TIR100-2

Measurement of Thermal Emissivity

Dr. Thomas Meisel

INGLAS GmbH & Co. KG

Introduction
Some basic physics
Principles of measurement
prEN 15976
Working with the TIR100-2
Practical course

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 TIR100-2 History
• 1987 First Emissiometer developed and patented
by Dornier System GmbH Friedrichshafen.
Application: solar collector coating.
Analog Instrument, semiconductor sensor.
Range e: 0,2 .. 0,9
• 1994 Emis01 by Dornier System,
Table top, microcontroller, thermopile Sensor.
Range e: 0,10 .. 0,95
• 1996 TIR100 by INGLAS GmbH & Co.
Application: glass and solar collector coating.
Table top, thermopile Sensor.
Range e: 0,07 .. 0,95
• 2003 TIR100-2 by INGLAS GmbH & Co.
Handheld instrument, thermopile Sensor.
Range e: 0,02 .. 0,98

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TIR100-2 Reference List 2/2010

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 Stefan-Boltzmann‘s law

Some Basic Physics

Every body with a temperature above Rule of thumb:

absolute zero radiates thermal heat.
The quantity of heat (power) is given by A body with a surface of high conductivity
(much electons) possesses a low
Stefan-Boltzmann‘s law emissivity

(e.g. polished aluminum e ~ 0,012)

P = s * e * T4
P = Radiative Power [W/m2] A body with low conductivity (few electrons
T = Temperature [K] possesses a high emissivity
e = Emissivity
s = Planck‘s Constant [W/K4m2] (e.g. glass e ~ 0,837)

Emissivity e is the degree of radiative

energy compared to that of an ideal
blackbody: e = 0 .. 1

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Wien's displacement law
Wien's displacement law states that the wavelength distribution of radiated heat energy from a
black body at any temperature has essentially the same shape as the distribution at any other
temperature, except that each wavelength is displaced, or moved over, on the graph.

The wavelength of maximum radiative energy could be calculated by

lmax = 2,9*103 /T µm

Black Body Radiation

at 100°C

3E+07

3E+07 100C

2E+07
Radiation W/m2µm

2E+07

1E+07

5E+06

0E+00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

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Wavelength µm

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Black Body - Spectral distribution
Spectral distribution of thermal radiation at
different temperatures

1E+10
Spectrum
T = 800 C = 1073 K

1E+9 lmax =2,7 µm Spectrum TIR 100

T = 100 C = 373 K
lmax = 7,8 µm
Radiative power
(W/(m 2* nm * sr)

1E+8

1E+7

Spectrum DIN EN 673

T = 10 C = 293 K
1E+6
lmax = 10,3 µm

1E+5
0,0 5,0 10,0 15,0 20,0 25,0 30,0 35,0 40,0 45,0 50,0
Wavelength (µm)

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Solar and thermal radiation in everyday life

Solar radiation
Solare Strahlung
1600 100
Glass
Glas transmission
1400
80
power [W/m2/µm]

1200

1000 Thermal radiation

Thermische Strahlung 300 K

Transmission [%]
60
at 100°C
Solare Strahlung

800

40
600
VIS
Radiative

400
20
UV NIR
200 IR

0 0
1000 10000
Wavelength nm
Wellenlänge [nm]

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Principles of emissivity measurement

Conditions Spectral measurement Integral measurement

a+r+t =1 Wavelength dependant measurement Integral measurement with
of reflectivity with ir-spectrometer. a black body radiator. Computing
Mathematic evaluation of emissivity: of emssivity from reflectivity
Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation measurement:
al = el
 (1- rl)Sldl
el = 1 - rl if t = 0 e = e =1-r
 Sldl
DIN EN 673

a = absorption Sl = Black body radiation

r = reflexion at wavelength l.
t = transmission
e = emissivity

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Normal and effective Emissivity
Emissivity depends on factors such as temperature, wavelength and emission angle.
The emissivity of flat metal surfaces tends to be lower in normal direction as
hemispherical.

The TIR100-2 measures the normal emissivity. If the hemispherical (effective) emissivity
shall be calculated for a flat metal surface, correction factors have to be applied. The
EN673 lists a table of correction factors.

Rough metal surfaces, coated textiles and non conductive materials may not be adjusted
Measured normal emissivity e Relation e eff / e
0.03 1,22
0.05 1.18
0.1 1.14
0.2 1.10
0.3 1.06
0.4 1.03
0.5 1.00
0.6 0.98
0.7 0.96
0.8 0.95
0.89 0.94
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Emissivity depends on surface roughness

Example:

r = 0,8 r = 0,8 * 0,8 = 0,64

e = 1 - r => 0,2 e = 1 - r => 0,36

Structures equal or larger than the dominant infrared wavelength (~10 µm at room temp.) increase
emissivity: To get low emissivity surfaces, they must be polished to a roughness of < 1/10 of
dominant infrared wavelength!

