A Paper & Presentation at the 2010 IR/Info Conference in Orlando Florida, USA in January 2010
(NOTE: This article is identical to the original Abstract except that the format has been altered slightly to make is more reader-friendly online)
By G. Raymond Peacock
Publisher & Editor
MeasurementMedia Division of Temperatures.com, Inc.
Southampton, PA 18966 USA
Abstract:
One of the prime factors in accurate temperature measurement using infrared thermography is the often maligned and much misunderstood parameter of spectral emissivity.
Many times in making thermographic images, it is necessary to correct for an object’s spectral emissivity. Using an incorrect value can cause large errors. Sometimes, just making an emissivity correction can add extra error into the measurement.
This tutorial will discuss when and how to use spectral emissivity without knowing any actual values.
Next, it will review just how one can find a practical value to use in a given measurement situation.
Finally, it will introduce some resources to help guide your choices.
Please note that the term “spectral emissivity” is the more precise term for the correction needed, simply because the different spectral responses of individual thermal imaging cameras and spot infrared thermometers can often mean different correction values.
The full text of this paper may be downloaded in PDF format by clicking here.
The rest of the article may be read online by viewing it on our companion website SpectralEmissivity.com (aka SpectralEmittance.com)
The slides from the MS PowerPoint presentation of this paper is also available in compressed pdf format and may be downloaded by SpectralEmissivity-2010.
