Emissivity Table for Metals
In the table below, please use the 8-14 micron column if you have an MT, ST, or MX. Please check your user manual if you own a 3i to determine the correct column to use.
Note: These emissivities values are "approximate" and may vary depending on the actual material and conditions.
Note: These emissivities values are "approximate" and may vary depending on the actual material and conditions.
Material | Emmisivity |
||||
1.0 pm |
1.6 pm |
8-14 pm |
|||
Aluminum | |||||
Unoxodized | 0.1-0.2 |
0.02-0.2 |
n.r |
||
Oxidized | 0.4 |
0.4 |
0.2-0.4 |
||
Alloy A3003 | |||||
Oxidized | n.r |
0.4 |
0.3 |
||
Roughened | 0.2-0.8 |
0.2-0.6 |
0.1-0.3 |
||
Polished | 0.1-0.2 |
0.02-0.1 |
n.r |
||
Brass | |||||
Polished | n.r |
0.03 |
n.r |
||
Burnished | n.r |
n.r |
0.3 |
||
Oxidized | 0.6 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
||
Chromium | 0.4 |
0.4 |
n.r |
||
Copper | |||||
Polished | n.r |
0.03 |
n.r |
||
Roughened | n.r |
0.05-0.2 |
n.r |
||
Oxidized | 0.2-0.8 |
0.2-0.9 |
0.4-0.8 |
||
Electrical Terminal Blocks | n.r |
n.r |
0.6 |
||
Gold | 0.3 |
0.01 |
n.r |
||
Haynes | |||||
Alloy | 0.5-0.9 |
0.6-0.9 |
0.4-0.8 |
||
Inconel | |||||
Oxidized | 0.4-0.9 |
0.6-0.9 |
0.7-0.95 |
||
Sandblasted | 0.4-0.4 |
0.3-0.6 |
0.3-0.6 |
||
Electropolished | 0.2-0.5 |
0.25 |
0.15 |
||
Iron | |||||
Oxidized | 0.4-0.8 |
0.5-0.9 |
0.5-0.9 |
||
Unoxidized | 0.5 |
0.1-0.3 |
n.r |
||
Rusted | n.r |
0.6-0.9 |
0.5-0.7 |
||
Molten | 0.35 |
0.4-0.6 |
n.r |
||
Iron, Cast | |||||
Oxidized | 0.7-0.9 |
0.7-0.9 |
0.6-0.95 |
||
Unoxidized | 0.35 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
||
Molten | 0.35 |
0.3-0.4 |
0.2-0.3 |
||
Iron, Wrought | |||||
Dull | 0.9 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
||
Lead | |||||
Polished | 0.35 |
0.05-0.2 |
n.r |
||
Rough | 0.65 |
0.6 |
0.4 |
||
Oxidized | n.r |
0.3-0.7 |
0.2-0.6 |
||
Magnesium | 0.3-0.8 |
0.05-0.3 |
n.r |
||
Mercury | n.r |
0.05-0.15 |
n.r |
||
Molybdenum | |||||
Oxidized | 0.5-0.9 |
0.4-0.9 |
0.2-0.6 |
||
Unoxidized | 0.25-0.35 |
0.1-0.35 |
|||
Nickel | |||||
Oxidized | 0.8-0.9 |
0.4-0.7 |
0.2-0.5 |
||
Electrolytic | 0.2-0.04 |
0.1-0.3 |
n.r |
||
Platinum | |||||
Black | n.r |
0.95 |
0.9 |
||
Silver | n.r |
0.02 |
n.r |
||
Steel | |||||
Cold-Rolled | 0.8-0.9 |
0.8-0.9 |
0.7-0.9 |
||
Ground Sheet | n.r |
n.r |
0.4-0.6 |
||
Polished Sheet | 0.35 |
0.25 |
0.1 |
||
Molten | 0.35 |
0.25-0.4 |
n.r |
||
Oxidized | 0.8-0.9 |
0.8-0.9 |
0.7-0.9 |
||
Stainless | 0.35 |
0.2-0.9 |
0.1-0.8 |
||
Tin (Unoxidized) | 0.25 |
0.1-0.3 |
n.r |
||
Titanium | |||||
Polished | 0.5-0.75 |
0.3-0.5 |
n.r |
||
Oxidized | n.r |
0.6-0.8 |
0.5-0.6 |
||
Tungsten | n.r |
0.1-0.6 |
n.r |
||
Polished | 0.35-0.4 |
0.1-0.3 |
n.r |
||
Zinc | |||||
Oxidized | 0.6 |
0.15 |
0.1 |
||
Polished | 0.5 |
0.05 |
n.r |
n.r. = not recommended
To optimize surface temperature measurement accuracy:
- Determine the object emissivity for the spectral range of the instrument to be used for the measurement.
- Avoid reflections by shielding object from surrounding high temperature sources.
- For higher temperature objects use shorter wavelength instruments, whenever possible.
- For semi-transparent materials such as plastic film and glass, assure that the background is uniform and lower in temperature than the object.
- Hold instrument perpendicular to surface whenever emissivity is less than 0.9. In all cases, do not exceed angles more than 30 degrees from incidence.
- For 1M and 2M models, avoid measurements in high ambient light conditions.
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