The chemical stability, hot and cold temperature resistance, compressibility and elasticity of silicone rubber make it an ideal material for flexible heater designs. These heating solutions can take various forms and include specific shapes or holes, allowing them to fit specific designs. And when reinforced with fiberglass threads or grids, they become a versatile and durable heating source for multiple industrial applications.
What Is a Silicone Heater?
Flexible silicone heaters are constructed from high-grade silicone rubber, which offers both high performance and flexibility and customizability to a range of shapes and compound curves. These heaters consist of either a wire-wound or etched-foil element between two layers of silicone rubber, which often includes fiberglass-thread reinforcement.
Etched Foil Heaters
These silicone heaters incorporate a flat circuit, specifically patterned on chemically etched resistive foil. The heater offers heating uniformity with high heat transfer, higher heat tolerance and quick heat-up cycles.
Wire-Wound Heaters
These heaters include resistance wire, wound according to a specific pattern and providing for repeatability and flexibility.
Features and Advantages
Because of its high dielectric strength, silicone rubber has a high susceptibility to electricity and a high capacity for energy storage. Silicone is non-toxic and flame retardant, and it’s resistant to separation, tearing and mechanical and thermal shock, making it an exceptionally rugged material.
Silicone is also resistant to many chemicals, and it forms an effective moisture barrier, allowing these heaters to work well in damp environments. Silicone can also be vulcanized or bonded to metals, providing for strong adhesion and improved heat transfer.
Additional potential features can include thermostats, resistance temperature detectors, thermocouples and thermal fuses.
Applications include:
• Viscosity control
• Corrosion control
• Protection against freezing
• Container heating
Flexible silicone heaters are a unique, durable and customizable heating solution that will work in a range of conditions while matching the specific geometric characteristics of the application, making them a useful and versatile heating solution for multiple industries.