An infrared radiator for the heat treatment of a material web has an incandescent body with a flow-receiving surface that is subjected to a flow of a gas-air mixture supplied to the infrared radiator and heated by combustion of the gas-air mixture. The incandescent body is manufactured as a sheet material formed of a multiplicity of threads and connecting elements that at least indirectly connect the threads to one another. The connecting elements at least partially engage around the threads and thus connect them at least indirectly to one another. The connecting elements are configured in such a way that they may be detached from the connection with the threads, preferably by hand, while breaking up the sheet material.