Emissivity – The Crux of Accurate Radiometric Measurement

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Emissivity – The Crux of Accurate Radiometric Measurement (70.19 KB)

Infrared (IR) radiometry is a very useful form of temperature measurement. Its advantages over contact thermometry are that it has quick response times and it does not have to come in contact with the area being measured. One of its major drawbacks is that it not as accurate as contact thermometry. One of the major sources of this uncertainty is the emissivity of the surface being measured. This is true for calibration of these devices as well. The best way to calibrate an IR thermometer is by use of a near perfect blackbody. However, a near perfect blackbody is not always a practical option for calibration. Flat plates are needed for calibration of some IR thermometers. Emissivity is not always well behaved. Emissivity can vary with time, meaning that a flat plate’s surface coating needs to have a burn in time established. Emissivity can also vary with wavelength and temperature. This paper discusses the sources of error for flat plate emissivity. Knowledge of these sources leads to a more accurate calibration of IR thermometers.