Installation

INSTALLATION

Easy installation

Ease of installation, great flexibility and low weight together with a long service life make the silicone elements ideally suited for industrial, medical, telecommunication and military applications. The elements can be glued, strapped or clamped to the surface to be heated. As a rule they are not moisture resistant. If desired, however, completely waterproof elements can be supplied. Connection cables are available in a variety of designs. We can also supply elements that have a built-in thermostat. These cables and elements are available on request, and we will be glad to quote you a price for them. The silicone elements can also be designed to customer specifications for particular shapes. Also available is a type of element which is divided into distinct sections, where each section of the element is connected up separately.

Mounting methods

Mounting of silicone elements is generally done by using glue, supporting joints (tension springs or straps) or screw joints.

The silicone elements are capable of being attached to the surface of a construction in a way that is right for that surface. It is extremely important that elements should be in close contact with surfaces which dissipate heat. This is to make certain that the elements have a long service life. for cylinder-shaped pipes, tanks, barrels and the like, it is recommended that you use the hook and tension spring method of mounting. This gives you elements that are easy to remove and that always fit tightly onto the surface. If you choose to fasten the elements permanently, it is recommended that you glue them down using 1- or 2-component silicone adhesive.

We would be happy to assist you with detailed instructions on how to apply silicone elements using different kinds of adhesive.

We also offer to carry out gluing of silicone elements in our workshop.

Gluing: is a method of keeping the elements permanently fixed to the surface. It is relatively easy to use and ensures good heat transfer by conduction.

Important points:
– Always start with clean surfaces. This is absolutely necessary when gluing.
– All dirt must be removed by careful cleaning.
– The glue must be applied evenly.
– The glue joint must be completely cured before it is subjected to any strain.
– When gluing, always follow the manufacturers instructions.

For gluing Velox silicone elements, we recommend either of the following two types of 1-component silicone glue: RTV 732 and RTV 736.
Glue consumption is approx. 300 g/m²

Clamping and strapping are two methods best suited to applications where you wish to be able to remove the elements without causing damage to them. The elements fit smoothly and tightly around a cylindrical metal surface for maximum heat transfer. They are attached to the surface by means of aluminium tape, clips, springs or straps, the latter, on request, with grommets.

Important point: Make sure that the elements are making good contact everywhere on the heated surface.

The screw joint method requires more space and more fixings than the methods mentioned earlier but the result will be very good if the installation is properly carried out.

Important points:

Position the screws in such a way that the pressure is evenly distributed throughout the element surface. Large elements can be designed with holes for the screws. The pressure plate that is mounted on top of the elements must be stiff enough to distribute the pressure evenly throughout the surface. To help in distributing pressure and smoothing out any uneven spots, a layer of insulation may be put between plate and element.