I`ve heard of "Black Body Radiation", and that silver is the best reflector and matte black would be the best absorber of IR radiation, but what would be the optimum color for transmiting IR heat?

 

I currently have a seriously modified parafin (kerosene) heater, the inside flame burns Blue now inside a flue that`s silver on the outside and matte black on the inside, the flue is about a foot high with a fine holed, thick steel mesh ontop (I can cook perfectly well on this!). but the flue is still smooth silver on the outside, and since it`s job is primarily heating and through convection, is there anyway I can boost its Radiant heat by changing the color of the outside flue?

An efficient absorber would also be an efficient radiator. The degree to which something approximates a blackbody is given by the emissivity. e=1 for a blackbody. Here is a list. Lampblack, carbon paint and similar have e ~ 0.8 - 0.9. Silver, being a good reflector, has a low vaule of e ~ 0.03

excellent, so if I can find some matte black engine or exhaust paint that should do the trick then?

Thnx Swansont