Metals as Infrared Reflectors and their Temperature

[fog37]

Hello everyone.

I have reading about IR radiation, reflectivity, and emissivity of materials. Metals, in general, seem to be excellent reflectors or IR radiation (they are like infrared mirrors. That said, why do they get so hot when they are left in the sun? A metal roof cannot be touched after it has been exposed to sunlight for hours. Initially, I thought that a metal object would be cooler since it reflects most of the incident IR radiation from the sun...

I understand that a lot of factors are at play. For example, a material may have a lower temperature than another materials but may feel "hotter" and burn us if touched because of its higher thermal conductivity...

thanks,
fog37

 

[.Scott]

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Actually, the cat never touched the tin. See Tin - properties. Tin forms an oxide coating stannic oxide (SnO2).

As can be seen in this Science Direct article SnO2 absorbs near infrared very well.