Choosing the right heat resistant parts can be extremely important when it comes to making something able to withstand the temperatures of extreme climates or vehicle engines without suffering damage.
The right heat resistant material will reduce the chances of dangerous off-gassing hazards because of heating of sensitive parts like wires, cables, and refrigeration lines.
It is necessary to understand the different options available, because as you will soon see, not every heart resistant material is created equal.
1. Heat resistant sealants
Sealants are very important but can be easy to overlook. For a material to qualify as a “sealant” it has to perform the function of closing the gaps between solid sections of a machine so that they better resist high temperatures and pressure. Heat resistant sealants come in two different forms, liquid foam or cement.
You will most often see liquid foam sealants being used to seal machined connections and threading, due to the fact that they are able to achieve close tolerance to sealing. Cement sealants, on the other hand, are primarily used to cover rough surfaces. Sealants are used to repair leaks present in boilers, steam turbines, refrigeration lines, compressors, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, condensers, and other hydraulic and thermodynamic systems.
2. Heat resistant tapes
If a situation calls for high pressure and high temperatures, heat resistant tapes will replace conventional tapes in order to do the job properly. Due to their low coefficient of expansion, heat resistant tapes are have low shrinking characteristics, meaning you don’t need to worry about the size and tension of the tape as much.
The standard heat resistant tapes available will also be resistant to salt water, chlorine, and perspiration. They are also various high temperature tapes available for specialty projects like high bulk glass fiber tapes that have a heavy coating of iron oxide and red silicon rubber.
3. Fire blankets
Fire blankets are often the first thing people think of when they think of heat resistant produces. Often featured in television and movies, and found in many homes, fire blankets can quickly extinguish fledging fires and can reduce the harm cause if an accident takes place. They are made of sheets of fire-resistant materials and are intended to be placed over top of a fire in order to smother it by restricting access to oxygen. Fire blankets come in a variety of sizes that are better suited to different purposes.
Smaller blankets are typically used in kitchen or home applications and are usually made using fibreglass. They can be folded into cylindrical boxes for easy access. Much larger fire blankets also exist and are intended for laboratory or industrial use. These are generally stored in vertical, quick release, holders so that they can be easily pulled out when needed.
4. Fire sleeves
Intended for more specific use, fire sleeves are generally used in industrial and aerospace applications. They are equipped with a silicon coated fibreglass sleeves that can withstand temperatures up to 540 degrees Celsius. Most often, fire sleeves are used to protect cables, wires, hydraulic and industrial hoses. The industrial version has knitted fiberglass which is very cost effective and thus, is commonly used.
There are many providers of heat resistant materials, so you just want to make sure that the company you choose offers a selection of all the different types of products you will need. You should go with a provider who has experience and can explain to you in detail the different options available. Make sure to ask about how you’re supposed to care for the product, expected lifespan and whether or not a warranty is included.
