Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Material inside nichrome coil - fiberous like thread - What is this?

RogueRose - 3-5-2016 at 22:39

I had a 1500w heat gun fail on me so I took it apart. The smaller coil had what looked like silk thread through the inside of the coil/wrapping but it is pretty hard and removing the wire from the center post made little needles flake off the interior wrapping. The "thread" is slightly off white and the needle width is VERY small like maybe 1/50 of a mm and about 2-3mm long. These things seem like they could be a major health hazard and doesn't seem like fiberglass particles I have seen before. .

Anyone know what this stuff might be?

Artemus Gordon - 4-5-2016 at 11:17

Can you take a picture?
BTW, if it was me, I'd put on a face mask before messing with it any more.

wg48 - 4-5-2016 at 12:30

Some of the coiled heating elements I have seen have a ceramic or glass fiber cord running thru the element presumably to provide support at high temperature. I would assume its a safe material but then we thought asbestos and arsenic treated wood was safe once. If its very old it could be asbestos.

XeonTheMGPony - 4-5-2016 at 13:26

Not so safe they can give you very very itchy slivers and such, but other wise it is fine, do not handle with bare hands and wear a dust mask when dismantling to avoid unpleasant irritations.

the sheets are pressed Mica.

RogueRose - 5-5-2016 at 13:39

I'd show pics but it looks like fine silk thread - white. The tiny slivers are too small to show up on camera.