Infrared

Temperature
Department Editor: Scott Jenkins Measurement
ontact-based temperature sensors, such as Operation

C thermocouples and resistance temperature

detectors (RTDs), have demonstrated ac-
curate and cost-effective operation throughout
Most IR thermometers operate
according to the same basic
operating principles (Figure 1).
EMISSIVITY VALUES OF COMMON MATERIALS*
Material
Silver (polished)
Emissivity
0.01
the chemical process industries (CPI). However, A bandwidth ilter and optical Aluminum (unoxidized) 0.02
there are many applications and settings lens are used to focus the IR Gold (polished) 0.02
where they are simply not practical. In those energy emitted by an object Aluminum (heavily oxidized) 0.20
cases, engineers can turn to a host of non- onto a detector, which converts Zinc (bright galvanized) 0.23
contact temperature measurement devices, the IR radiation into an electri- Steel (316 polished) 0.28
many of which are based on measuring cal signal. After compensating
Soil (plowed field) 0.38
infrared (IR) radiation. IR thermometers can for emissivity (see below) and
routinely perform measurements in situations ambient temperature, an analog Iron (liquid) 0.43
where readings with contact thermometers output is generated to provide Iron (rusted) 0.65
would be virtually impossible. Situations where temperature measurement. The Water 0.67
IR-based temperature measurement should be analog signal can be converted Sand 0.76
considered include the following: to digital when fast acquisition Steel (cold rolled) 0.80
• Rapid and frequent temperature readings rates are required. Wood (oak planed) 0.91
are required
Brick (red, rough) 0.93
• Objects are moving Emissivity
• Objects are within strong electromagnetic The emission of thermal radia- Carbon (Lampblack) 0.95
fields, such as in processes involving induc- tion is a surface phenomenon Ice 0.98
tion or microwave heating for most materials. The term *Provided for illustrative purposes only.
• Rapid thermal changes are the norm emissivity refers to an object’s
• Objects needing measurement are located ability to emit thermal radiation.
Emissivity is defined as the ratio between the (distance-to-spot ratio). Higher ratios mean
in process chambers or behind windows
energy emitted by an object at a given tem- better resolution.
• The surface temperature of an object or
Ideally, the target being measured should fill
equipment requires measurement perature and a perfect radiator, or blackbody,
the instrument’s FOV. For the best perfor-
• Locations are inaccessible to contact at the same temperature. Emissivity values
lie between zero and one. IR thermometers mance, the target object area should exceed
thermometers
the FOV by a factor of about 1.5 (Figure 2).
• Areas to be measured would be damaged generally have the ability to compensate for
or contaminated by contact measurement the different emissivity values of materials.
Materials with the highest emissivity values Calibration
• Varying surface-temperature distributions are
are the easiest to measure accurately with IR IR thermometers can be calibrated by aiming
present
at blackbody radiators that are designed
• Objects are made from materials with low thermometers, while those with low emissivities
are more difficult. For example, some polished, specifically for calibration and testing. By vary-
heat capacity and low thermal conductivity
ing the source temperature of the blackbody,
• Materials to be measured are gaseous, such shiny metallic surfaces, such as aluminum, are
so reflective in the infrared that accurate tem- calibrators can tune the IR sensor’s internal
as combustion gases and flames
perature measurement is not always possible. measurement signal to known temperatures.
Within the CPI, IR thermometry is most ef- Tables listing emissivity values for various
fective and used most frequently in semicon- materials have been published, and are avail- Selection questions to consider
ductor and wafer processing, cement and able for reference (Table). Some IR thermom- When selecting an IR thermometer for a CPI
lime processing, rotating kiln shells, waste eters allow users to change emissivity values application, it is important to consider the fol-
incineration, glass processing, sintering and according to the material being measured, lowing questions:
heat treating, metals processing and drying while others have a pre-set emissivity value. • What is the required proximity to the target?
applications. While IR thermometers are gen- When using IR thermometry, it is important • What is the size of object to be measured,
erally more expensive than contact thermom- to consider that materials can have different and will it it the instrument’s FOV?
eters, they usually have longer lifetimes and emissivity values at different wavelengths. To • Are there any physical obstructions between
require less maintenance. determine an emissivity value, you can heat a the object to be measured and the measur-
A general knowledge of the key aspects of material to a known temperature, then adjust ing device
thermal radiation physics can help users apply the emissivity value of the instrument until the IR • Are smoke, dust or other particulate matter
and operate the devices more effectively. thermometer matches the known temperature. likely to be in the measurement area?
• What are the measurement control fre-
Stefan-Boltzmann law Field of view (FOV) quency requirements?
The energy radiated by an object per unit The FOV is the angle of vision at which the • Does the object have a shiny surface?
surface area per unit time is related to its instrument operates and is determined by the • What are the output/interface requirements?
temperature by the Stefan-Boltzmann law, which optics of the system. The optical system of the
states that irradiance (in J/s/m2) is proportional References
IR thermometer collects the IR energy from a
to the fourth power of the object’s temperature circular measurement spot, and focuses the 1. Young, A., IR Thermometry Finds CPI Niches,
multiplied by its emissivity. A constant of propor- energy on the detector. The optical resolution Chem. Eng., Feb. 2002, pp. 56–60.
tionality (the Stefan-Boltzmann constant) is re- of the instrument is determined by the ratio 2. Omega Engineering Inc. [Internet]. c2003–
quired for calculations. In a perfect (theoretical) between the distance from instrument to object 2010. Stamford (CT). [cited Feb. 2011].
blackbody radiator, emissivity equals one. and the size of the spot being measured Available from: http://www.omega.com/.

Lens assembly

Object Filter Recommended Incorrect

Field of view Aperture

Detector IR Thermometer

Amplifier
and electronics
Target greater Target equal Target smaller
D than spot size to spot size than spot size Backround

FIGURE 1. The optical system of an IR thermometer collects IR en- FIGURE 2. For accurate IR temperature measurement, the target area
ergy from a circular measurement spot, and focuses it on a detector should be greater than the instrument’s FOV by a factor of about 1.5