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Hotplate user wants to electroplate them to improve heat transfer radiation

We have several hotplates used to cure coatings on paper. The hot plates are approximately 1/8" above the paper and they operate at 375 F. I would like recommendations for plating to shorten the cure time by improving the heat transfer rate.

Thank you,

Jerry K
Air and liquid filters - Bloomington, Minnesota, USA
2003

Look into using infra red heaters vs hot plates. I think that the only way that you will get a better heat transfer with the hotplate is to decrease the spacing, which I will guess will not be easy.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2003

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Infra Red heating is a good alternative to conventional heaters and can be more efficient as James says. However, if that is not to your satisfaction, try doing what the cooking sector does - to prevent localised hotspots in the more exclusive pan ware, they often have a thick copper coating on the base of the pans. Copper is a very good thermal conductor and equalises the temperature across a surface. Unfortunately you do not say what the hot plate is currently made from, so I do not know if this is feasible

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2003