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Annealing ovens are most commonly used for metal, plastic and glass. To prevent stresses and cracking of plastic or metal parts during the machining process, they are heated in an annealing oven chamber to just below its transition temperature for a prescribed period of time. This allows greater resistance to residual stresses and improved machinability.

The annealing process is commonly used for the improvement of machinability, improvement of mechanical or electrical properties, increase in stability of dimensions, improved ductility, relieve stress, assist in refining grain size, and more. Steel and plastic are materials that may be treated in annealing ovens. During the machining of parts made of plastic or steel, residual stresses are induced. These stresses can affect the material strength and cause reduced wear resistance and cracking. To prevent this, parts are heated in an annealing oven. Annealing heats the part to just below its transition temperature for a prescribed period of time. 

Heating to a temperature of at least 50°F (28°C) above Ac3 (the temperature at which the transformation of ferrite to austenite is completed). The more open structure of the austenite is then able to absorb carbon from the iron-carbides in carbon steel. The material is held at this temperature for a specified time to allow the material to transform into Austenite or Austenite-Cementite. Following this, it is cooled at a controlled rate of about 36°F/hr (20°C/hr) in an oven to about 122°F (50 °C). It can then be cooled in room temperature air with natural convection.