Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Raychem Chemelex Trace Heating Cables, c. 1957-1999 |
Object Name |
Cable, Electric |
Description |
Raychem Chemelex Trace Heating Cables, c. 1957-1999. Three different colored wire cables. All the cables are rigid and flat. All cables are cut into about three inch long pieces. Cable (A) is has an orange plastic coating. On the outside printed in blue ink is "CHEMELEX". To the left of that, on both sides are three raised vertical lines. Inside the cable are three evenly spaced copper wires encased in a black plastic. Cable (B) has a blue coating with slight zigzag texture. On the inside is a thin layer of braided tinned-copper and then another layer of blue plastic coating. There are two copper wires at opposite ends of the flat cable. They are encased in black plastic. The final wire cable (C) is has only one coating of blue plastic. The blue plastic encases the black plastic. Inside the black plastic are two copper wires at opposite ends of the flat cable. Covering the blue coating is a sleeve of braided wires. Sleeve slides off and is fraying at both ends. Trace heating cables are used to keep pipes from freezing or overheating. |
Date |
c. 1957-1999 |
Creator |
Raychem Corporation, Menlo Park |
Role |
Manufacturer |
Catalog Number |
2016.001.044A-C |
Dimensions |
H-0.125 W-3.25 D-0.5 inches |
Dimension Details |
Longest wire (B) |
Collection |
3D - Electrical & Magnetic Tools & Equipment |
Inscription Text |
"CHEMELEX AU" (printed in blue ink at the end of the orange cable wire A); "HEATER 10 PTV2 240 V" (printed in gray, on blue cable wire C). |
Notes |
Trace heating cables are used on pipes and appliances to keep prevent freezing or overheating. "Heat is generated as electric current passes through the conductive polymer core between the cable’s conductors. As the ambient temperature drops, the number of electrical paths through the core increases and more heat is produced. Conversely, as the temperature rises, the core has fewer electrical paths and less heat is produced." [http://www.pentairthermal.com/products/heating-cables/self-regulating/ 1/27/2016] "Raychem was founded on January 1, 1957. It grew rapidly by creating proprietary new products based on Radiation processing of polymers to meet critical and difficult industry needs for electrical circuit integrity in harsh environments. Included in these initial products were irradiated wire insulation and heat shrinkable tubing. Markets included Aerospace, Military, Automotive, Telecommunications and Electrical Power Generation markets. "In 1968, Raychem acquired Chemelex leading Raychem to extend its radiation polymer processing technology to polymers filled with conductive carbon creating a family of "Self Limiting Heaters". This technology was further extended to produce resettable switches forming the enabling technology for the "Polyswitch" Division. "As Raychem grew into a world class Material Science Company, additional technologies explored, developed and taken to market were Heat Recoverable Metals, Piezoelectric Materials (Elographics), Silicone Gels (Geltek) and Liquid Crystals (Taliq). "Each year, Raychem devoted between 8 and 10 percent of sales into Research and Development resulting in thousands of new products based on the technologies listed above. Research and Product Development labaratories, in addition to Menlo Park and Redwood City were established in Swindon, UK, Kessel-Lo, Belgium, Ottobrunn, Germany, Pontois, France and Japan. "Manning these laboratories were an extremely creative and talented group of scientists and engineers who found innovative ways to use technologies to create new products." [http://blog.heatshrinksleeves.com/2015/09/raychem-history.html 12/31/2015] |
Search Terms |
Heater Industrial Objects Industry Menlo Park Pipe Pipes Raychem |
Subjects |
Heat Pipes Science Temperature Wire |
Credit line |
Courtesy of Chet Sandberg |