The scattering of the sheet shaped particles was studied by using the diffraction theory of geometrical optics.The apparent emissivity of the coating layer with sheet shaped particles was obtained by the use of the transfer equations of the thermal radiation for the inhomogeneous coating layer.The influence of the sheet size,the volume fraction occupied by the particles and the layer thickness,etc.on the radiation properties of the coating was discussed. The radiation properties of coatings with sheet shaped and spherical particles were compared.