THERMOFILM: NEW WAY TO PACKAGE HEAT 

Ever since man discovered fire we have been improving the various ways of using heat, resulting in today's modern homes that generally succeed in keeping us comfortable and warm against the wrath of nature's wintery blasts, cold rains and excessive humidity. Industry too has found heat essential in developing new materials. Now the latest: Thermofilm. This heat comes in unique thin and flexible glass-fibre cloth strips -- from scotch tape width to one metre wide and 200 metres in length -- and contains no wires or metal resistors.

Thermofilm produces evenly-distributed heat over the entire surface. Because it is not a series resistor, this film can be cut, punctured or torn and contured to a variety of shapes without appreciable loss of performance. And it is suitable for an extremely wide range of applications. Thermofilm comes with a variety of dielectric insulating materials for safe operation up to 2000C surface temperatures.

Heat produced by Thermofilm is virtually independent of temperature because of its low temperature coefficient. Each element generates evenly-distributed, and constant heat output over its entire surface. The elements contained in Thermofilm do not become brittle or otherwise deteriorate with repeated cycling and are resistant to corrosion and chemical attack.

The material can be purchased pre-finished or in rolls to be cut and finished by the user. Power input can be AC or up to 600 volts.

Possible applications suggested by the manufacturer are:

1. For space heating. Elements can be laminated into decorative radiant panels for both primary and supplementary heating - for walls and ceilings in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional buildings.

2. As air heaters -- in plenums or fan units for portable heaters, electric furnaces, concrete dryers, door heaters,etc. Heat tracing which provides jackets for industrial pipes, tank and storage vessels to maintain temperature and viscosity. Good also for waterbed heaters, food warmers and trays, battery jackets, warming ovens, auto and snowmobile seats, winter sportswear, ski boots, gloves and as pant pressers.

3. Thermofilm is apparently ideal for ice and snow melting and can be installed below concrete or asphalt for driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, runways, bridges or laminated to roofing and flashings preventing dangerous ice buildup.

Speciality applications include laboratory heaters, strip heating, heat exchangers, defrosters and wrap-around elements.

I'm going to play with my samples and see what develops. More information: Colin Bradbury, Thermofilm Corporation, 8241 Keele Street, Concord, Ontario L4K 1Z5.

Tel: 416/669-4188. Fax: 416/665-7960.

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