Method for Emissivity Estimation of Metals

Abstract Knowledge of the surface emissivity of metals is becoming more and more important both from the material science, process modelling and control point of view. Previous research results have shown that the emissivity of most metals depends on the temperature of the surface. It has also been reported that the most important temperature region is between 300 – 1000 K degrees, where the change of the emissivity is the most intense, which is also the most significant from a process control point of view [1]. We also report temperature dependent emissivity observed during plasma nitriding of low alloy steels [2]. Related to one of our present research topics the study of the low alloy aluminum (AlMg1, AlMg3) emissivity has prooven relevant. In this article the developed emissivity estimation model is presented. In the first part a literature overview and the theoretical approach of the new method is discussed, followed by the experimental results for low alloy aluminium emissivity determination and a comparison with the results available in the literature.