User Manual

11
Thermal Solutions Design Guide | Specifications subject to change
Versatile Thermofoil heaters allow a
variety of mounting methods. Proper installation
is crucial to heater performance. The heater must
be in intimate contact with the surface beneath,
as any gaps can block heat transfer and cause a
hot spot resulting in premature heater failure.
Pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA)
Epoxy and cement
Easy installation methods for
cylindrical surfaces
Clamping
Mechanical clamping is required for mica
heaters, optional for polyimide, but not
recommended for rubber. Call Minco and ask
for Minco Installation Instruction EI 347 or go to
www.minco.com.
With factory-applied PSA, you simply remove the
backing paper and press the heater in place.
Built-to-order shrink bands are pre-stretched
strips of film with adhesive coated ends. Wrap
around the heater and heat to shrink. Stretch
tape installs quickly with no heat required.
Liquid adhesives require more care in application
than PSA, but generally provide higher
temperature/wattage performance.
Installing a Thermofoil Heater
Choose the best method for your application
Proper installation en sures good heat flow
from the heater to the heat sink
Voids or bubbles beneath the heater cause
localized hot spots which can result in
premature heater failure
Description Temperature
rating
Comments Engineering
Instruction*
BM3 Shrink Band
Polyester strip
-73 to 149°C
-100 to 300°F
• To order, specify band
width and cylinder
diameter
EI 103
BK4 Shrink Band
Polyimide strip
-73 to 177°C
-100 to 350°F
#20 Stretch Tape
Self-fusing silicone
tape
-51 to 200°C
-60 to 392°F
• Comes in 6 or 36ft (1.8 to
11 meters) rolls, 1” (2.54
cm) wide. Figure 25%
overlap when calculating
length required.
El 124
Description Temperature
rating
Comments Installation
Instruction*
Acrylic PSA
0.002” (0.05 mm)
acrylic film
See heater
ordering
information
• NASA approved for
outgassing
• Flat surfaces only,
unless aluminum
backed
SPI 00-0603
#12 PSA
0.002” (0.05 mm)
silicone film
• Flat or slightly curved
surfaces
SPI 00-0598
Description Temperature
rating
Comments Engineering
Instruction*
#6 RTV Cement
Room
temperature
vulcanizing
silicone for
rubber heaters
-45 to 235°C
-49 to 455°F
• Distance from center of
heater to edge must be
less than 5” (127 mm)
• 3 oz. (85 g) tube covers
800-1300 in² (5000-8000
cm²)
EI 117
#15 Epoxy
2-part epoxy
for Polyimide
heaters
-70 to 115°C
-94 to 239°F
• NASA approved for
outgassing
• Bi-pack covers 150-300
in² (900-1800 cm²)
EI 507