Absorbed Solar Radiation

Solar radiation absorbed by various materials and surface colors

Absorbed Solar Radiation

Solar energy absorbed depends on surface color and material properties. Select a surface color category or specific material to view its absorption factor.

Surface Color	Absorb Factor (Range)
White smooth surfaces	0.25 - 0.40
Grey to dark grey	0.40 - 0.50
Green, red and brown	0.50 - 0.70
Dark brown to blue	0.70 - 0.80
Dark blue to black	0.80 - 0.90

Substance/Material	Absorb Factor
Aluminum, polished	0.30
Aluminum paint	0.20
Aluminum, anodized	0.15
Brick, glazed	0.35
Brick, common light red	0.55
Brick, common red	0.68
Brick, wire cut red	0.52
Brick, blue	0.89
Cork	0.45
Limestone, light	0.35
Limestone, dark	0.50
Linoleum, red-brown	0.84
Sandstone, light grey	0.62
Sandstone, red	0.73
Marble, white	0.44
Soft rubber, gray	0.65
Marble, dark	0.66
Granite, reddish	0.55
Magnesium oxide, evaporated	0.08
Graphite	0.84
Porcelain	0.50
Steel, vitreous enameled green	0.76
Steel, vitreous enameled dark red	0.81
Steel, vitreous enameled blue	0.80
Iron, galvanized new	0.64
Iron, galvanized dirty	0.92
Iron, galvanized white washed	0.22
Concrete	0.60
Copper, polished	0.18
Copper, tarnished	0.64
Lead, old	0.79
Asbestos cement, roof tiles old	0.83
Asbestos cement, roof tiles red	0.69
Asbestos slate	0.81
Asphalt roofing, new	0.91
Asphalt roofing, old	0.82
Bitumen-covered roofing sheet, brown	0.87
Slate, blue grey	0.87
Tile, clay red	0.64
Tile, concrete uncolored	0.65
Tile, concrete black	0.91
Vitreous enamel, white	0.39
White Dutch tile	0.18