Emissivity characterization of different stainless steel textiles in the infrared range

We experimentally investigated the infrared properties of a set of steel textiles, prepared using different type of fabrics. Infrared emission of the textiles was characterized in the mid-infrared range, i.e. 8÷14 mm, by observing their temperature evolution under heating regime with a focal plane array (FPA) infrared camera. Standard test method for measuring and compensating emissivity using infrared imaging radiometers was applied to the set of metallic textiles. The obtained experimental results allowed to retrieve the infrared emissivity at different applied temperatures. Although their infrared emission show some differences depending on the specific fabric, all the investigated textiles composed of steel yarns appear to be suitable for thermal shielding applications. Finally, the measured data were interpreted by means of the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) numerical simulations as well as using Plank's theory of black-body radiation.