New Standard for Waterproof E-cigarettes in China

Electronic Cigarette Waterproof Background: After the introduction of the new standards for electronic cigarettes, the IPX4 waterproof requirements have become a mandatory issue that needs to be addressed by all manufacturers in the industry.

On April 8th of this year, the new national standard for electronic cigarettes was announced by the State Administration for Market Regulation and released on the website of the National Standardization Management Committee. This new standard, which will be the basis for regulating production, will be enforced as of October 1st, 2022, according to China National Standard No. 4 of that year. The responsibility for monitoring compliance with this standard will fall to the State Administration for Market Regulation.

The new national standard for electronic cigarettes includes waterproofing features.

On May 15th, 2022, GB417-2022 waterproof standards were implemented.

Should meet the requirements for IPX4 protection level specified in Chapter 6 of GB/T4208-2017.

Interpretation: After undergoing an IPX4 waterproof test, electronic cigarettes were found to function normally. IPX4 waterproof rating means that it is splash-resistant and not dust-resistant, meaning that liquids can be splashed on its surface from any direction without causing any damage (can be used normally during heavy rain or in bathrooms).

According to GB417-2022, section 6.1.5, electronic cigarettes undergo a waterproof test for their components.

Follow the guidelines set out in section 14.2.4 of GB/T4208-2017. Inspect to determine if there is any risk of ignition or explosion. After performing a waterproof test, fully discharge the electronic cigarette before recharging it to full capacity. Inspect again to determine if there is any risk of ignition or explosion.

Analysis: Waterproof Test - In a pipe-style water spray test apparatus, a fully charged and turned-on e-cigarette is placed on a sample stand with an appropriate radius pipe. The height of the turntable is at the diameter position of the pipe. The sample is placed on the turntable with its top no more than 200mm away from the nozzle. The sample stand does not rotate.

Adjust water flow according to IPX4 requirements: Water flow is calculated based on the number of spray holes, with each hole providing a flow rate of 0.07 (1+5%) L/min. The testing involves a spray rotation speed of 2×360°, which takes approximately 12 seconds to complete. The experiment is conducted for a duration of 10 minutes. Real-life testing involves subjecting the electronic cigarette device to a 360° downpour similar to that of a showerhead for 10 minutes.

Test Results: The tested product has passed the 4-level waterproof test as it is able to discharge and charge normally without any incidents of fire, explosion, flashing lights, microphone feedback, or short circuits during use.

Waterproof measures for electronic cigarette devices.

The electronic cigarette device has an IPX4 waterproof rating, which means it can be waterproofed from two angles:

The overall structure is waterproof.

The electronic cigarette prototype board is outsourced for production, and a protective "invisible" film is added through a nano-coating process.

Waterproofing in e-cigarettes is a commonly overlooked technological aspect. Due to the presence of air holes and the need for airflow through the mouthpiece to activate the e-cigarette, achieving complete structural waterproofing is a challenge. Addressing this issue requires a significant investment of time, effort, manpower, and resources, which could lead to increased material and labor costs.

As more and more electronic cigarette companies obtain tobacco monopoly production licenses and a batch of electronic cigarette products that meet the national standard for "Electronic Cigarettes" have successfully passed technical evaluations, it means that the compliant production of electronic cigarette products is picking up pace.

How to achieve the new national standard IPX4 waterproof technology in a more efficient, cost-effective, and less labor-intensive way to obtain a production permit? Applying waterproof coatings to the solution board is a viable option.

Nanocoating comparative test

During a level four waterproof test of an electronic cigarette device, the lights began to flash and a short circuit occurred.

The finished product of the prototype has undergone a technology nano-coating treatment, passing a level 4 testing process without any flashing lights or short circuit occurrences.

The semi-finished product underwent a level 4 waterproof test and experienced flashing lights and short circuits.

The circuit board has undergone nanocoating treatment. When tested without components, it passed a water resistance test at level 4. The semi-finished tobacco product also passed a level 4 water resistance test.

The experiment yielded the following results:

If the structure is not properly handled, water can enter through the cartridge port or Type-C connector, causing a high probability of short circuiting electronic components.

After the finished prototype board undergoes coating treatment, it will not short-circuit even when exposed to water and can provide complete protection against condensation and oil leakage. Therefore, if the prototype board is coated, it can easily pass the 4-level waterproof test for electronic cigarettes.

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