element.