Cartridge Heaters

Cartridge Heaters

Cartridge heaters are small, cylindrical electric heaters used to provide localized or precision heat to materials and equipment parts in various packaging and processing industries. Similar to immersion heaters, cartridge heaters are usually inserted into a material to heat the surrounding area; unlike immersion heaters, which are usually submerged in water or other liquids, cartridge heaters are inserted into small holes drilled in metal materials and parts which require internal heat. While capable of providing localized high temperature heating, cartridge heaters can also radiate heat throughout the interior of a material or product. This type of localized, interior heating is used to heat specific parts of machinery used in plastic and rubber processing, packaging, die cutting, mold forming, hot stamping, labeling, sealing, printing, fluid heating, food service and many other industries. Hot plates, platens, semiconductors, shrink wrap machines and labeling machinery often use internal cartridge heaters to heat specific applicator parts.

Assembled with similar materials to other types of electric heaters, cartridge heaters are commonly formed from electric coils wrapped around a ceramic core, surrounded by a metal sheath. Insulating cores may also be mica, mineral or fiberglass, depending on what the desired wattage and application for the heater is, and sleeve materials may include aluminum, copper, iron, nickel and stainless steel. Some cartridge heater configurations are folded in half, allowing the cartridge to expand as it heats, making contact with the material surrounding it on all sides, thereby providing more effective and evenly distributed heat. Engineers and designers must be extremely precise when using cartridge heaters in equipment, making sure to install cartridge heaters with the proper wattage, heat temperature and oxidation effects in relation to the material in which it will be immersed.

Cartridge Heaters Image Provided by Thermal Devices	Cartridge Heaters Image Provided by Hotwatt