Radiance Temperatures and Normal Spectral Emittances (in the Wavelength Range of 1500 to 5000 nm) of Tin, Zinc, Aluminum, and Silver at Their Melting Points by a Pulse-Heating Technique

Abstract

The radiance temperatures at four wavelengths (in the range of 1500 to 5000 nm) of tin, zinc, aluminum, and silver at their respective melting points were measured by a pulse-heating technique using a high-speed fiber-coupled four-wavelength infrared pyrometer. The method is based on rapid resistive self-heating of a sample from room temperature to its melting point in less than 1 s while measuring the radiance emitted by it in four wavelength bands as a function of time. A plateau in the recorded radiance-versus-time traces indicates melting of the sample. The melting-point radiance temperatures for a given sample are determined by averaging the measured temperatures along the plateau at each wavelength. The melting-point radiance temperatures for each metal are, in turn, determined by averaging results for several samples. The normal spectral emittances at the melting transition of each metal are derived from the measured radiances at each wavelength and the published values of the thermodynamic (true) melting temperatures.