Thermal Imaging can be commonly referred to as infrared imaging, ir, flir (forward looking infrared), infrared, and thermography. Every object gives off thermal radiation. This energy can be viewed with an infrared camera. Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation whose wavelength is longer than that of visible light (400-700 nm), but shorter than that of terahertz radiation (100 µm - 1mm) and microwaves (~30,000 µm). The radiation spans roughly three orders of magnitude.

• Infrared energy emitted by objects travels at the speed of light which is 186,000 miles per second. Or 300,000 km per second.
• Infrared energy is a form of light and therefore it obeys all the same laws of visible light.

What Is Infrared Imaging?

Infrared/thermal imaging, like visual imaging, is the collection, recording, and displaying of light from a scene. However, ‘infrared’ refers to light with longer wavelengths than that of visual light. Infrared imaging is also referred to as thermal imaging; these terms are taken to be identical. Infrared imaging shows the thermal patterns emitted from, or reflected off of a target, and as such, it does not require visual light.

What is Infrared Thermography?

Infrared Thermography is the discipline concerned with the acquisition, storage and analysis of radiated energy using a thermal infrared imaging system.

• Infrared Instruments DO NOT Measure Temperature!
• They measure Infrared Radiated Energy only!
  

Typically you will hear both infrared and thermal imaging. They are really the same thing. Thermography, however, refers to active collection and interpretation of infrared data. Thermography is the measurement of temperature remotely to indicate equipment health and assigning a color based on the temperature.

What is Infrared Radiation?

• Emitted by all objects above absolute zero (-273° C, -459° F)
• Generated by the motion of electrically charged particles.
• Molecular activity increases with energy in an object.
• The temperature of an object is a measure of its molecular exitation.
• Infrared radiation increases with molecular activity.
• Therefore, the higher the temperature the more infrared radiated energy!

Radiation is the transmission of electromagnetic rays through space and like radio waves, is invisible. Each material that has a temperature above absolute zero (-460°F) emits infrared radiation, including the sun, icebergs, stoves or radiators, humans, animals, furniture, ceilings, walls, floors, etc.
All infrared cameras and thermometers, detect radiant heat, also known as infrared radiation. As an object becomes warmer, it radiates more energy which the camera detects, creating a thermal image or thermogram.

What is a Thermogram?

A thermogram is a thermal image made by an infrared camera showing temperature differences in varying colors based on the color palette chosen by the thermographer. The dictionary defines thermogram as a photographic record made by thermography.

What are the Benefits of Infrared Thermography?

• Temperature calculations are non-contact
• Process does not have to be shut down - must be running
• Will not deface or destroy the product
• Transient phenomena or moving objects can be studied
• Fast response, milliseconds
• Temperature calculations of irregular shaped objects
• Pattern observation and evaluation
• Collection of large amounts of thermal data
• Measurement through hazardous atmospheres
• Measurement through special IR windows
• Data easily stored for post analysis and trending

How can Infrared be used?

Infrared has many uses; one use of infrared is your TV remote, this device is able to produce visible light waves, usually red that can be seen and distinguished by sensors in your TV set. Infrared radiation can be used as a deliberate heating source, for example it is used in infrared saunas. The military uses IR to track targets, thermal vision to see via the thermal spectrum in the dark allowing the user to see where they normally could not. The medical field uses IR to scan the body and has been used in detecting breast cancer at extremely early stages as well as other ailments such as poor circulation, or viral infection via the fevered temperature. To astronomers infrared is a valuable tool ; astronomers implement IR to view planets, stars and most important infrared can see through galactic dust where conventional telescopes cannot; this means we can now see further into the depths of space thanks to the use of infrared. The applications of infrared imaging are endless; practically any application requiring the ability to see through certain dusts, gases, or pitch black environments or to read a temperature measurement through a non-contact method.

 

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