ABSTRACT
Infrared (IR) radiation heating is widely used in industry for surface drying or dehydration of thin sheets such as textiles, paper, films, paints, stove enamels, and so on. Specifically in the automotive industry, the infrared baking for paint-on-metal application is the most successful. Specifically for infrared drying, this fact may be the clue to accomplish a safe and efficient process because radiation properties of both the radiator and the material to be dried must be matched in order to obtain the most efficient results. The most common applications of IR drying are in dehydration of coated films and webs and to correct moisture profiles in drying of paper and board. Drying is the most common and most energy-consuming industrial operation. With literally hundreds of variants actually used in drying of particulate solids, pastes, continuous sheets, slurries, or solutions, it provides the most diversity among chemical engineering unit operations.