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TIR100-2 Features Integral reflectivity measurement

• Nondestructive measurement of temperature

sensitive samples at room temperature
• Black Body (semi-)sphere at 100 °C
– Homogenous, diffuse irradiation
– Allows one-click measurement of
smooth and rough surfaces
• Thermopile-sensor with Fresnel - optic
– integral ir broad band measurement
– angle of measurement 12°: comparable
to measurements under normal
incidence
– Ø10 mm spot measurement area for
small samples

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TIR100-2 requirements for precise measurement

The TIR100-2 is easy to use, but some
precautions should be observed to get
precise results:
As measurement of reflected power
follows T4 , small changes of surface
temperature of the blackbody, the
sample and the calibration standard
have a distinct effect on the results.
Follow the instructions in the operation
manual and the prEN 15976:
• Temperature of sample and calibration
standard must be equal
• Distance of black-body radiator to sample
surface must be identical to standard -
blackbody distance during calibration
• Use the same instrument orientation at
calibration and measurement
• Avoid strong moves of the instrument
• Keep surrounding area free of draft
• Blackbody half sphere must be completely
covered by sample (possibly use a sample
holder)
• Flexible samples should be kept plain

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7.3 Preparation of specimens before testing
The specimens should be kept for a minimum of 2 hours at a temperature of 23 +/-2°C and
relative humidity of 50 +/-20%. Special precaution should be taken to ensure that the calibration
standards, the specimens and the apparatus are equilibrated in the same standard climatic
conditions. Air currents and draughts in the measuring area must be avoided.

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8 Procedure for measurement of specimens
The apparatus should be switched on at least 2 hours before calibration and
beginning measurements. The apparatus should be installed in a fixed position and
must not be moved during measurement. The specimen is brought up to the
apparatus in a vertical orientation, pressed firmly against the spacers around the
measuring window of the apparatus and the apparatus is activated to begin
measurement. In order to avoid that the specimen temperature changes during the
measurement, the residence time of the specimen in the measuring position must be
reduced to a minimum. Between specimen positioning and start of measurement,
not more than 1 second shall pass.
If this speed of measurement is not achieved, if the measurement is otherwise
interrupted or if the measurement on a specimen is to be repeated, the specimen
should be withdrawn from the apparatus for the time it needs to cool down to
laboratory temperature. The higher the emissivity and/or the lower the specific
heat capacity ( c ) of the material, the longer the specimen will need to cool down to
laboratory temperature.
In order to reduce measurement variability to a minimum (laboratory, specimen and
apparatus related), after a time interval of maximum 1 hour, the apparatus shall be
recalibrated using the two calibration standards.

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9 Expression of the results
The emissivity of the specimen is directly indicated as a three decimal number. The emissivity
mean value, all the single values per specimen and the standard deviation of the results from the
tested product shall be included on the test report. The emissivity mean-value is to be rounded to
two digits.
All single measurements resulting in an emissivity <0,02 or >0,94 (measurement range of the
apparatus) should be set to 0,02 or 0,94 respectively.

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Working with the TIR100-2

Touch screen

230V /
115 V*

RS232 On/Off

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Working with the TIR100-2

Getting into operation

• Switch on instrument.
• If “Continue” is displayed and no “wait!” you
can start measuring
• It should warm up 1 hr minimum. The longer,
the better
• The instrument consumes about 24W in
operation (already heated)
• Place the instrument on a place with no
draft, eventually use a working box
• Calibration standard and samples should be
stored together at your working place to
acclimate.
• Keep samples and standard away from the
hot blackbody to avoid heating
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Working with the TIR100-2

Calibrating instrument

• Put calibration standard (black, ribbed

surface) in front of the blackbody radiator. It
should be in contact with the silicon distance
pads of the instrument
• Press CALIBRATE HIGH immediately and
wait until measurement is complete (sound)
• Remove standard immediately to avoid
heating
• Repeat procedure with low emissive
aluminum surface

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Working with the TIR100-2

Measurement

• Put sample in front of the blackbody radiator.

It should be in contact with the silicon
distance pads of the instrument
• Press MEASURE immediately and wait until
measurement is complete (sound)
• Remove sample immediately to avoid
heating

! Tip
Remeasure calibration standard every
10 min to ensure correct calibration

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Working with the TIR100-2

Measurement of glass
and massive samples

• Put the sample in tight contact to the

blackbody. Transparent samples should be
kept dark on the rear side
• Do not move instrument between calibration
and measurement. Avoid circulation around
See also video on our Website: www.TIR100.com the instrument

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Working with the TIR100-2

Measurement of foils and textiles

• Use foil support and fix foils or textiles with

reversible adhesive tape to keep it in good
thermal contact with the support
• A magnetic fixture can be use if tape is not
suited for adhesive fixture

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Measurement of the emissivity of woven textiles and
porous samples

TIR100-2 receives the reflected power of

textile and background. The instrument
computes:
1-e = A * r1 + (1-A) * r2
If background does not reflect (r2 = 0),
P1 = background
textile reflects heat with r1 proportional to its
fraction of area A.
P1 = textile
r2 -> 0; e = 1- (A * r1)

Conclusion:
Using a non ir- reflective background during
measurement, the effective emissivity of the
textile could be determined, but not the
absolute emissivity of the textiles surface!

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Certificates

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Certificates

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 TIR100-2
Measurement of Thermal Emissivity

INGLAS GmbH & Co. KG

Thank you very much for

your attention!

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