What is a ribbon heating element?
Ribbon heating elements are flat and flexible pieces of metal used in industrial furnaces where a high level of heat is required. The ribbon-like loop shape gives this component its name and is an excellent heat conductor.MaterialsMetals and alloys commonly used to make ribbon heating elements include nickel, nickel and chrome, nickel-chrome-aluminum, stainless steel and tungsten. Materials used to insulate ribbon elements are mica, asbestos, ceramics, synthetic liquids, polymers and fiberglass.ApplicationsA number of industrial manufacturing operations use furnaces that contain ribbon heating elements. Typical applications are plastics softening, material drying, annealing, tempering, paint baking, embossing heaters and radiant floor heating.ConductivityRibbon heating elements are used because they dissipate heat more rapidly when compared to conventional elements over a given area. They also heat up and cool down more quickly to provide maximum heating efficiency at a lower watt dens
