Dependency Of Materials - Pepperl+Fuchs MWC25M-L2M-B20 Series Manual

MWC25M-L2M-B20 series
Reflectivity of Materials
3.2

Dependency of Materials

Radar waves propagate freely in space in a vacuum. When the waves hit an object, the signal
changes due to the influence of the object's properties. Depending on the materials, the radar
waves are completely or partially absorbed or reflected. There is also penetration of various
substances.
Material
Metal
Wood
Water
Foams
Plastics
Glass
Clothing
Rain
Humans
Ice
Table 3.2
In summary , absorbent materials constitute poorer radar targets. Although they generate a
reflection due to the so-called "matter jump," most of the energy of the radar wave is absorbed.
18
Absorption Reflection
None Total reflection with
straight incidence
With oblique inci-
dence, refraction and
partial reflection are
possible
Medium to high Low
(depending on humid-
ity)
Very high Depending on the
angle of incidence,
partial or total reflec-
tion is possible
Low Low
Low to high Low to high
(depending on the (depending on the
thickness and type of thickness and type of
plastic) plastic)
Low to high Low to high
(depending on the (depending on the
thickness of the glass) thickness of the glass)
Medium to high Low
(depending on humid-
ity)
Low Low
Medium Medium
Very high Depending on the
angle of incidence,
partial or total reflec-
tion is possible
Penetration
None
Low
None, due to absorp-
tion
Very low
Low to high
(depending on the
thickness and type of
plastic)
Low to high
(depending on the
thickness of the glass)
Low
Very good
Low
None, due to absorp-
tion