In: Mechanical Engineering
Annealing is a process by which steel is reheated and then cooled to make it less brittle. Consider the reheat stage for a 100-mm-thick steel plate (ρ= 7830 kg/m3, c= 550 J/kg·K, k= 48 W/m·K), which is initially at a uniform temperature of Ti= 120°C and is to be heated to a minimum temperature of 550°C. Heating is effected in a gas-fired furnace, where products of combustion at ∞T∞= 800°C maintain a convection coefficient of h=250 W/m2·K on both surfaces of the plate. How long should the plate be left in the furnace?