Experimental Analysis of Thermal Radiation Effects on Some Ceiling Materials

Abstract

The thermal radiation properties of commonly used ceiling materials (POP, PVC, Asbestos, and Plywood) lay a critical role in determining  their suitability for energy-efficient and safe building applications. This study evaluates these materials experimentally by analyzing their  surface temperature evolution, emissivity, and radiative flux under controlled thermal radiation conditions. The experiment was  conducted using a 600 W infrared heat lamp as the primary heat source to simulate radiative heating. The Stefan-Boltzmann law was  applied, to analyze radiative heat transfer, using emissivity values for each material to compute the radiative flux. The thermal  conductivity, resistivity, and diffusivity of the materials were calculated based on recorded temperature differences, material densities,  and specific heat capacities. PVC displayed the highest surface temperature of 363 K and radiative flux of 1,350 W/m², while Asbestos  exhibited the lowest temperature of 343 K and radiative flux of 600 W/m². POP reached a surface temperature of 348 K with a radiative  flux of 980 W/m², and Plywood recorded 358 K with a flux of 1,200 W/m². The results emphasize the importance of material selection  based on thermal performance, offering practical guidance for optimizing energy efficiency and safety in building designs.