A susceptor is a material used for its ability to absorb electromagnetic energy and to convert it into heat. It is a conductive metal material that is used to transfer heat to another piece of metal or non-conductive material; it is used to transfer the heat to the target by conduction or radiation.

The susceptors are often made from graphite because it is highly resistive and very machinable and a range of temperatures up to 3000°C (5.430°F). Alternatively they could also be made of stainless steel, molybdenum, silicon carbide, aluminum or other conductive materials.

The susceptor can be made in the form of a crucible, disk, tube, a layer in the material, or whatever form best suites the application

Various examples of applications are crucible melting of non-conductive materials like glass, heating fluids in a pipe, plastic sealing, thermoplastic composite manufacture, cap sealing, etc.

Induction heating advantages:

When heating a susceptor by induction it can achieve the following advantages:

• Increased accuracy and speed
• Control of increasing temperatures through the use of optic pyrometers or thermo connectors which forms a system of closed circuits
• The uniform temperature of the surface can be achieved by the design of the coil
• It can be integrated in production lines
• Energy saving

Typical RF power supplies for susceptor heating range from 1 to 20kW, depending on the parts and application requirements.

Related industries to this process are household and food industry.