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PTC flexible heaters

How Alper PTC heaters work and application sectors

What is behind the design and manufacture of PTC Alper flexible heaters?

Alper is an innovative company. The research and development team is careful to always propose new solutions in line with market demand and with advanced technological proposals.
Alper is attentive to customer needs.
After a careful discussion of the priorities but also of the details, we move on to the conception of the project. First of all, a design of the prototype is proposed to have the first feedback from the customer and agree on any changes. Then the phase of studies and tests begins.
Samples are made to allow the customer to concretely test the heaters for the required application. Alper believes in collaboration between the parties. The customer’s indications are important in order to better identify the heating solution, Alper provides all the experience in the sector by providing the best choice with excellent efficiency and durability.
This Alper’s approach has allowed the company to acquire over time a considerable know-how, aimed at innovation and the progress of the search for new solutions with the constant improvement of the techniques and materials used.

How does a Alper PTC heater work and what its main applications?

Alper promotes PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) technology. A special PTC ink, that is self-limiting, is printed on a flexible PET substrate. The heater produced with this characteristic autonomously reaches the defined temperature not exceeding it. When the temperature of the system increases, the PTC heater increases its resistivity with the consequent decrease in power.
This peculiarity, which distinguishes these Alper flexible heaters, makes them suitable even for the most particular and delicate applications, such as those that come into contact with the skin and fabrics.

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Alper PTC automotive heaters, application examples

The applications for which PTC flexible Alper heaters are effectively suitable are those for the automotive sector, both for the interior and exterior of vehicles. Inside the passenger compartment, to increase comfort during journeys, even the longest ones, PTC heating solutions are proposed for heating seats or armrests, but not only. Functional heating is also important for vehicle electronics. ADAS systems to provide driving support require anti-condensation to record clear images and reach correct signals from all the surrounding environment, such as the precise and timely detection of pedestrians, obstacles and animals. The rear-view mirrors benefit from the anti-condensation action of the Alper heaters to clearly reflect what is happening nearby. PTC Alper flexible heaters also integrate into LIDAR systems to enable accurate and precise laser measurements of the system. For electric or hybrid vehicles that use lithium-ion batteries as an energy source, PTC Alper heating elements, thanks to their thin thickness and due to the lack accessory limiters, easily fit between the cells of the battery packs directing the right quantity of heat, favoring the chemical reactions that take place inside and to the total benefit of battery performance even in cold temperature conditions.
Preheating enhances efficiency and increases the life of lithium-ion batteries.

Are there other applications for PTC Alper flexible heating elements?

PTC Alper heaters reflect their flexibility also in their application possibilities. When a surface, even curved, needs controlled heating, Alper PTC heaters come into play. Other applications may refer to the horeca sector in particular to professional coffee machines, to heat some its components or the cup warmer top. Alper heating elements are also widely used in the medical sector, in fact, the uses for which they are requested are varied and particular. It exploits the beneficial effect of heat at self-limiting temperature to be used safely in contact with skin and textiles. An example of application of PTC Alper heaters are the heating belts/pads that give relief to various kinds of pain. But the applications are not limited to these described.

What are the advantages of a PTC heater?

PTC heater are safe: The heater is self-limiting. This means that the maximum temperature is reached autonomously, without the risk of overheating. In fact, temperature limiters are not necessary to monitor the temperature of the heater. This feature allows the PTC Alper heater to be used even in contact with fabrics and human skin.
Conductive inks with various temperatures: PTC Alper heaters can be built with mainly three types of conductive ink that differ in the degree of temperature that is reached by the heater.
PTC 55°C: 3V to 230V
PTC 85°C: 3V to 230V
No temperature limiters: PTC conductive ink heater does not require any accessory control limiter. In this way, additional overall dimensions are eliminated, the result is a thin foil heater. The fact that external diagnostic and temperature control systems are not necessary also allows to reduce production costs and take advantage of more convenient prices.
Thin and flexible: The heater is printed on a flexible and thin PET support to adapt to all surfaces, even curved ones.
Increased heat uniformity.

For any additional information about Alper PTC heater technology please contact us