Nitrogen Ice – What is it in Vaping?
Definition
Nitrogen Ice is a cryogenic cooling agent containing liquid nitrogen suspended in a food-grade propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin base. In vaping, it is used to chill the vapour stream to sub-zero temperatures, creating an ultra-cold “ice” sensation without adding mint or menthol flavouring. The purpose is to deliver an intense cooling Hit“>throat hit that mimics the crispness of high-strength nicotine or nicotine salt e-liquids while remaining flavour-neutral. Beginners can think of it as the vaping equivalent of adding crushed ice to a drink—dramatically lowering temperature without altering taste.
Technical Details
Nitrogen Ice is supplied in 30 mL or 60 mL Chubby Gorilla bottles with a concentration of 0.1–0.3 % liquid nitrogen by weight. When dripped or squonked onto a coil running at 40–80 W, the liquid nitrogen flashes off, absorbing latent heat and dropping vapour temperature by 15–30 °C within milliseconds. Because nitrogen is inert, it does not oxidise Wire“>nichrome wire or degrade cotton wicks. Two common variations exist: “Standard” (0.1 %) for single-coil RDAs and “Sub-Zero” (0.3 %) for dual-coil cloud setups. A third, limited-edition “Crystal” line blends micro-fine dry ice (CO₂) for extra fog density, but requires Battery“>NiMH battery or high-amp lithium cells to handle the increased amp draw.
Usage & Tips
- Start Low: Begin with 0.1 % concentration and 50 W to gauge throat tolerance.
- Wick Tight: Use Scottish-roll wicking to prevent rapid evaporation and dry hits.
- Safety: Always wear gloves when handling; liquid nitrogen can cause frostbite in seconds. Store upright in a freezer at −20 °C to minimise pressure build-up.
- Common Issue: Excessive condensation inside the DripTip“>drip tip—switch to a delrin or ultem tip to reduce lip freeze.
History & Context
Nitrogen Ice debuted in Melbourne’s underground cloud-chasing scene in 2019 as an alternative to menthol-heavy nic salt juices. By 2022, major Australian e-liquid labs had adopted the tech, leading to TGA-compliant 20 mg/mL nic salt hybrids that pair ultra-cold vapour with smoother nicotine delivery.