Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-07-08 Origin: Site
Quartz infrared heating elements (quartz infrared heater element) represent a highly efficient and energy-saving thermal conversion technology. This technology uses quartz glass tubes that hold resistive filaments like tungsten or carbon fiber. It quickly heats target objects using short-wave or medium-far infrared radiation.
This article explains in detail how it works. It discusses its strengths and new ideas in materials science, thermodynamics, and industry. This information helps with engineering design and implementation.
Since achieving industrial-scale adoption in the mid-20th century, infrared heating technology has progressively replaced traditional convection methods. People recognize the quartz infrared heater element for its high infrared transmittance of over 90%. It also has a low thermal expansion coefficient. This makes it the main choice for radiant heating.
Energy conversion efficiencies are now between 60% and 96%. This is much higher than the 40% to 60% efficiency of metal heating elements. This technology is extremely valuable for meeting today's needs for energy conservation.
A quartz infrared heater works through photothermal conversion. An electric current flows through a tungsten or carbon fiber filament. This generates high temperatures, between 2500K and 3000K.
These temperatures create infrared electromagnetic waves with wavelengths from 0.76 to 14 μm. When the emitted wavelength matches the absorption spectrum of the target material, molecular resonance converts radiant energy into thermal energy, enabling highly efficient heating.
High Radiation Transmittance: Quartz glass lets through short-wave (0.8–1.4 μm) and mid-far infrared (3–8 μm) radiation. This helps reduce energy loss.
Thermal Stability: Softening point up to 1730°C, resistant to thermal shock (reaching 1000°C in 1–3 seconds).
Reflective Layer Optimization: Gold plating or aluminum oxide coating on the rear tube wall achieves >95% reflectivity, enabling directional energy output.
The table below compares two dominant types of quartz infrared heater elements:
| Type | Wavelength Range | Warm-up Time | Efficiency | Typical Applications |
| Short-wave (NIR) | 0.76–1.4 μm | 1–3 seconds | 96% | High-speed printing ink curing, plastic surface modification |
| Long-wave (FIR) | 3–14 μm | 1–3 minutes | 60–75% | Wood drying, food baking, paint curing |
Filament Materials: Tungsten wire (lifespan: 5,000 hours) or carbon fiber (lifespan: >8,000 hours), the latter offering superior oxidation resistance.
Fill Gas: Halogen cycle gas (iodine/bromine) suppresses tungsten evaporation, extending service life.
Structural Design: Double-ended ceramic cap sealing with internal tungsten wire supports prevents filament sagging.
Vacuum Deposition: Magnetron-sputtered gold reflective layers ensure concentrated radiation directionality.
Opacified Quartz Treatment: Multi-reflection "opacification effect" enhances far-infrared emissivity.
Quartz infrared heater elements demonstrate significant superiority:
Energy Efficiency: Direct radiation to target surfaces reduces thermal loss via air, saving ≥35% energy.
Precision Control: Rapid thermal response (1–3 seconds) enables ±1°C accuracy via PID algorithms.
Environmental Safety: Zero hazardous radiation or pollutants (RoHS/CE compliant).
Extended Lifespan: Chemical corrosion resistance ensures >10,000 hours in acidic/alkaline environments.
Automotive Coating: Short-wave quartz infrared heaters cure water-based paints on car bodies in less than 3 minutes. This method uses 40% less energy than hot-air ovens.
Electronics Soldering: Medium-wave elements enable precise PCB heating in reflow ovens, protecting heat-sensitive components.
Commercial Baking: Turbo Quartz® technology combines convection and IR radiation, accelerating warm-up by 30% (e.g., Roller Grill ovens).
Space Heating: 1500W tower heaters (220V) warm 300 sq. ft. areas in ≤10 minutes, featuring tip-over automatic shutoff.
Medical Sterilization: Far-infrared quartz tubes dry instruments while eliminating microorganisms.
Semiconductor Fabrication: Contactless wafer annealing in chip manufacturing.
Mechanical Fragility: Quartz tubes require protective mesh shields in industrial ovens.
Spectral Matching: Non-standard materials (e.g., composite plastics) need customized spectral engineering.
Smart Control Systems: IoT-enabled modules for app-based power/wavelength adjustment (e.g., Alibaba HT1216).
Nano-coating Tech: Silicon carbide-quartz composites to enhance far-IR efficiency.
Structural Optimization: Twin-tube designs expand uniform heating zones for wide-surface processing.
The quartz infrared heater element is a key part of industrial heating. People recognize it for its efficiency, quick response, and eco-friendliness.
Future advancements will come from combining materials science, smart controls, and spectral engineering. This will help us explore new areas like renewable energy and biomedicine. Manufacturers must prioritize three strategic pillars: customized spectral design, structural robustness enhancement, and intelligent system integration to maintain competitive leadership.
Keywords: quartz infrared heater element, infrared heating technology, quartz heating tube, short-wave radiation, far-infrared applications, industrial energy efficiency
This article references industrial standards and academic research. Technical specifications may vary; consult manufacturers for application-specific validation.
Infrared absorption peaks vary by material. For example:
Water: Peak absorption at 3 μm, 6 μm
Polyethylene: Peaks at 3.4 μm, 6.8 μm
Epoxy Resins: Broad absorption between 5–15 μm
Customizing quartz infrared heater element output to match these peaks maximizes efficiency. Researchers increasingly use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to model thermal profiles.
EU Ecodesign 2023: Requires minimum 65% radiant efficiency for industrial heaters.
US DOE CFR 430: Mandates 15% energy reduction vs. resistive coil heaters.
ISO 9001-2015: Quality management frameworks for manufacturing consistency.
Accelerated aging tests under IEC 60598-1 involve:
10,000 on/off cycles (5 min on / 5 min off)
Thermal shock tests: 25°C → 900°C in <10 seconds
Vibration resistance: 15G @ 10–500 Hz for 2 hours
Premium quartz infrared heater elements exceed 12,000 operational hours under these conditions.
For OEM technical specifications, spectral analyzing reports, or custom design consultations, contact certified quartz infrared element manufacturers.