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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