Emissivity of electrical insulators

Unfortunately the electromagnetic theory is only valid under a series of limiting suppositions, so that the emissivities calculated from it frequently differ from reality. Despite this, it provides important, qualitative statements that can be used for the extrapolation from measurements or to estimate for missing data. We will not discuss the electromagnetic theory, see for this [5.4], but will use some of its results in the treatment of emissivities of electrical insulators and electrical conductors (metals). These two material groups differ significantly in their radiation behaviour. 

The emissivity of electrical insulators can be related to the index of refraction of the material through electromagnetic theory. For electrical insulators,... 

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