All the materials emit, absorb and reflect the radiant energy. The emissivity defines to what extent the surfaces of different materials emit heat in the form of infrared energy, measured between 0 and 1.. You will find below an approximate guide to the emissivity of different materials. However, when emissivity cannot be guaranteed, a more precise value must be determined using a precise probe to compare and adjust an infrared thermometer so that it provides precise readings.
How to calculate the correct emissivity parameter?
With the emissivity index of many common materials listed below, entering the right emissivity value is as simple as consulting the table.
However, graphs values are only estimates. The real emissivity of a surface that you try to measure will vary slightly depending on its color, its thickness and even its temperature. Checking the accuracy of an infrared measure may require a little more planning.
This is particularly true when your infrared thermometer is set to lower emissivity values. Since low -emissivity materials are by definition poor infrared energy transmitters, infrared thermometers amplify the infrared radiation levels they detect when they make their calculations. This can lead to an increase in slight errors and make temperature measurements to lower settings seem erratic.
There are two ways to manage this:
1. Use a surface probe and a measurement device to help you determine the appropriate emissivity adjustment for your infrared thermometer.
2. Use a high emissivity patch between the target surface and the infrared thermometer.
IR thermometers with fixed emissivity
Mini Raytemp infrared thermometer
Infrared thermometer Raytemp 2
Fixed emissivity is an adjustment on certain infrared thermometers, generally 0.95 or 0.97, which tries to simplify their operation while leaving them adapted to most hardware surfaces, including almost all foods. Other infrared thermometers have adjustable emissivity parameters, which allows you to prepare your infrared thermometers more precisely with the measured surface type, in particular when measuring non -organic surfaces.
Our range of infrared thermometers
Material and emissivity
| Aluminum: anodized | 0.77 | Brass: oxidized | 0.61 |
| Aluminum: polished | 0.05 | Brick: Municipality | .81-.86 |
| Asbestos: board | 0.96 | Brick: common, red | 0.90 |
| Asbestos: fabric | 0.78 | Brick: facing, red | 0.92 |
| Asbestos: paper | 0.93 | Brick: Refractory clay | 0.75 |
| Asbestos: slate | 0.96 | Brick: masonry | 0.94 |
| Brass: highly polished | 0.03 | Brick: Red | 0.90 |
| Carbon: Sue of candle | 0.95 | Copper: oxidized | 0.65 |
| Carbon: graphite, filled surface | 0.98 | Copper: polished | 0.05 |
| Carbon: Purified | 0.80 | Enamel: lacquer | 0.90 |
| Cement | 0.54 | Fabric: jute canvas, green | 0.88 |
| Coal: powder | 0.96 | Fabric: jute canvas, colorless | 0.87 |
| Particle panel: untreated | 0.90 | Fiberglass | 0.75 |
| Chrome: polished | 0.10 | Fiber panel: porous, untreated | 0.85 |
| Clay: cooked | 0.91 | Fiber panel: hard, untreated | 0.85 |
| Concrete | 0.92 | Fill: White | 0.88 |
| Concrete: dry | 0.95 | Refractory brick | 0.68 |
| Concrete: gross | .92-.97 | Formica | 0.94 |
| Galvanized | 0.46 | Gypsum | 0.8-0.9 |
| Glass | 0.92 | Hard wood: in the direction of the wire | 0.82 |
| Glass chemicals (partially transparent) | 0.97 | Hard wood: in the direction of the wire | .68-.73 |
| Glass: frosted | 0.96 | Ice | 0.97 |
| Glass: frosted | 0.70 | Iron: Strongly rusty | .91-.96 |
| Glass: polished plate | 0.94 | Lacquer: Bakelite | 0.93 |
| Glass: polished | 0.025 | Lacquer: matt black | 0.97 |
| Gold: not polite | 0.47 | Black smoke | 0.96 |
| Granite: natural surface | 0.96 | Lime: natural surface | 0.96 |
| Granite: Powder | 0.97 | Mortar | 0.87 |
| Gravel | 0.28 | Mortar: dry | 0.94 |
| PVC | .91-.93 | Paper: blond, white | 0.93 |
| Painting: 3m, black velvet coating 9560 black optics | 1.00 | Paper: Yellow | 0.72 |
| Painting: aluminum | 0.45 | Paper: tar | 0.92 |
| Painting: Oil, average of 16 colors | 0.94 | Hose: Glassées | 0.83 |
| Painting: oil, matt black | 0.94 | Plaster | .86-.90 |
| Paint: oil, shiny black | 0.92 | Plaster: rough layer | 0.91 |
| Paint: oil, matt gray | 0.97 | Plaster plate: untreated | 0.90 |
| Paint: oil, shiny gray | 0.94 | Plastic: acrylic, transparent | 0.94 |
| Painting: oil, different colors | 0.94 | Plastic: black | 0.95 |
| Painting: plastic, black | 0.95 | Plastic: White | 0.84 |
| Painting: plastic, white | 0.84 | Plastic paper: red | 0.94 |
| Paper: black | 0.90 | Plastic: White | 0.84 |
| Paper: matt black | 0.94 | Plexiglas: Perpex | 0.86 |
| Paper: Brilliant black | 0.90 | Plywood | .83-.98 |
| Paper: cardboard box | 0.81 | Plywood: commercial, smooth, dry finish | 0.82 |
| Paper: Green | 0.85 | Porty-plated: untreated | 0.83 |
| Paper: Red | 0.76 | Polypropylene | 0.97 |
| Paper: Yellow | 0.72 | Porcelain: enameled | 0.92 |
| Quartz | 0.93 | Ribbon: electric, insulation, black | 0.97 |
| Sequoia: forged, untreated | 0.83 | Ribbon: masking | 0.92 |
| Sequoia: raw, untreated | 0.84 | Tiles: floor, asbestos | 0.94 |
| Rubber | 0.95 | Tiles: enameled | 0.94 |
| Rubber, cap, black | 0.97 | Tin: brown | 0.05 |
| Sand | 0.90 | Tin: Stole Stole of Commerce | 0.06 |
| Human skin | 0.98 | Varnish: Mat | 0.93 |
| Snow | 0.80 | Wallpaper: Light pattern, light gray | 0.85 |
| Sol: dry | 0.92 | Water | 0.95 |
| Floor: frozen | 0.93 | Water: distilled | 0.95 |
| Sol: saturated with water | 0.95 | Water: icy, smooth | 0.96 |
| Stainless steel | 0.59 | Water: frost crystals | 0.98 |
| Stainless steel plate | 0.34 | Water: Snow | 0.85 |
| Steel: galvanized | 0.28 | Wood: plane | 0.90 |
| Steel: Freshly laminated | 0.24 | Wood: paneling, clear finish | 0.87 |
| Polystyrene: insulation | 0.60 | Wood: spruce, polished, dry | 0.86 |
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