Evaluation of Functional Properties (Thermal Insulation and Lighting) of Fabric, Paper, Film, and Other Materials - Measuring Solar Transmittance/Reflectance Using ISR-1503 Integrating Sphere Attachment -

A variety of functional materials and products are being developed with energy-saving characteristics not only in the electronics industry, but also in the construction and chemicals industry. These materials and products are often used in our immediate surroundings. Window glass and insulating film that transmits visible light but prevents transmission of nearinfrared light are used to increase cooling and heating efficiencies in buildings. Items such as curtains and Japanese paper screen doors (shoji) have a variety of functions, such as thermal insulation and natural illumination. Parameters such as solar transmittance/reflectance are used to represent the optical properties of these materials and products and are described in Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). This article describes measuring the transmission and reflection spectra of four commercially available and common solar shields: curtains, shoji, roller blinds, and thermal insulation films. Measurements were made using a UV-3600 Plus UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer with ISR-1503 integrating sphere attachment, and solar transmittance software was used to calculate solar transmittance/reflectance.