Wire-Wound Element Construction
Silicone Rubber heaters with wire-wound elements provide excellent physical strength capable of withstanding repeated flexing without compromising the life and performance of the heater. They are also very effective for manufacturing geometrically challenged shapes, including three dimensional ones. The wire-wound process is recommended and preferred for small to medium size quantities, medium to large size heaters, and to produce prototypes to prove out the design parameters prior to entering into large volume production runs when using etched foil.
Etched Foil Element Construction
The etched foil heater has exceptional heat transfer compared to wire wound elements, due to its large flat surface area. It can deliver more uniform heat profiles with higher watt densities, providing longer operating heater life. It can also be zoned with distributed wattage or separate heating circuits to compensate for load variations. The etched foil process is recommended for small size heaters in large quantities.