A hand-held inhalable vapor producing device, comprising: a cartridge having an opening and containing a liquid; a channel outside of the cartridge that is continuous with the opening and positioned to receive the liquid from the cartridge; and a heat source, the hand-held vapor producing device characterized by: a thermal valve that changes conformation when heated and includes a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer, the second metallic layer positioned to face towards the heat source and having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the first metallic layer, the thermal valve having a first confirmation when unheated that seals the opening and a second conformation when heated that unseals the opening to enable the liquid to flow from the cartridge into the channel; a thermally absorbing plate (2170, 9800) having a plurality of pores and in fluid communication with the channel, the thermally absorbing plate (2170, 9800) configured to receive the liquid from the channel within the plurality of pores and including: at least one absorbing plate portion (9802a, 9802b); and a resistive heating element in proximity to the at least one absorbing plate portion (9802a, 9802b) to heat the at least one absorbing plate portion (9802a, 9802b) to a first temperature; and the heat source configured to apply heat to the thermal valve and the thermally absorbing plate (2170, 9800) to heat the at least one absorbing plate (9802a, 9802b) from the first temperature to a threshold temperature. a cartridge having an opening and containing a liquid; a channel outside of the cartridge that is continuous with the opening and positioned to receive the liquid from the cartridge; and a heat source, the hand-held vapor producing device characterized by: a thermal valve that changes conformation when heated and includes a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer, the second metallic layer positioned to face towards the heat source and having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the first metallic layer, the thermal valve having a first confirmation when unheated that seals the opening and a second conformation when heated that unseals the opening to enable the liquid to flow from the cartridge into the channel; a thermally absorbing plate (2170, 9800) having a plurality of pores and in fluid communication with the channel, the thermally absorbing plate (2170, 9800) configured to receive the liquid from the channel within the plurality of pores and including: at least one absorbing plate portion (9802a, 9802b); and a resistive heating element in proximity to the at least one absorbing plate portion (9802a, 9802b) to heat the at least one absorbing plate portion (9802a, 9802b) to a first temperature; and the heat source configured to apply heat to the thermal valve and the thermally absorbing plate (2170, 9800) to heat the at least one absorbing plate (9802a, 9802b) from the first temperature to a threshold temperature. a thermal valve that changes conformation when heated and includes a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer, the second metallic layer positioned to face towards the heat source and having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the first metallic layer, the thermal valve having a first confirmation when unheated that seals the opening and a second conformation when heated that unseals the opening to enable the liquid to flow from the cartridge into the channel; a thermally absorbing plate (2170, 9800) having a plurality of pores and in fluid communication with the channel, the thermally absorbing plate (2170, 9800) configured to receive the liquid from the channel within the plurality of pores and including: at least one absorbing plate portion (9802a, 9802b); and a resistive heating element in proximity to the at least one absorbing plate portion (9802a, 9802b) to heat the at least one absorbing plate portion (9802a, 9802b) to a first temperature; and the heat source configured to apply heat to the thermal valve and the thermally absorbing plate (2170, 9800) to heat the at least one absorbing plate (9802a, 9802b) from the first temperature to a threshold temperature. at least one absorbing plate portion (9802a, 9802b); and a resistive heating element in proximity to the at least one absorbing plate portion (9802a, 9802b) to heat the at least one absorbing plate portion (9802a, 9802b) to a first temperature; and the heat source configured to apply heat to the thermal valve and the thermally absorbing plate (2170, 9800) to heat the at least one absorbing plate (9802a, 9802b) from the first temperature to a threshold temperature.