• Calrod heating elements use a nickel-chromium alloy.Close-up image of an electric range heating element image by Alexey Stiop from Fotolia.com
  
  Calrod heating elements are a specific type of element designed to produce general, dispersed heat. Heating elements like this depend on electrical current. A current passes through the element, and heats the materials inside--in this case, a metal alloy wire. The metal has resistance properties that slow down the current and transfer part of the energy into heat. This heat radiates out of the element and is used to warm surrounding air or water.
  
  

Purpose

• Calrod heating elements are a very common type of heating element used in a wide variety of devices. They are popular because of their response time. Some heating elements take time to warm up to their full potential, but heating elements act relatively quickly, heating up in about a minute and a half. It also reacts quickly to changes in temperature needs, and is very durable when it comes to environmental conditions.
  
  

Wire

• The wire inside the calrod element is made from an alloy called Nichrome, or a mixture between nickel and chromium. This is an ideal alloy: it has a medium amount of resistance for generating heat, but also a high melting point, allowing it to last longer than other alloys when exposed to long term heat. It is also ductile and easy to shape into rods and coils.
  
  

Binder and Metal

• The wire in a calrod heating element is encased in a ceramic filler-binder and a metal overcoat that hides the actual element from the air. The ceramic coating is very important, protecting the element from the harmful oxygen in the air. Ceramic materials are made out of clay composites and are very heat resistant, making them ideal for the outer surface. The metal overcoat protect the entire element from fracture and damage caused by mishandling.
  
  

Shape

• Calrods tend to be in a rod shape (hence the name), but some circular or coil heating elements may also be considered calrod. Calrods tend to disperse heat evenly, or in all directions, so their shape is typically the shape that can channel the heat most effectively for the application.
  
  

Uses

• Calrod heating elements are used in many small devices that need a heat source. This includes toaster ovens, hot plates, coffee makers, and crock pots. Sometimes they are also used in stove tops and convection ovens.