Transient radiative and conductive heat transfer in a translucent medium with isotropic optical properties is investigated. The radiative two-flux equation is coupled with the transient energy equation and both equations are solved simultaneously. Transient solutions are obtained for a plane layer with refractive index equal to or larger than one, and with external convection and radiation at each boundary. Illustrative results obtained with the two-flux method show the effects of changing parameters such as optical thicknesses, refractive index, conduction-radiation parameter, and scattering on the transient temperature distribution within the layer. Results are given at different instances during the transient, and the distribution for the largest time is at or very close to steady state. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.