Polyurethane (PU)/flaky metal composite coatings were prepared by using PU and flaky metal powders as adhesives and pigments, respectively. The infrared emissivity of coatings with different metal content was measured by infrared emissometer, and the microstructure of PU/flaky metal composite coatings was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The results of infrared emissivity measurement indicate that the emissivity changes significantly with increasing metal content and presents a "U" type. The results of microstructure observation indicate that PU/flaky metal composite coatings have one-dimensional photonic structural characteristics. According to the microstructure characteristics, the optical reflection spectra of one-dimensional photonic structure in PU/flaky metal composite coatings with different metal content were simulated, and the results show that "U" type variation of emissivity with increasing metal content is derived from the blueshift of reflection peak wavelength with increasing metal content of one-dimensional photonic structure in coatings.