Silicone heaters are flat, flexible devices with etched foil or wire-wrapped elements embedded in silicone rubber. They are used in confined spaces and complex shapes, such as aircraft instrumentation. They can be purchased as standard or custom parts and can include thermostats and digital temperature readouts. Silicone heaters were developed for aerospace and defense industries due to limited space and weight-saving issues. They consist of thin sheets or strips of silicone rubber with heating elements embedded in their surfaces. Etched foil heaters produce higher power outputs while wire wound heaters are stronger and more flexible. Both types are resistant to moisture and chemicals.
A silicone heater is a flat, flexible device consisting of etched foil or wire-wrapped elements embedded in sheets or strips of silicone rubber. It is used where heating is required in very confined spaces and on or around equipment of complex shape. Common applications of silicone heaters include optical equipment, laser printer circuitry, and aircraft instrumentation. Silicone heaters can be purchased as standard units or as custom parts for specific applications, often featuring reinforcing fibers to increase plate life. Heaters can be simple, flat sheet or more sophisticated units that include ancillary parts such as thermostats and digital temperature readouts.
Heating equipment to maintain optimum operating conditions is often challenging when limited internal space, complex contours and weight-saving issues are involved. It was these realities that led to the development of the silicone heater for the aerospace and defense industries. Early examples of silicone foil heaters were made for aircraft instrument clusters, satellite equipment, missile guidance systems, and radar installations. The silicone variant gave designers the ability to include space-saving, lightweight, highly efficient heaters in any shape imaginable in applications where conventional heat sources would have been impossible.
The silicone heater is an extremely simple device that has the unique characteristics of heat resistance and flexibility of silicone rubber at its core. It is the ability of rubber to withstand temperatures in excess of 400°F (204°C), while retaining its shape and flexibility, that makes the silicone heater concept a reality. The heaters typically consist of thin sheets or strips of silicone rubber with etched foil or wirewound heating elements embedded in their surfaces. When an electric current is passed through the element, it heats up without damaging or deforming the silicone sheet. Sheets can be inserted into gaps no larger than their thickness, wrapped around tubular equipment, or molded into intricate shapes for use on printed circuit boards.
While both etched foil and wirewound types of silicone heater serve the same purpose, each has its advantages. Etched foil heaters can produce higher power outputs and are capable of complex heating patterns. Wire wound heaters are stronger, more flexible and can be manufactured in larger sizes. Both can be presented as simple flat heating elements or include ancillary parts such as adjustable thermostats or digital temperature readouts. Silicone heaters are resistant to moisture and chemicals and can be cemented to heat sinks or directly to the equipment they heat.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
