Infrared thermography in material research – A review of textile applications

With the development of high resolution infrared cameras, thermography is gaining increased attention of the researcher not merely as a non-contact tool to measure surface temperature of the objects, but also as a tool in fine physical experiments to analyze thermo-physical phenomena. Apart from their regular application in condition monitoring and preventive maintenance, the infrared cameras are slowly finding application in research and development. In the field of textile research, the application of thermal imaging is still at its infancy. Most of the present applications are for qualitative observations of surface temperature profile of the object. In the present paper, various applications of thermography in textiles and allied fields have been reported with a projection of potential future research where thermography may play crucial roles.