Infrared Heat Testing

Ceramicx has completed an infrared heating test rig that will be able to immediately characterise the process heat performance for plastic sheet and film materials. Ceramicx Founder and Managing Director Frank Wilson, said: “The time is right for many energy and cost conscious plastics processors to make the change to infrared heating of plastics.”

The infrared heating test rig comprises of three sections in order to get the most out of the visitor plastics across three infrared heat sources; ceramic-based; quartz-based; and halogen tungsten based. These offer long-, medium- and short-wave radiation wave lengths respectively – and the effects on the visitors plastic can be witnessed within 90 seconds or so of testing. All three heat sources will be applied in parallel to three separated plastics test pieces. The Ceramicx K infrared heating test rig is particularly suitable for processors who are changing to an infrared heating source. The most interested parties are likely to be thermoformers needing more performance from their machines – and also needing to reduce energy cost and utility bills.

Ceramicx is also keen to encourage producers and processors of newer bio-materials and plastics recyclate to approach the free test service with their new materials.