Industries continue to push the boundaries of high-temperature applications, chasing greater throughput, process efficiency, and – of course – more sustainable practices. Therefore, the demand for reliable and durable insulation solutions has never been greater. High heat rope has emerged as a critical component in many application areas due to its versatility. Numerous high-temperature materials can be braided into flexible ropes which can be integrated at various touchpoints in a thermal process. Common options include braided or knitted ropes made with glass fibers and aramid fibers. This blog post will provide an overview of how high heat ropes are used for applications that involve temperatures over 392o /200oC.
PROPERTIES OF HIGH HEAT ROPE
The properties of high heat ropes certainly make them stand out compared to other materials. At Mid-Mountain Materials, Inc. (Mid-Mountain), our high heat ropes are made with E-glass fiberglass yarn and aramid fibers such as Kevlar and Nomex, and are braided or knitted into tightly configured textiles. The ropes have exceptional mechanical and thermal properties with a continuous limit of 1000°F (538°C), making them suitable for a wide range of high-temperature insulation and sealing applications.
Mid-Mountain’s high heat ropes are manufactured with aramid, carbon, ceramic, or fiberglass fibers. Possible configurations include braided or knitted rope, matrix-braided rope, over-braided rope, or silicone-coated rope, depending on their needed applications. To briefly explain the differences between the ropes, braided ropes are firm and offer a longer product life, whereas knitted ropes are more flexible and used if a less dense seal is required. Exceptionally high heat ropes may be referred to as ceramic ropes or fiberglass ropes.
The benefits of using high heat rope for industrial applications, which we will discuss below, include the following:
- Abrasion resistant
- Chemical resistant
- Flexible
- High heat resistance
- High strength
- Low smoke emissions
- Will not burn or smolder
APPLICATIONS OF HIGH HEAT ROPE
High heat ropes manufactured by Mid-Mountain are used in commercial and industrial applications such as gaskets, industrial packing, insulation, and seals. Below, we outline these applications in more detail.
Emissions Control
High heat ropes are used as seals for various doors and fireplaces, which helps to reduce harmful products from escaping into the atmosphere. These products can support companies in meeting emissions compliance requirements and being more environmentally friendly. Due to their thermomechanical performance properties, using silicone-coated ropes prevents any gas, liquid, or vapor from entering the processing chamber of a furnace, which is required for safety and regulatory purposes.
High-temperature Gaskets
There are many applications in which high-temperature ropes can be used as gaskets. For example, boilers, chimneys, stoves, thermal chambers, and other similar applications. At Mid-Mountain, our gasket products offer a reliable thermal seal for temperatures of up to 2300°F (1260°C) and highly resist smoke emissions and vapors.
Insulation
High heat rope insulates industrial equipment such as furnaces or oven doors. Still, it can also be used to insulate pipework and other high-temperature machinery. Insulation helps keep machinery safe from heat damage and chemical corrosion and protects employees from burning themselves.
Door Seals
Mid-Mountain’s high heat ropes are often used as seals in various industrial applications. These applications include door and window seals for boilers, heaters, ovens, and stoves.
MID-MOUNTAIN AND HIGH HEAT ROPE PRODUCTS
Mid-Mountain Materials, Inc. is a world-class manufacturer of high-temperature resistant fabrics, textiles, and fabricated seals and barriers, and our products are used across a range of industries and applications. Many of our products can be customized to suit specific requirements and are guaranteed to provide the highest quality thermal insulation materials regardless of your application. Our fiberglass high heat ropes are manufactured under the HYTEX® 1000 product family, and you can find other high heat ropes and thermal-resistant products in the HYTEX® profile on our website.
Contact a team member today to learn more about Mid-Mountain’s high heat ropes and their high-temperature applications.
