Angular emissivity at room temperature and spectral reflectance at near normal incidence of float glass, borosilicate glass and glass-ceramics

Abstract

An accurate investigation of the emissivity of uncoated flat glass (necessary to calculate the solar factor and the U value of glazing according to standardized procedures) was performed in agreement with Groupement Europeen des Producteurs de Verre Fiat, in support of CEN and ISO standardization activities. The total angular emissivity of a range of uncoated float glass samples was determined between 10 and 80 °C with an uncertainty of 0.5%. Both the normal and the hemispherical emissivity were nearly identical for all the samples investigated. No significant differences between the top and the bottom side were observed. Measurements were also extended to borosilicate glass and glass-ceramic plates used for fire-resistant glazing, determining their thermal conductivity and angular emissivity behaviour. In order to obtain addidonal information, also the spectral reflectance curves at near normal incidence between 2000 and 200 c m ⁻¹ were obtained using a spectroradiometer. The fact that almost identical curves were obtained for a wide range of float glasses (both sides) as well as for the fire-resistant materials confirms the correctness of the close emissivity values found. On the basis of the resuhs obtained, a Standard value of εn = 0.900 and a εh/εn ratio = 0.936 is suggested for both float glass and for the two other materials.