Thick Film Heater Resistors
TSEC designs and manufactures application-specific thick film heater resistors for medical and other specialist applications. These applications often require heat output profiled across a surface or high watt density.
Our UK manufacturing facility is optimised to deliver custom heater resistor devices in low to medium volume.
Why Thick Film Resistor Technology?
Heater resistors must be mechanically robust, electrically stable and deliver a long in-service life despite exposure to regular temperature cycles.
Wire wound resistors are often difficult to fit where space is limited. Thick film, in contrast, offers high heat output per unit area.
Thick film heater resistor technology delivers high watt density, excellent heat transfer, thermal efficiency and temperature uniformity across a surface. The thick film ink can be applied in various patterns and densities, concentrating heat exactly where needed.
Thick film technology can survive in harsh environments and offers high levels of moisture and chemical resistance.
Thick Film Heater Resistor Design
Heater resistor design challenges include:
- Thermal efficiency.
- Watt density.
- Speed of response
Current flow through a resistor material produces a proportional heating effect. The challenge is to transfer this heat to the surrounding area (or point contact).
A common solution is to use a thick film resistor pattern on substrates with excellent thermal conductivity. Substrate materials include specialist steels, stainless steel and aluminium.
TSEC has extensive experience in the demands of heater resistor applications. We work closely with customers through the custom heater resistor design and manufacturing phase. This can include the delivery of prototypes for testing and approval.
Design Information
The power rating of a resistor defines the maximum energy (heat) a resistor can safely dissipate without compromising its in-service life. Generally, the greater a resistor’s surface area, the more power it can dissipate, but resistor dimensions are also influenced by the choice of substrate material.
Information required by the manufacturer of custom heater resistors includes (as a minimum).
- Maximum thickness.
- Size (dimensions).
- Termination type, position and material.
- The required heat profile.
- Contact area.
- Response time.
- Ambient air temperature.
- Voltage.
- Expected in-service life.
Please contact us on 01207 230728 … to discuss your custom heater resistor requirements.