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| Competition Benefits |
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The following is a short account of the benefits that the Conflux SIP/ZPZ/ZPI technology has compared to other heating solutions.
To more easily understand whom is taking part of the advantages provided by the Conflux technology the advantages are divided into ”Advantages for the end users”, thus the user of the final heating solution (e.g. an LCD-heater) and ”Advantages for our customers”, thus the manufacturers of the heating solution (the buyers of the ZPZ/ZPI foil).
Advantages for the end users
+ Safer system
The Conflux SIP technology offers an inherent temperature limiting regardless of surrounding conditions, due to the PTC properties. This means that the material adjusts itself to its surroundings and always strives to hold a predefined working temperature. If the ambient temperature increases the ZPZ/ZPI foil’s power consumption decreases and when the ambient temperature is higher than the ZPZ/ZPI foil’s predefined working temperature the ZPZ/ZPI foil consumes close to no power at all. A built-in over heating protection device. This means that the ZPZ/ZPI foil cannot over heat or burn. Inversely, if the ambient temperature is lowered the ZPZ/ZPI foil reacts by heating more where it is needed. In prolongation this means that the users are given the opportunity to predefine and set the working temperature for the specific material.
+ 100 % surface coverage
With the ZPZ technology the surface is electrically active. This means that the entire surface generates heat and reacts to its surroundings. Conventional foils do not possess this feature due to geometrical issues.
+ Point wise temperature limiting
As mentioned above 100% of the ZPZ foil’s surface is active. Combined with the inherent properties of the SIP this gives that every point on the foil surface is temperature limiting. Thus, the foil only heats where it’s needed, when it’s needed which optimizes the power consumption. This can be put into comparison with a traditional heating foil that has temperature sensors attached to its entire surface.
+ Sharper PTC-characteristics
Compared to competitors the ZPZ/ZPI foil possesses more well defined and sharper PTC characteristics. This means that a more well defined working temperature can be set for the product. Thus, if the ambient temperature is changed the ZPZ/ZPI foil will still have a temperature close to the predefined working temperature. In practicality this means that, in some applications, thermostat regulation will be superfluous which allows for a simpler (or none) thermal control electronics for the heating solution.
+ More power
Compared to other PTC based heating technologies the ZPZ/ZPI foil has substantially more power, up to 15 times more. This gives the advantage that a heating element with the ZPZ/ZPI technology can be made smaller in size than o solution made by a competitor which is a big advantage in some applications. Comparatively a 1cm2 ZPZ/ZPI foil can produce the same amount of power as a 15cm2 heating solution made with a competing technology.
+ Low power at high voltage regardless of size
Due to the high resistivity in the SIP we provide our customers with the opportunity to make small heating elements with low power at high voltages, this is something that our customers have not been able to manufacture due to the low resistivity of metallic alloys. The market for heaters within a temperature range of 35-50°C at 230 volts is considered very wide and vast.
+ Low temperatures at high voltage
There is a big market for heating foils with high voltage (230V) producing low temperatures. It is very simple to design and produce a ZPZ/ZPI foil with just these properties. For our customers it is very demanding to make these types of heaters with the current technology without having to add thermal control electronics to the solution. One area of application of this is de-icing where, today, our customers have to add different types of transformers in order to lower the voltage and thereby lower the temperature. In comparison a ZPZ/ZPI foil can, without additional control or guiding systems, at 230 volts achieve the accurate temperature for de-icing.
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Advantages for our customers
+ Simplified design process
Because we are providing our customers with an intelligent material that has predefined characteristics a big part of the design process can be removed. No further thermal calculations are necessary. In addition, the ZPZ/ZPI foil’s simple geometry makes for a very easy geometric design process for our customers whom save time and thereby money.
+ Simplified production process
With the ZPZ/ZPI foil as a semi-product material our customers are provided with a material that can be used directly into their existing production line and are thereby able to eliminate multiple production steps. The ZPZ/ZPI foil is worked from a raw material state on coils to the finished products in very simple, fast and well-tried production steps (such as screen printing, etching, stamping etc.) which, for the customer, means an effective production and shorter TTM (Time To Market), thus saving money.
+ No control or guiding electronics are needed
Due to the inherent safety and self regulation of the ZPZ/ZPI foil there are many cases where additional control and guiding electronics can be eliminated. For our customers this means that they are able to simplify and stream line the applications which results in time savings by simplified design and production processes and other economic savings.
+ Wider range of applications in the same material
It is simple to vary the working temperature of the SIP material in a wide range. This means that the areas of use of the ZPZ foil are enormously wide while our customers’ production process remains the same. For instance, the production process of making a 230 volt ZPZ/ZPI foil with a working temperature at 60°C and a 12 volt ZPZ/ZPI foil with a working temperature at 25°C is the same. This provides our customers with an unsurpassed flexibility compared to their competitors when they are to quickly reach their unique customers.
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Comparison of Heating Technologies
The unique features of the ZPZ and ZPI foil are evident from the table below, which gives a concise comparison of heating technologies on the market.
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Heating Technologies |
PTC
heater |
Constant
heater |
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ZPZ/ZPI |
PTF |
Ceramic |
Etched foil |
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Self-regulation |
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Pointwise self-regulation |
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Temperature limiting |
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Pointwise temperature limiting |
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100% surface coverage |
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Rapid warm-up |
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Functionality independent
of form |
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Economy, Environment & Simplify
Intelligent
Heating
Technology |
> |
Intelligent
Heating
Economy |
> |
Intelligent
Heating
Ecology |
| Self-regulation |
Optimized
power
consumption |
Minimized
energy
wastage |
Pointwise
temperature
limiting |
Reduced
regulatory and
safety circuitry |
Streamlined
production
– less materials
and energy |
Funcionality
independent
of form |
Cost effective
product
development |
Reduced
pre-production environmental
impact |
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