When Color Sensitivity Matters, Choose MediumWave IR
Attempting to heat, dry, or cure items which are multi-colored can present a significant challenge. Different colors have significantly different wavelength profiles. White coatings, for instance, are far more reflective than black coatings. So, all things being equal, a white object would heat up under IR much more slowly than a black object. This effect is especially pronounced when dealing with shorter wavelengths.
As a result, if an object being heated had a mix of black and white areas, that means it becomes very difficult to heat it evenly. This can cause uneven drying, warping, running colors, or similar problems. Black-White is the most pronounced example, but the effect persists across the entire color spectrum.
In such cases, medium-wave heat is the solution. Medium-wave panel heaters and other medium-wave IR lamps excel at applications where color sensitivity is a factor. This could involve situations where you are drying powder coating, digital printing, and other uses of paint - particularly when there are multiple colors involved.
Color sensitivity to medium-wave IR is minimal. It's not non-existent, but small enough that it's rare for significant differences in heating/drying rates to occur. Most of the time, medium-wave panel heaters - or medium wave IR lamps - can effectively heat or dry multicolor or high-contrast objects without causing additional problems.
In general, medium-wave lamps are preferable to shortwave when dealing with coatings such as paint, dyes, lacquers, adhesives, or plastic film. Medium-wave does not penetrate as deeply into the material being heated, so it allows the exterior coating to dry without affecting (or potentially damaging) the interior product beneath.
Additionally, medium-wave infrared heat is absorbed by water more effectively than either shortwave, longwave, or NIR, and therefore is preferred for drying water-based substances.
With years of experience in creating and selling thermal devices, we at Anderson Thermal Devices have a wide range of options for heating and drying solutions, with something to fit just about any industrial need. The key is choosing the right thermal device for the right application.
Few other sources can match Anderson Thermal for our range of products and level of expertise. Contact us for more information about our product line or to schedule a consultation:
