Infrared

Infrared radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like radio waves, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and microwaves. Infrared (IR) is part of the spectrum of sunlight that heats our entire planet. Infrared radiation is invisible to the human eye, but we can feel it in the form of heat.

IR radiation is one of three ways in which heat is transferred from one place to another, the other two being convection and conduction. Anything with a temperature above about 5 degrees Kelvin (-268 degrees Celsius) emits IR radiation. The sun emits half of its total energy as infrared, and much of its visible light is absorbed and re-emitted as IR radiation.

According to scientific research, only 10 percent of the electricity in infrared halogen lamps is converted into visible light. The remaining 90 percent is converted into infrared radiation. An infrared lamp transmits the heat of electromagnetic waves at a speed of approximately 300,000 km/s, which is the speed of light.

Infrared halogen lamps are not only the fastest at transferring heat, but are also the most suitable for specific applications using infrared technology in conditions where, for example, cleanliness is required.

Infrared heating eliminates the loss of energy used to heat the medium and heat loss through convection. Infrared waves penetrate the material they fall on and deliver heat directly to that material. For example, in painting, short infrared waves reflect off the medium (steel sheet) and “return” to dry the car paint directly.