NPL maintains a suite of standard blackbody radiation sources which operate over various temperature ranges between -40 °C and 3000 °C. They are used for the calibration and evaluation of:
- secondary blackbody reference sources
- infrared radiation thermometers, radiometers, thermal imagers, tympanic ear thermometers and disappearing filament pyrometers.
The calibration uncertainties† range from 0.05 °C to 0.3 °C, over the temperature range from -40 °C to 1000 °C, and from 0.5 °C to 1.5 °C at high temperatures (1000 °C to 3000 °C) (†subject to the satisfactory performance of the instrument under test).
The table gives the specifications of the NPL blackbody radiation sources. These may be used for the calibration of infrared thermometers and other blackbody sources, offering calibration uncertainties from 0.05 °C to 1 °C depending on the instrument and temperature range.
In addition, NPL offers:
- Consultancy and training in non-contact temperature measurement
- Design and construction of variable temperature blackbody reference sources to meet customer requirements
- Design and construction of ITS-90 fixed point blackbody sources and high temperature (> 1100 °C) metal carbon eutectic fixed point cells
- Design, supply and installation of complete radiation thermometry calibration facilities · Blackbody emissivity evaluation · High temperature materials processing to 3000 °C
