In this article, we will give a few reasons why you should switch to a flexible printed heater. Heaters can be incorporated into anything from apparel, to outdoor gear, to office chairs and medical bandages. Read more to find out how you can benefit from printed heaters.
Flexible printed heaters are a relatively new technology, created to eliminate the need for bulky-wired heating elements. In simple terms, printed heaters are functional inks that are screen printed onto a flexible material. Dependent upon the deposition of the functional ink used within the printed heaters’ creation, the printed heater can be created to specific operating parameters. They are created with conductive, resistive, and positive temperature coefficient inks that are combined with flexible substrates such as polyimide (PI), Kapton RS Conductive Film, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), or polyester (PET).
When it comes to the benefits of using a flexible printed heater, the benefits far outweigh those of the traditional heaters such as heated blankets, or plug-in heaters. But how could a flexible printed heater benefit you? Stay tuned to find out!
Because flexible printed heaters are screen printed onto a material, they have the ability to be incorporated into just about anything. Take for instance clothing. Flexible printed heaters can be screen printed and added into articles of clothing such as coats, shirts, pants, and so on. They would come with a small battery pack that would go into the article of clothing’s pocket that would be used to power the garment. Because they are flexible, they provide the stretchability, flexibility, elasticity, and safety needed for your product’s design.
However, flexible printed heaters can also be incorporated into outdoor scenarios such as hunting. Hunting primarily happens during colder conditions, so imagine a portable seat with a printed heater incorporated into it. This seat would have a small battery pack to power it and could be taken with you into these harsh environments to help keep you warm. There would be no power outlet needed, thus making it able to travel with you.
Another unique example of printed heaters being incorporated into your daily life would be within your vehicle. Imagine a vehicle where the heating core was no longer needed. Printed heaters could be incorporated into the seats of vehicles, and each seat could operate to the specific heating parameter desired by the passenger. It would eliminate the need for electronic controls because the heater self-regulates. They could even potentially be used as a steering wheel warmer or a window defroster.
As stated previously, printed heaters don’t require a wall outlet to operate. They require far less power than traditional heaters and can simply be powered with a small battery pack. The battery back would have a thin wire attached to the printed heater and would provide all of the power needed to operate the printed heater. Dependent upon how often you use the heater, you’d have to charge the battery pack or replace batteries within the battery pack, but they have the potential to last for several days without a charge.
Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC), flexible printed heaters are self-regulating, meaning that they operate within designed parameters. They can be made through a series of screen printing, and dependent upon the conductive ink and material used to create the printed heater, they can be created to specific operating parameters.
So why should you switch to a flexible printed heater? The benefits far outweigh those of traditional heaters and can be used in just about any product or design needed. They’re self-regulating, which ensures the safety of use, and they don’t require a power outlet to operate.
If you’re interested in switching to a flexible printed heater or getting your next project started, reach out! Our team at BTI will be happy to get you started.
Jaclyn is a Digital Marketing Specialist on the BTI Team. Her main job responsibilities involve inbound marketing, content creation, and social media management.