Infrared heaters used for curing wet paint provide efficient and fast curing, saving both space and energy. Infrared heaters induce molecular movement in the paint and surface coating without heating the entire material or the surrounding air. In this radiation-based heating process, only the product’s metal surface and the depth of the mass are heated according to the material’s thermal conductivity, rather than the whole item. Unlike conventional systems, infrared heaters do not require heating the air for heat transfer. They directly heat the surface being coated and the paint applied on it. Therefore, drying is completed in a shorter heating time.
Advantages
- Gas-type infrared heaters generate heat through an exothermic reaction, so no open flame burns on the surface, making them safe for use in flammable and explosive (Ex-proof) environments, such as solvent-based paint applications.
- Since there is no open flame, harmful gas emissions do not form, allowing heating to be done without harming the environment.
- Because wet paint drying occurs in a shorter time, ovens can be installed in much smaller spaces compared to conventional ovens.
- Economic drying is achieved due to shorter drying times and direct heating (saves gas consumption).
- In wet paint applications, the conveyor line does not pass inside the oven, minimizing heat loss caused by the conveyor chain’s heat transfer.