Strip heaters clamp or bolt onto objects into order to heat a variety of materials. When used as radiant heaters, they include finned strips to maximize surface area and heat transfer to the air. Strip heaters consist of a heating element, protective sleeve, and mounting hardware. Sleeve, jacket or sheath materials include aluminum, iron, steel, stainless steel, aluminized steel, and zinc-coated steel. Many strip heaters are equipped with insulation to reduce heat losses to the environment. Common insulation materials include magnesium oxide, mica, fiberglass, minerals, and ceramic materials. There are several mounting styles for strip heaters. Some devices include mounting tabs with holes, mounting tabs with slots, or slots or holes without tabs. Strip heaters that include a butt case are placed in a milled slot between two steel plates to provide surface contact on both sides of the heater.
