IR cameras have been used for many years by scientists, researchers and research and development specialists in a wide range of applications, including industrial research and development, academic work and research, non-destructive and material testing, and defence and aeronautics. However, not all IR cameras are the same. In some applications, advanced dedicated cameras capable of freezing fast movements are required to get accurate measurements.
IR cameras for scientific and research and development applications are powerful and non-invasive tools. Equipped with an IR camera, you identify problems very early in the design cycle. This allows you to document and correct them before they become too serious and more costly to solve.
Thermography in a research and development environment
IR cameras use thermal radiation, which is not detectable by the human eye, but can be converted into an image showing thermal variations in an object or scene. Covering part of the electromagnetic spectrum, thermal energy is released by all objects whose temperature is above absolute zero. This radiation increases with temperature. Flir's IR cameras are used to capture and record thermal distribution and variations in real time. Engineers and researchers can accurately see and measure heat releases, dissipation, leaks and other temperature-related factors in equipment, products and processes. Some of these cameras distinguish extremely subtle temperature changes of no more than 0.02 degrees Celsius. They incorporate state-of-the-art detection technology and advanced mathematical algorithms, guaranteeing high performance and accurate measurements from -80 to 3,000 degrees Celsius. The ranges of R and D cameras combine extremely high performance and accurate temperature measurements with powerful tools and software for analysis and reporting. This combination makes it the ideal tool for a wide range of research applications, thermal testing and indeed, there are now two categories of IR cameras on the market: cooled and uncooled. The cost of components of these two types of system can vary considerably; so it is extremely important to weigh the pros and cons before making your choice.
See the full technical note in the document below.
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