Mica band heaters are a type of electric heater that clamps around and transfers heat to different types of surfaces. Mica band heaters are typically used to heat flat and cylinder-shaped surfaces. All of these heaters operate on the basis of electrical conduction, though some may use a combination of electrical conduction and convection. Some band heaters clamp around the inner diameter of a surface, while the majority of applications requires clamping of heater around the outer diameter of a cylindrical element in order to transfer heat from the outside.