Temper­ature Meas­ure­ment with Ther­mo­graphy

Temperature is a decisive factor in many processes. Be it in the electronics industry, in additive manufacturing or in automotive engineering. One method of determining and monitoring temperature without contact is thermography. It can be used to make defects visible without destroying the test object during testing. This makes it a popular method, especially in the field of non-destructive testing.

InfraTec Thermography Glossar - Temperature Measurement with Thermography - Picture credits: © iStock.com / buchachon
InfraTec Thermography Glossar - Temperature Measurement with Thermography - Picture credits: © iStock.com / kynny
InfraTec Thermography Glossar - Temperature Measurement with Thermography - Picture credits: © iStock.com / tiborgartner
InfraTec Thermography Glossar - Temperature Measurement with Thermography - Picture credits: © iStock.com / nordroden
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Contact-free measurements of temperature spreads on object surfaces or of processes provide information about the progression of the process or the state of the object. Since thermography is an image-generating process, deviations from the standard, for example, can be detected immediately. This is essential, as even the smallest discrepancies can have a significant impact on functionality and quality.

The principle of infrared thermography is based on the physical phenomenon that any body of a temperature above absolute zero (-273.15 °C) emits electromagnetic radiation. There is clear correlation between the surface of a body and the intensity and spectral composition of its emitted radiation. By determining its radiation intensity, the temperature of an object can thereby be determined in a non-contact way. This is based on a number of physical parameters.

The precondition for a reliable temperature measurement is the use of the right infrared camera. As a specialist for thermography, InfraTec offers a complete range of different thermal imaging cameras for professional, universal use.

Phys­ical basics of ther­mo­graphy

Signi­ficant Thermal Imaging on Site

Thermography enables non-contact temperature measurement in numerous industries and applications.

InfraTec Thermography Glossar - Temperature Measurement with Thermography - Picture credits: © iStock.com / buchachon

Auto­motive Industry

Thermal imaging helps to make defects visible without damaging the device under test on its testing. Therefore, functions of catalysts as well as electric systems of cars and motor assemblies can also be tested. Today, the bonding of car components by means of weld seams can be efficiently examined by methods of active heat flow thermography. If in doubt, the parts simply can be re-weld to achieve the required quality.

Moreover, defects and deficiencies of multiple products for the automotive industry are only to be detected through temperature changes. Thus, heated seats and window heating can be tried and tested for their functionality by applying infrared camera systems.

InfraTec Thermography Glossar - Temperature Measurement with Thermography - Picture credits: © iStock.com / kynny

Elec­tronics and Elec­trical Engin­eering

The use of infrared thermography in electronics and electrical industry allows contactless measurement of surface temperatures with an infrared camera without contacting temperature sensors. It is an elegant, non-invasive optical temperature measurement method for simultaneous and temporally high-resolution detection of a number of measurement points.

The thermographic inspection of electronic components and assemblies is an established test procedure for failure detection and quality management – from the development of first prototypes to serial production.

InfraTec Thermography Glossar - Temperature Measurement with Thermography - Picture credits: © iStock.com / tiborgartner

Chem­ical Industry

Infrared cameras enable non-contact temperature measurement in chemical processes, as these run endogenously or exogenously and therefore lead to a heat flow. The pictorial representation of the temperature distribution by means of thermography makes it possible to not only measure this heat flow selectively, but to analyse temperatures of entire process chains.

Furthermore, thermography is used to check the insulation of reactors, as it reliably detects weak points.

InfraTec Thermography Glossar - Temperature Measurement with Thermography - Picture credits: © iStock.com / nordroden

Additive Manu­fac­turing

In additive manufacturing, temperature is one of the factors on which the quality of the final product depends. Thermal imaging cameras record temperature developments and deviations in real time and enable rapid intervention in the ongoing process.

Additive manufacturing – also known as 3D printing – refers to manufacturing processes in which material is applied layer by layer to create three-dimensional objects. Thereby chemical and physical hardening and melting processes take place, in which temperature plays a decisive role. Infrared cameras support the systematic monitoring of the entire manufacturing and machining process. Here, the detection of the temperature distribution of the powder bed surface and the measurement of melting temperatures are relevant in most cases. Both can be realised for temperature ranges higher than 2,000 °C and while the laser is working (in-situ measurement).

InfraTec Thermography Glossar - Temperature Measurement with Thermography - Picture credits: © iStock.com / allvisionn

Research and Science

Non-contact temperature measurement is also used for research purposes . One example is the inspection of CFRP compounds and components. Fibre-reinforced plastics, such as CFRP and GRP, offer numerous advantages for lightweight design of aircraft and automobiles. But the economic, flexible and automated production of these materials in large volumes has been delayed by the lack of suitable processing, inspection and measurement procedures. Laser technology promises help here. InfraTec worked together with Audi and six additional partners from science and industry to optimise the possibilities to use local laser energy application, customised for the respective production requirements, for processing temperature-sensitive materials.

Infrared cameras are also used in the agricultural sector. Among other things, they are used in plant phenotyping to detect plant diseases and to generate data for digital system solutions in plant production and breeding.

Further Applic­a­tions for Ther­mo­graphy

Active Thermography - Picture Credits: © Rainer / Fotolia.com

Active Ther­mo­graphy

Make use of active thermography for non-destructive and contact-free material testing, for both automated inline and offline solutions.

thermography for aerial photography

Aerial Ther­mo­graphy

Detect persons and objects in the field or monitor wide-area geologic properties or environmental damages.

thermal imaging in aviation

Aerospace Industry

Comply with highest security demands by applying state-of-the-art infrared camera systems.

All branches and application areas
Contact to thermography division of InfraTec

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Further Glossary Items relating to Temper­ature Meas­ure­ment

Thermal  cameras / infrared cameras from InfraTec

FLIR - Forward Looking InfraRed | InfraTec

The term FLIR stands for the abbreviation Forward Looking InfraRed. The abbreviation FLIR originated in the course of the further development of the infrared camera at the beginning of the 1960s.

Thermal  cameras / infrared cameras from InfraTec

Thermal Camera, Infrared Camera | Thermography Knowledge

A thermal camera – also called IR camera, thermal imaging camera or infrared camera – is a measuring instrument used for non-contact measurements of the surface temperature of objects.

Circuit board ImageIR® 10300

Thermal Image | InfraTec Thermography Knowledge

A thermal image can be captured with a infrared camera. To acquire the thermal image, the infrared radiation, which is generated by the heat of an object, is recorded by a thermographic camera.

Thermal  cameras / infrared cameras from InfraTec

Infrared Thermography Theory - Physical Basics | InfraTec GmbH

The principle of infrared thermography is based on the physical phenomenon that any body of a temperature above absolute zero (-273.15 °C) emits electromagnetic radiation.