Abstract: Because the study of coal spontaneous combustion characteristics is the basis for its prevention, the experimental study on the characteristics of coal spontaneous combustion are carried out through the infrared spectroscopy technology in this paper. First, three standard coal samples were selected for infrared spectrum experimental study. Then the infrared spectral curves of the three coal samples were compared and analyzed in different regions. The qualitative and quantitative change regulations were obtained about the spectral curves of three coal samples. Finally, according to the change regulations, the spontaneous combustion characteristics of the predicted coal sample were determined and analyzed. The results are in good agreement with those obtained from other experiments. The results show that in the first region, the easier the coal sample spontaneous combustion, the more dispersed the infrared spectrum curve of coal sample is. In the second region, the 600 ℃ spectral curve of the coal sample was dispersed. In the third region, the easier the coal sample spontaneous combustion is, the more intense the fluctuation of infrared spectrum curve is. In the fourth region, there are three absorption peaks in the infrared spectrum curve of 600 ℃. The method of determining coal spontaneous combustion characteristics by infrared spectrum experiment is feasible and the result is reliable.