DOES E JUICE FREEZE?

Although some e-juice liquid looks thin or watery, it behaves much differently from water. E-juice can freeze, but it does this at lower temperatures than water. The freezing point will depend on a few factors, such as the VG/PG ratio, the type of flavor, and how much nicotine is present in the liquid. Before you worry about your e-juice freezing in your automobile or during transport in the post, read the science behind these various factors below.

Freezing Point of E-Juice

The biggest factor in determining at which point your e-juice will freeze is the VG to PG ratio. Pure propylene glycol (PG) melts at -59 degrees Celsius, which means the freezing point will be much lower. Pure vegetable glycerin freezes at about -38 degrees Celsius and has a melting point of 17.8 degrees Celsius. Since most e-juice contains a combination of the two, around -12 degrees Celsius is when you need to start worrying about the juice solidifying into an unworkable substance.

Most e-juice contains a certain amount of nicotine. Nicotine melts at -79 degrees Celsius, so it will greatly reduce the freezing point of your e-juice. The more nicotine content there is, the lower temperature the juice will freeze at. You can think of this acting the same way salt does to help a pot of water boil faster.

Time also plays a factor in e-juice freezing on you. A short walk to your automobile should pose no threat to the liquid, but extended periods of time out in the cold may start affecting your juice, especially the ones with higher VG content like sub-ohm e-liquids. If you’re planning on a colder excursion with your vaporizer, experiment with higher PG content juices to see how much you can handle before the throat hit becomes too much.

What Happens to E-Juice in the Cold?

Even if the juice doesn’t freeze solid, it will thicken if exposed to less than desirable conditions for too long. Thicker juice may slow down the vaporizing function or cause the device to fail altogether. Even though the liquid won’t expand or cause cracks in your device, it’s still best to use your vaporizer at the temperature it was designed to operate. Some pens are more resilient under cold weather pressure, so your personal pen may work fine in the cold.

Whether you accidentally leave your e-juice out in the cold or purposely freeze it in your freezer, remember that this may or may not alter the flavour of your liquid. The quality of the VG or PG should remain unchanged and should function properly in the decide after unthawing.

Don’t Forget About the Battery

E-juice isn’t the only thing you should be worried about exposing to the cold. Batteries operate at optimal temperatures as well, and negative temperatures could prevent it from working properly. Just like car batteries sometimes malfunction in the cold, so will your vaporizer battery. The antidote for a vaporizer battery not working is to warm it up. Take it inside and allow it to naturally reach room temperature before firing up your device again.