In this • What Infrared

sectio Thermography is
• Methods of heat transfer
n you • What emissivity is and
will how it affects
thermography
learn
Infrared thermography (IRT), thermal
imaging, and thermal video are
examples of infrared imaging science. 

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Thermal imaging cameras detect radiation in
the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum
and produce images of that radiation,
called thermograms.
Since infrared radiation is emitted by all objects,
thermography makes it possible to see one's environment
with or without visible illumination. The amount of radiation
emitted by an object increases with temperature; therefore,
thermography allows one to see variations in surface
temperature.
Laws of Thermodynamics

Conduction

Convection

Heat Radiation
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 Laws of Thermodynamics

1st -Energy can be changed from one form to

another, but it cannot be created or
destroyed. (Conservation)

2nd - in all energy exchanges, if no energy

enters or leaves the system, the potential
energy of the state will always be less than
that of the initial state. (Entropy)

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Materials exist in one of three
states. These are solid, liquid
and gas. In order to change
the state of a material,
energy must be added or
removed.
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Heat is added as change occurs in this direction

While in this direction heat is removed 8

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Emissivity- is the relative ability of an
objects surface to emit energy by
radiation.

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High Emissivity – You can trust what you see

Emissivity
Demonstration

Low Emissivity – You can’t trust what you see

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In general, the duller and blacker a
material is, the closer its emissivity
is to 1. The more reflective a
material is, the lower its emissivity.
Highly polished silver has an
emissivity of about 0.02.
 Emissivity depends on factors such
as temperature, emission angle,
and wavelength. A
typical physical assumption is that a
surface's spectral emissivity
and absorptivity do not depend on
wavelength, so that the emissivity is a
constant. This is known as the "gray body
assumption".
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Reflectivity - is inversely related to emissivity. When
added together, the emissivity and reflectivity will
equal 1.

Gypsum has an emissivity of .85 which means it has a

reflectivity of .15.

That means that when you point an infrared camera at

sheetrock you are reading 85% emitted and 15%
reflected energy.
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 Reflection Types

Reflectivity
Demonstration
Diffuse Specular
Thermal background
Thermal background