Go to GlobalSpec.com Home
Toolbar   The Engineering Toolbar
The Ultimate Resource for Engineering and Technical Research. (Learn More)

What is Thermography?

From Flir Systems Incorporated
 

 
Thermography or thermal imaging, refers to the process of recording the emission or existence of thermal or infrared radiation (heat), by employing the use of a thermal imaging device or infrared camera, sometimes referred to as an "IR". Although thermal imaging can be used in the daylight, thermography allows one to "see" in the dark as it does not rely of the reflectance of light within the "visible" range of the Electromagnetic spectrum in order to record imagery. All objects at temperatures above Absolute Zero ( 0 K or -273.15 °C) emit some sort of thermal radiation, many within the infrared portion of the Electromagnetic spectrum. Thermography refers to the wavelengths within the spectrum in units of nanometers, micrometers, or microns. The commonly referred to ranges within the spectrum are gamma rays, x-rays, uv rays, visible, infrared (IR), microwave, and radio. Some objects that are very hot (such as the Sun) emit thermal radiation viewable within multiple parts of the EM spectrum such as the "visible", the "ultraviolet" (UV) and the "infrared" areas.

Products & Services
Thermal imagers detect heat patterns in the infrared wavelength (1 micron to 100 micron) spectrum. Search by Specification | Learn more about Thermal Imagers

Product Announcements
Vibration Specialty Corporation - Infrared Thermography Services
Regular periodic inspections drastically reduce unexpected failures and downtime by detecting abnormal temperature patterns that may signify corrosion, damag wiring, loose connections, and/or... (read more)
Flir Systems Incorporated - Special University Discount Programs
Start Seeing the World In Infrared. The Ultimate Resource Guide for Using Infrared. (read more)
Extech Instruments Corp. - FLIR i40 Infrared Camera 120x120p + visual camera
As the entry model in FLIR's best-in-class i-Series infrared cameras, the new FLIR i40 is built for in-house predictive maintenance, electrical and plant diagnostic and condition monitoring work. The... (read more)
Extech Instruments Corp. - FLIR i50 Infrared Camera 140x140p + visual camera
As the mid-level offering in FLIR's best-in-class i-Series infrared cameras, the new FLIR i50 delivers robust capabilities for in-house predictive maintenance, electrical and plant diagnostic and... (read more)
Hamamatsu Corporation USA - S10141-1008S CCD Image Sensor
The S10141-1008S CCD Image Sensor is a back-thinned type FFT-CCD with pixel size of 12 um. It also features a low readout noise and high resolution back-thinned CCD image sensor with built-in... (read more)
Solar Light Company, Inc. - Standard, Custom and OEM Light Sensors
Solar Light Company, Inc. manufactures a full range of standard, custom and OEM NIST traceable sensors and meters to meet your visible and IR light, UVA, UVB and UV germicidal measurement needs. (read more)
Extech Instruments Corp. - FLIR i60 Infrared Camera 180x180 + visual camera
Are you still looking for a reliable IR camera to detect and predict catastrophic failure earlier, save costs and time by avoiding machine repair, downtime, lost production and unnecessary overtime?... (read more)
Fairfield Crystal Technology, LLC. - Single Crystal Zinc Sulfide (ZnS)
Fairfield Crystal uses a unique process to produce our single crystal Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) material. Single crystal hexagonal ZnS can be used for a variety of semiconductor device applications. We are... (read more)

Topics of Interest
Thermography is the use of an infrared imaging and measurement camera to "see" and "measure" thermal energy emitted from an object. Thermal, or infrared energy, is light that is not visible because... (Read More)
Infrared thermometers operate by means of infrared radiation. Infrared occupies a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light radio waves. The electromagnetic spectrum is a group of... (Read More)
Hugh King, Thorn Lighting 25.1 Lighting Theory 25.1.1 The Nature of Light Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation similar in nature and behaviour to radio waves at one end of the... (Read More)
All bodies above zero temperature (-273°C) emit infrared radiation in the form of waves which pass through space and are partly absorbed by bodies they strike. This radiation forms a part of the... (Read More)
Although infrared radiation (IR) is not detectable by the human eye, an IR camera can convert it to a visual image that depicts thermal variations across an object or scene. IR covers a portion of the... (Read More)