Watlow Ceramic Fiber Heater Specifications

Ceramic Fiber Heaters

®

Heated Insulation
Package

Ceramic fiber heaters offer some of the highest temperature
heating element capabilities in the Watlow

®

family of heaters.
Heating units constructed with ceramic fiber insulation isolate
the heating chamber from the outside. Ceramic fiber heaters
are extremely low mass, high insulation value units with
self-supported heating elements. Many applications benefit
from the convenience of the heating element and insulation
combined into one package. Lightweight, low-density
properties make Watlow’s ceramic fiber heaters ideal for
high-temperature applications requiring low thermal mass.

Features and Benefits

High temperature ICA resistance elements

• Bounds integrally into required position

• Allows five element configurations

Lightweight, low-density alumina-silica composition
molded into shape

• Acts as an insulation to isolate the heating chamber from

the outside

• Provides low shrinkage fiber and inorganic binder

• Assures a firm, thermal shock resistant, self-supporting

unit at all operating temperatures

Operating temperatures up to 2200°F (1204°C)

• Provides high temperature performance that cannot be

achieved with many other heater types

Low mass ceramic fiber insulation of 10 to 15 lb/ft
(160 to 240 kg/m3)

• Allows the heater to reach process temperature quickly

• Enables the energy to heat the load instead of wasting

energy on itself

Works directly off common power line voltages

• Eliminates the need for expensive transformers or

complex power control systems

• Enables compatibility with the full range of Watlow

temperature controllers and power switching devices

3

High
Temperature
ICA Heating
Element

Lightweight
Alumina­Silica Fiber
Composition

Ductile Alloy

Additional
Coating for
Added Strength
and Surface
Hardness

Thin, Tough, High Temperature Ceramic
Coating over Embedded Elements, plus
Optional High Emissivity Coating

Strip Leads

Performance Capabilities

• Operates at temperatures up to 2200°F (1204°C)

2

• Allows watt densities from 5 to 30 W/in

(0.8 to 4.6 W/cm2)

• Uses “radiant” heat transfer exclusively

Typical Applications

• High temperature furnaces

• Metal melting, holding and transfer

• Semiconductor processing

• Glass, ceramic and wire processing

• Analytical instrumentation

©2001, 2011 Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, all rights reserved.

COL-CFH-0311

Options

Embedded Sinuated Elements

Exposed Sinuated Elements

Flat Sinuated

V-Sinuated

• Available in either flat or V-sinuated element configurations

• An advanced V-sinuated element configuration allows up

to 27 percent additional watt density over embedded flat
sinuated elements

• Performs best at medium to high temperatures at medium

watt density power requirements

• Use in partially enclosed to fully enclosed applications

• Especially suited for large, flat units; semi-cylindrical units

above 5 in. (125 mm) inside diameter; and full cylinders
above 4 in. (100 mm) inside diameter.

• Offers greater effective insulation thickness than coiled

element designs

• Enhances “heated insulation” concept of operational use

• Features high emissivity coating on new high-watt density

series units.

Flat Sinuated

V-Sinuated

•

Available in either flat or V-sinuated element configurations

• Advanced V-sinuated element configuration allows up to

20 percent additional watt density over that of exposed
flat sinuated elements

• Offers the lowest possible wire-to-chamber temperature

difference for maximum heater life

• Provides optimum heat-up/cool-down and recovery times

as well as maximum efficiency of operation

• Higher current handling capabilities possible

• Minimizes the number of circuits and connections in large

furnaces

• Especially well suited for large, flat surface area units and

large inside diameter curved units

• Exposed elements are available on special order as a

variation of the embedded sinuated element normally
provided on stock and standard units.