This section provides an overview for film heaters as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 film heater manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
A film heater is a type of surface heating element that uses the resistance heating of metal. The metal heating element is very thin and is sandwiched between insulating films to insulate the heating element.
Because of its structure, this type of heater has ultra-thinness and flexibility that were not possible with conventional heaters, and in recent years it has begun to be used in many industrial fields. Various additional performances can be given depending on the material of the insulation film used.
The simple structure of the film heater also makes it inexpensive.
Heating of small tanks and containers by taking advantage of their flexibility, heat plates sandwiched between metal plates to take advantage of their high heat uniformity, snow-melting applications for equipment such as antennas and outdoor sensors, prevention of freezing of outdoor piping, and various heating devices for spot use.
They are widely used for various types of spot heating equipment, local temperature control in animal breeding environments, and so on. Film heaters with ITO (indium tin oxide) evaporated heating elements have extremely high transmittance, and are used in a wide range of applications, such as in the heating of seats in automobiles, trains, airplanes, and other vehicles.
They are also used for snow melting and anti-fogging of cockpit windows of automobiles, trains, airplanes, etc.
A thin foil (10 to 50 μm) of aluminum, stainless steel, copper, or other material is used as the heating element, etched or die-cut into a pattern shape, and the pattern is sandwiched between resin film as the insulator.
The pattern is drawn in a stroke-like pattern, and the heating capacity of the entire heater is defined by the total pattern length, cross-sectional area, and intrinsic resistance of the material. Terminals for applying voltage are provided at the start and end points of the pattern.
The terminals for applying voltage are provided at the start and end points of the pattern, and lead wires, etc. are attached there. Polyimide film, PET film, fluoroplastic film, etc., are used as insulating films.
The film material is selected according to the application and environment. Film heaters can be manufactured to suit the area and shape to be heated because the heating pattern can be designed with a high degree of freedom.
The low thermal capacity of the film itself is an advantage in terms of rapid temperature rise and fall performance, as well as a follow-up performance. However, the heating element is thin, and the heat resistance of the insulating film also affects the performance, making operation at very high temperatures impossible.
Maximum Operating Temperature
The maximum operating temperature often depends on the insulation film used.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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