Infrared Application of the Month:
Embossing Heavy-duty Plastics
A manufacturer of heavy duty floor coverings designed for use in schools, hospitals and commercial applications sought an efficient heat source for the embossing stage of production. After evaluating a number of options, they chose medium wave infrared technology from Heraeus Noblelight. The IR lamps apply heat to a PVC web immediately prior to embossing step; the infrared lamps provide targeted yet evenly-applied heat across the entire surface. This contact-free method also allowed an increase in production throughput.
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Infrared Application of the Month:
Composite Welding with Infrared
A manufacturer of glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene water treatment tanks needed a heat source for composite welding. Their application involved joining halves of cylindrical tanks. The application engineers at Heraeus Noblelight worked with the manufacturer to develop a modular system made up of shortwave infrared lamps. Because IR allows contact-free heating, the heat is generated in the target material. The efficient system also eliminates the need for constant cleaning of the heat source, increasing production speed. The finished tanks – with their strong welds -- are rated to withstand high pressure.
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Tech Center Spotlight: Ceramic Glass for IR Windows
Ceramic IR is the perfect material for infrared applications where a through window is required for infrared transmission. Ceramic IR is highly permeable to thermal radiation, especially through the shortwave and mediumwave range. Typical applications include process protection, preventing airflow / cooling from heated surface, oven viewing window, UV blocking, and high temperature supporting structures.
The thermal linear expansion is nearly zero so temperature shock from cold / hot /cold is not a problem. Usability is limited only by maximum temperature range.
- Thickness 3mm ± .2
- Maximum temperature 775°C / 1430°F
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Special Designs:
ICM Modular Infrared Heater System
Manufactured from a standard engineering design, the ICM has nearly unlimited flexibility. Unlimited in size in both length and width, large heating fields are possible with any combination of heater types and sizes. Modular in design, additional ICM modules can be built and added as your production changes. Constructed from stainless steel, these units offer many options such as pyrometers, sight tubes, air-knives, ceramic infrared glass protection covers, slide rails for adjustable heater placement, and exhaust plenums. The ICM is custom designed to exactly match your application in both performance and size.
Learn more about the ICM System from Heraeus Noblelight.
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Technical Learning: Introduction to IR Technology, Part 3
Infrared heating in everyday life
There is a popular misconception that infrared radiation is something new and mysterious. The emotive word radiation is usually associated with nuclear physics, medical X-ray, and ultra-violet tanning lamp equipment, so it is hardly surprising that infrared radiation is treated with some suspicion by the general public. Some typical examples of how and where IR is encountered in everyday life should help dispel these myths.
Infrared radiation exists around us at all times: in fact any body having a temperature above the absolute zero (- 273°C) emits infrared radiation in an elaborate exchange with its surroundings.
In addition to being below the level of appreciation by the senses, these low levels of radiation are of limited practical application. However, even the human body emits infrared radiation, as does a candle, hot fluids and foods, a flame, a light bulb, and of course the sun.
With electric infrared sources, heat is normally produced by passing a current through a coiled resistive element. To be applicable to domestic and industrial processes, source temperatures in the range of 500°C to 2200°C are normally required. The domestic quartz tube radiant heater, popular for bathroom heating, falls within this range. It operates with an element temperature of around 950°C and produces a bright orange glow from the element spiral.
Similarly, the tubular metal sheathed element rings and grill elements on electric cookers emit a substantial amount of infrared radiation, operating with a cherry red glow at around 700°C The latest quartz halogen infrared heaters used for cooking operate at a maximum temperature of 2200°C resulting in luminous emission. In the medical field, infrared radiant heat lamps are used in osteopathy for the treatment of muscle and limb disorders.
Infrared thermography for diagnostic purposes is now commonplace. In medical diagnosis the technique provides a multicolored contour plot of the heat radiation patterns from the human body from which medical specialists can locate areas of abnormality. A similar technique is used for the detection of heat losses from the external surfaces of buildings thus indicating where additional insulation could be used to conserve heat and thereby reduce space heating costs.
Special video cameras sensitive to the IR heat emitted by a scene can be used to good effect in darkness to produce remarkably clear pictures. These have applications in the military, security, and entertainment fields. Domestic television remote control units make use of infrared signals for program selection etc. while certain types of burglar alarms detect the presence of intruders by responding to the infrared content of body heat. In a more specialized application, heat seeking missiles home in on the infrared emission from the hot exhaust gases of enemy devices.
A wide range of appliances and devices rely on infrared radiation for their operation; we use these in ever-increasing numbers with complete confidence.
Coming in the next issue: Intro to IR Technology, Part 4 (conclusion).
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That's it for this month's issue of Application Notes for IR Heating. Feel free to encourage your colleagues to subscribe. Just click HERE to send them an invitation to subscribe. It's quick, easy, FREE, and no-obligation.
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