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FREEFLEX® heated tubing from Watlow® provides a flexible heat-up and transport system for moving fluids in tubing as small as 1⁄32 in. (0.8 mm) inside diameter.  These heated tube assemblies are made from polymeric tubing.  FREEFLEX heated tubing heats fluids up to 212°F (100°C) and maintains temperature during transfer from a reservoir to a point of use. In some applications, the heated tubing can actually serve as the reservoir for limited volumes of fluid, helping to reduce start-up times. For higher temperatures contact your Watlow representative.

Watlow's innovative design places the heating element and sensor directly in contact with the perimeter of the tube to produce efficient, responsive heating and temperature control of the tube contents. The element is evenly wound to ensure reliable, close contact for uniform heating along a portion or the entire length of the line.

A flexible, durable jacket covers the wound element and lets the tubing flex and move in a dynamic system. This allows for fluid delivery to multiple locations from a single supply source. In stationary applications, the FREEFLEX heated tube is conveniently routed through available space or around other system components. This saves space and provides for an uncomplicated retrofit in existing systems.

The superior construction employs an efficient heating element design with the ability to incorporate optional thermocouple, thermistor or RTD temperature sensors into the thermal package. Users can select leads to exit one or both ends of the assembly. Typical standard Teflon® tubing comes in 1⁄32, 1⁄16, 1⁄8 or 3⁄16 in. (0.8, 1.6, 3.2, 4.8 mm) inside diameters, although other sizes and materials are available.

Specifications:

Material Maximum Operating Temperatures Maximum Watt Densities
°F °C W/in2 W/cm2
Polymeric  212 100 10 1.5
  • Operating temperature up to 212°F (100°C)
  • Maximum voltage up to 36V
  • UL® recognized

Applications:

  • Medical: automated clinical analyzers, tissue processing equipment
  • Analytical: sample preheating for LC and HPLC systems, breathalyzers
  • Semiconductor processing: wafer drying equipment, DI water heating
  • Printing: Ink jet printers, rapid prototyping systems, photo lithography
  • General process: wax/paraffin processing and non-combustible gas heating
  • Water purification systems
  • Precision cleaning equipment
  • Aerospace
  • Military

Features & Benefits:

Features Benefits
Flexible heat-up and transport system
  • Eliminates the need for heated reservoir systems in many applications
Heating element directly contacts tubing
  • Provides fast, efficient more responsive heating
Available in three configurations
  • FREEFLEX design - allows tubing to flex, coil or bend around system components
  • Pre-formed design - allows longer tube length in smaller volume
  • Molded design - provides a compact heating assembly for easy installation
Integral sensors
  • Maintains close control of heater and fluid temperatures
Low voltage design
  • Promotes safety
Miniature sizes as small as 1?32 in. (0.8 mm) inside diameter
  • Transports and heats fluids in even the smallest spaces
Convenient retrofit
  • Allows for routing flexible tubing around system components and using existing control system
UL® recognition
  • Available on qualified designs by request