Research
Measurements of the optical properties of materials are widely used in many industries including chemical, pharmaceutical, optical components and coatings, food, aerospace, glass, energy, construction and water treatment.
Other applications include materials science, thermal control in buildings and spacecraft, infrared tracking and guidance systems, and for environmental, health and military agencies. As well as measurements in the visible part of the spectrum including colour, NPL can also characterise materials in the infra-red up to 50 μm.
New research is underway in this area to assess a range of visual appearance parameters and to link these to psychological aspects of perception with the ultimate aim of developing new measurement techniques for industry.
Optical Characterisation of Materials research
- Shakespeare said: "Beauty is bought by the judgement of the eye." It would also be true to say, however, that the "judgement of the eye" buys such things as quality, freshness and cleanliness.
- MONAT is an EU funded project within the Measuring the Impossible theme of the New and Emerging Science and Technology Programme in Framework 6.
- The appearance of objects due to their reflective properties are described here.
- Aspects of appearance related to transmitted light.