Experimental characterization of thermal radiation properties of dispersed media

As dispersed materials generally are semi-transparent media which absorb, emit and scatter thermal radiation, the predictive modeling of thermal processes involving such kind of materials requires the knowledge of a number of radiative properties to feed the models. These properties cannot be directly measured but are identified from a set of experimental data of radiative flux collected from a sample submitted to appropriate experimental conditions. This paper focuses on identification methodology for thermal radiation properties of dispersed media such as fibers, foams, pigmented coatings, ceramics. After a brief introductive overview of the subject, the parameter identification methodology and two experimental facilities used for radiative properties determination are firstly described. As the identification process involves a solution model for the Radiative Transfer Equation inside the sample, some attention is then paid to the development of RTE solution models well matched to this specific purpose. Two examples of application are described before concluding on the advantages, limitations and remaining difficulties connected to this new and promising metrology of thermal radiative properties of dispersed media. (C) 2002 Editions scientitiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.