A flex heater is a chemically etched, screen-printed or wire-wound heater that can be bent or curved to conform to the contours of the surface that needs to be heated. There are many types of flexible heaters, including silicone heaters (etched and wirewound), polyimide/Kapton® film heaters, carbon-printed heaters, and clear heaters. All of these heaters are available in many different variations, including custom sizes, shapes, and thicknesses as well as the ability to add components that improve performance in any application.
Flexible heaters are strong, reliable, accurate, efficient, and resistant to moisture and chemicals. Flexible heating elements have a wide range of industrial, commercial and military applications because they can be easily bonded or adhered to any type and size of substrate, even actively bending in the application. Thin, lightweight, flexible heaters are suitable for harsh environment, vacuum applications and can operate at intermittent temperatures up to 500°F/260°C and continuous temperatures up to 392°F/200°C.
Efficient and effective heat transfer is key to the success of any heating application. Flexible heaters can be adhered directly to the surface that requires heat, which is the most efficient way to ensure that heat energy is transferred away from the heating element. If the heater is designed and installed correctly so that it has a uniform interface with the substrate to be heated, there is no better mechanism to choose from.
Many times, different sensors and controls can be built directly into the flexible heater. Preset or adjustable thermostats, thermocouples, thermistors, RTDs, thermal fuses and other electronic components are often included as part of our flex heater designs.
