What Do Industrial Heating Elements Do?
Industrial heating elements are devices used to generate heat in high-temperature furnaces and other industrial applications. They are used for various industrial and manufacturing purposes such as drying, sintering, melting, brazing, casting, annealing, tempering and more. A high-temperature furnace heating element is required to have a higher melting point than the application it is intended for. Otherwise, the industrial heating element would burn itself out on use. Most furnace elements have an optimal operating temperature range depending on the materials involved in its construction.
What Are High-Temperature Heating Elements Made Of?
Heating element materials can typically withstand high temperatures and have a high resistance to electrical current. Some common materials used for industrial heating elements includes:
1. Nickel-Chromium Alloys
These alloys, such as Kanthal and Nichrome, have a high resistance to electrical current and can withstand temperatures up to 1600°C. They are commonly used in heating applications such as industrial furnaces.
2. Tungsten
Tungsten is a very dense, hard metal capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures. Its melting point of 3422°C makes it an ideal furnace element in high-temperature applications above 1600°C.
3. Molybdenum
Molybdenum is a metal with a melting point (2623°C) below tungsten but above nickel-chromium alloys. Unlike other heating element materials, molybdenum has good electrical conductivity. It is often used in industrial applications that require peak operating temperatures around 1900°C.
4. Silicon Carbide
As a heating element material, silicon carbide does not offer more temperature flexibility than nickel-chromium alloys and is far more expensive. However, it is practically a requirement for use in industrial applications where the furnace atmosphere is corrosive, as silicon carbide pairs a decent operating temperature (up to 1600°C) with high corrosion resistance.
Find High-Temperature Furnaces and Industrial Heating Elements at SentroTech
If you are in need of a reliable and high-performing industrial furnace, shop at SentroTech. Our inventory of industrial furnaces and replacement high-temperature heating elements has just what you need for your next project or application. We offer a wide range of furnaces including muffle, tube, vacuum, oxygen and custom-built ovens. Built with high-quality materials and the latest technology, our industrial furnaces use the ideal heating element materials for each specific customer's needs. Contact SentroTech for all of your industrial furnaces and heating element materials.
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