Combustible cigarettes operate at temperatures that can exceed 1000 °C, consequently emitting over 4000 degradation products and HPHCs (harmful and potentially harmful constituents). By contrast, the JUUL Nicotine Salt Pod System (NSPS) is a pre-filled (closed), non-modifiable, vapor-based electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) featuring automated temperature regulation. The system is designed to minimize degradation products from aerosolization, including HPHCs.

The purpose of this study was to investigate NSPS temperature control performance across a range of use and operating conditions through complementary measurement approaches.

Actual atomizer wick-and-coil temperatures were measured simultaneously by infrared (IR) thermography, electronic temperature control mechanisms in the device, and by a sensor buried inside the fluid-conducting wick. Pods with two different wick materials were studied.

Mean atomizer temperatures were consistently below 300 °C independently of vapor flow rate and duration. IR thermography images showed the crucial maximum surface temperatures both during vaporization and in dry wick conditions. Real-time coil electronic impedance, used by internal device software to infer average coil temperature, corroborated IR results.

NSPS temperature control mechanisms were tested under multiple use and design conditions showing mean and peak operating temperatures below 300 °C. These findings corroborated results from computational simulation studies reported separately.