SMART MICROWAVE PROCESSING OF CERAMICS

RESEARCHERS ARE ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OF MICROWAVE SINTERING OF CERAMIC MATERIALS WHICH OFFERS EFFICIENT AND RAPID THERMAL HEATING OF CERAMIC MATERIALS THAT ABSORB MICROWAVE RADIATIONS. MICROWAVE SINTERING HAS ITS CHALLENGES WHICH INCLUDE A POOR UNDERSTANDING OF THE MICROWAVE: MATERIALS INTERACTION, UNSTABLE HEATING RESULTING IN A THERMAL RUNAWAY, AND LOCALIZED MELTING. A SUITABLE TRANSIENT, LOSSY, PHASE THAT WILL ABSORB MICROWAVE RADIATION IS SELECTED. RESEARCHERS ARE PROMOTING A REACTION WITH OTHER PHASES TO FORM A COMPLEX OXIDE SYSTEM THAT HAS LOW DIELECTRIC LOSS; THUS LIMITING FURTHER MICROWAVE ABSORPTION. SUCH SELF LIMITING OR "SMART" MICROWAVE PROCESSING CAN BE USED TO SOLVE MANY PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MICROWAVE SINTERING.