We can offer flexible heating elements manufactured from three different insulation materials: silicone, polyimide (Kapton) or polyester. Each of these materials possess different properties which make them suitable for diverse applications. Silicone heaters can also be produced in very large sizes, whereas polyimide is significantly thinner and polyester unbeatable in price when it comes to high quantities. All three of them are bespoke products made according to your needs, so within the bounds of what is technically feasible you as the customer can determine almost every feature of your heater. This can include; voltage, wattage, dimensions, shape, sensors, leads, plus much more. Due to their low thermal mass flexible polymer insulated heaters distinguish themselves by a very short response time and excellent controllability.



Which type is best suited for your application depends on various parameters. This table gives you a first overview of the main properties of our silicone heaters versus polyimide (Kapton) heaters versus polyester heaters:
Flexible Heaters (up to 200°C) |
Flat Heating Elements (over 200°C) |
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Silicone | Kapton | Polyester | Micanite | Phlogopit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wire Wound | Etched Foil | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
* higher surface loads can be achieved, depending on the application, with very good heat consumption and fast control (No warranty claims can be derived from this table) |
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Continuous temperature resistance | -60 °C - 200 °C | -60 °C - 200 °C | -40 °C - 200 °C | -30 °C - 90 °C | 350 °C | 450 °C | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Continuous temperature resistance with self adhesive foil | -60 °C - 180 °C | -60 °C - 180 °C | -40 °C - 180 °C | -30 °C - 90 °C | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Short term temperature resistance | 250 °C | 200 °C | 200 °C | 100 °C | 700 °C | 900 °C | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Recommended max. watt density* | 0,8 W/cm² | 0,8 W/cm² | 0,8 W/cm² | 0,2 W/cm² | 4,0 W/cm² | 5,0 W/cm² | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Power tolerance | +5 / -10% | +5 / -10% | +5 / -10% | +/-10% | +5 / -10% | +5 / -10% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
max. dimension | 940 x 3000 mm | 595 x 2500 mm | 285 x 550 mm | 1000 x 600 mm | 2000 x 1000 mm | 2000 x 1000 mm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
min. dimension | 30 x 30 mm | 20 x 20 mm | 25 x 25 mm | 25 x 25 mm | 30 x 30 mm | 30 x 30 mm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
min. height | 1,1 - 3,0 mm | 0,8 - 1,5 mm | 0,2 mm | 0,2 mm | 2,0 mm (metal p.: 4,0 mm) |
2,0 mm (metal p.: 4,0 mm) |
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Dimension tolerance | +/- 1 mm | +/- 1 mm | +/- 1 mm | +/- 1 mm | +/- 1 mm | +/- 1 mm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Quantities | from 1 piece | from 1 piece | from 1 piece | from 25 pieces | from 1 piece | from 1 piece | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
min. bend radius | 5 mm | 5 mm | 2 mm | 5 mm | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
max. IP-protection | IP65 | IP65 | IP64 | IP64 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adhesive foil possible | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UL possible | yes | yes | no | yes | no | no |
Silicone Heaters
Silicone heaters are resistant to permanent temperatures up to 200 °C, with self-adhesive foil 180 °C should not be exceeded. Higher temperatures up to 230 °C are possible for a short time without destroying the heater. The temperature that will be reached on the silicone heater surface, generally is not easy to predict, as there are so many influencing factors determined by the application. In addition to the power, resp. surface load, this also includes mass and type of the material to be heated installation / assembly situation, ambient temperature, air movement and, of course, the control technology used...
learn moreKapton (Polyimide) Heaters
Kapton is the brand name of reknowned polymer producer DuPont used for their Polyimide foils. As often the case with successful product pioneers Kapton achieved the status of the genere name why in large parts of the industry Kapton is used synonymously for Polyimide. Kapton, respectively Polyimide flexible heaters can be operated up to 180 °C when attached by self-adhesive film (most common execution) and up to 200 °C when pressed to the object or surface to be heated. In general, a Kapton film heater is always more expensive than a silicone heater or polyester heater. Where chemical resistance or the weight of the flexible heating element plays an important role, however, Kapton heaters are the ideal solution...
learn morePolyester Heaters
Polyester heaters also referred to as Polyester film heaters or Polyester foil heaters consist of an electrically conductive ink between two insulating respectively carrier layers of polyester. With a maximum size of 600 x 1000 mm, their average height is only 0.2 mm. As the picture examples show, practically any shape and type of cut-out is possible. Polyester foil heaters are resistant to permanent temperatures of up to 90°C (max. 100°C for short periods). It is generally not possible to predict which temperature a Polyester heating element will reach in the application, as there are extremely many influencing factors...
learn moreService (User Manual)
Here you can see the user manual for our flexible heaters (up to 200°C)...
learn moreDownloads:
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Really hot! Our Product Flyer.
Download our leaflet here.