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 and includes a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer, the second metallic layer having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the first metallic layer, the second metallic layer facing the heat source and, upon being heated by the heat source , placing the thermal valve in a second conformation, the thermal valve comprising a rod that seals the opening with the thermal valve in a first conformation and unseals the opening in the second conformation to enable the liquid to flow from the cartridge into the channel; a thermal conducting plate having a plurality of pores and in fluid communication with the channel, the thermal conducting plate configured to receive the liquid from the channel within the plurality of pores; and the heat source being configured to apply heat to the thermal valve and the thermal conducting plate . 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 and includes a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer, the second metallic layer having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the first metallic layer, the second metallic layer facing the heat source and, upon being heated by the heat source , placing the thermal valve in a second conformation, the thermal valve comprising a rod that seals the opening with the thermal valve in a first conformation and unseals the opening in the second conformation to enable the liquid to flow from the cartridge into the channel; a thermal conducting plate having a plurality of pores and in fluid communication with the channel, the thermal conducting plate configured to receive the liquid from the channel within the plurality of pores; and the heat source being configured to apply heat to the thermal valve and the thermal conducting plate . a thermal valve that changes conformation and includes a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer, the second metallic layer having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the first metallic layer, the second metallic layer facing the heat source and, upon being heated by the heat source , placing the thermal valve in a second conformation, the thermal valve comprising a rod that seals the opening with the thermal valve in a first conformation and unseals the opening in the second conformation to enable the liquid to flow from the cartridge into the channel; a thermal conducting plate having a plurality of pores and in fluid communication with the channel, the thermal conducting plate configured to receive the liquid from the channel within the plurality of pores; and the heat source being configured to apply heat to the thermal valve and the thermal conducting plate . <EOS>