SPECIFICATION SHEET

Silicone Rubber Heaters

Improve Heat Transfer,

Speed Warm Ups and
Decrease Wattage
Requirements

Rugged, yet thin, lightweight and flexible—the use of Watlow®

silicone rubber heaters is limited only by the imagination.
Heat can be placed where it is needed to improve heat
transfer, speed warm ups and decrease wattage requirements
in an application process. 0.055 in. (1.4 mm)
Thick Heater with
Fiberglass-reinforced silicone rubber gives the heater Wire-Wound Element
PTFE or Silicone
dimensional stability without sacrificing flexibility. Because Leads Available
very little material separates the element from the part, heat
transfer is rapid and efficient. The heaters are constructed with
a wire-wound element or an etched-foil element. The thin
construction allows them to fit into applications where space
is limited.
0.022 in. (0.6 mm) Thick Heater
Performance Capabilities with Etched-Foil Element
• Operating temperatures up to 500°F (260°C) Element Vulcanized Between
Two Layers of Silicone Rubber/
• Watt densities up to 80 W/in2 (12.5 W/cm2), dependent Fiberglass
upon application temperature
• Wire-wound element thickness — 0.055 in. (1.4 mm) Typical Applications
• Etched-foil element — 0.022 in. (0.56 mm) • Freeze protection and condensation prevention for many
types of instrumentation and equipment
• UR®, cUR®, VDE and CE recognitions are available on
many designs up to 428°F (220°C) • Medical equipment such as blood analyzers and test
tube heaters
Features and Benefits
• Computer peripherals such as laser printers
Designed to the exact shape and size needed
• Conforms to your component and/or equipment • Curing of plastic laminates
More than 80 designs available immediately from stock • Photo processing equipment
• Reduces downtime • Semiconductor processing equipment
Constructed with wire-wound or etched-foil elements Mounting Methods
• Delivers a thin, lightweight heater • Pressure sensitive adhesive
• Provides the desired flexibility for many dynamic • Silicone contact cement kit
applications
• Field applied adhesives (silicone RTV)
• Delivers low mass and easily repeatable distributed
• Mechanical fasteners
watt densities
• Factory bonding
Moisture- and chemical-resistant silicone rubber material
• Provides longer heater life
Vulcanizing adhesives or fasteners
• Allows heaters to be easily bonded to the part
Termination Styles Extended Capability Options
Watlow offers many types of leads and terminations. Factory Bonding
Leads can project from any position along the perimeter
of the unit. They will be centered on the short side width
of rectangular heaters unless otherwise specified.
PTFE UL® 1180 CSA

Leads shown exiting end of This attachment technique provides a strong, void-free
heater, centered on short side
bond for excellent heat transfer and extended heater
Watlow’s leads are PTFE insulated, flexible, plated copper life that has proven to be successful. Bonding is
UL® 1180 CSA wire and available in most lengths. They are recommended for applications that reach maximum tem-
rated for 392°F (200°C)/300V. The lead connections on or at peratures of 500°F (260°C) on silicone rubber and 300°F
the heater are insulated with a cap of sheath material, (150°C) on polyimide.
vulcanized to the heater body.
Formed Heaters
PTFE Leads

Leads shown exiting

middle of heater
PTFE Type E (MIL-W-16878) and PTFE UL® 1199 rated for
392°F (200°C)/600V are also available.
Silicone Insulated Leads

Many three-dimensional shapes, such as cylinders, cones

and boxes, can be factory formed. Semi-rigid shapes can be
self-gripping to the part. Special tooling may be required for
Leads shown exiting some designs.
corner of heater
Holes, Cutouts and Notches
For a better moisture seal, specify UL® silicone insulated
lead wires. This lead type is rated for 302°F (150°C)/ 600V.
Any lead length is available. Note: Silicone rubber
heaters are not designed to be waterproof. Excess exposure
to moisture may facilitate premature heater failure.
Option
Thermal Insulation
To increase the heating efficiency Watlow can provide flexible heaters with special holes,
of your application, silicone rubber cutouts and notches in nearly any position required for your
heaters can be thermally insulated design. The resistance element can be brought to within
with silicone sponge rubber, bonded 1/8 in. (3.2 mm) of all edges. Standard spacing is 1/4 in. (6 mm)
to one side in the following from all edges.
thicknesses: 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 or 1/2 in.
(1.6, 3.2, 6, 9.5 or 13 mm).
An aluminized surface can be added
to the back of the heater to reduce
radiated heat losses. This aluminized
surface, called “low loss treatment,” Watlow® is a registered trademark of Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company.
adds very little to the unit thickness UL®, UR® and cUR® are registered trademarks of Underwriter’s Laboratories, Inc.
and maintains a very clean
appearance.
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