In order to maintain your vehicles and other
electrical appliances which tend to get overheated, heat reflective tapes are
essential. Only with the help of them, your products last long. However, there
are a lot of myths going around about them since very little is really known
about products like these. Here in this article, we attempt to rectify some of
them with the facts.
What is a heat reflective tape
Heat reflective tape or heat shield tape is
designed to protect an object from overheating by dissipating excessive heat.
The heat source could be a nearby exhaust pipe or flue, or a pipe carrying
other hot gases.
The efficiency of the tape is influenced
by conductivity, reflectivity, and emissivity of its material. Heat reflective
tapes reflect the radiant heat and provide protection to the object and its
nearby components. Conductivity and emissivity determine the amount of heat
transferred through air gaps between the heat shield and the source of the heat
and a further air gap between the protected component and the heat shield.
Applications of heat reflective tapes are
vast. They are widely used in the aviation and automobile industries. They are
also used in power plants, gaskets and ovens, generator sets, and many more.
What are the myths
about them and what are the truths
Heatshield products are expensive and
rightly so. However, if you know which one is adequate for your particular
requirement, you might end up wasting the money you spend for them. Here we
have busted a few myths about them that keep you from choosing the right one.
- Myth 1: All heat shield tapes work the same
Fact: Different hot objects require different types of
heat shield tape.
The quality of the heat shield tape matters. If
you use a low-quality tape for an object which tends to get really hot, for
example, a high-performance race car, it is bound to get burnt soon. On the
other hand, for objects that do not get that hot, like the exhaust of an AC,
can do with low-quality tape.
- Myth 2: Heatshield tapes are not dependent on the
type of heat emanating from the object in question
Fact: There are 3 different kinds of heat emanating
from objects and their types should be taken into consideration while
purchasing a heat shield tape.
Below we have explained the three different types
of heat:
- Conductive heat: The type of heat that travels from one part of an
object to another through direct contact.
- Convective heat: The type of heat that is transferred from one
place to another via the movement of fluids like liquid or gas.
- Radiant heat: The type of heat that is passed from one object
to another with no direct contact.
Only after you have determined the cause of the
heat, you can select the right tape to manage it. A tape that blocks radiant
heat won’t be as effective for handling convective heat.
- Myth 3: Heatshield tapes are not dependent on the
temperature of the object in question
Fact: Heat shielding is highly dependent on the
temperature of the object in question.
Measure the internal temperature of the object
that needs the heat protection, and only then select the best heat shield tape
that fits the bill.
- Myth 4: The material of heat reflective tapes do
not matter
Fact: The material of a heat reflective tape is one of
the most important factors to consider while buying it.
There are a lot of materials heat-reflective
tapes are made out of. The most common ones are basalt, fibreglass, stainless
steel, aluminium, silica, gold, silver, and copper. Depending on the heat type,
temperature, and the intensity of the emitting heat, decide on which material
will suit you the best. In fact, if you don’t find the most appropriate heat
shield for your need, you can always get them custom-designed.
- Myth 5: It is enough to buy a tape considering
only intermittent temperatures
Fact: You need to consider both intermittent and service temperatures while buying a heat reflective tape.
Intermittent temperatures refer to the maximum
amount of heat the heat shield can withstand for 30 seconds or less before it’s
compromised. Service temperatures mean the same for long, consistent periods of
time.
A lot of times a heat shield tape is advertised
to be resilient of a high temperature, but a lot of tricksters only mention the
intermittent temperature at the label. So while buying a heat protector,
confirm that it can withstand high heat conditions consistently for a long
period of time.
Conclusion
Myths always surround a product that most people
know very little about. That is why, before buying a heat shield tape, accept
advice from experts in heat management who will guide you and help you choose
the right product for your exact need.