Non-contact measurement of thermal properties of the skin

The square root of product of thermal conductivity, density and specific heat, V(kpc), of the skin was estimated from infrared radiation measurement at stepwise change of ambient radiation temperature. To effect this change, two shades at different temperatures were switched mechanically. Measurements were made at different sites of the body in 20 subjects, and averaged V(kpc) was 1884 ± 611(SD) W s
^1/2
/ m
²
K. Application of this method to thermographic measurement is discussed.