Surface Emissivity Coefficients
The emissivity coefficient - ε - indicates the radiation of heat from a 'grey body' according the Stefan-Boltzmann Law, compared with the radiation of heat from a ideal 'black body' with the emissivity coefficient ε = 1.
The emissivity coefficient - ε - for some common materials can be found in the table below. Note that the emissivity coefficients for some products varies with the temperature. As a guideline the emmisivities below are based on temperature 300 K.
| Surface Material | Emissivity Coefficient - ε - |
|---|---|
| Alloy 24ST Polished | 0.09 |
| Alumina, Flame sprayed | 0.8 |
| Aluminum Commercial sheet | 0.09 |
| Aluminum Foil | 0.04 |
| Aluminum Commercial Sheet | 0.09 |
| Aluminum Heavily Oxidized | 0.2 - 0.31 |
| Aluminum Highly Polished | 0.039 - 0.057 |
| Aluminum Anodized | 0.77 |
| Aluminum Rough | 0.07 |
| Aluminum paint | 0.27 - 0.67 |
| Anodize black | 0.88 |
| Antimony, polished | 0.28 - 0.31 |
| Asbestos board | 0.96 |
| Asbestos paper | 0.93 - 0.945 |
| Asphalt | 0.93 |
| Basalt | 0.72 |
| Beryllium | 0.18 |
| Beryllium, Anodized | 0.9 |
| Bismuth, bright | 0.34 |
| Black Body Matt | 1.00 |
| Black lacquer on iron | 0.875 |
| Black Parson Optical | 0.95 |
| Black Silicone Paint | 0.93 |
| Black Epoxy Paint | 0.89 |
| Black Enamel Paint | 0.80 |
| Brass Dull Plate | 0.22 |
| Brass Rolled Plate Natural Surface | 0.06 |
| Brass Polished | 0.03 |
| Brass Oxidized 600oC | 0.6 |
| Brick, red rough | 0.93 |
| Brick, fire-clay | 0.75 |
| Cadmium | 0.02 |
| Carbon, not oxidized | 0.81 |
| Carbon filament | 0.77 |
| Carbon pressed filled surface | 0.98 |
| Cast Iron, newly turned | 0.44 |
| Cast Iron, turned and heated | 0.60 - 0.70 |
| Cement | 0.54 |
| Cromium polished | 0.058 |
| Clay | 0.91 |
| Coal | 0.80 |
| Concrete | 0.85 |
| Concrete, rough | 0.94 |
| Concrete tiles | 0.63 |
| Cotton cloth | 0.77 |
| Copper electroplated | 0.03 |
| Copper heated and covered with thick oxide layer | 0.78 |
| Copper Polished | 0.023 - 0.052 |
| Copper Nickel Alloy, polished | 0.059 |
| Glass smooth | 0.92 - 0.94 |
| Glass, pyrex | 0.85 - 0.95 |
| Glass, opal | 0.87 |
| Gold not polished | 0.47 |
| Gold highly polished | 0.02 - 0.04 |
| Granite, natural surface | 0.96 |
| Gravel | 0.28 |
| Gypsum | 0.85 |
| Ice smooth | 0.966 |
| Ice rough | 0.985 |
| Inconel X Oxidized | 0.71 |
| Iron polished | 0.14 - 0.38 |
| Iron, plate rusted red | 0.61 |
| Iron, dark gray surface | 0.31 |
| Iron, rough ingot | 0.87 - 0.95 |
| Lampblack paint | 0.96 |
| Lead pure unoxidized | 0.057 - 0.075 |
| Lead Oxidized | 0.43 |
| Limestone | 0.90 - 0.93 |
| Lime wash | 0.91 |
| Magnesia | 0.72 |
| Magnesite | 0.38 |
| Magnesium Oxide | 0.20 - 0.55 |
| Magnesium Polished | 0.07 - 0.13 |
| Marble White | 0.95 |
| Masonry Plastered | 0.93 |
| Mercury liquid | 0.1 |
| Mild Steel | 0.20 - 0.32 |
| Molybdenum polished | 0.05 - 0.18 |
| Mortar | 0.87 |
| Nickel, elctroplated | 0.03 |
| Nickel, polished | 0.072 |
| Nickel, oxidized | 0.59 - 0.86 |
| Nichrome wire, bright | 0.65 - 0.79 |
| Oak, planed | 0.89 |
| Oil paints, all colors | 0.92 - 0.96 |
| Paper offset | 0.55 |
| Plaster | 0.98 |
| Platinum, polished plate | 0.054 - 0.104 |
| Pine | 0.84 |
| Plaster board | 0.91 |
| Porcelain, glazed | 0.92 |
| Paint | 0.96 |
| Paper | 0.93 |
| Plaster, rough | 0.91 |
| Plastics | 0.90 - 0.97 |
| Polypropylene | 0.97 |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) | 0.92 |
| Polyethylene, black plastic | 0.92 |
| Porcelain glazed | 0.93 |
| Pyrex | 0.92 |
| PVC | 0.91 - 0.93 |
| Quartz glass | 0.93 |
| Roofing paper | 0.91 |
| Rubber, foam | 0.90 |
| Rubber, hard glossy plate | 0.94 |
| Rubber, natural hard | 0.91 |
| Rubber, natural oft | 0.86 |
| Salt | 0.34 |
| Sand | 0.9 |
| Sandstone | 0.59 |
| Sapphire | 0.48 |
| Sawdust | 0.75 |
| Silica | 0.79 |
| Silicon Carbide | 0.83 - 0.96 |
| Silver Polished | 0.02 - 0.03 |
| Snow | 0.96 - 0.98 |
| Soil | 0.90 - 0.95 |
| Steel Oxidized | 0.79 |
| Steel Polished | 0.07 |
| Stainless Steel, weathered | 0.85 |
| Stainless Steel, polished | 0.075 |
| Stainless Steel, type 301 | 0.54 - 0.63 |
| Steel Galvanized Old | 0.88 |
| Steel Galvanized New | 0.23 |
| Thoria | 0.28 |
| Tile | 0.97 |
| Tin unoxidized | 0.04 |
| Titanium polished | 0.19 |
| Tungsten polished | 0.04 |
| Tungsten aged filament | 0.032 - 0.35 |
| Water (0 - 100oC) | 0.95 - 0.963 |
| Wood Beech, planned | 0.935 |
| Wood Oak, planned | 0.885 |
| Wood, Pine | 0.95 |
| Wrought Iron | 0.94 |
| Zinc Tarnished | 0.25 |
| Zinc polished | 0.045 |
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