Linz researchers improve non-contact temperature measurement
Technicians can use so-called pyrometers to measure the temperature of surfaces without touching them. So far, the method has worked satisfactorily in the range of over 500 degrees, between 150 and 500 degrees large errors have occurred. Scientists at the Institute for Semiconductor Physics at the University of Linz have now succeeded in significantly increasing the measurement accuracy of a pyrometer, especially for this temperature range. A pyrometer measures the thermal radiation emitted by hot bodies, which is mainly in the infrared range, which is invisible to humans. The susceptibility of the method to errors at relatively low temperatures is mainly due to different surface properties and environmental conditions.
Compared to conventional pyrometers, with the Linz method the intensity distribution of the thermal radiation is recorded much more precisely and immediately processed electronically in real time. The device was designed for industrial use and consists of an optical unit and microprocessor-controlled electronics. The first application of the pyrometer is on a hard material coating system from Technical Coatings Engineering (TCE).
The temperature range of 150 to 500 degrees is also of crucial importance in aluminum and semiconductor processing. According to information from the Institute for Semiconductor Physics, the measuring method can also be used for applications related to infrared measuring technology, such as measuring the thickness of layers on opaque media.
