Abstract
Radiation heating of materials in vacuum furnaces is critically dependent on surface characteristics, with material emissivity and absorptivity playing pivotal roles in heating dynamics. Surface properties such as color, polish, and roughness significantly influence heating rates, with bright and polished surfaces heating more slowly than dull and dark surfaces, while rough surfaces heat faster than smooth ones. When using thermocouple blocks to simulate actual load parts, precise replication of surface conditions is essential, as surface variations can cause substantial temperature disparities. Materials with different surface conditions can exhibit heating time differences of up to 100%, underscoring the importance of maintaining consistent surface smoothness and periodically reconditioning thermocouple test blocks to ensure accurate thermal simulation and process control.
