Experimental Determination of the Directional Emissivity of Materials Using a Periodic Thermal Excitation Coupled with Infrared Thermography

Abstract

International audienceVariation of directional emissivity upon emission angle can be deduced theoretically from the complex refractionindex. Nevertheless, theoretical relations are only valid for perfectly smooth surfaces and homogeneous materials.Directional emissivity is generally nearly constant for emission angles lower than 60 degrees from the normalincidence, but strong variations are expected for angles higher than 60 degrees either for dielectric materials or forconducting ones. Many experimental devices were developed to determine directional emissivity of materials.Generally, these devices are quite complex and fail in measuring directional emissivity for angles greater than 80degrees. Thus, it is still difficult to point out deviations between theoretical and experimental values for highemission angles. Current work concerns the development of a device (SPIDER Instrument) allowing to determinedirectional emissivity of dielectric or conducting materials. The rear face of the sample is heated periodically.Temperature variations are recorded using a thermocouple. Sample surface temperature variations are recordedusing an infrared camera. By comparing at several frequencies and emission angles, the temperature amplitudesrecorded, it is possible to determine relative variations of directional emissivity. If directional emissivity is known ata given emission angle, then directional emissivity can be calculated at any emission angl