Heat reflective tape myths

In order to maintain your vehicles and other electrical appliances which tend to get overheated, heat reflective tapes are essential. Only with the help of them, your products last long. However, there are a lot of myths going around about them since very little is really known about products like these. Here in this article, we attempt to rectify some of them with the facts.

What is a heat reflective tape

Heat reflective tape or heat shield tape is designed to protect an object from overheating by dissipating excessive heat. The heat source could be a nearby exhaust pipe or flue, or a pipe carrying other hot gases.

The efficiency of the tape is influenced by conductivity, reflectivity, and emissivity of its material. Heat reflective tapes reflect the radiant heat and provide protection to the object and its nearby components. Conductivity and emissivity determine the amount of heat transferred through air gaps between the heat shield and the source of the heat and a further air gap between the protected component and the heat shield.

Applications of heat reflective tapes are vast. They are widely used in the aviation and automobile industries. They are also used in power plants, gaskets and ovens, generator sets, and many more.

What are the myths about them and what are the truths

Heatshield products are expensive and rightly so. However, if you know which one is adequate for your particular requirement, you might end up wasting the money you spend for them. Here we have busted a few myths about them that keep you from choosing the right one.

• Myth 1: All heat shield tapes work the same

Fact: Different hot objects require different types of heat shield tape.

The quality of the heat shield tape matters. If you use a low-quality tape for an object which tends to get really hot, for example, a high-performance race car, it is bound to get burnt soon. On the other hand, for objects that do not get that hot, like the exhaust of an AC, can do with low-quality tape.

• Myth 2: Heatshield tapes are not dependent on the type of heat emanating from the object in question

Fact: There are 3 different kinds of heat emanating from objects and their types should be taken into consideration while purchasing a heat shield tape.

Below we have explained the three different types of heat:

• Conductive heat: The type of heat that travels from one part of an object to another through direct contact.
• Convective heat: The type of heat that is transferred from one place to another via the movement of fluids like liquid or gas.
• Radiant heat: The type of heat that is passed from one object to another with no direct contact.

Only after you have determined the cause of the heat, you can select the right tape to manage it. A tape that blocks radiant heat won’t be as effective for handling convective heat.

• Myth 3: Heatshield tapes are not dependent on the temperature of the object in question

Fact: Heat shielding is highly dependent on the temperature of the object in question.

Measure the internal temperature of the object that needs the heat protection, and only then select the best heat shield tape that fits the bill.

• Myth 4: The material of heat reflective tapes do not matter

Fact: The material of a heat reflective tape is one of the most important factors to consider while buying it.

There are a lot of materials heat-reflective tapes are made out of. The most common ones are basalt, fibreglass, stainless steel, aluminium, silica, gold, silver, and copper. Depending on the heat type, temperature, and the intensity of the emitting heat, decide on which material will suit you the best. In fact, if you don’t find the most appropriate heat shield for your need, you can always get them custom-designed.

• Myth 5: It is enough to buy a tape considering only intermittent temperatures

Fact: You need to consider both intermittent and service temperatures while buying a heat reflective tape.

Intermittent temperatures refer to the maximum amount of heat the heat shield can withstand for 30 seconds or less before it’s compromised. Service temperatures mean the same for long, consistent periods of time.

A lot of times a heat shield tape is advertised to be resilient of a high temperature, but a lot of tricksters only mention the intermittent temperature at the label. So while buying a heat protector, confirm that it can withstand high heat conditions consistently for a long period of time.

Conclusion

Myths always surround a product that most people know very little about. That is why, before buying a heat shield tape, accept advice from experts in heat management who will guide you and help you choose the right product for your exact need.