Why does silicone rubber drum heater heat up when stretched?
Silicone rubber drum heaters are made of a flexible and stretchable silicone rubber material that contains embedded heating elements. When electrical current is passed through these heating elements, they generate heat, which is then transferred to the drum or container to warm its contents.
When the silicone rubber material of the drum heater is stretched, its molecular structure is altered. This alteration causes an increase in the friction between the molecules, which in turn generates heat. This phenomenon is known as the Joule effect or Joule heating.
So, when a silicone rubber drum heater is stretched, the increase in friction between its molecules causes the heating elements to generate more heat than usual, resulting in a higher temperature. This effect is more prominent in silicone rubber drum heaters because of the flexibility and stretchability of the material.
