Image taken with an infrared camera.
The discovery and knowledge of infrared radiation is at the heart of the thermography method, but thermography has many applications across several different scientific disciplines. The technology has advanced significantly over the years, from military sensors and guidance systems to diagnostic tools for improving buildings and for medical purposes.
Identification
The thermography method is a technique that involves using infrared sensors to detect variances in thermal energy. According to IRinfo.org, an infrared thermography resource, the thermography method is nondestructive and can be used to detect structural flaws in buildings and create norms for quality control. In the medical field, the thermography method is used to detect variances in heat.
History
Since the thermography method involves infrared light, the history of thermography begins with astronomer William Herschel's discovery of infrared radiation in the early 1800s. The Infrared Training Institute also notes several important military advancements that furthered infrared science. In 1917, the British used infrared sensors to detect enemy aircraft. By World War II, thermography was being used as a missile guidance system. And by 1965, thermographic imaging sensors were being developed into commercial applications for scientific and medical fields.
Breast Cancer
Breastthermography.com notes that breast cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting women. The thermography method is perhaps best applied in the early detection of heat variations that can lead to the formation of cancerous breast tumors. In fact, approximately 20 percent of cancerous tissues are not detectable by mammography alone. According to the breastthermography.com, studies show that "the single most important marker of high risk for developing breast cancer" is an abnormal infrared image.
Passive and Active Thermography
IRinfo.org suggests that the thermography method can be best classified as either passive or active. In passive thermography, instruments are used to analyze and record data without applying additional heating or cooling techniques. This method is ideal for detecting stress fractures in buildings where thermal energy might be escaping. Active thermography involves a deliberate change in temperature in which a stimulus is directly applied to cause a subject to heat or cool. An example of active thermography can be found in the medical field where heat is directly applied to areas of the body to detect subtle changes in tissue growth.
Printing
The thermography method can be directly applied to the printing process to create products with enhanced texture and visual quality. The method can be used to make anything from business cards to wrapping paper. Thermographers.org gives a detailed description of the process. The printed paper is run through a conveyor system with a coating of sticky, wet ink on its surface. A special powder is shaken onto the paper and attaches itself to the wet ink. The printed paper along with the thermographic powder are placed in a high temperature oven, where they take on an embossed, raised print texture.
Home Improvement
The thermography method is a valued technique when applied to the inspection of buildings and homes. In this application, the thermography method saves time, energy, and money. A home inspector uses thermography to passively examine a building's interior without damaging the property walls. By utilizing infrared cameras to detect heat loss, the thermography method is useful in pinpointing insulation leaks and plumbing defects.
Tags: thermography method, directly applied, breast cancer, detect variances, infrared radiation, infrared sensors, infrared sensors detect
